http://sca.gmu.edu/finding_aids/porgyandbessletter.html Guide to the Porgy and Bess letter from James Tipton, February 12, 1942 Porgy and Bess letter from James Tipton C0289 Finding aid prepared by Elizabeth Beckman George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center June 6, 2016 This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2016-06-06T13:00-0400 Description is in English Describing Archives: A Content Standard 2019-02-13 Converted to schema conforming EAD by dtd2schema.vh.xsl. Descriptive Summary Porgy and Bess letter from James Tipton C0289 George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center English 0.1 linear feet (1 item) February 12, 1942 Letter from James Tipton to his parents in Nebraska describing his experience seeing Porgy and Bess in New York City. Tipton, James Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions on personal use. Permission to publish material from the Porgy and Bess letter from James Tipton must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

 Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions.

 Historical Information

George Gershwin's iconic opera "Porgy and Bess" debuted in 1935. The work, set in an African American community in coastal South Carolina, chronicles the turbulent relationship between the title characters. James Standifer notes that "it wasn't until World War II that 'Porgy' found financial success in a production by Cheryl Crawford." Presumably this is the revival that James Tipton saw in 1942.

 Processing Information

Processing completed by Elizabeth Beckman in June 2016. EAD markup completed by Elizabeth Beckman in June 2016.

 Acquisition Information

Purchased by the Special Collections Research Center in 2015.

 Preferred Citation

Porgy and Bess letter from James Tipton, C0289, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

 Scope and Content

The collection consists of a short postcard from James Tipton to his parents, Rev. and Mrs. E.H. Tipton of Nebraska, briefly describing his experience seeing George Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess" in New York City while at school in 1942.

 Arrangement

Letter is foldered by itself.

 Bibliography

Index Terms Subjects: Theater--United States. World War, 1939-1945.