University of Washington Libraries, Special CollectionsPH0525Morgan, Blanche, 1912-1981Blanche Morgan
drawings and watercolors 1937-1962approximately 1 cubic foot (3
boxes containing 40 pieces of art work, 1 sketchbook, 1 placard, and
more)English.Photographs,
drawings, and other materials related to the career of a set and costume
designer, as well as her watercolors, sketches of set and costume designs for
WPA Seattle Negro Repertory CompanyBlanche Morgan (1912-1981) was a set and costume designer for the
Seattle Negro Repertory Company, a subsidiary of the WPA's Federal Theater
Project which put on plays with African-American actors. She was also a
watercolor artist and interior designer for Frederick & Nelson. She studied
at the University of Washington and was a member of Women Painters of
Washington, Northwest Watercolor Society, and the National Association of Women
Artists. Her art departed from the traditional attitudes of loose, whimsical
images done with watercolor, concentrating more on crisp, precise form and
design. She exhibited in New York as well as the Oakland Art Museum, Seattle
Art Museum and other regional venues. During her tenure with Seattle's Negro
Repertory Company from 1937 to 1939, the company produced "Androcles and the
Lion," "Is Zat So," "Black Empire," "Brer Rabbit and the Tar Baby" (a
Children’s Unit production), "An Evening with Dunbar," "Mississippi Rainbow,"
"The Dragon Wishbone" (Children’s Unit), and "Taming of the Shrew." In her work
for Frederick & Nelson she designed a Japanese themed Higashi-Nishi room
which was on display at the Century 21 World's Fair in Seattle in 1962 which
featured the "luxurious new U.S. Royal Naugahyde."
The Federal Theater Project (FTP) was established by the WPA to
provide employment for theater professionals during the Great Depression. The
FTP opened in Seattle in 1935 with the sponsorship of the Seattle Repertory
Company and the support of the University of Washington Drama School and drama
professor Glenn Hughes. The Negro Repertory Company (NRC) opened as a
subsidiary of the FTP in January of 1936 with 73 actors and singers. The NRC
was initially intended as a temporary effort, but strong reception led to the
continuation of the company.
Florence and Burton James of the Seattle Repertory Playhouse headed
the production of the NRC until their departure in the autumn of 1937. Hallie
Flanagan, the national director of the FTP, then sent Esther Porter to lead the
Seattle NRC. Blanche Morgan had been the principal designer for the FTP until
Porter hired her for NRC productions.
The Negro Repertory Company’s effort totaled 15 productions, second
only to New York City, with both cities enjoying continuously active Negro
units until the abolition of the Federal Theater Project by a Congressional act
in June of 1939.
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Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication.
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details.
The collection includes watercolors and sketches of set and costume
designs for the Seattle Negro Repertory Company's Third Season (1937-1938)
productions; these included "Androcles and the Lion," "Black Empire," and "Brer
Rabbit and the Tar Baby." The collection also includes a spiral sketchbook of
designs and cast roster from Federal Theater Project’s 1939 production of
"Spirochete," as well as a placard advertising a Federal Theater Colored Unit
show. The collection includes images of Blanche Morgan, as well as photographs
of her with Eleanor Roosevelt. Additional items include watercolor and graphite
drawings related to her set designs, four printed pieces about her
Higashi-Nishi Decor for the Century 21 World's Fair, and clippings about her
work. The collection contains a painted poster design she submitted to the War
Poster Competition at the Seattle Art Museum. The collection also includes
certificates and diplomas for Ebba Rapp McLauchlan.
Organized into 2 accessions.
- Accession No. PH0525, Blanche Morgan drawings and watercolors,
1937-1939
- Federal Theater Project Productions
- Unknown productions
- Ephemera
- Accession No. PH2024-010, Blanche Morgan Drawings, Photographs
and Ephemera, approximately 1937-1962
Source: Martin-Zambito Fine Art; received in 1997. PH2024-010 was
received in 2011.
Processed by Sarah Nelson, 2004. PH2024-010 added in 2024 and
minimally processed.
Evamarii Alexandria Johnson,
A Production of The Seattle Federal Theatre Project Negro
Repertory Company: 1935-1939, Dissertation (Ph.D.), University of
Washington, 1981.
The University of Washington Drama School Federal Theater Project
Photograph Collection, PH Coll 455, contains photographs of the Federal Theater
Project productions. More photographs of Negro Repertory Company productions
can also be found in University of Washington Theaters Photograph Collection,
PH Coll 236.
Negro Repertory CompanyFederal Theater Project (Seattle, Wash.)Seattle (Wash.)--PhotographsTheatrical companies--Washington (State)--SeattleBlack theater--Washington (State)--SeattleWatercolorsSketchesSketchbooksSet design drawingsCostume design drawingsVisual Materials Collections (University of Washington)SeattleAfrican AmericansPerforming ArtsArts and HumanitiesFine Arts
Accession No. PH0525: Blanche Morgan drawings and watercolors, 1937-193940 pieces of art work, 1 sketchbook (2 boxes) :
Sketches and watercolor on paper; 1 placardScope and Content: The collection includes watercolors and sketches of set and
costume designs for the Seattle Negro Repertory Company's Third Season
(1937-1938) productions; these included "Androcles and the Lion," "Black
Empire," and "Brer Rabbit and the Tar Baby." The collection also includes a
spiral sketchbook of designs and cast roster from Federal Theater Project's
1939 production of "Spirochete," as well as a placard advertising a Federal
Theater Colored Unit show.
Arrangement: Arranged in 3 series.
- Federal Theater Project Productions
- Unknown productions
- Ephemera
Restrictions on Access: Presume open to all users.
Restrictions on Use: Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication.
Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for
details.
Acquisition Info: Source: Martin-Zambito Fine Art; received in 1997.
Federal Theater Project
Productions1937-1939Androcles and the
Lion1/1-1/31-3Coliseum design 19391/44Costume design for Lavinia1939 1/55Dungeon design19391/66Cave design 1939 1/77Jungle design 1939 2/18Jungle design19392/19Jungle design on tissue1939Black Empire1/810Set design titled "VooDoo" with
people and drums1937 2/211Costume design of long white
robe1937Brer Rabbit and the Tar
Baby1/912Woods and fox den1938 1/1013Forest scene19381/1114Forest scene19382/315Path leading over hills to
horizon2/416Fox costume designs1938Grandma's Goin' To
Town1/1217Futuristic set design1938 Is Zat So?1/1318-20Costume design1937 Mother Goose1/1421Cow jumping over the moon motif
with rainbow backgroundPursuit of Happiness1/1522Parlor design1937Spirochette1/1623Costume design19391/1724Sketchbook 1939Tomorrow's A Holiday1/1825Parlor design1938Unknown productionsCostume Studies1/1926Woman's formal dressundated 1/2027Women's hatsundated Landscape1/2128Figure on pierundated 1/2229Rocky coastlineundated1/2330Small town in mountain setting undated 1/2431Spanish colonial villageundatedSets1/2532Egyptian Palaceundated1/2633Empty room with fancy paneling undated1/2734Empty room with Europe postersundated 1/2835Granary study undated1/2936Meeting roomundated1/3037Elegant office undated 1/3138Office in a sky scraperundated1/3239Palace exteriorundated2/540Surreal city undatedEphemera2/641Half a poster for a Federal Theater WPA Colored Unit
showundatedAccession No. PH2024-010: Blanche Morgan Drawings, Photographs and Ephemera, approximately 1937-19620.25 cubic feet (1 box)Scope and Content: Photographs, drawings, and other materials related to the career
of Blanche Morgan Losey, an interior and set designer. The collection includes
images of Blanche Morgan, as well as photographs of her with Eleanor Roosevelt.
It also features costume, interior, and set designs, including works created
for the WPA Federal Negro Theater Company. Additional items include watercolor
and graphite drawings related to her set designs, four printed pieces about her
Higashi-Nishi Decor for the Century 21 World's Fair, and clippings about her
work. The collection contains a painted poster design she submitted to the War
Poster Competition at the Seattle Art Museum. The collection also includes
certificates and diplomas for Ebba Rapp McLauchlan.
Restrictions on Access: No restrictions on access.
Restrictions on Use: Status of creator's copyrights is unknown; restrictions may exist
on copying, quotation, or publication. Users are responsible for researching
copyright status before use.
Acquisition Info: David Martin, Martin-Zambito Gallery, 2011