1. Programmes
The bulk of the collection consists of programmes to be found in the following sources:
- 1A: Programmes
Over 100 boxes filed in alphabetical order of theatre and date.
Over 90 boxes cover London performances. 4 cover the English provinces, 1 Dublin, and 5 Europe and the USA.
Location: 7X-8N
Coverage: c. 1830 to present.
- 1B: Programmes
17 small bound volumes 1860 to 1938, which cover performances in London, Paris, New York, Salzburg. These include concerts, opera, ballet as well as plays. All volumes are indexed.
Location: 5P7.
- 1C: Programmes
Programmes as well as playbills, cuttings and illustrations:
- Adelphi 1806-1881 (4 folders): Location: 4N6
- Alhambra and Royal Aquarium mainly late 19th century (1 box): Location: 4N8.
- 1D: Programmes
12 very large scrapbooks dating from the 1880's to 1939, containing programmes and review cuttings. These cover London performances on the whole, but there are some provincial and continental examples. All volumes are indexed.
Location: 4M2-4M5.
- 1E: Programmes
4 small loose-leaf volumes, which contain London and provincial programmes dating from 1926 -1945. These each have a list of contents.
Location: 5P4-5P5.
- 1F: Programmes
Prints boxes.
A few early programmes are stored here, and can be found by means of the prints index.
- 1G: Programmes
MASCHWITZ, Eric: "London Theatres".
The late Eric Maschwitz compiled a 3 volume collection on London theatres and performances, c. 1894 - 1905, using programmes, press cuttings and photographs. His widow donated these to City of Westminster Archives.
Location: 4M2.
- 1H: Programmes
Classified programmes.
A few programmes, usually souvenir programmes, have been treated as books. These can be found through the author catalogue, under the name of the theatre.
- 1J: Programmes
11 volumes of news cuttings and programmes of Her Majesty's Theatre, 1844-58.
Location: 4M1-4M2
All the programmes in groups 1B Programmes and 1D Programmes have been indexed as follows:
- London,
- provincial
- and foreign,
- by name of theatre
- and then chronologically.
