archives.nypl.org -- Mina Curtiss collection (original) (raw)

This collection contains working papers for the book Bizet and His World by Mina Curtiss. It does not contain any draft material for this book or virtually any other documents that reveal Curtiss's writing. At one time Curtiss had in her possession many items from Bizet's estate, including a corrected proof of a piano-vocal score to Carmen. These items were given to the Library of Congress prior to The New York Public Library's acquisition of this collection.

Though Mina Curtiss visited France to interview various people relating to the life of her subject, most of the archival research in French libraries appears to have been carried out by research assistants.

The collection is divided into seven series:

  1. Ancestral and biographical material
  2. Materials about Bizet's works
  3. Materials concerning individuals
  4. Other research materials
  5. Curtiss materials
  6. Catalogs
  7. Photographic material

Series 1 contains copies of certificates documenting the lives of Bizet and his ancestors. Also included are published biographical essays, excerpts from Bizet's diary and accounts by others. A curious set of papers are by an individual named Beaunier who claimed her family was related to Bizet. Lacking verifiable documentation Curtiss put this material in an envelope labeled “Ridiculous family claiming to be related to Bizet” (folders 4-5 and 204-213).

Series 2 contains articles about and reviews of Bizet's works.

Series 3 includes materials about individuals associated with Bizet and forms the major part of the collection. Part of Curtiss's success in covering the breadth of 19th-century musical and social life in France was her uncovering of certain key correspondents, such as the artist Jules-Elie Delaunay or Bizet's uncle François Delsarte . Most of the documents in this series are copies, either typed or photostated. The exception are a group of letters by Bizet's friend Edmond Galabert (folder 70 -- these letters were sent to Curtiss by his son François Galabert).

Series 4 contains miscellaneous research materials, such as the livres de bord (log books) of the Opéra-Comique.

Series 5 contains a few items of correspondence to Curtiss.

Series 6 consists of several catalogs of music publications by Choudens and Heugel .

Series 7 consists mostly of photographs and photostats.

The Mina Curtiss collection is arranged in seven series: