The Hugo Keesing Collection on The Beatles
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 realia, ephemera, recordings, magazines, books, newspaper clippings, and person/tour material on The Beatles.
Important Information for Users of the Collection
The collection is open for research use.
The Hugo Keesing Collection on The Beatles, 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
The Beatles were a band formed in Liverpool, England in 1960. The band primarily consisted of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison. They are famous for, among many things, their role in the "British Invasion" into the United States in the mid 1960s and the subsequent "Beatlemania." They disbanded in 1970, each branching into solo careers. Throughout their career as a band, The Beatles' music evolved by their use of many different and innovative styles and recording techniques. The Beatles also produced five films, and were very influential in popular culture in general.
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 realia, ephemera, recordings, magazines, books, newspaper clippings, and person/tour material on The Beatles.
Custodial History and Acquisition Information
Gift of Hugo Keesing received in shipments beginning in September 1996, and is ongoing (as of 2009).
Processing Information
Mary Crauderueff
EAD markup created using EAD database in Microsoft Access. Markup completed by Mary Crauderueff, February 2009.
Arrangement of Collection
This collection is arranged into seven series
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series 1: Realia, undated (4 items)
This subseries includes posters, inflatable Beatles dolls, and other items. Materials are arranged by type.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beatles wig, undated | series 1 | box 1 | folder 1 | |
| Paul McCartney inflatable doll, undated | series 1 | box 1 | folder 2 | |
| Ringo Starr inflatable doll, undated | series 1 | box 1 | folder 3 | |
| Album Cover for "The Beetle Beat" featuring I want to hold your hand/ The Buggs, undated | series 1 | box 1 | folder 4 | |
| 4 posters - One each of The Beatles being the equivalent of a black velvet portrait. These are stored in a tube., undated | series 1 | box 3 | folder 1 | |
Series 2: Ephemera, 1967, undated (4 items)
This subseries includes calendars, postcards, and other memorabilia. Materials are arranged by type.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lennon Color Calendar, 1981 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 5 | |
| The Beatles: A 1990 Calendar, 1990 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 6 | |
| blank postcard: The Beatles, undated | series 2 | box 1 | folder 7 | |
| 1 greeting card - "They say, 'all you need is love'... I'm here to give you all you need", undated | series 2 | box 1 | folder 8 | |
| 2 envelopes with decorative drawings, undated | series 2 | box 1 | folder 9 | |
| 100 original Beatle stamps (stamp book in protective leaf), undated | series 2 | box 1 | folder 10 | |
Series 3: Recordings, 1974-1975, 1977, undated (0.50 linear feet)
This subseries includes recordings.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 mm record - She Loves You / I'll Get You (warped), undated | series 3 | box 1 | folder 11 | |
| 35 mm record - Can't Buy Me Love / You Can't Do That (warped), undated | series 3 | box 1 | folder 12 | |
Series 4: Magazines, 1964-1990, 1995, undated (0.50 linear feet)
This subseries includes whole magazines that are dedications or tributes to the Beatles, as well as articles from magazines.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Magazine Presents John Lennon and the Beatles: A Loving Tribute, 1981, 1981 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 1 | |
| The Beatles Forever, 1980 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 2 | |
| John Lennon: A Tribute, December, 1980 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 3 | |
| John Lennon Tribute: Winter, 1980 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 4 | |
| Life: November 7, 1969 (2), February 1984, April 16, 1971, 1969, 1971, 1984 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 5 | |
| Look: January 9, 1968 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 6 | |
| Muziek Parade, undated | series 4 | box 2 | folder 7 | |
| National Enquirer, various dates | series 4 | box 2 | folder 8 | |
| National Lampoon: October, 1977 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 9 | |
| Newsweek: December 22, 1980 (2), October 17, 1988. October 23, 1995 (2), 1980, 1988, 1994 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 10 | |
| Parade: August 2, 1964 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 11 | |
| People Weekly: December 22, 1980 (2), January 12, 1981, 1980-1981 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 12 | |
| Performing Arts: December, 1978 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 13 | |
| Record Collector: October, 1992 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 14 | |
| Rolling Stone: June 28, 1969, July 15, 1976, January 22, 1981 (2), February 16, 1984, 1969, 1976, 1981, 1984 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 15 | |
| Song Hits' Tribute to John Lennon, 1981 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 16 | |
| Special Beatles: no. 37, 1978 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 17 | |
| Special Editie: John Lennon, undated | series 4 | box 2 | folder 18 | |
| Time: December 22 (2), 1980 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 19 | |
| A Tribute to John Lennon and the Beatles, 1980 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 20 | |
| TV Guide: November 21-27, November 18-24, 1981, 1994 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 21 | |
| University: A Princeton Magazine: Winter, 1983 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 22 | |
| The Beatles magazine (each page photocopied and in protective leaf), undated | series 4 | box 2 | folder 23 | |
| Teen Life magazine, September special Beatle collector's issue, 1966 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 24 | |
| Return of the Beatles magazine, limited collector's edition, 1966 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 25 | |
| Time-Life Music catalog, Early Winter 2000, Beatles on cover (for release of 1), 2000 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 26 | |
| Torn-out advertisement for The Best of The Beatles music box collection, undated | series 4 | box 2 | folder 27 | |
| Torn-out sheets - "Camera at Work" Beatles article, pp. 20-24, undated | series 4 | box 2 | folder 28 | |
| Rolling Stone magazine, January 22, John and Yoko cover, 1981 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 29 | |
| Time magazine, December 22, John Lennon drawing on cover, "When the Music Died", 1980 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 30 | |
| Newsweek magazine, December 22, John Lennon photo on cover, "John Lennon 1940-1980", 1980 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 31 | |
| DATEbook magazine, Fall, "All About the Beatles" (in protective leaf), 1965 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 32 | |
| Beatles Whole True Story magazine (in protective leaf), undated | series 4 | box 2 | folder 33 | |
| Beatles Complete Story magazine (in protective leaf), undated | series 4 | box 2 | folder 34 | |
| Newsweek magazine, February 24 (in protective leaf), 1964 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 35 | |
| The Beatles magazine - cover reads: "pictures suitable for framing" (in protective leaf), undated | series 4 | box 2 | folder 36 | |
| Teen Talk magazine, collectors edition on the Beatles (in protective leaf), undated | series 4 | box 2 | folder 37 | |
| Time: George Harrison 1943-2001, 2001 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 38 | |
Series 5: Books, undated (0.25 linear feet)
This subseries includes books written about the Beatles.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Lennon: A Man Who Cared, 1980 | series 5 | box 1 | folder 13 | |
| The Beatles Story: Strip Album Number 1 , 1978 | series 5 | box 1 | folder 14 | |
| The Beatles Scrapbook, 1976 | series 5 | box 1 | folder 15 | |
| "The Beatles: A Study in Drugs, Sex and Revolution" by David A. Noebel, undated | series 5 | box 1 | folder 16 | |
| : "Communism, Hypnotism and the Beatles" by Rev. David A. Noebel, undated | series 5 | box 1 | folder 17 | |
| "Die Beatles" by Hans Rombeck and Wolfgang Neumann, undated | series 5 | box 1 | folder 18 | |
| The Long and Winding Road: A History of the Beatles on by Neville Stannard, undated | series 5 | box 1 | folder 19 | |
| The Beatles: A Twentieth Anniversary Booklist, undated | series 5 | box 1 | folder 20 | |
| Fold-out book with 12 black-and-white Beatles photos (in protective leaf), undated | series 5 | box 1 | folder 21 | |
| Newspaper Clippings, including sections from newspapers after Lennon's death, 1980, undated | series 5 | box 1 | folder 39 | |
Series 6: Clippings, undated (0.75)
This subseries includes newspaper clippings as well as photocopies of covers.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | Item | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photographs: From Beatles Whole True Story magazine: Beatles color pin-up (in protective leaf):, undated | series 6 | box 2 | folder 22 | ||
| Photocopies of covers:, undated | series 6 | box 2 | folder 40 | ||
| Here are the Beatles, Charles Hamblett, undated | series 6 | box 2 | folder 40 | item 1.0 | |
| The Beatles: A Musical Evolution, Terence J. O'Grady, undated | series 6 | box 2 | folder 40 | item 2.0 | |
| Elvis Presley, Pat Boone, Bill Haley - Rock n' Roll Battlers, undated | series 6 | box 2 | folder 40 | item 3.0 | |
| 1 double-sided page - table of contents / lyric sheet, undated | series 6 | box 2 | folder 40 | item 4.0 | |
| 1 double-sided page - Beatlemania / "Be a Beatle" wig advertisement, undated | series 6 | box 2 | folder 40 | item 5.0 | |
| Concert for George newspaper section, February 24, 2002 | series 6 | box 2 | folder 41 | ||
| Nostalgia World Summer Vacation Guide, 1979 | series 6 | box 2 | folder 42 | ||
Series 7: Personal/Tour, 1963-1964, undated (0.25 linear feet)
This subseries contains photographs, posters, and other personal items.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | Item | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photographs: 2 protective leaves, each containing 1 color photo of (total of 8 photos): George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, undated | series 7 | box 1 | folder 23 | ||
| Posters, undated | series 7 | box 1 | folder 24 | ||
| The Beatles - Andy Warhol, undated | series 7 | box 1 | folder 24 | item 1.0 | |
| The Beatles - London Palladium (Oversized; housed in box 195), 1963, 1964 | series 7 | box 1 | folder 24 | item 2.0 | |
| Sergeant Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (Oversized; housed in box 195), 1987 | series 7 | box 1 | folder 24 | item 3.0 | |
| Sgt Peppers Band insert, undated | series 7 | box 1 | folder 25 | ||
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. The record groups contain 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. This means that 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 thousands 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.