SC- 19
Barto Performing Arts Collection, 1946-2003
Harold and Virginia Barto were both graduates of Lycoming College. Virginia received her
master’s degree in library science from Drexel University. Harold attained both a master’s and a
doctorate from Rutgers University. He was a professor of American History. In later years, they
traveled to Europe during the summer, and made sure to spend extra time in London to enjoy the
shows. The collection was donated in 2019 by their children: Elizabeth Stauder and Jeffrey Barto.

Box 1:
Collection of Playbills and Showbills mostly from New York City in the Broadway
district. The programs date from March 1950 to May 1990. Each has the date of the show they
attended on the front of the program. Some of the Theaters they visited multiple times. These
include:
-

Ambassador Theatre
Alvin Theatre
Broadhurst Theatre
Century Theatre
Circle in the Square Theatre
Circle Repertory Company
City Center
Eugene O’Neill Theatre
John Golden Theatre
Lyceum Theatre
Neil Simon Theatre
New Apollo Theatre
New York Shakespeare Festival Public Theatre
Mark Hellinger Theatre
Morocco theatre
Palace Theatre
Plymouth Theatre
Roundabout Theatre Company
Shubert Theatre
St. James Theatre
The Booth Theatre
The Broadway Theatre

Box 2:
Includes the Playbills dating from May 1990 to December 1993. The remaining programs
are from various forms of performing arts. The left side of the box are programs related to theatre
shows, ranging from the 1940s through early 2000s. The right side of the box are all the
Stagebills from Carnegie Hall, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Kennedy Center. The back
half of the right side are various music and dance programs. There are also more than 20
programs of productions by the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble.
The couple visited London more frequently after Harold retired.
London trips occurred most often in the late 1980s and 1990s during the months of
March and August. Theatres visited most frequently included:
-

Adelphi Theatre
Albery Theatre
Aldwych Theatre
Apollo Theatre
Comedy Theatre
Gielgud Theatre
The Globe
Haymarket
Lyric Theatre
Royal National Theatre
Savoy Theatre
Vaudeville Theatre
Wyndham’s Theatre

Box 3:
The main items in Box 3 are oversized programs. They are organized chronologically,
but are mixed between Theatre, Art, and Dance. These include the larger programs, newspaper
clippings, and London theatre guides. There is also a folder with several undated items.