Jefferson Theatre Preservation Society Records
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of materials originally collected by the Jefferson Theatre Preservation Society. The majority of the collection is comprised of deeds, oil leases, financial records, and correspondence related to the estates of Lena Mayer and Sol E. Gordon and their relatives. The collection also features programs, financial records, and contracts for performances at the Jefferson Theatre. Administrative records include meeting minutes, blueprints, and materials involving the renovation and restoration of the Theatre. Additionally, regarding Beaumont's racial history, a letter in Julius Gordon's correspondence references the segregation that was present among Beaumont entertainment venues in the 1950s.
Dates
- Creation: 1834 - 2004
Creator
- Jefferson Theatre Preservation Society (Beaumont, Tex.) (Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
Some restrictions may apply.
Conditions Governing Use
The Tyrrell Historical Library holds copyright. The researcher must secure permission to publish. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to the Tyrrell Historical Library. The researcher assumes full responsibility for complying with copyright, literary property rights, and libel laws.
Historical Note
The Jefferson Theatre was designed by architect Emile Weil in 1927, orignially for the Jefferson Amusement Company. The company was led by Julius Gordon, son of Sol E. Gordon. The theatre closed in 1972, but reopened after an extensive restoration in 2003. In the years leading up to the renovation, the Jefferson Theatre Preservation Society launched a campaign to raise funds for the project. The theatre was designed in the Old Spanish architectural style and stands on Fannin street in downtown Beaumont (Tex.) and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
Extent
9 Cubic Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Jefferson Theatre was designed by architect Emile Weil in 1927, orignially for the Jefferson Amusement Company. The theatre closed in 1972, but reopened after an extensive restoration in 2003. This collection consists of materials originally collected by the Jefferson Theatre Preservation Society. The majority of the collection is comprised of deeds, oil leases, financial records, and correspondence related to the estates of Lena Mayer and Sol E. Gordon and their relatives. The collection also features programs, financial records, and contracts for performances at the Jefferson Theatre.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into ten series.
Series 1: Mayer Estate, 1834-1931
Series 2: Lena Mayer Estate, 1918-1932
Series 3: Publications, 1931-1966
Series 4: Julius Gordon Correspondence, 1859-1987
Series 5: Administrative Files, 1935-2002
Series 6: Renovation and Restoration, 1920-2004
Series 7: Sol E. Gordon Estate, 1879-1939
Series 8: Isaac Gordon, 1899-1918
Series 9: Blueprints, 1949
Series 10: Phoenix Development, 1921-1969
Series 11: Jefferson Theatre Entertainment, 1975-1999
Subject
- Jefferson Theatre (Beaumont, Tex.) (Organization)
- Jefferson Amusement Company (Beaumont, Texas) (Organization)
- Mayer Family (Family)
- Gordon Family (Family)
Cultural context
Genre / Form
- Blueprints
- Contract documents
- Correspondence
- Deeds
- Financial records
- Land titles
- Legal documents
- Minutes
- Programs (documents)
- Stock certificates
Geographic
Topical
- Title
- Finding Aid for the Jefferson Theatre Preservation Society Records, 1834-2004
- Author
- Jennifer Perritt
- Date
- October 14, 2020
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Tyrrell Historical Library Archives Repository
