George and Ira Gershwin Collection [finding aid ... - American Memory

one scrapbooks that document the careers of George and Ira and productions and performances of their work from 1913
until 1986.
Many other members of the Gershwin family and friends of the Gershwin brothers have also given materials for the
collection. The following list is by no means comprehensive. Albert Sirmay donated the working annotated typescript
libretto for Porgy and Bess in 1955 and his letters from Ira in 1963. Kay Swift donated the holograph manuscript of the
George Gershwin Songbook, as well as a large quantity of George's holograph music sketches in 1966. Arthur Gershwin's
gifts in 1966 and 1968 included forty-seven photographs belonging to George and a memorial scrapbook assembled by
Rose Gershwin. Mabel Schirmer donated her letters from George in 1974. Leonore Gershwin, Frances Gershwin
Godowsky, Judy Gershwin, and Marc George Gershwin jointly donated the so-called Secaucus Manuscripts (a large cache
of music manuscripts and lyric sheets found in a Warner Brothers warehouse in Secaucus, New Jersey) in 1984. Leonore
Gershwin and Frances Gershwin Godowsky donated the Congressional Gold Medals honoring George and Ira in 1985.
Michael Feinstein’s donations included George's holograph manuscript score for a dance sequence from Rosalie in 1990
and two original Duoart piano rolls. Rosamond Walling Tirana donated her correspondence with George Gershwin in 1993.
Dorothy Botkin Rosenthal and Daniel Botkin donated an important collection of correspondence, photographs, and other
materials in 1998. Leopold Godowsky III donated scores from George's library in 1987, and he and Elaine Godowsky
donated a manuscript for the Concerto in F in 2004. Michael and Jean Strunsky presented George's "little black book" in
2009.
Since 1991, Ira and Leonore's acquisitions work has continued, underwritten by the Ira and Leonore Gershwin Trust for the
Benefit of the Library of Congress. In some instances, the Trust has acquired and donated materials; in numerous other
instances, the Library has purchased materials using funds provided by the Gershwin Trust.
The most remarkable gift from the Gershwin Trust was a collection of more than 120 previously unknown documents from
the estate of Emanuel Alexandre, for many years Rose Gershwin’s attorney, presented to the Library of Congress in 1997.
The Gershwin Trust also donated two pages of sketches for songs from Girl Crazy in 1998, and five letters at various times.
Materials purchased by the Library with funds from the Gershwin Trust include the archival files of the Theatre Guild
(1927-1966) concerning Porgy and Bess, purchased in 1992, notable manuscript sketches for Porgy and Bess from the
estate of Kay Swift, purchased in 1994, and seven additional music manuscripts, as well as rare printed scores, contracts,
and sixty-one letters, postcards, and other documents.
Finally, the Library's acquisitions funds were used in 1990 to purchase a collection of approximately 275 contracts, letters,
and other documents (1919-1949) from the files of the law offices of Wattenberg and Wattenberg, attorneys for music
publisher Max Dreyfus and the publishing firm Chappell and Co. (for many years the Gershwins' principal publisher). In
1996, the Library purchased three music manuscripts and four letters with funds provided by the Library’s James Madison
Council.
Processing History
Items in the Gershwin Collection were processed individually or in groups upon their arrival, beginning with the first
acquisition in 1939. The collection was organized into series approximating the present arrangement by Raymond White in
1984. In 1997-1998, the arrangement of the collection was modified somewhat to accommodate acquisitions received since
1984, and the finding aid was created by Valerie MacMurdy. Beginning in 2008, the finding aid was revised by Christopher
Hartten, Janet McKinney, Caitlin Miller, and Raymond White and coded for EAD in 2010.
Other Repositories
Additional correspondence, business papers, photographs, programs, and other documents are held by the Ira and Leonore
Gershwin Trusts in San Francisco, CA. Materials concerning Porgy and Bess are included in the DuBose Heyward Papers
at the South Carolina Historical Society. Research and publication materials for The Gershwin Years are included in the
Edward Jablonski and Lawrence D. Stewart Collection at the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center at the University
of Texas at Austin.
Related Material
The Ira Gershwin Files from the Law Office of Leonard Saxe relate primarily to Ira's personal legal affairs and the activities
of the Rose Gershwin Testamentary Trust from 1948 to 1968. The Ferde Grofé Collection contains materials for Rhapsody
in Blue, including Grofé's holograph score for his original jazz band scoring. Additional materials can be found in the Serge
George and Ira Gershwin Collection 4