Genevieve Pitot papers, 1922-1980 | Louisiana Research Collection

By Jazmin Smith

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Collection Overview

Title: Genevieve Pitot papers, 1922-1980

ID: LaRC/Manuscripts Collection 788

Primary Creator: Pitot, Genevieve, 1901-1980.

Extent: 5.0 Boxes. More info below.

Arrangement: The collection is arranged as follows: biographical material, correspondence, telegrams, sketches of Genevieve Pitot, rollography, photographs, Confederate money, Paris map and pictures, newspaper clippings, Broadway musical scores, ballet scores, dances and songs written to poetry, audio tapes of music and talk, and music books in anthologies and method books. The collection consists of 5 boxes and one bound volume. It is 7.5 linear feet.

Date Acquired: 00/00/1980

Subjects: Composers -- United States., Dance music -- Scores., Musicals -- United States -- 20th century., Musical theater -- United States -- History -- 20th century., Pianists -- United States., Pitot, Genevieve, 1901-1980., Sullivan, Joseph P., d. 1961., Women composers -- United States.

Forms of Material: Correspondence., Photographs., Scores.

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

This collection consists of a wide variety of material relating to the life of Genevieve Pitot (1901-1980), a composer for the American musical theater. Included are biographical material, correspondence, sketches, telegrams, photographs, family papers, newspaper clippings, published scores, musical compositions to other authors' poetry, photocopies of documents and printed material, audiotapes of music and spoken words, music books, theater playbills and posters. There are published scores from Broadway musicals and the ballet, including "Kiss Me Kate," "Miss Liberty," "Can Can", "Saratoga", "Roads to Hell", and "Mardi Gras."

Biographical Note

Genevieve Pitot was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on May 20, 1901, a descendant of the second mayor of New Orleans, James Pitot (1761-1831). She was trained in Paris as a classical pianist, and was married to Joseph P. Sullivan of New York City. She began her association with dance and the musical theater in the 1930s, when she played for classes taught by Martha Graham and other leading American modern dance choreographers. Genevieve Pitot had a long and successful career and was known for arranging and composing music for dance sequences in Broadway musicals such as "Kiss Me, Kate," "Call Me Madam," "Can-Can," "Silk Stockings," "Destry Rides Again," "Milk and Honey," "Shangri La" and "Li'l Abner." She died in New Orleans, October 4, 1980.

Subject/Index Terms

Composers -- United States.
Dance music -- Scores.
Musicals -- United States -- 20th century.
Musical theater -- United States -- History -- 20th century.
Pianists -- United States.
Pitot, Genevieve, 1901-1980.
Sullivan, Joseph P., d. 1961.
Women composers -- United States.

Administrative Information

Repository: Louisiana Research Collection

Alternate Extent Statement: 7.5 linear feet

Access Restrictions: Collection is open to the public. No known restrictions.

Use Restrictions: Physical rights are retained by the Louisiana Research Collection. Copyright is retained in accordance with U.S. copyright laws.

Acquisition Source: Mrs. Marcel Farnet of New Orleans, niece of Genevieve Pitot. Additional material donated for this collection in 1990 by Mr. and Mrs. Henry Pitot.

Acquisition Method: Gift.

Preferred Citation: Genevieve Pitot papers, Manuscripts Collection 788, Louisiana Research Collection, Howard-Tilton Memorial Library, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118

Finding Aid Revision History: Inventory entered by LAC in 2011.

Other Note: OCLC Number: 433173219

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

[Box 1: Biography, correspondence and other papers],
[Box 2: Scores (Broadway Musicals and Ballet)],
[Box 3: Ballet, dances and songs],
[Box 4: Genevieve Pitot tapes],
[Box 5: Genevieve Pitot's music books (anthologies and method books)],
[All]

Box 3: Ballet, dances and songs

Folder 1: "Cool Off"
Volume 1: "Ballerina"
Folder 2: "Drat the Cat"
Folder 3: "Girl who came to supper"
Folder 4: "Golden Age", Harkness Ballet
Folder 5: Umbrella dances, Pernambuco
Folder 6: Children's dances
Folder 7: Polka
Folder 8: Janet's dance
Folder 9: David and Mariesh dances
Folder 10: Elizabethan dance
Folder 11: "My Cricket Children"
Folder 12: "Rain Has Fallen All the Day", from a James Joyce poem
Folder 13: "I Hear an Army" from a James Joyce poem
Folder 14: "O it was out by Donnycarney" from a James Joyce poem
Folder 15: "Sleep Now, O Sleep Now" from a James Joyce poem
Folder 16: "I Hear the noise of Waters" from a James Joyce poem
Folder 17: "My Love is in a light Attire" from a James Joyce poem
Folder 18: "My River", poem by Emily Dickinson
Folder 19: "The Morns are Meeker", poem by Emily Dickinson
Folder 20: "Presentiment", poem by Emily Dickinson
Folder 21: "Flower in the Storm", for Evelyn Sachs
Folder 22: "Not a Voice or Stir" for Evelyn Sachs
Folder 23: "Carven Gods" for Evelyn Sachs
Folder 24: "Ecstacy" for Evelyn Sachs
Folder 25: "A Birthday" for Evelyn Sachs
Folder 26: "Lady Butterfly" for Evelyn Sachs
Folder 27: "Velvet Shoes" for Evelyn Sachs
Folder 28: "By the Lake" for Evelyn Sachs
Folder 29: "The Media Cannon", Paul Chatetlain poem
Folder 30: "December 1972", Paul Chatetlain poem
Folder 31: "Humble One", E.E. Cummings poem
Folder 32: "When I am Dead", Rosetti poem
Folder 33: "Eyes that last I saw in Tears", T.S. Eliot poem
Folder 34: "Explanation" and "Pride"
Folder 35: "Who'll be a Witness"
Folder 36: "Here's where I belong"
Folder 37: "Listen to de Lam"
Folder 38: "When the Saints come marching in"
Folder 39: "My days have been so wondrous free"
Folder 40: Assorted spirituals
Folder 41: Agnes, for ten instruments
Folder 42: "Omnibus"
Folder 43: "Pier 12"
Folder 44: "Oiseau de Paradis"
Folder 45: Pavane
Folder 46: Ragtime, incomplete
Folder 47: Roundabout, Let's Play another Game
Folder 48: Bayou Ballads

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