Genevieve P. Demme Archives and Resource Center

Established in 1989, the Genevieve P. Demme Archives and Resource Center ensures the preservation of and access to Houston Grand Opera’s historical records for use by a variety of communities.  The Archives and Resource Center currently houses over 3500 linear feet of organizational records, posters and programs, photographic materials and thousands of audio and video recordings.  The archival records documenting the numerous new works commissioned by Houston Grand Opera are of particular value. The Archives and Research Center primarily serves the information needs of Houston Grand Opera, providing support for numerous functions within the company, from fund-raising to outreach programs to the staging of productions.  The ARC also answers thousands of reference questions per year from the opera community, news media and general public. 

Current projects include making archival copies of the historical audio recordings to ensure their long-term preservation, continuing an oral history project to document Houston Grand Opera’s earliest events, as well as processing and housing thousands of digital photographs.

Policies

Because Houston Grand Opera Archives and Resource Center is an organizational archive, public research is by appointment only. Some record series are restricted.  Please contact Brian Mitchell at bmitchell@houstongrandopera.org or call (713) 546-0238 regarding research requests or questions pertaining to Houston Grand Opera history.

Glass: Akhnaten, 1984		Catan: Florencia en el Amazonas, 1996
Adams: Nixon in China, 1987		Gershwin: Porgy and Bess, 1976
Joplin: Treemonisha, 1975		Opening Night at the Music Hall, 1958
Crowd at Miller Park for Gianni Schicchi, 1958