Genevieve Pitot papers

Collection

Identifier: LaRC-788

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

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."

Dates

1922-1980

Creator

Pitot, Genevieve, 1901-1980. (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open to the public. No known restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

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

Biographical / Historical

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.

Extent

7.5 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

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.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Mrs. Marcel Farnet of New Orleans, niece of Genevieve Pitot. Date acquired: 11/30/1979. Additional material donated for this collection in 1990 by Mr. and Mrs. Henry Pitot.

Other Descriptive Information

OCLC Number: 433173219

Subjects

Sullivan, Joseph P., d. 1961.
Composers -- United States Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Correspondence Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Dance music -- Scores Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Musical theater -- United States -- History -- 20th century Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Musicals -- United States -- 20th century Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Photographs Subject Source: Local sources
Pianists -- United States Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Scores Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Women composers -- United States Subject Source: Library Of Congress Subject Headings