Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
pf, f, b
MS Thr 305
MS Thr 305.1
MS Thr 305.2
MS Thr 305.3
MS Thr 305.4
Muncis, Jănis, 1886-1955.
Jănis Muncis papers,
1925-1926.
3 boxes, 1 volume (2 linear ft.)
Papers of Latvian set designer Jănis Muncis.
*72M-92. Presented by Professor Albert H. Gilmer,
Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania; received: 1947 August 19.
*73M-87-88. Gift of Mrs.Zuzanna Muncis,
1155 North Tamarind Avenue, Hollywood, California 90038; received: 1973 December 5.
There are no restrictions on physical access to this material.
Preferred Citation for Publication:
Jănis Muncis Papers, 1925-1926 (MS Thr 305-305.4). Harvard Theatre Collection,
Houghton Library, Harvard University.
Muncis was a Latvian set designer who emigrated to Hollywood, California, in the late
1920s. Muncis returned to Latvia for the duration of World War II. His designs won
the Grand Prix in the theatre section of the Decorative Arts Exposition, Paris,
1925.
Organized into the following series:
- I. pfMS Thr 305: Designs for the Dailes Theatre
- II. pfMS Thr 305.1: Set designs
- III. bMS Thr 305.2: Papers
- A. Compositions
- B. Letters from Janis Muncis
- C. Letters to Janis Muncis.
- D. Letters and compositions by others
- IV. fMS Thr 305.3-pfMS Thr 305.4: Scrapbooks
Contains 10 set designs by Muncis in watercolor and ink, including 6 designs painted
on board for the 1925-1926 season at the Dailes Theatre, Riga, Latvia; typescript
manuscripts with revisions of his plays: In the Shadow of
Death, and The Shooting Star; notes;
sketches; photographs; correspondence; and scrapbooks of photos and clippings.
I. pfMS Thr 305: Designs for the Dailes Theatre
Dailes Theatre
*72M-92
(1)
[Set design for Mirabo].
Painted on board in ink and watercolor, signed; [n.p.], 1925.
1s.(1p.).
For the 1925-1926 season at the Dailes
Theatre,
Riga, Latvia.
(2)
[Set design for Love's Labour's
Lost]. Painted on board in watercolor and ink, signed;
[n.p.], 1925.
1s.(1p.).
For the 1925-1926 season at the Dailes
theatre,
Riga, Latvia.
(3)
[Set design for Hassan].
Painted on board in watercolor and ink, signed; [n.p.], 1925.
1s.(1p.).
For the 1925-1926 season at the Dailes
theatre,
Riga, Latvia.
(4)
[Set design for Skroderdeenas
Silmatschas]. Painted on board in watercolor and ink,
signed; [n.p.], 1925.
1s.(1p.).
For the 1925-1926 season at the Dailes
theatre,
Riga, Latvia.
(5)
[Set design of the castle of the
chevalier for Ligatura]. Painted on board in ink and
watercolor, signed; [n.p.], 1925.
1s.(1p.).
For the 1925-1926 season at the Dailes
theatre,
Riga, Latvia.
(6)
[Set design of the laboratory for
Ligatura]. Painted on board in ink and watercolor, unsigned;
[n.p., n.d.].
1s.(1p.).
27 1/2" x 36 1/2"; glazed and framed.
For the 1925-1926 season at the Dailes
theatre,
Riga, Latvia.
II. pfMS Thr 305.1: Set designs
*73M-87
(1-2)
Muncis, Janis, 1886-1955. [Two set designs for his
In the shadow of death].
Drawings in ink and colors, signed; [n.p.,
1949].
2s.(2p.).
For a play that was not produced.
(3)
[Set design for Faust].
Drawing in ink and colors, signed; [n.p.,
1949].
1s.(1p.).
(4)
[Set design for The lower depths].
Watercolor, signed; [n.p., ca. 1944].
1s.(1p.).
III. bMS Thr 305.2: Papers
*73M-88
A. Compositions
(1)
Muncis, Janis, 1886-1955.
The shooting star (The dictator).
TS. with MS. revisions (unidentified hand);
Hollywood, Jun 1950.
102s.(102p.).
Revised script of
The dictator,
first produced in 1932 at the Dailes
theatre,
Riga, Latvia.
(2)
Muncis, Janis, 1886-1955.
In the shadow of death.
TS.(carbon copy) with MS. revisions (unidentified hand);
Los Angeles,
1951.
142s.(143p.).
(3)
Muncis, Janis, 1886-1955. Writings about In the shadow of death. TS.s.;
Los Angeles & Hollywood,
Oct 1950 &
30 Jan 1951.
28s.(29p.).
(4)
Muncis, Janis, 1886-1955.
In the shadow of death.
TS.(carbon copy), unsigned; Los Angeles,
Oct 1950.
20s.(20p.).
(5)
Muncis, Janis, 1886-1955. [Miscellaneous notes from Theatre arts,
etc...]. A.MS.(unsigned); [n.p., n.d.].
63s.(114p.).
With sketches.
(6)
Muncis, Janis, 1886-1955.
Production projects for Peer Gynt
by Henrik Ibsen and Blue Bird by M.
Maeterlinck. TS.(carbon copy) s.;
Hollywood, Mar -17 Mar 1950- 1952.
19s.(19p.).
With a stage diagram by Muncis and A.MS. notes.
(7)
Muncis, Janis, 1886-1955.
References. TS.s.; Los
Angeles, Oct 1951.
18s.(18p.).
With photos of Muncis, productions, designs,
correspondence, etc.
(8)
Muncis, Janis, 1886-1955. [Dossier];
1 folder.
B. Letters from Janis Muncis
Letters from Janis Muncis to various
correspondents.
(9)
American Legion. National executive committee, recipient.
1 letter; 1950.
(10)
Baker, Ira C, recipient. 1 letter; 1950.
(11)
Barko, Dorothy, recipient. 2 letters; 1949.
(12)
Berst, F J, recipient. 1 letter; 1950.
(13)
Bowron, Fletcher, recipient. 1 letter;
1952.
(14)
Brown, Gilmor, d.1960, recipient. 1 letter;
1945.
(15)
Conroy, Paul, recipient. 1 letter; 1954.
(16)
Fiefield, James W, recipient. 1 letter;
1951.
(17)
Ford Foundation, recipient. 2 letters;
1954 &
[n.d.].
(18)
Freedman, Beatrice, recipient. 1 letter;
1952.
(19)
Huntington, Hartford, 1911-, recipient. 3
letters; 1951-1954.
(20)
Hollywood Painters' Local N-5, recipient. 1
letter; 1953.
(21)
Knudsen, Mrs. Valley, recipient. 1 letter;
1950.
(22)
Lester, Edwin, recipient. 1 letter; 1954.
(23)
Millikan, Mrs. Robert, recipient. 1 letter;
1950.
(24)
Prickett, Charles F, recipient. 2 letters;
1952.
(25)
Ramser, Mrs. Harold C, recipient. 1 letter;
[n.d.].
(26)
Strevey, Tracey E, recipient. 1 letter;
1950.
(27)
[], recipient. 1 letter; 1950.
C. Letters to Janis Muncis.
Letters to Janis Muncis from various correspondents.
(28)
Bardmore, Elman. 1 letter; 1953.
(29)
Barko, Dorothy. 1 letter; 1949.
(30)
Berssen, William. 1 letter; 1951.
(31)
Church World Service. U.S. Resettlement headquarters.
Munich-Posing. 1 letter; 1949.
(32)
Conroy, Paul. 1 letter; 1954.
(33)
Creamer, [Mrs. Michael]. 1 letter; 1950.
(34)
Driscoll, []. 1 letter; 1951.
(35)
Felter, Timothy. 1 letter; 1953.
(36)
Hughes, Rupert, 1872-1956. 1 letter;
[n.d.].
(37)
Lester, Edwin 1 letter; 1950.
(38)
McDaniel, Joseph M 1 letter; 1955.
(39)
Niemo, Lech T 1 letter; 1951.
(40)
Ostermann, [] 1 letter; [1955].
(41)
Pichel, Irving 1 letter; 1950.
(42)
Prager, Ruth E 1 letter; 1948.
(43)
Putnam, Virginia 11 letters; 1948-1949 & [n.d.].
(44)
Saardo, Inga 1 letter; 1949.
(45)
Strevey, Tracey E 1 letter; 1950.
(46)
Warfield, J W 3 letters; 1952.
(47)
[] 1 letter; 1949
D. Letters and compositions by others
(48)
Barko, Dorothy 1 letter to Lillian
Gish;
1949.
(49)
Barko, Dorothy 1 letter to the
Lutheran Welfare Society;
1949.
(50)
Cooper, Douglass 1 letter to the Board of
directors, Pasadena Community Playhouse,
Pasadena, Cal.;
1949.
(51)
Freedley, George, 1904- 1 letter to
Virginia Putnam;
1949.
(52)
Jones, Margo, 1913-1955. 1 letter to
[Virginia] Putnam;
1949.
(53)
Prickett, Charles F 1 letter to
Douglass Cooper;
1949.
(54)
Putnam, Virginia 1 letter to the
American National Theatre and Academy;
1949.
(55)
Putnam, Virginia 1 letter to the
Barter theatre,
Abingdon, Virginia;
1949.
(56)
Putnam, Virginia 1 letter to George
Freedley;
1949.
(57)
Putnam, Virginia 1 letter to Maxwell
Short;
1949.
(58)
Watson, Warner 1 letter to Virginia
Putnam;
1949.
(59)
Zoff, Otto, 1890-1962. 3 letters to
Virginia Putnam;
1949.
1 letter signed by secretary.
(60)
1 printed questionnaire filled in by Muncis;
[n.p., n.d.].
1s.(6p.).
(61)
1 affidavit certified by Muncis;
1949.
IV. fMS Thr 305.3-pfMS Thr 305.4: Scrapbooks
*73M-88
fMS Thr 305.3
Muncis, Janis, 1886-1955.
Scrapbook of photos and
clippings.
fMS Thr 305.4
Muncis, Janis, 1886-1955.
Scrapbook and album.