An Inventory of His Collection at the Harry Ransom Center
Creator:
Pulling, Christopher
Title:
Christopher Robert Druce Pulling
Collection
Dates:
1866-1967 (bulk 1894-1937)
Extent:
10 document boxes (4.2 linear feet)
Abstract:
The Christopher Robert Druce Pulling
Collection consists of sheet music, scores, and songbooks that reflect popular
music
styles in the early twentieth century. Manuscript sheet music for pieces with
lyrics
by Pulling is also included. This collection also features programs, newspaper
clippings, scrapbooks, and other materials related primarily to London music halls
and concert parties.
Call Number:
Performing Arts Collection
PA-00150
Language:
English
Access:
Open for research. Researchers must create an online Research Account and agree to
the Materials Use Policy before using archival materials.
Use Policies:
Ransom Center collections may contain material with sensitive or confidential
information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and
regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information
pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in the collections without
the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of
action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning
an
individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive
to a
reasonable person) for which the Ransom Center and The University of Texas at
Austin
assume no responsibility.
Restrictions on Use:
Authorization for publication is given on behalf of the University of Texas as the
owner of the collection and is not intended to include or imply permission of
the
copyright holder which must be obtained by the researcher. For more information
please see the Ransom Center's Open Access and Use Policies.
Christopher Robert Druce Pulling (born 1893) combined a successful career at Scotland
Yard with a lifelong interest in and enthusiasm for the stage. After retirement
from
Scotland Yard, he became a lecturer on the history of Scotland Yard, Sherlock
Holmes, and Victorian and Edwardian music hall songs and singers. Pulling was
also a
successful author. In addition to numerous works of fiction composed under the
pseudonym Christopher Druce, Pulling also wrote They Were Singing: And What They
Sang About (1952), a study on the influence of English social life upon the music
hall.
Scope and Contents
The Christopher Robert Druce Pulling Collection, 1866-1967 (bulk 1894-1937), consists
of sheet music, scores, and songbooks that reflect popular music styles in the early
twentieth century. Manuscript sheet music for pieces with lyrics by Pulling is also
included. This collection also features programs, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks
including some with Pulling’s journal-style commentary, and other materials related
primarily to London music halls and concert parties. The collection is arranged in
three series: I. Scores and Sheet Music, circa 1894-1938; II. Programs, 1908-1937;
and III. Clippings, Scrapbooks, and Other Papers, 1866-1967.
Series I. Scores and Sheet Music consists of unbound and bound scores and sheet music,
songbooks, and one practice book. The unbound scores and songbooks are arranged alphabetically
by title. The bound scores are arranged chronologically by the date of the bound volume.
Pulling’s original title for each book, listed in single quotes, and the date range
of the material contained in each bound volume, in parenthesis, are included in the
container list.
Series II. Programs contains programs for various productions arranged chronologically
with a small amount of undated programs filed at the end.
Series III. Clippings, Scrapbooks, and Other Papers is made up of clippings, scrapbooks,
material on concert party planning, items withdrawn from Pulling’s books, and material
related to the Metropolitan Police Training School. The bulk of the clippings consist
of obituaries and they are arranged alphabetically by the person’s name. Pulling’s
scrapbooks are arranged chronologically with a small amount of loose scrapbook pages
filed at the end. A large amount of clippings and some correspondence, both incoming
and outgoing, were withdrawn from books previously owned by Pulling. Some notes are
also interspersed throughout. The correspondence is usually addressed to or from the
author of the book from which the letter was pulled. These are arranged alphabetically
by the call number of the book from which the item was withdrawn. One folder of material
related to the Metropolitan Police Training School is located at the end of this series.
