The Hugo Keesing Collection on Elvis Presley
Abstract
The Hugo Keesing Collection of Popular Music and Culture consists of books, serials, recordings, sheet music, clippings, and memorabilia related to 20th century American popular music, in particular rock 'n' roll. Collected by Hugo A. Keesing, a professor at the University of Maryland and a popular culture scholar, with his brother Wouter Keesing, the bulk of the collection covers the period from the 1950s through the 1990s. The Collection has been separated into five record groups. This record group includes magazines, books, newspaper clippings, realia, and ephemera relating to Elvis Presley.
Important Information for Users of the Collection
The collection is open for research use.
The Hugo Keesing Collection on Elvis Presley, Special Collections, University of Maryland Libraries.
Materials from this collection must be used in the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library's Irving and Margery Morgan Lowens Special Collections Room, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Contact the curator for an appointment: http://www.lib.umd.edu/scpa/contact
This collection is PROCESSED.
Historical Note
Elvis Presley (January 8, 1935 - August 16, 1977) was an American singer, musician, and actor who became a cultural icon often referred to as "the King." Likely the most important and influential of the 1950s American pop stars, he was later known for eccentricity and a highly profiled decline.
Scope and Contents of the Collection
The Hugo Keesing Collection on Popular Music and Culture has been separated into five record groups. This record group includes magazines, books, newspaper clippings, realia, and ephemera relating to Elvis Presley.
Custodial History and Acquisition Information
Gift of Hugo Keesing received in shipments beginning in September 1996, and is ongoing (as of 2009).
Processing Information
Processed by Mary Crauderueff, October 2008.
EAD markup created using EAD databased in Microsoft Access. Markup completed by Mary Crauderueff, February 2009.
Arrangement of Collection
This collection is organized into five series.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series 1: Realia, 1977, 1992 (2 items)
This series contains realia of Elvis. Materials are arranged chronologically.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-shirt - Rochester, 1977 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 1 | |
| Hallmark Keepsake Ornament, 1992 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 2 | |
Series 2: Ephemera, 1978, 1980, 1997, undated (4 folders)
This series contains ephemera of Elvis, including postcards and calendars.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Envelopes with stamps (2), undated | series 2 | box 1 | folder 3 | |
| "Last Will and Testament of Elvis Aaron Presley" with copy of Drivers License and marriage certificate, undated | series 2 | box 1 | folder 4 | |
| One envelope filled with collectables, undated | series 2 | box 1 | folder 5 | |
| Calendar, 1980 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 6 | |
| Elvis Calendar, 1997 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 7 | |
| "Elvis Lives: He Sent You This Memo" Post-It notes, undated | series 2 | box 1 | folder 8 | |
| Four Greeting Cards with Elvis on the cover, one does not have an envelope, undated | series 2 | box 1 | folder 9 | |
| Color Elvis Calendar (2), 1978 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 10 | |
| postcard: Elvis Presley, writing on back, addressed to Hugo and Marilyn Keesing, undated | series 2 | box 1 | folder 11 | |
| picture card: Royal mini print - Elvis B11157, undated | series 2 | box 1 | folder 12 | |
| postcard: "I've Been to 'Graceland'", undated | series 2 | box 1 | folder 13 | |
| picture card: Royal mini print - Elvis B11738, undated | series 2 | box 1 | folder 14 | |
| picture card: Royal mini print - Elvis B11739, undated | series 2 | box 1 | folder 15 | |
| greeting card: artwork of Elvis on front, undated | series 2 | box 1 | folder 16 | |
| Find Elvis Glitter Wand, gold ends, undated | series 2 | box 1 | folder 17 | |
| Elvis Presley Mesh Ball cap, undated | series 2 | box 1 | folder 18 | |
| Two Elvis The King plastic cups, different designs, undated | series 2 | box 1 | folder 19 | |
| Two pieces of two balloons, one green, one white, "Elvis: Astoria theatre", undated | series 2 | box 1 | folder 20 | |
| Plastic Elvis Mask (full head), torn on ears (small tear on left, big on right), plastic lining inside face of mask, undated | series 2 | box 1 | folder 21 | |
| Rock 'n' Roll Beer with Elvis, undated | series 2 | box 1 | folder 22 | |
| "Love Me Tender" Moisturizing Milk Bath, undated | series 2 | box 1 | folder 23 | |
| Assembled Gum Boxes: Box 128 (1A of 3) and Box 131 (3a of 3). Note: Housed with other Gum Boxes:, undated | series 2 | box 1 | folder 24 | |
| 2 glazed busts of Elvis, undated | series 2 | box 1 | folder 25 | |
| Advertisement for Elvis Stamps, undated | series 2 | box 3 | folder 1 | |
| Postcard, undated | series 2 | box 3 | folder 2 | |
Series 3: Clippings, 1974-1975, 1977, undated (0.50 linear feet)
This series includes newspaper clippings and articles relating to Elvis.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | Item | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newspapers in a plastic bag, undated | series 3 | box 2 | folder 1 | ||
| Clippings and Catalogs (half box full), undated | series 3 | box 2 | folder 2 | ||
| Articles, undated | series 3 | box 2 | folder 3 | ||
| De vreemde gedragingen van de vette, ouder woerdende Elvis Presley, Prive, undated | series 3 | box 2 | folder 3 | item 1.0 | |
| The Elvis Generation, The Chronicle of Higher Education, 1977 | series 3 | box 2 | folder 3 | item 2.0 | |
| Exclusief voor Prive de verboden foto!, Prive, undated | series 3 | box 2 | folder 3 | item 3.0 | |
| The Sun Recording Career of Elvis Presley, Joe Haertel, 1974 | series 3 | box 2 | folder 3 | item 4.0 | |
| Recording Sessions 1954-1974 - Elvis Presley, 1975 | series 3 | box 2 | folder 3 | item 5.0 | |
| Miscellaneous articles or order forms, undated | series 3 | box 2 | folder 3 | item 6.0 | |
| Photocopies of covers: Elvis Presley, Pat Boone, Bill Haley - Rock n' Roll Battlers, undated | series 3 | box 2 | folder 4 | ||
Series 4: Magazines, 1974-1990, 1995, undated (0.50 linear feet)
This series includes magazines either partially or entirely about Elvis.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TV Guide, 1981 and 1988 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 5 | |
| Life, June, 1990 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 6 | |
| The New York Times magazine, September 24, 1995 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 7 | |
| Forbes, October 2, 1988 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 8 | |
| Twenty Five Years The King: 1956-1981 Official Elvis Presley Fan Club World Wide, undated | series 4 | box 2 | folder 9 | |
| The Life and Death of Elvis Presley, 1977 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 10 | |
| Elvis Presley: A Photoplay Tribute, 1977 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 11 | |
| The Love of Elvis, 1979 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 12 | |
| "Elvis:" Astoria Theatre, undated | series 4 | box 2 | folder 13 | |
| Het Intieme Foto Album Van Elvis, 1977 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 14 | |
| The Elvis YearsCircus Magazine's Pinup No. 3 (3 copies), 1975 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 15 | |
| Het Verborgen Leven Van Elvis Presley, undated | series 4 | box 2 | folder 16 | |
| Elvis: The Trials and Triumphs of the Legendary King of Rock & RollTattler, May, 1976 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 17 | |
| A Tribute to the King, 1977 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 18 | |
| Elvis Presley SpecialMonty Magazines, undated | series 4 | box 2 | folder 19 | |
| Elvis: One year LaterFall, 1978 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 20 | |
| Elvis-August 16-A Time to Remember16 Magazine, 1978 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 21 | |
| Elvis: As He Was, 1978 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 22 | |
| Forever Elvis: The Memorial Tour to Memphis, 1980 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 23 | |
| ElvisRCA, 1983-1984 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 24 | |
| Joel Whitburn's 45 RPM Record Sale volume 3, undated | series 4 | box 2 | folder 25 | |
| Musique Boutique (2), undated | series 4 | box 2 | folder 26 | |
| Vintage Rock 'n Roll Catalog, 1986 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 27 | |
| Milliyet Aktualite, undated | series 4 | box 2 | folder 28 | |
| Music Books for Christmas, undated | series 4 | box 2 | folder 29 | |
| Strictly Elvis, July, 1974 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 30 | |
| Compendium Music Catalogue, Fall, 1977 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 31 | |
| Carpenter, 1981 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 32 | |
| Mean Mountain Music: A Tribute to Sam C. Phillips international, undated | series 4 | box 2 | folder 33 | |
| Goldmine: June, 1979 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 34 | |
| TipTop, undated | series 4 | box 2 | folder 35 | |
| Pulse, July 1992 | series 4 | box 3 | folder 4 | |
| TV Guide, February 17-23 1990 | series 4 | box 3 | folder 5 | |
| The Record Spinner, August 1, 1983 | series 4 | box 3 | folder 6 | |
Series 5: Books, undated (4 books)
This series contains books specifically about Elvis.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dutch biography, undated | series 5 | box 2 | folder 36 | |
| Elvis Presley Poster Book volume 1, undated | series 5 | box 2 | folder 37 | |
| Elvis: Elvis on Stage, undated | series 5 | box 2 | folder 38 | |
| Elvis Answers Back!; Meet Elvis, Star Special #1, undated | series 5 | box 2 | folder 39 | |
Related Material
The Keesing Collection has been separated into five record groups. Three of these groups are materials of artists: Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, and The Beatles. One record group, Wouter Keesing, includes the research of Wouter Keesing, as well as material on Fats Domino, New Orleans, and Jazz/ R&B. The last record group is On Popular Music and Culture, materials that are not artist specific. Each record group contains specific material regarding the artists. This does not mean that there is no material of these artists in the rest of the collection - it is possible that in magazines and newspaper clippings there are related articles. What this does mean is that the collection does not have all of the material housed by type, but with the record group. Furthermore, if a researcher is looking for all realia or ephemera, for example, they will need to look across the record groups to find all they are looking for. There are hundreds of books from this collection that have been cataloged and are located in the Lowens Room using the prefix MKEESING. There are also thousands of LPs and records from this collection that will be cataloged.
For other related archival and manuscript collections, please see the following subject guides.