• Introduction
• Biographical Sketch
• Series
• Subject Headings
• Box/Folder Listing

Introduction

Size: 54.6 linear ft. (64 archival boxes, 8 record center cartons, 2 21" flat boxes, 1 15" flat box, 11 12" flat boxes, 1 31" flat box, 1 5" card catalog box)

Range of dates: 1891-1979

Provenance: All of Lulu Glaser's belongings were sent to her sister-in-law upon her death; when her sister-in-law passed away in 1981, Princeton University purchased the entire collection.

Photocopying, literary rights, and citation: Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. No further photoduplication of copies of material in the collection can be made when Princeton University Library does not own the original. Permission to publish material from the collection must be requested from the Associate University Librarian for Rare Books and Special Collections. All existing copyright remains in force; no literary rights have been assigned to the Princeton University Library. Citations should be as follows: Lulu Glaser Papers, Series #, Box #. Used by permission of the Princeton University Library.

Processed by Mary Ann Jensen and additional materials processed by Janet Begnoche and Caterina Teuscher in 2001 and Joanna Polyn in 2002.

Biographical Sketch

In 1900 Glaser left Wilson's company to open the Lulu Glaser Opera Company where her first production, Sweet Anne Page, received lukewarm receptions. However, her second production, Dolly Varden, which opened the following year, was to be her biggest hit. For the next three years, Dolly Varden created a successful business on the road.

From 1904-1912, in addition to her first marriage and divorce with Ralph Herz, there was a succession of new operas, most directed by a variety of managers. None of them managed to attract even close to the amount of attention that Dolly Varden received. A Madcap Princess came first, followed by Miss Dolly Dollars, The Aero Club, Lola from Berlin, and The Merry Widow. Mlle. Mischief, under the management of the Shubert Brothers, followed and became Glaser's biggest success since Dolly Varden. The next two productions, The Girl from the States and The Girl and the Kaiser, also managed by the Shubert Brothers, however, were dismal failures, and her last comic opera in 1911, Miss Dudelsack, convinced her to withdraw from the theater scene.

For several years afterwards, Glaser performed short musical sketches with her second husband, Thomas Richards, from whom she later divorced. However, by 1917, she had stopped performing altogether and slipped away into quiet farm life to raise chickens in Connecticut. Lulu Glaser passed away on September 5, 1958, at the age of 84.

Series

    Series 1, General Correspondence Boxes 1-11

    Series 2, Glaser Family Correspondence, 1891-1958 Boxes 12-22

    Series 3, Lulu Glaser's Husbands Boxes 23-30

    Series 4, Personal Files Boxes 31-33, 63-64, 69-71, 75, 77-78

    Series 5, General Photographs Boxes 34-37

    Series 6, Glaser Family Photographs Boxes 38-41A-B, 65

    Series 7, Production Photographs Boxes 42-44, 66-68, 76, 90-92

    Series 8, Production Files, 1893-1913 Boxes 45-54, 72-74

    Series 9, Business Files Boxes 55-56

    Series 10, Sheet Music Boxes 57-62, 79

    Series 11, Miscellaneous Boxes 80-89

Each series contains a number of boxes relevant to that topic. Boxes 1-56 were organized first, while boxes 57-92 were added to the collection at later dates. The first 56 boxes are in alphabetical or chronological order under their respective topics. The additional 36 boxes are also in alphabetical or chronological order; but, although they may be under the same topic headings, they are ordered separately from the first 56 boxes.

Subject Headings

The following added entries have been assigned to this collection to highlight significant sources (other than the main entry), subjects, and forms of the collection's materials. Where possible, Library of Congress Subject Headings have been used, and the forms of names reflect international cataloging standards. As a result, all of these entries may be searched in the Department's database (MASC), in the Library's online catalog, and the public card catalog to find other related material.

Subject Headings (in uppercase)/Form Headings (in upper and lower case):

    Actresses--United States--20th century--Correspondence
    Actresses--United States--20th century--Diaries
    Actresses--United States--20th century--Photographs
    Contracts--United States--20th century
    COSTUME--UNITED STATES--20TH CENTURY
    GLASER FAMILY
    MUSICALS--UNITED STATES--20TH CENTURY
    Sheet music--United States--20th century
    Singers--United States--20th century--Correspondence
    Singers--United States--20th century--Diaries
    Singers--United States--20th century--Photographs
    THEATER--UNITED STATES--20TH CENTURY
    Theater--United States--History--Sources

Box/Folder Listing