Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz Collection
Span: 1915-1990
Bulk: 1925-1990
English, Spanish
collection
25 ft.
60 boxes
The Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz Collection chronicles the lives and careers of two of the most influential figures in the history of American entertainment. Ball (1911-1989) and Arnaz (1917-1986) achieved immortality when they created the roles of Lucy and Ricky Ricardo in the ground-breaking television situation comedy "I Love Lucy" in 1952. The collection consists chiefly of a set of 85 scrapbooks which preserve the record of the careers of Ball and Arnaz as they were recorded by the contemporary press. The childhood years of their children, Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz, Jr. also figure prominently in the scrapbooks. Along with newspaper clippings and magazine articles, however, there are also many photographs, letters, telegrams, greeting cards, and other items. There are also five scrapbooks assembled by Desi Arnaz's father which record the details of the Arnaz family in pre-revolutionary Cuba, and a number of scrapbooks assembled by fans of Lucille Ball and sent to her in her later years. In addition, the collection contains many of the scores and instrumental parts used by the Desi Arnaz Orchestra from the late 1930s until the 1960s.
Scrapbooks (85), band arrangements (ca. 300), sound recordings (ca. 100)
Sound recordings
No
The Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz Collection, Music Division, Library of Congress
Ball, Lucille
Scrapbooks of the much-loved entertainers, along with scores and parts for the Desi Arnaz Orchestra.
Researchers wishing to work with special collections are advised to inquire in advance about availability of material since many special collections are stored off-site.
Certain restrictions to use or copying of materials may apply.
American Musical Theater
Jazz Band Music
Latin American Music
Popular Music
Theater
Radio/Television
Ball, Lucille
Arnaz, Desi
Performing Arts Encyclopedia
scdb
Music Division, Library of Congress
IHAS
120821
loc.natlib.scdb.200033665