G. Norman Reis papers, 1909-1946

Arrangement

Repository
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Title
G. Norman Reis Papers
Collection Number
CTC.1985.01
Extent
3.5 Linear Feet
Date
1909-1946
Abstract
The Papers of G. Norman Reis primarily include materials from the Cap and Gown Club, a male musical comedy group of the University of Pittsburgh. The collection includes: programs, scripts, music, news clippings, financial records, correspondence, films, photographs, scrapbooks, personal papers and phonograph records from the period of 1909-1946. Digital reproductions of the collection are available electronically.
Language
English .
Author
William Daw. Revisions occurred to the finding aid as a part of the encoding process on March 24, 2006.
Publisher
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Address
University of Pittsburgh Library System
Archives & Special Collections
Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist
URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections

Biography

G. Norman Reis was born on February 23, 1893 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was a member of the class of 1916 at the University of Pittsburgh and served as a veteran contributor to the University's Cap and Gown Club - an all male organization devoted to the production of annual musical comedy shows. Beginning with the 1913 show, Prince of Sham, Reis collaborated with men, such as Gus Schnabel and Louis Fushan, on the book of lyrics used in many of the club's productions. In addition, he served on many committees and held offices in the club from the time of his earliest association until his death in 1958. These productions always used original books, lyrics, and music contributed by students at the University or by alumni members of the Cap and Gown Club. Many important figures had their earliest training and experience with the Cap and Gown including Regis Toomey, motion picture and musical comedy star, Woodman Thompson, a scenic designer, and Gene Kelly, dancer, instructor and director.

Reis was employed as a bacteriologist at U.S. Steel. He was an avid photographer, and, for a brief period, served as the official photographer for the Pitt Alumni Review as well as chairman and member of the editorial board. He died at the age of 65, three months after his retirement.

Arrangement

Series I. Personal Memorabilia

Series II. Dramatic Productions Other than Cap and Gown

Series III. Sheet Music

Series IV. Cap and Gown Productions

Series V. Cap and Gown Productions: Oversized Materials

Scope and Content Notes

The personal papers of G. Norman Reis pertain predominantly to the University of Pittsburgh's Cap and Gown Club, including souvenir and leaf programs, scripts, music, news clippings, financial records, correspondence, films, photographs, scrapbooks, and phonograph records. These categories are not complete in any of the cases. Besides individual music scores, music can also be found in some souvenir programs.

Items not associated with the Cap and Gown Club include Reis' script, Harmony Island, the Pittsburgh Athletic Association's 1917 drama club presentation, and unidentified scripts. There are also materials on other all-male musical comedy groups such as Mask and Wig (University of Pennsylvania) and Triangle Club (Princeton University) programs and/or sheet music, University of Pittsburgh fight songs, including a victory song with words by Reis, miscellaneous music, as well as several issues of the Pitt Alumni Review for which Reis served as chairman and member of the editorial board.

Access Restrictions

No restrictions.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Helen Whitlinger in 1985.

Previous Citation

G. Norman Reis Papers, 1909-1946, CTC.1985.01, Curtis Theatre Collection, Special Collections Department, University of Pittsburgh

G. Norman Reis Papers, 1909-1946, CTC.17, Curtis Theatre Collection, Special Collections Department, University of Pittsburgh

Preferred Citation

G. Norman Reis Papers, 1909-1946, CTC.1985.01, Curtis Theatre Collection, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Special Collections Staff and by William Daw and Ellen Whitham in summer 2004.

Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Charles Stanford in March 2006. Information about the collection title and the controlled access terms was extracted from the MARC record in the University of Pittsburgh catalog Voyager ID number: 1470176.

Copyright

Permission for publication is given on behalf of the University of Pittsburgh as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Related Material

Cap and Gown Club Records, 1908-1978, CTC.1980.01, Curtis Theatre Collection, Archives & Special Collections Department, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Existence and Location of Copies

Digital reproductions of the collection are available electronically. Selected photographs were scanned and added to the University of Pittsburgh Historic Photographs collection.Digital reproductions of the collection are available electronically at [URL].

Subjects

    Corporate Names

    • Pittsburgh Athletic Association
    • Princeton University. Triangle Club
    • Cap and Gown Club (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
    • University of Pennsylvania. Mask and Wig Club

    Personal Names

    • Reis, G. Norman
    • Kelly, Gene
    • Thompson, Woodman
    • Toomey, Regis

    Genres

    • Theater programs

    Other Subjects

    • Bacteriologists -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • College theater -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • College and school drama, American -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • Student activities -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • Theater -- United States
    • Theater
    • College theater -- United States

Container List