UpDate - Vol. 15, No. 15, Page 1
December 14, 1995
Generous gift includes rare playbills & posters

     Mrs. Howard P. Brokaw of Greenville and Mrs. Willard Crichton Jr.
of New Castle recently donated more than 1,300 19th-century theatre
playbills and posters to the University Library.
     The playbills, programs, posters and memorabilia included in the
Brokaw/ Crichton collection represent theatre life, especially that of
New York City, in the 1870s and 1880s.
     Included are many interesting examples of advertising styles and
techniques, printing styles, fashions and theatre architecture, as
well as information about theatres, performances, music and theatrical
personalities of the period.
     A rich resource for researchers, the collection has a scope and
depth that will support the work of research interests in American
studies, history, literature, publishing and printing, advertising and
graphic arts.
     "The University of Delaware and its library are fortunate to have
received this generous gift. It is through such philanthropy that the
library can add significant collections to enrich its distinguished
collection for academia," Susan Brynteson, director of libraries,
said.
     "When cataloged, Mrs. Brokaw's and Mrs. Crichton's items also
will be appreciated by faculty and students who will use the materials
for research for decades into the future," she said.
     A finding aid to the collection has been prepared, and the
collection is available for use.
     For more information, to donate materials or to obtain a brochure
for the University of Delaware Library Associates, call the office of
the director at 831-2231.
                                                          -Beth Thomas