This program is for the St. Francis ballet. Pavel Tchelitchew is listed as the set and costume designer.
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Selections from the Tanner Papers
Allen C. Tanner (1898-1987) was an Illinois-born pianist. At fifteen he was awarded a scholarship to study music in Chicago where he met Margaret Anderson, founder of the Little Review. Tanner then moved to New York City where he performed in musical salons and accompanied many musical greats of the era. In 1922, Tanner left for Berlin, where he met Russian artist Pavel Tchelitchew and the two men became lovers. In 1924 the pair moved to Paris to pursue their artistic careers, and became great friends with Gertrude Stein and Edith Sitwell. When Tanner and Tchelitchew ended their relationship in 1934, Tanner returned to the United States. In 1967 he released the album Allen Tanner Plays Bach, Debussy, Scriabin, Granados, Rachmaninoff, Liszt, and Steinert.
The collection contains correspondence, writings, programs and publicity, news clippings, financial documents, sheet music, sound recordings, photographs, and books. Some of that material has been digitized and is available below. For more information about Tanner and the entire collection, please see this post and the collection inventory.
Browse Selections from the Tanner Papers
circa 1939
Location: MC 2013.3, B4, F62
Subject: Visual and Performing Arts
Format: Memorabilia and Ephemera
Time Period: 1920-1939
View Item: 
St. Francis ballet program
March 19, 1939
This news clipping describes a costume owned by Allen Tanner, and worn by Bentley Stone in the Federal ballet program at the Blackstone theater....
Location: MC 2013.3, B5, F23
Subject: Visual and Performing Arts
Format: Newspapers and Magazines
Time Period: 1920-1939
View Item: "In the Federal ballet program…" Chicago Sunday Tribune newspaper clipping
January 4, 1941
This news clipping from the Chicago Tribune highlights American pianist Allen Tanner and Austrian composer Ernst Krenek.
This...
Location: MC 2013.3, B5, F25
Subject: Visual and Performing Arts
Format: Newspapers and Magazines
Time Period: 1940-1959
View Item: "Front Views and Profiles" by June Provines, Chicago Tribune newspaper clipping
September 1950
In this essay, Allen Tanner describes living in New York City and meeting famous musicians of the early 20th century including Paul Kochanski,...
Location: MC 2013.3, B4, F38
Subject: Visual and Performing Arts
Format: Essays and Dissertations
Time Period: 1940-1959
View Item: "Corridor of Genius" by Allen Tanner
circa 1957
In this letter Allen Tanner writes to Kirk Askew, owner of Durlacher Bros. art gallery, after Tchelitchew's death. Tanner recalls Tchelitchew's...
Location: MC 2013.3, B1, F7
Subject: Visual and Performing Arts
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1940-1959
View Item: Letter from Allen Tanner to Kirk Askew
September 29, 1957
Allen Tanner writes to Morris Fish regarding obtaining his Pavel Tchelitchew paintings from Europe.
Location: MC 2013.3, B1, F30
Subject: Visual and Performing Arts
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1940-1959
View Item: Letter from Allen Tanner to Morris Fish
Undated
Allen Tanner reminisces about his friendships with Gertude Stein, Alice B. Toklas, and Pavel Tchelitchew. Transcript included.
Location: MC 2013.3, B4, F37
Subject: Literary Pursuits
Format: Notes and Notebooks
Time Period:
View Item: Notes on Friendship with Gertrude Stein by Allen Tanner
April 22, 1960
Allen Tanner writes to Morris Fish asking for his advice regarding obtaining his artwork by Pavel Tchelitchew from Europe.
Location: MC 2013.3, B1, F30
Subject: Visual and Performing Arts
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1960-1979
View Item: Letter from Allen Tanner to Morris Fish
1963
In this draft for an exhibit brochure, Allen Tanner describes Pavel Tchelitchew's early career in painting and theatrical design, in the 1920s and...
Location: MC 2013.3, B4, F42
Subject: Visual and Performing Arts
Format: Essays and Dissertations
Time Period: 1960-1979
View Item: "The Early Tchelitchew" by Allen Tanner
1964
In this draft letter, Allen Tanner writes to author Parker Tyler, promising to provide him with information and photos of Pavel Tchelitchew and...
Location: MC 2013.3, B2, F6
Subject: Literary Pursuits, Personal and Family Life, Visual and Performing Arts
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1960-1979
View Item: Letter from Allen Tanner to Parker Tyler
March 10, 1964
Allen Tanner records the Pavel Tchelitchew artwork he is consigning to Bretano's of New York City for exhibition and sale. Each entry includes an...
Location: MC 2013.3, B1, F77
Subject: Visual and Performing Arts
Format: Miscellaneous
Time Period: 1960-1979
View Item: Consignment between Allen Tanner and Brentano’s of New York City
April 3, 1964
Allen Tanner records the additional Pavel Tchelitchew artwork he is consigning to Brentano's of New York City for sale. Each entry includes an...
Location: MC 2013.3, B1, F77
Subject: Visual and Performing Arts
Format: Miscellaneous
Time Period: 1960-1979
View Item: Supplementary Consignment between Allen Tanner and Brentano’s of New York City
1967
This postcard is an advertisement for Allen Tanner's 1967 album Allen Tanner Plays Bach, Debussy, Scriabin, Granados, Rachmaninoff, Steinert...
Location: MC 2013.3, B4, F56
Subject: Visual and Performing Arts
Format: Memorabilia and Ephemera
Time Period: 1960-1979
1967
Allen Tanner writes a brief autobiography for the liner notes of his 1967 album Allen Tanner Plays Bach, Debussy, Scriabin, Granados,...
Location: MC 2013.13 B4, F39
Subject: Visual and Performing Arts
Format: Essays and Dissertations
Time Period: 1960-1979
View Item: "About the Pianist" by Allen Tanner
April 8, 1975
In this letter to Dick Fletcher, Allen Tanner writes about opera singer Mary Garden for a biography project. He describes meeting Garden in...
Location: MC 2013.3, B1, F31
Subject: Visual and Performing Arts
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1960-1979
View Item: Letter from Allen Tanner to Dick Fletcher
June 13, 1976
In this letter to Janet Figler, mother of donor Liz Hamill Howard, Allen Tanner writes that he no longer gives piano lessons due to ongoing health...
Location: MC 2013.3, B1, F28
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Visual and Performing Arts
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1960-1979
View Item: Letter from Allen Tanner to Janet Figler
July 25, 1977
In this letter to Liz Hamill Howard, Allen Tanner describes where he purchased an Alexander Scriabin album, and offers advice to Hamilll Howard on...
Location: MC 2013.3, B1, F47
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Visual and Performing Arts
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1960-1979
View Item: Letter from Allen Tanner to Elizabeth Hamill
May 9, 1980
Judith B. Jones writes to Allen Tanner regarding a biography of Edith Sitwell written by Victoria Glendinning.
Location: MC 2013.3, B1, F43
Subject: Literary Pursuits
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1980-1999
View Item: Letter from Judith B. Jones to Allen Tanner
May 26, 1980
Allen Tanner writes to Victoria Glendinning regarding her biography on Edith Sitwell, and expresses his disappointment that Glendinning did not...
Location: MC 2013.3, B1, F43
Subject: Literary Pursuits
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1980-1999
July 30, 1980
In this letter to author Victoria Glendinning, Allen Tanner writes about his and Pavel Tchelitchew's friendship with English poet Edith Sitwell,...
Location: MC 2013.3, B1, F44
Subject: Literary Pursuits, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1980-1999
December 2, 1980
In this letter, Allen Tanner writes that he is displeased with how author Victoria Glendinning has characterized him in her biography of English...
Location: MC 2013.3, B1, F44
Subject: Literary Pursuits, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1980-1999
November 9, 1984
In this letter to his Uncle Allen Tanner, Robert Tanner describes his genealogical research and reconnection with distant family members....
Location: MC 2013.3, B1, F82
Subject: Genealogy and Family History, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1980-1999
View Item: Letter from Robert Tanner to Allen Tanner
Undated
Allen Tanner recalls his impressions of gay life (camp) in Chicago during the 1910s including the origin of the use of the word "drag." Transcript...
Location: MC 2013.3, B4, F41
Subject: LGBT History
Format: Notes and Notebooks
Time Period:
View Item: Notes on Gay Life in Chicago during the 1910s by Allen Tanner
Undated
In these notes, Allen Tanner writes about his feelings regarding the way Pavel Tchelitchew and Edith Sitwell are remembered in Parker Tyler's...
Location: MC 2013.3, B2, F6
Subject: LGBT History, Literary Pursuits, Personal and Family Life, Visual and Performing Arts
Format: Notes and Notebooks
Time Period:
View Item: Notes on Parker Tyler’s The Divine Comedy of Pavel Tchelitchew by Allen Tanner
Undated
In these notes, Allen Tanner describes what he likes about Gertrude Stein's writing style.
Location: MC 2013.3, B2, F6
Subject: Literary Pursuits
Format: Notes and Notebooks
Time Period:
View Item: Notes on Gertrude Stein’s writing by Allen Tanner