Jack Lee (1929-2016) was a prominent musical theater director on Broadway and in touring shows. Jack worked with many of the biggest names on Broadway, such as Sandy Duncan, Tommy Tune, Gwen Verdon, and Chita Rivera. Jack was an inveterate collector and amassed a significant collection of scores, scripts, books, and other materials relating to Broadway and his other love, classical music. Jack willed his collection to his alma mater, Baldwin Wallace University, upon his passing in 2016.
The collection consists of a wide variety of materials: published scores; unpublished production scores for various musicals; books; scripts and libretti; a substantial collection of sheet music, primarily American; and memorabilia including posters, scrapbooks, and photo albums. The sheet music collections include a collection of 19th-century sheet music relating to Madame Vestris, London’s first significant female impresario. This appears to be the largest such collection in the United States (over 100 pieces).Other highlights include various numbers cut from musicals; Jerome Kern’s original script for Gypsy; and signed music and posters.
For assistance with the Jack Lee Collection, please contact Conservatory Librarian Paul Cary.
