June 2025
The Edmund Warren Perry, Jr. Collection
The Edmund Warren Perry, Jr. collection features an extensive array of playbills, programs, flyers, posters, publications, and memorabilia from the worlds of theatre, dance, and opera. While primarily focused on American performances and venues, the collection also includes notable materials from European countries, particularly the United Kingdom and France. Some items directly pertain to Edmund Warren Perry, Jr., showcasing the plays he authored and directed. Additional materials were gathered by Perry and his family as part of the brief-lived “Perry Library of Theatre,” an initiative aimed at preserving and exploring the history of theatre.
Upcoming Exhibit - June 2025
This June, the Special Collections department will debut a new exhibit exploring the evolution of stage production in Memphis. The exhibit will highlight key historical moments, influential figures, and the cultural significance of theater in the city. Through rare materials, photographs, and memorabilia, visitors will gain insight into how Memphis’s theatrical scene has shaped—and been shaped by—the community over time.
A Glimpse into Noh Theatre: Tradition Meets Technology
As part of the upcoming exhibit on the evolution of stage production in Memphis, selected items from the Edmund Warren Perry, Jr. Collection will be featured—including a striking example of international influence: a Japanese Noh mask.
Noh is a classical form of Japanese theatre that originated in the 14th century and continues to be performed today. This poetic and highly stylized drama weaves together music, dance, and acting, often reflecting on Buddhist themes and philosophical ideas surrounding life and death. Noh is renowned for its expressive masks, elaborate costumes, deliberate movement, and minimalist staging that embraces subtlety and restraint.
Due to preservation concerns, the original Noh mask from the Perry Collection cannot be displayed. Instead, Special Collections staff have created a replica using the library’s 3D printing technology—blending ancient art with modern innovation to make this theatrical tradition accessible to all visitors.
The Item of the Month is a specially selected item or artifact (book, sign, photograph, etc.) that members of the University Libraries Special Collections department would like to highlight each month to show the breadth and variety of their collections.
Text from this post is by MIchelle Duerr, a Library Assistant in Special Collections. She can be reached at mcororn@memphis.edu.
