Choreographer Jerome Robbins, who died last July at 79, left his massive personal archives to the Dance Collection of the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. The gift was announced at an April 12 tribute to Robbins at Broadway's Majestic Theater.
Robbins helped the collection develop its film and video archives in 1964 with a percentage of his Fiddler on the Roof royalties. Curator Madeleine Nichols estimated the acquisition will take two years to catalog. Although the public can't access 24 volumes of journals from 1971-82 for 15 years, researchers will be able to use other material as it becomes available.
The collection includes over 100 boxes and 30 file drawers of correspondence, contracts, casting sheets, and other materials, as well as stage and costume designs, posters, and artwork. Among the gems in the archives of the notoriously private Robbins is a long 1974 fan letter to Fred Astaire that thanks him for being "deeply influential and inspiring" to his career.
Posted April 19, 1999.