In 1976, The Shubert Foundation began to organize the papers of the Shubert brothers in order to create a comprehensive archive. Under the direction of Brooks McNamara (Professor Emeritus, New York University) and archivist Brigitte Kueppers, more than six million documents related to the Shuberts' theatrical activities were acquired and integrated into the Archive. In 2002, the Archive launched a database project that will eventually make the collection and its finding aids accessible to researchers on the Web. The Shubert Archive collection — more than a century's worth of production designs, scripts, sheet music, publicity materials, photographs, correspondence, business records and architectural plans — has grown substantially over the years and continues to expand with contemporary Shubert Organization materials.

In 2002, the Archive celebrated the centennial of The Shubert Organization with the publication of The Shuberts Present: 100 Years of American Theater (Abrams, 2001) and a special issue of The Passing Show, its free annual journal.

Scholars interested in using the collection should contact Maryann Chach, Director of the Shubert Archive, for the necessary application materials. [The Shubert Archive, 149 West 45th Street, New York, NY 10036; (212) 944-3895; fax: (212) 944-4139; www.shubertarchive.org ]