Burl Ives Collection
Guides to Special Collections in the Music Division
Library of Congress, Washington DC, 1993
Table of Contents
Biographical Sketch
Scope and Content Note
Container List
Biographical Materials and Articles
Subject File
Photograph Albums
Biographical Sketch
Carl Sandburg once called Burl Ives "America's Great Ballad
Singer." From the 1940s to the 1960s, his diverse talents and
spirited performances made him one of America's best-loved
entertainers. The traditional repertoire of American folk tunes
represented in his performances was considerably different from the
popular music of the day. His presence on the musical scene not
only served to sustain an awareness of neglected American folk
songs, but would contribute to the resurgence of interest in folk
music that occurred in the early 1960s.
Burl Icle Ivanhoe Ives was born on June 14, 1909, in Hunt City
Township, Jasper County, Illinois. He was encouraged in his
musical interests by his family, especially by his grandmother.
Throughout his youth he sang at church functions and performed in
community productions.
After studying at Eastern Illinois State Teachers College
(1927-29), Ives travelled throughout the United States for almost
two years, finally settling in New York City, where he studied at
Juilliard and began singing professionally. Minor Broadway roles
drew the attention of Rodgers and Hart, who wrote a role for Ives
in "The Boys From Syracuse" (1939). During World War II, Ives
played a leading role in Irving Berlin's "This is the Army" (1942)
and acted in minor film roles, while developing his folk singing
persona, "The Wayfaring Stranger," in radio and concert
appearances.
In the 1950s and 1960s, Ives appeared regularly on television
and radio and toured abroad promoting American folk music.
Throughout this time, he continued to pursue his career in theater,
receiving acclaim for his performance as Big Daddy in the film
version of Tennessee Williams' "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof", and winning
an Oscar for his performance in the film, "The Big Country". Ives
also published a number of books, including an autobiography "The
Wayfaring Stranger".
Linear feet of shelf space occupied: 15
Approximate number of items: 1,600
Number of Containers: 16
Scope and Content Note
This collection of materials was given to the Library of
Congress by Burl Ives on December 21, 1965. The bulk of the
materials concerns Ives' career in radio and television. A
considerable number of sound recordings and kinescopes of
television appearances, also given to the Library by Ives, are
housed in the Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound
Division. Other materials relating to Burl Ives are housed in the
Archive of Folk Culture.
The collection is divided into four series: biographical
materials, a large subject file, photograph albums, and scrapbooks.
The original order as determined by Burl Ives and his wife, Helen
Ives, who served as his business manager, is preserved in the
organization of the collection. Descriptions as written on the
original folders are retained in the finding aid.
Autobiographical and biographical articles and press releases
constitute the first series in the collection. Most of these
materials, both published and unpublished, date from the late 1940s
through the mid-1960s. Published articles in this series are
filed alphabetically by name of publication.
The subject file was maintained by the Ives and has been kept
in its original order. This file contains materials relating to
his radio and television appearances, foreign tours and the
"Historical America in Song" project, a series of recordings of
American folk songs selected and performed by Ives and originally
released in 1950 by the Encyclopaedia Britannica Film Corporation
for use in schools. A one-page history of the project, which was
a source of great pride to Ives, along with related correspondence
and original mailing pieces is included in the collection.
Other materials relating to Ives' radio and television
appearances are filed chronologically by program air date.
Included among these materials are records of production (scripts,
rehearsal schedules, etc.), business arrangements (contracts,
correspondence, etc.) and other related materials (fan mail, press
clippings) for each program. Of particular interest is an almost
complete set of scripts for Ives's Philco Radio Show (1946-48) and
a complete set for his 1952 "Burl Ives Sings" series. Information
relating to foreign radio appearances is also represented.
Photographs, press clippings, business correspondence and
related materials outline Ives' tours of the British Isles,
Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii during 1952 and 1953. The
materials retain their original order, sorted by tour, and then
roughly chronologically within each tour. Information relating to
Ives' charity activities and benefit performances are filed
alphabetically by name of charity, and then filed chronologically
by date.
Nineteen photograph albums containing hundreds of photograph,
for the most part unbound, include both professional and personal
images of Ives, his childhood, and teen years. The eleven
scrapbooks contain mostly press clippings. Two of them relate to
the England, Ireland and Scotland tours; the others to television
appearances.
Robert Saladini, Music Specialist,
Greg Pierce, Junior Fellow June, 1993
Container List
BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS AND ARTICLES
Box Contents
1 Unpublished autobiographical articles and press releases
Autobiographical articles released to various
newspapers
Publicity releases over the years approved by Mr. Ives
and used by feature writers
Biographical release, 1951
News release: 1953
Biography: 1960
Article after publication on November 8th of
"Burl Ives' Tales of America" and filming of
"East of Eden"
"Christmas in July"
"Folk Songs and the History of America"
Folk song article - "What is a Folk Song and Why it is
Important"
"Wayfaring Continued"
Letters from Burl regarding folk music and hillbilly
music, 1955
Unpublished autobiographical articles, filed alphabetically
by intended publication
"Boston Traveler"
"Grolier Encyclopaedia"
"House and Garden" - "What's in a Song?"
"New York Sun"
"Parent's Magazine"
"Variety"
"Variety" - 1957
Published autobiographical and biographical articles, filed
alphabetically by publication
"Better Homes and Gardens"
"Camera Magazine"
"Coronet"
"The Fort Lauderdale News"
"Friends"
"Good Housekeeping", 1965
"Grit"
"The Herald American"
"Holiday Magazine", March, 1963
"Holiday Magazine", June, 1965
"Inspire" - Swiss magazine, 1949
"International House Quarterly", American folk articles
1951
"International Musician"
"Look Magazine", February 27, 1951
"Look Magazine", March, 1961
"Music Business"
"The Music Journal"
"The National Enquirer", 1962
Published autobiographical and biographical articles, filed
alphabetically by publication
"The New York Daily News"
"New York Herald Tribune", May, 1955
"The New York Post"
"The New York Times Book Review", November 14, 1954
"The New York Times Book Review" [advertisement]
"New York World Telegram & Sun", Interview
"Publishers' Weekly"
"Reader's Round Table"
"Seventeen Magazine"
"Song Hits Magazine"
"Theatre Arts"
Miscellaneous published articles, unidentified publications
Burl Ives' "Personals"
"Cap'n Burl's Page"
Mementos from Burl Ives
Newspaper article, March 12, 1953
Photographs
Unpublished biographical articles
Article on Burl from "Song in America, Our Musical
Heritage"
Burl Ives' Hymns, MacKinley Kantor
"The Burl Ives' Show", radio review
Junior Chamber of Commerce, Washington, D.C.,
December 2, 1952
"McCall's", byline
"This Week Magazine", October, 1948
Miscellaneous articles
Press releases
Information release - all newspapers, regarding
personal history
Women's Page Editor
Press release: statement on wayfaring
Picture captions
Press release, 1953, issued after second visit to
Ireland and England
Music Page Editor
"Ballad Farm" recipe
Basis of interviews after English and Australian Tours
SUBJECT FILE
Box Contents
1 Materials relating to the "Historical America in
Song/America's Musical Heritage Project"
History of show
"Historical America in Song" mailing piece to schools
"America's Musical Heritage": History of project with
"Encyclopaedia Britannica"
"America's Musical Heritage": Correspondence between
Armed Forces Radio and "Encyclopaedia Britannica"
"Historical America in Song" award
Achievement Award for "Encyclopaedia Britannica"
[includes photograph]
"America's Musical Heritage": Reviews
"America's Musical Heritage"
2 Philco Radio Show scripts, sorted by show number
Show #1 --
Show #25 --
Show #36 --
Show #45 --
Show #54 --
Show #64 --
Show #75 --
Philco Radio Show publicity releases
3 "Burl Ives Sings" radio show
"Burl Ives Sings": Scripts, all shows
"Burl Ives Sings": Northwestern University
Burl Ives Transcription Shows [12th show missing]
Burl Ives Transcription Shows [old original set], as
done in studio
"Burl Ives Sings": Cue sheets for radio stations,
open-end cue sheets
Announcement: Burl Ives radio programs
"Burl Ives Sings": Cost of making 65 shows
Goodman Productions - "Burl Ives Sings": First draft
and comments
Goodman Productions - "Burl Ives Sings": Contract,
first draft & comments
Goodman Productions - "Burl Ives Sings": Contract,
subsequent events & comments
Goodman Productions - "Burl Ives Sings": Final &
signed contract
Goodman Productions - "Burl Ives Sings":
Correspondence re: contracts
"Burl Ives Sings": Selling flyer, radio
"Burl Ives Sings" - Contracts: Syndication contracts
with radio stations
"Burl Ives Sings": Royalty statements, all years
"Burl Ives Sings": Correspondence 1950
"Burl Ives Sings": Correspondence 1951
"Burl Ives Sings": Correspondence 1952
"Burl Ives Sings": Correspondence 1953
"Burl Ives Sings": Correspondence 1954
"Burl Ives Sings": Correspondence 1955
"Burl Ives Sings": Correspondence 1956
"Burl Ives Sings": Correspondence 1958
Law Suit, Final deposition release: Draft
Law Suit, Initial correspondence
Law Suit, complaint, summons and affidavit
Law Suit, final deposition correspondence
Law Suit Release
4 Guest appearances on radio shows, filed in chronological
order by production date
NBC Radio, Christmas Program, "Music Through the Night"
radio spots
Burl Ives, "America For Sale": Script
Radio Show, October, 1940: "Back Where I Came From"
Radio Show, January 20, 1948: "Jack Smith Show"
Radio Show, December, 1948: "Bing Crosby Show"
Radio Show, February 24, 1950: "Tex & Jinx Show"
Radio Show, March, 1950: "Quick as a Flash"
Radio Show, June, 1951: "Bing Crosby Show" - Press
Item
Radio Show, June, 1951: "Bing Crosby Show" [contract]
Radio Show, 1951: "Songs for Sale"
Radio Show, June 1, 1951: "Songs for Sale"
Radio Show, November 20, 1955: "Woolworth Hour"
Radio Show, September 16, 1956: "Woolworth Hour"
Radio Show, March, 1957: "Woolworth Hour" - voucher
Material relating to "The World of Folk Music": Radio show
for Social Security
Arrangements for Social Security show
100th Program - Social Security
Special presentation tape to precede airing
Special promotion spots
Correspondence
Scripts
Guest list approved
Publicity flyers
Material relating to Canadian Broadcasting Corporation radio
programs
"Historical America in Song"
"The Wayfaring Stranger": A reading of Ives's book
CBC Radio, Edith Fowke's "Folk Song Time", list of
material used
CBC Radio, Edith Fowke's "Folk Song Time", script for
show "The Story of Burl Ives"
Letter from Edith Fowke
Materials relating to foreign radio programs
London radio scripts, 1952
Radio program, March 22, 1952
London radio scripts, 1954
"Historical America in Song": New Zealand radio
New Zealand correspondence
"Burl Ives Sings": Radio Show, correspondence with
Bristol-Myers, Australia
5 Materials relating to television appearances, filed in
chronological order by production date
"Mohawk Showroom": Payment voucher, May, 1950
National Council of Churches: "A Family Christmas",
December 25, 1950 Preliminary correspondence
Script: First draft, notes, changes
Script as performed
Correspondence
Bill for kinescope of show
Materials relating to television appearances, filed in
chronological order by production date
"Toast of the Town" (Sullivan), March 22, 1953
Fan Mail
Bill for kinescope of show
Contract
National Council of Churches of Christ: "Frontiers of
Faith", December 20, 1953, Script of Program
"TV Ding Dong School": Payment voucher, September,
1954
"CBS Morning Show" (Jack Parr), December, 1954
Preliminary correspondence
Copy of signed contract
Correspondence
Vouchers
National Council of Churches: "Frontiers of Faith",
December 12, 1954
Copy of contract
Correspondence
"Stork Club": Payment voucher, February, 1955
"CBS Morning Show" (Jack Parr), April 1st plus 12 other
shows [1955]
Copy or signed contract
Correspondence
"CBS Morning Show" (Jack Parr), April - November, 1955,
income vouchers
"Toast of the Town" (Sullivan), May 22, 1955
Signed contract and correspondence
Income vouchers
"Toast of the Town", "Anniversary Surprise,"
June 26,1955
Preliminary correspondence
Script-copy
Photograph
"Jack Parr Afternoon Show", July 8, 1955
Correspondence
"What's My Line"?, August, 1955
"The Jack Parr Show", August 19 - November 4, 1955
Contract and correspondence
Photograph: Jim Moran, Parr and Ives
"Music '55", August 23, 1955
Correspondence
Copy of contract
"The Jack Parr Show", November -- December, 1955 and
January, 1956
"Longines-Whittnauer" Thanksgiving Festival,
November 24, 1955
Correspondence
Payment voucher
"Let's Take a Trip", March 24, 1957
Copy of contract
Vouchers
Correspondence
"The Chevrolet Show" (Dinah Shore), October 5, 1958
Income voucher
Script
Fan Mail
Copy of contract
5 Materials relating to television appearances, filed in
chronological order by production date
"Perry Como Show", November 8, 1958
Confirmation correspondence
Correspondence
Contract
Income voucher
Fan Mail
"The Chevrolet Show" (Dinah Shore), December 21, 1958
Preliminary Correspondence
Correspondence re: contract
Script
Income voucher
Texaco Special - "Holiday U.S.A.", June 3, 1959
Announcement
Publicity
Advertising
Press interviews, etc.
Rating
Reaction to show
"Star" Burl Ives
Memo after first meeting
Staging layouts and production ideas
Production staff, Bill Colleran
Production meeting
"Final" script
Re-written script, Ives's spots
6 Final script
Suggestions and changes before air-time
Script, as performed
Rehearsal schedules
Rehearsal cue cards
Cost schedules
Income vouchers
Contract, Music director
Contract, Dancers
Contract, Chorus singers
Contract, Buster Davis, vocal arranging and
direction
Contract, First draft with revisions
Writer contract, Andy Russell
Final contract
Duplicate contracts, memos, etc.
Insurance, Workman's compensation
Agreement to deliver elements of show
Presentation of repeat of show
Materials relating to television appearances, filed in
chronological order by production date
"Red Skelton Chevrolet Special", October 9, 1959
Preliminary correspondence
Premise, Western Union telegram
Contract, Burl Ives
Contract, Wayfarer Enterprises
Script, Draft
Script, Draft-revised
Script, Draft-revision
Script, Revision
Script, Final Burl Ives segment
Script, Final complete
Telegram, producer
Schedule, Rehearsal/Taping
Schedule, Rehearsal/Taping final
New Ives spot, "Cool Square Dance"
"Cool Square Dance", script
"I Wish I Wuz", script
Income voucher and correspondence
7 "The Bell Telephone Hour", October 23, 1959
Premise
First draft
Rehearsal schedule
Schedule
Script revisions
Script, as performed
Songs
Correspondence
Contracts and agreements
Income vouchers
Kinescope correspondence
"The Bell Telephone Hour", March 3, 1961
Premise
Script
Burl Ives's revised script
Rehearsal schedule
Staff
Telegrams
Income vouchers
"The Bell Telephone Hour", October 6, 1964
First draft, Burl Ives, September 29, 1964
Final draft, Burl Ives, October 2, 1964
Burl Ives, songs
Songs
Burl Ives, revised song
Lead-in revisions, Notes
Revised lead-in song
Rehearsal schedule
Materials relating to television appearances, filed in
chronological order by production date
"The Bell Telephone Hour", October 6, 1964
Correspondence
Contract
Fan letters
Fan letters, requests for poems
Loan receipt, kinescope
"The Hollywood Palace", December 12, 1964
First draft, Ives's corrections
Ives's work copies of songs
Final script
8 Rehearsal and meeting schedule
Tickets and programs
Public relations photograph: Ernie Anderson
Correspondence re: kinescope of show
Fan mail, re-run, August, 1965
Contracts and agreements
Re-run contract
"The Bell Telephone Hour", March 16, 1965
First script
First and second drafts
Revised script
Revisions
Mark Twain, ideas, revisions
Script, as played
Rehearsal schedule
Rehearsal schedule
Set drawings
Song ideas
Words to songs
Extra copy - finale
Helen [Ives's] complaints
Publicity, Marvin Drager
Press information
Photographs
Photograph, Buster Davis on right
Correspondence and agreement as to format of show
Contracts and agreements
9 Materials relating to 1952 and 1953 tours of England,
Ireland, and Scotland, filed in chronological order
Burl Ives arriving at London airport [photograph]
Concert, 1952: "Everybody's" [press clipping]
London, 1952: "Lilliput Magazine" [press clipping]
England: BBC Radio, 1952 [photograph]
English pub, 1952 [photograph]
London: 1952 [press clippings]
London: Scottish girls choir [BBC] [photograph]
Materials relating to 1952 and 1953 tours of England,
Ireland, and Scotland, filed in chronological order
Arrival in London, 1952 [press clipping]
Signing records, 1952 [press clipping]
Royal Festival Hall: First concert [photograph]
Royal Festival Hall: Backstage [photograph]
Isows in London [photograph]
Liverpool [photograph]
London concerts, 1952: Record advertisement in program
Concerts, 1952: Beard Party [press clippings]
Concerts, 1952: Complete itinerary and critical
comments
Concerts, 1952: Magazine article ["Picture Post"]
Concerts, 1952: Magazine article ["Everybody's ..."]
Concerts, 1952: Souvenir programs and itinerary
Concerts, 1952: Burl Ives reception
London, 1952: Press release, Good Friday
Concert, 1952: U.S.I.S. Bulletin
London, 1952: Press releases
London, 1952: Columbia records tie-in flyer
London, 1952: Festival concert announcement
London, 1952: Financial breakdown
Coronation series: Announcements, 1953
Concerts, 1952: Profit and loss statements per theatre
Concerts, 1952: Itinerary
Concerts, 1952: Itinerary, hotels
Concert, 1953: British press, New York
Concert, 1952: Publicity press excerpts
Concert, 1952: "Teaser notice"
Concert, 1952: Booking requests
Concert, 1952: Press bulletins
North Umberland Pipes [photograph]
Glasgow: Chris Hanley [photographs]
Edinburgh [press clipping]
Edinburgh with ancient folk singer [press clipping]
Glasgow [girls choir]: Press releases
Scotland: Newcastle on Tyne [photograph]
Ireland [photographs]
Ireland correspondence
Belfast [photographs]
Concert, 1953: Financial breakdown
Correspondence: BBC, 1953
Concert, 1953: Correspondence with concert management
London, 1952: Press releases
Coronation festival: Poster for recording
Concert, 1953: Advance flyer, "Teaser"
Concerts, 1953: Contracts with theatres
Concerts, 1953: Hippodrome, Midland program
Concerts, 1953: Glasgow publicity, correspondence with
"Daily Record"
Concerts, 1953: Scotland correspondence re: visit
Materials relating to 1952 and 1953 tours of England,
Ireland, and Scotland, filed in chronological order
Learning bagpipes, Newcastle on Tyne [photograph]
Coronation Festival, 1953: Program flyer
Coronation Festival, 1953: Press flyer
Coronation Festival, 1953: Advance notice
Coronation Festival Series, 1953: Royal Festival Hall
program, June 7
Coronation Festival Series, 1953: Royal Festival Hall
program, June 14
Concerts, 1953: Correspondence with booking management
agency
Concerts, 1953: Variety tour itinerary
Concerts, 1953: Correspondence re: publicity
1953: Cafe du Paris
Concerts, 1953: Correspondence re: Ireland
Ireland [photographs]
Concerts, 1953: Aberdeen Hall - Dublin
Dublin press
Ireland: Winners of beauty contest at fair, County
Cork [photograph]
Ancient Parchment [photograph]
Ireland, 1953 [photograph]
Concert, 1959: Impromptu concert [press clippings]
10 Materials relating to 1952 tour of Australia and New
Zealand, filed in chronological order
Airline tickets and transportation
Australia: Home for spastic children [photograph]
Sydney Australia program
Australia: "Variety" article
Article on Australia for American newspaper
Australian tour: Itinerary in Adelaide
Article by Burl Ives on Australian folksongs
Australian album presentation to ambassador
Return to Australia
Australian taxes
Australian album after tour
"Nine Australian Folk Songs" [album cover]
New Zealand tax returns
Materials relating to 1952 tour of Hawaii, filed in
chronological order
Concerts: Honolulu
Honolulu: Petty cash and receipts
Honolulu: Press clipping
Materials relating to public appearances for charities,
foundations, benefits, etc., filed in chronological order
Sister Elizabeth Kenny Foundation
NBC Radio - Christmas seal sale: 1953 - script
March of Dimes - 1953
Save the Children Federation: Correspondence and
scripts for two spots
Friends of Music - Sponsor
Heart fund
Multiple Sclerosis Society
Mental Health Association
Freedoms Foundation: Letter awards - 1965, Interview
PHOTOGRAPH ALBUMS
Box Contents
11 His Childhood and Teens
Candid Photographs, All Activities
Personal Moments
A Man and His Guitar, 1 of 2
A Man and His Guitar, 2 of 2
The Man and His Boats, 1 of 2
The Man and His Boats, 2 of 2
Portraits Without Beard
Man of Many Hats
Gives a Party
12 Some Information About Burl Ives
Burl Ives
Burl Ives, The Wayfaring Stranger in Various Guises
Philco Radio Show
Philco Radio Show Guest Pictures
Character Studies
Stills: Film and Theatre
Character Portrayals: Film and Theatre
Burl Ives and Famous People
"O.K. Crackerby"
Farleigh Dickinson College
13 Concerts, 1953: England, Ireland, Scotland [small]
Concerts, 1953: England, Ireland, Scotland [large]
14 1945: National Press
December 21, 1958: "The Dinah Shore Chevrolet Show"
June 3, 1959: "Holiday U.S.A.", 1 of 2
June 3, 1959: "Holiday U.S.A.", 2 of 2
October 9, 1959: "The Red Skelton Chevrolet Special"
15 October 23, 1959: "The Bell Telephone Hour"
October 6, 1964: "The Bell Telephone Hour"
December 12, 1964: "Hollywood Palace"
March 16, 1965: "The Bell Telephone Hour"
Four loose photographs
16 Burl Ives, the Wayfaring Stranger
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