Collection IDMG Nwk Blair

Size2 volumes, in one oversize box

Collection Description Clarence Everett Blair was the likely creator of these scrapbooks. Blair was born in Rahway, NJ in 1892 and resided in Newark for the majority of his life until his death in 1976. He was employed by the Works Progress Administration in Newark in the early 1940's, possibly on the field of entertainment/theater. His death notice encouraged the attendance at his service by friends and members of the International Brotherhood of Magicians.

Collection Contents These two scrapbooks consist of typed pages illustrated with color and black and white images cut from magazines and other publications, and a few original photographs. The material was apparently compiled and the text extracted from various published sources by C. E. Blair. Most pages are headed by topical titles and "C. E. B.," C. E. Blair, collection," "From Blair's scrapbook," or a similar note. It appears that the scrapbooks were compiled in the 1930s, with one item added later. The bulk of the lists and other data record events from the late nineteenth century to ca. 1910, but there are entries going back to the 1830s and into the 1920s. The (apparently) added item, found in the second volume, is a photograph of a street scene dated 1963.

The first volume, entitled "History of Old Time Newark and New Jersey," is mostly devoted to general historical accounts and anecdotes.

The second volume consists of typed lists of theatrical performances, magic shows, and other entertainments, extracted from newspaper notices. The illustrations (portraits, scenes from plays, printed summaries of plays, etc.) are cut from publicity material, advertisements, programs, books, and periodicals; also included are some original photographs of general Newark subjects. Each page in this volume is headed by the name and address of a Newark theater. Theaters mentioned are:

The Rink (formerly known as the Round House)

Edgar S. Allien

Grand Opera House

Stetson's Grand Opera (formerly Grand Opera House)

Columbia Theatre (formerly Grand Opera House

Jacob's Theatre (formerly Columbia Theatre)

Washington Hall

H. R. Jacob's Theatre (formerly Academy of Music)

Neu Century Theatre (formerly H. R. Jacob's)

Blaney's Theatre (formerly Neu Century)

New Summer Pavillion Theatre

Empire Theatre (formerly New Theatre)

Miners Empire Theatre

Park Theatre

Lyric Theatre

FormatsPhotographic materials; Textual materials

SubjectsArchitecture / Building; Colonial Era; Leisure Activities / Clubs / Societies; Revolutionary War; Theater / Performing Arts; Transportation

Time Period20th Century

LanguageEnglish

Access policyOpen for research

ProcessedYes

Finding AidYes