{"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph","last":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph\u0026page=1"},"meta":{"pages":{"current_page":1,"next_page":null,"prev_page":null,"total_pages":1,"limit_value":10,"offset_value":0,"total_count":1,"first_page?":true,"last_page?":true}},"data":[{"id":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_342","type":"collection","attributes":{"title":"Ralph Chessé papers","creator":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vifgm_repositories_2_resources_342#creator","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"Chessé, Ralph","label":"Creator"}},"abstract_or_scope":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vifgm_repositories_2_resources_342#abstract_or_scope","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"The Chessé papers contain materials such as photographs, watercolor set and costume design sketches, playscripts, and programs relating to Federal Theatre Project marionette productions in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Some of these plays are Child of God, Crock of Gold, The Emperor Jones, Hansel and Gretel, Marionette Varieties, Rip Van Winkle, The Tempest, and Twelfth Night. The papers also include magazine articles from the 1970s that highlight Chessé's mural painting at the Coit Tower in San Francisco.","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vifgm_repositories_2_resources_342#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"id":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_342","ead_ssi":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_342","_root_":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_342","_nest_parent_":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_342","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/GMU/repositories_2_resources_342.xml","title_ssm":["Ralph Chessé papers"],"title_tesim":["Ralph Chessé papers"],"unitdate_ssm":["1935-1975"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1935-1975"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["C0224","/repositories/2/resources/342"],"text":["C0224","/repositories/2/resources/342","Ralph Chessé papers","Puppet theater","Theater -- United States","New Deal, 1933-1939","There are no access restrictions.","Digitized photographs from this collection can be found in the  .","Arranged alphabetically by title.","Ralph Chessé was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 6, 1900. He attended schools in New Orleans and Chicago including the Chicago Art Institute, but was primarily a self-taught painter. In 1924 he traveled to San Francisco where he met the puppeteer Blanding Sloan. It was after this meeting that Chessé began working as a puppeteer. In 1929 he opened his first puppet theatre, The Marionette Guild on Merchant Street. In 1934 Chessé was selected, with a mural design titled \"Playground\", as one of 26 artists by the Works Progress Administration to paint a wall fresco inside of Coit Tower. During this same year The Marionette Guild had to close due to lack of funds.","Chessé joined the Federal Theatre project in 1936 as Director of the Puppetry Unit. There he oversaw a crew of 17 people. Their first production was The Crock of Gold in 1936. Other early productions included The Mikado, Alice in Wonderland, A Marionette Variety Show, and Emperor Jones.","The Federal Theatre Project was a division of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which provided employment for large numbers of artists, writers, and performers during the Great Depression (1929-1939). The Federal Theatre began in 1935 and, until its end in 1939, flourished as the first and only federally sponsored and subsidized theater program in the United States. Directed by Hallie Flanagan (1880-1969), it was a way for theatrical professionals to gain employment during the Depression. Jobs were provided for many people, including actors, playwrights, scene designers, scene builders, seamstresses, lighting experts, ushers, box-office men, and stagehands.","In 1937 Chessé moved to Los Angeles to take over as State Director for California. This was a larger unit employing 50 people. He remained in Los Angeles until 1939 though was still in communication with activities in San Francisco. In Los Angeles productions included Rip Van Winkle, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, and a Variety Show.  On June 30th 1939 the puppetry unit received notice that the Federal Theatre Project had been terminated. Also in 1939 Chessé brought marionettes to the World's Fair held in San Francisco.","After work finished with the FTP Chessé moved his family back to San Francisco and had a long and successful career that included various jobs. At different points in his life Chessé made a living by teaching puppetry for adult education classes at San Francisco State College, producing a children's television program called The Wonderful World of Brother Buzz, making puppets for TV, theatre, and opera, and acting in plays and films. In 1984 he moved to Ashland, Oregon where he was an avid painter up until his death in 1991.","Processed and EAD completed by Greta Kuriger Suiter in September 2012.","The Works Progress Administration oral histories collection, the Federal Theatre Project collection, the Federal Theatre Project photograph collection, as well as numerous other personal papers.","The Chessé papers contain materials such as photographs, watercolor set and costume design sketches, playscripts, and programs relating to Federal Theatre Project marionette productions in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Some of these plays are Child of God, Crock of Gold, The Emperor Jones, Hansel and Gretel, Marionette Varieties, Rip Van Winkle, The Tempest, and Twelfth Night. The papers also include magazine articles from the 1970s that highlight Chessé's mural painting at the Coit Tower in San Francisco.","The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)","The Chessé papers contain materials such as photographs, watercolor set and costume design sketches, playscripts, and programs relating to Federal Theatre Project marionette productions in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Some of these plays are Child of God, Crock of Gold, The Emperor Jones, Hansel and Gretel, Marionette Varieties, Rip Van Winkle, The Tempest, and Twelfth Night. The papers also include magazine articles from the 1970s that highlight Chessé's mural painting at the Coit Tower in San Francisco.","George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center","Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)","Federal Theatre Project (San Francisco, Calif.)","Federal Theatre Project (Los Angeles, Calif.)","Chessé, Ralph","English"],"unitid_tesim":["C0224","/repositories/2/resources/342"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Ralph Chessé papers"],"collection_title_tesim":["Ralph Chessé papers"],"collection_ssim":["Ralph Chessé papers"],"repository_ssm":["George Mason University"],"repository_ssim":["George Mason University"],"creator_ssm":["Chessé, Ralph"],"creator_ssim":["Chessé, Ralph"],"creator_persname_ssim":["Chessé, Ralph"],"creators_ssim":["Chessé, Ralph"],"access_terms_ssm":["The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)"],"acqinfo_ssim":["Donated to the Special Collections Research Center by Ralph Chesse on July 8, 1977; July 24, 1980; May 18, 1981."],"access_subjects_ssim":["Puppet theater","Theater -- United States","New Deal, 1933-1939"],"access_subjects_ssm":["Puppet theater","Theater -- United States","New Deal, 1933-1939"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"extent_ssm":["1.25 Linear Feet 1.5 boxes, 1 flat box"],"extent_tesim":["1.25 Linear Feet 1.5 boxes, 1 flat box"],"date_range_isim":[1935,1936,1937,1938,1939,1940,1941,1942,1943,1944,1945,1946,1947,1948,1949,1950,1951,1952,1953,1954,1955,1956,1957,1958,1959,1960,1961,1962,1963,1964,1965,1966,1967,1968,1969,1970,1971,1972,1973,1974,1975],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no access restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e"],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access Restrictions"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no access restrictions."],"altformavail_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eDigitized photographs from this collection can be found in the \u003cextptr href=\"http://images.gmu.edu/luna/servlet/GMUDPSdps~23~23\" title=\"Federal Theatre Project collection\" show=\"new\"\u003e\u003c/extptr\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e"],"altformavail_heading_ssm":["Alternative Form Available"],"altformavail_tesim":["Digitized photographs from this collection can be found in the  ."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eArranged alphabetically by title.\u003c/p\u003e"],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement"],"arrangement_tesim":["Arranged alphabetically by title."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eRalph Chessé was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 6, 1900. He attended schools in New Orleans and Chicago including the Chicago Art Institute, but was primarily a self-taught painter. In 1924 he traveled to San Francisco where he met the puppeteer Blanding Sloan. It was after this meeting that Chessé began working as a puppeteer. In 1929 he opened his first puppet theatre, The Marionette Guild on Merchant Street. In 1934 Chessé was selected, with a mural design titled \"Playground\", as one of 26 artists by the Works Progress Administration to paint a wall fresco inside of Coit Tower. During this same year The Marionette Guild had to close due to lack of funds.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eChessé joined the Federal Theatre project in 1936 as Director of the Puppetry Unit. There he oversaw a crew of 17 people. Their first production was The Crock of Gold in 1936. Other early productions included The Mikado, Alice in Wonderland, A Marionette Variety Show, and Emperor Jones.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe Federal Theatre Project was a division of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which provided employment for large numbers of artists, writers, and performers during the Great Depression (1929-1939). The Federal Theatre began in 1935 and, until its end in 1939, flourished as the first and only federally sponsored and subsidized theater program in the United States. Directed by Hallie Flanagan (1880-1969), it was a way for theatrical professionals to gain employment during the Depression. Jobs were provided for many people, including actors, playwrights, scene designers, scene builders, seamstresses, lighting experts, ushers, box-office men, and stagehands.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eIn 1937 Chessé moved to Los Angeles to take over as State Director for California. This was a larger unit employing 50 people. He remained in Los Angeles until 1939 though was still in communication with activities in San Francisco. In Los Angeles productions included Rip Van Winkle, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, and a Variety Show.  On June 30th 1939 the puppetry unit received notice that the Federal Theatre Project had been terminated. Also in 1939 Chessé brought marionettes to the World's Fair held in San Francisco.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eAfter work finished with the FTP Chessé moved his family back to San Francisco and had a long and successful career that included various jobs. At different points in his life Chessé made a living by teaching puppetry for adult education classes at San Francisco State College, producing a children's television program called The Wonderful World of Brother Buzz, making puppets for TV, theatre, and opera, and acting in plays and films. In 1984 he moved to Ashland, Oregon where he was an avid painter up until his death in 1991.\u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical note"],"bioghist_tesim":["Ralph Chessé was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 6, 1900. He attended schools in New Orleans and Chicago including the Chicago Art Institute, but was primarily a self-taught painter. In 1924 he traveled to San Francisco where he met the puppeteer Blanding Sloan. It was after this meeting that Chessé began working as a puppeteer. In 1929 he opened his first puppet theatre, The Marionette Guild on Merchant Street. In 1934 Chessé was selected, with a mural design titled \"Playground\", as one of 26 artists by the Works Progress Administration to paint a wall fresco inside of Coit Tower. During this same year The Marionette Guild had to close due to lack of funds.","Chessé joined the Federal Theatre project in 1936 as Director of the Puppetry Unit. There he oversaw a crew of 17 people. Their first production was The Crock of Gold in 1936. Other early productions included The Mikado, Alice in Wonderland, A Marionette Variety Show, and Emperor Jones.","The Federal Theatre Project was a division of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which provided employment for large numbers of artists, writers, and performers during the Great Depression (1929-1939). The Federal Theatre began in 1935 and, until its end in 1939, flourished as the first and only federally sponsored and subsidized theater program in the United States. Directed by Hallie Flanagan (1880-1969), it was a way for theatrical professionals to gain employment during the Depression. Jobs were provided for many people, including actors, playwrights, scene designers, scene builders, seamstresses, lighting experts, ushers, box-office men, and stagehands.","In 1937 Chessé moved to Los Angeles to take over as State Director for California. This was a larger unit employing 50 people. He remained in Los Angeles until 1939 though was still in communication with activities in San Francisco. In Los Angeles productions included Rip Van Winkle, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, and a Variety Show.  On June 30th 1939 the puppetry unit received notice that the Federal Theatre Project had been terminated. Also in 1939 Chessé brought marionettes to the World's Fair held in San Francisco.","After work finished with the FTP Chessé moved his family back to San Francisco and had a long and successful career that included various jobs. At different points in his life Chessé made a living by teaching puppetry for adult education classes at San Francisco State College, producing a children's television program called The Wonderful World of Brother Buzz, making puppets for TV, theatre, and opera, and acting in plays and films. In 1984 he moved to Ashland, Oregon where he was an avid painter up until his death in 1991."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eRalph Chessé papers, C0224, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["Ralph Chessé papers, C0224, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries."],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eProcessed and EAD completed by Greta Kuriger Suiter in September 2012.\u003c/p\u003e"],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Processing Information"],"processinfo_tesim":["Processed and EAD completed by Greta Kuriger Suiter in September 2012."],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Works Progress Administration oral histories collection, the Federal Theatre Project collection, the Federal Theatre Project photograph collection, as well as numerous other personal papers.\u003c/p\u003e"],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Material"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["The Works Progress Administration oral histories collection, the Federal Theatre Project collection, the Federal Theatre Project photograph collection, as well as numerous other personal papers."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Chessé papers contain materials such as photographs, watercolor set and costume design sketches, playscripts, and programs relating to Federal Theatre Project marionette productions in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Some of these plays are Child of God, Crock of Gold, The Emperor Jones, Hansel and Gretel, Marionette Varieties, Rip Van Winkle, The Tempest, and Twelfth Night. The papers also include magazine articles from the 1970s that highlight Chessé's mural painting at the Coit Tower in San Francisco.\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content"],"scopecontent_tesim":["The Chessé papers contain materials such as photographs, watercolor set and costume design sketches, playscripts, and programs relating to Federal Theatre Project marionette productions in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Some of these plays are Child of God, Crock of Gold, The Emperor Jones, Hansel and Gretel, Marionette Varieties, Rip Van Winkle, The Tempest, and Twelfth Night. The papers also include magazine articles from the 1970s that highlight Chessé's mural painting at the Coit Tower in San Francisco."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)\u003c/p\u003e"],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)"],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract id=\"aspace_fd1e36438f08f59035774f402a4708fd\" label=\"Abstract\"\u003eThe Chessé papers contain materials such as photographs, watercolor set and costume design sketches, playscripts, and programs relating to Federal Theatre Project marionette productions in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Some of these plays are Child of God, Crock of Gold, The Emperor Jones, Hansel and Gretel, Marionette Varieties, Rip Van Winkle, The Tempest, and Twelfth Night. The papers also include magazine articles from the 1970s that highlight Chessé's mural painting at the Coit Tower in San Francisco.\u003c/abstract\u003e"],"abstract_tesim":["The Chessé papers contain materials such as photographs, watercolor set and costume design sketches, playscripts, and programs relating to Federal Theatre Project marionette productions in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Some of these plays are Child of God, Crock of Gold, The Emperor Jones, Hansel and Gretel, Marionette Varieties, Rip Van Winkle, The Tempest, and Twelfth Night. The papers also include magazine articles from the 1970s that highlight Chessé's mural painting at the Coit Tower in San Francisco."],"names_coll_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)","Federal Theatre Project (San Francisco, Calif.)","Federal Theatre Project (Los Angeles, Calif.)","Chessé, Ralph"],"names_ssim":["George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center","Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)","Federal Theatre Project (San Francisco, Calif.)","Federal Theatre Project (Los Angeles, Calif.)","Chessé, Ralph"],"corpname_ssim":["George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center","Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)","Federal Theatre Project (San Francisco, Calif.)","Federal Theatre Project (Los Angeles, Calif.)"],"persname_ssim":["Chessé, Ralph"],"language_ssim":["English"],"descrules_ssm":["Describing Archives: A Content Standard"],"total_component_count_is":46,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-05-01T00:27:17.368Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_342","ead_ssi":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_342","_root_":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_342","_nest_parent_":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_342","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/GMU/repositories_2_resources_342.xml","title_ssm":["Ralph Chessé papers"],"title_tesim":["Ralph Chessé papers"],"unitdate_ssm":["1935-1975"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1935-1975"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["C0224","/repositories/2/resources/342"],"text":["C0224","/repositories/2/resources/342","Ralph Chessé papers","Puppet theater","Theater -- United States","New Deal, 1933-1939","There are no access restrictions.","Digitized photographs from this collection can be found in the  .","Arranged alphabetically by title.","Ralph Chessé was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 6, 1900. He attended schools in New Orleans and Chicago including the Chicago Art Institute, but was primarily a self-taught painter. In 1924 he traveled to San Francisco where he met the puppeteer Blanding Sloan. It was after this meeting that Chessé began working as a puppeteer. In 1929 he opened his first puppet theatre, The Marionette Guild on Merchant Street. In 1934 Chessé was selected, with a mural design titled \"Playground\", as one of 26 artists by the Works Progress Administration to paint a wall fresco inside of Coit Tower. During this same year The Marionette Guild had to close due to lack of funds.","Chessé joined the Federal Theatre project in 1936 as Director of the Puppetry Unit. There he oversaw a crew of 17 people. Their first production was The Crock of Gold in 1936. Other early productions included The Mikado, Alice in Wonderland, A Marionette Variety Show, and Emperor Jones.","The Federal Theatre Project was a division of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which provided employment for large numbers of artists, writers, and performers during the Great Depression (1929-1939). The Federal Theatre began in 1935 and, until its end in 1939, flourished as the first and only federally sponsored and subsidized theater program in the United States. Directed by Hallie Flanagan (1880-1969), it was a way for theatrical professionals to gain employment during the Depression. Jobs were provided for many people, including actors, playwrights, scene designers, scene builders, seamstresses, lighting experts, ushers, box-office men, and stagehands.","In 1937 Chessé moved to Los Angeles to take over as State Director for California. This was a larger unit employing 50 people. He remained in Los Angeles until 1939 though was still in communication with activities in San Francisco. In Los Angeles productions included Rip Van Winkle, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, and a Variety Show.  On June 30th 1939 the puppetry unit received notice that the Federal Theatre Project had been terminated. Also in 1939 Chessé brought marionettes to the World's Fair held in San Francisco.","After work finished with the FTP Chessé moved his family back to San Francisco and had a long and successful career that included various jobs. At different points in his life Chessé made a living by teaching puppetry for adult education classes at San Francisco State College, producing a children's television program called The Wonderful World of Brother Buzz, making puppets for TV, theatre, and opera, and acting in plays and films. In 1984 he moved to Ashland, Oregon where he was an avid painter up until his death in 1991.","Processed and EAD completed by Greta Kuriger Suiter in September 2012.","The Works Progress Administration oral histories collection, the Federal Theatre Project collection, the Federal Theatre Project photograph collection, as well as numerous other personal papers.","The Chessé papers contain materials such as photographs, watercolor set and costume design sketches, playscripts, and programs relating to Federal Theatre Project marionette productions in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Some of these plays are Child of God, Crock of Gold, The Emperor Jones, Hansel and Gretel, Marionette Varieties, Rip Van Winkle, The Tempest, and Twelfth Night. The papers also include magazine articles from the 1970s that highlight Chessé's mural painting at the Coit Tower in San Francisco.","The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)","The Chessé papers contain materials such as photographs, watercolor set and costume design sketches, playscripts, and programs relating to Federal Theatre Project marionette productions in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Some of these plays are Child of God, Crock of Gold, The Emperor Jones, Hansel and Gretel, Marionette Varieties, Rip Van Winkle, The Tempest, and Twelfth Night. The papers also include magazine articles from the 1970s that highlight Chessé's mural painting at the Coit Tower in San Francisco.","George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center","Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)","Federal Theatre Project (San Francisco, Calif.)","Federal Theatre Project (Los Angeles, Calif.)","Chessé, Ralph","English"],"unitid_tesim":["C0224","/repositories/2/resources/342"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Ralph Chessé papers"],"collection_title_tesim":["Ralph Chessé papers"],"collection_ssim":["Ralph Chessé papers"],"repository_ssm":["George Mason University"],"repository_ssim":["George Mason University"],"creator_ssm":["Chessé, Ralph"],"creator_ssim":["Chessé, Ralph"],"creator_persname_ssim":["Chessé, Ralph"],"creators_ssim":["Chessé, Ralph"],"access_terms_ssm":["The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)"],"acqinfo_ssim":["Donated to the Special Collections Research Center by Ralph Chesse on July 8, 1977; July 24, 1980; May 18, 1981."],"access_subjects_ssim":["Puppet theater","Theater -- United States","New Deal, 1933-1939"],"access_subjects_ssm":["Puppet theater","Theater -- United States","New Deal, 1933-1939"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"extent_ssm":["1.25 Linear Feet 1.5 boxes, 1 flat box"],"extent_tesim":["1.25 Linear Feet 1.5 boxes, 1 flat box"],"date_range_isim":[1935,1936,1937,1938,1939,1940,1941,1942,1943,1944,1945,1946,1947,1948,1949,1950,1951,1952,1953,1954,1955,1956,1957,1958,1959,1960,1961,1962,1963,1964,1965,1966,1967,1968,1969,1970,1971,1972,1973,1974,1975],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no access restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e"],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access Restrictions"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no access restrictions."],"altformavail_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eDigitized photographs from this collection can be found in the \u003cextptr href=\"http://images.gmu.edu/luna/servlet/GMUDPSdps~23~23\" title=\"Federal Theatre Project collection\" show=\"new\"\u003e\u003c/extptr\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e"],"altformavail_heading_ssm":["Alternative Form Available"],"altformavail_tesim":["Digitized photographs from this collection can be found in the  ."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eArranged alphabetically by title.\u003c/p\u003e"],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement"],"arrangement_tesim":["Arranged alphabetically by title."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eRalph Chessé was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 6, 1900. He attended schools in New Orleans and Chicago including the Chicago Art Institute, but was primarily a self-taught painter. In 1924 he traveled to San Francisco where he met the puppeteer Blanding Sloan. It was after this meeting that Chessé began working as a puppeteer. In 1929 he opened his first puppet theatre, The Marionette Guild on Merchant Street. In 1934 Chessé was selected, with a mural design titled \"Playground\", as one of 26 artists by the Works Progress Administration to paint a wall fresco inside of Coit Tower. During this same year The Marionette Guild had to close due to lack of funds.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eChessé joined the Federal Theatre project in 1936 as Director of the Puppetry Unit. There he oversaw a crew of 17 people. Their first production was The Crock of Gold in 1936. Other early productions included The Mikado, Alice in Wonderland, A Marionette Variety Show, and Emperor Jones.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe Federal Theatre Project was a division of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which provided employment for large numbers of artists, writers, and performers during the Great Depression (1929-1939). The Federal Theatre began in 1935 and, until its end in 1939, flourished as the first and only federally sponsored and subsidized theater program in the United States. Directed by Hallie Flanagan (1880-1969), it was a way for theatrical professionals to gain employment during the Depression. Jobs were provided for many people, including actors, playwrights, scene designers, scene builders, seamstresses, lighting experts, ushers, box-office men, and stagehands.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eIn 1937 Chessé moved to Los Angeles to take over as State Director for California. This was a larger unit employing 50 people. He remained in Los Angeles until 1939 though was still in communication with activities in San Francisco. In Los Angeles productions included Rip Van Winkle, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, and a Variety Show.  On June 30th 1939 the puppetry unit received notice that the Federal Theatre Project had been terminated. Also in 1939 Chessé brought marionettes to the World's Fair held in San Francisco.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eAfter work finished with the FTP Chessé moved his family back to San Francisco and had a long and successful career that included various jobs. At different points in his life Chessé made a living by teaching puppetry for adult education classes at San Francisco State College, producing a children's television program called The Wonderful World of Brother Buzz, making puppets for TV, theatre, and opera, and acting in plays and films. In 1984 he moved to Ashland, Oregon where he was an avid painter up until his death in 1991.\u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical note"],"bioghist_tesim":["Ralph Chessé was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 6, 1900. He attended schools in New Orleans and Chicago including the Chicago Art Institute, but was primarily a self-taught painter. In 1924 he traveled to San Francisco where he met the puppeteer Blanding Sloan. It was after this meeting that Chessé began working as a puppeteer. In 1929 he opened his first puppet theatre, The Marionette Guild on Merchant Street. In 1934 Chessé was selected, with a mural design titled \"Playground\", as one of 26 artists by the Works Progress Administration to paint a wall fresco inside of Coit Tower. During this same year The Marionette Guild had to close due to lack of funds.","Chessé joined the Federal Theatre project in 1936 as Director of the Puppetry Unit. There he oversaw a crew of 17 people. Their first production was The Crock of Gold in 1936. Other early productions included The Mikado, Alice in Wonderland, A Marionette Variety Show, and Emperor Jones.","The Federal Theatre Project was a division of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which provided employment for large numbers of artists, writers, and performers during the Great Depression (1929-1939). The Federal Theatre began in 1935 and, until its end in 1939, flourished as the first and only federally sponsored and subsidized theater program in the United States. Directed by Hallie Flanagan (1880-1969), it was a way for theatrical professionals to gain employment during the Depression. Jobs were provided for many people, including actors, playwrights, scene designers, scene builders, seamstresses, lighting experts, ushers, box-office men, and stagehands.","In 1937 Chessé moved to Los Angeles to take over as State Director for California. This was a larger unit employing 50 people. He remained in Los Angeles until 1939 though was still in communication with activities in San Francisco. In Los Angeles productions included Rip Van Winkle, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, and a Variety Show.  On June 30th 1939 the puppetry unit received notice that the Federal Theatre Project had been terminated. Also in 1939 Chessé brought marionettes to the World's Fair held in San Francisco.","After work finished with the FTP Chessé moved his family back to San Francisco and had a long and successful career that included various jobs. At different points in his life Chessé made a living by teaching puppetry for adult education classes at San Francisco State College, producing a children's television program called The Wonderful World of Brother Buzz, making puppets for TV, theatre, and opera, and acting in plays and films. In 1984 he moved to Ashland, Oregon where he was an avid painter up until his death in 1991."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eRalph Chessé papers, C0224, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["Ralph Chessé papers, C0224, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries."],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eProcessed and EAD completed by Greta Kuriger Suiter in September 2012.\u003c/p\u003e"],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Processing Information"],"processinfo_tesim":["Processed and EAD completed by Greta Kuriger Suiter in September 2012."],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Works Progress Administration oral histories collection, the Federal Theatre Project collection, the Federal Theatre Project photograph collection, as well as numerous other personal papers.\u003c/p\u003e"],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Material"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["The Works Progress Administration oral histories collection, the Federal Theatre Project collection, the Federal Theatre Project photograph collection, as well as numerous other personal papers."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Chessé papers contain materials such as photographs, watercolor set and costume design sketches, playscripts, and programs relating to Federal Theatre Project marionette productions in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Some of these plays are Child of God, Crock of Gold, The Emperor Jones, Hansel and Gretel, Marionette Varieties, Rip Van Winkle, The Tempest, and Twelfth Night. The papers also include magazine articles from the 1970s that highlight Chessé's mural painting at the Coit Tower in San Francisco.\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content"],"scopecontent_tesim":["The Chessé papers contain materials such as photographs, watercolor set and costume design sketches, playscripts, and programs relating to Federal Theatre Project marionette productions in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Some of these plays are Child of God, Crock of Gold, The Emperor Jones, Hansel and Gretel, Marionette Varieties, Rip Van Winkle, The Tempest, and Twelfth Night. The papers also include magazine articles from the 1970s that highlight Chessé's mural painting at the Coit Tower in San Francisco."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)\u003c/p\u003e"],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)"],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract id=\"aspace_fd1e36438f08f59035774f402a4708fd\" label=\"Abstract\"\u003eThe Chessé papers contain materials such as photographs, watercolor set and costume design sketches, playscripts, and programs relating to Federal Theatre Project marionette productions in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Some of these plays are Child of God, Crock of Gold, The Emperor Jones, Hansel and Gretel, Marionette Varieties, Rip Van Winkle, The Tempest, and Twelfth Night. The papers also include magazine articles from the 1970s that highlight Chessé's mural painting at the Coit Tower in San Francisco.\u003c/abstract\u003e"],"abstract_tesim":["The Chessé papers contain materials such as photographs, watercolor set and costume design sketches, playscripts, and programs relating to Federal Theatre Project marionette productions in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Some of these plays are Child of God, Crock of Gold, The Emperor Jones, Hansel and Gretel, Marionette Varieties, Rip Van Winkle, The Tempest, and Twelfth Night. The papers also include magazine articles from the 1970s that highlight Chessé's mural painting at the Coit Tower in San Francisco."],"names_coll_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)","Federal Theatre Project (San Francisco, Calif.)","Federal Theatre Project (Los Angeles, Calif.)","Chessé, Ralph"],"names_ssim":["George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center","Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)","Federal Theatre Project (San Francisco, Calif.)","Federal Theatre Project (Los Angeles, Calif.)","Chessé, Ralph"],"corpname_ssim":["George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center","Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)","Federal Theatre Project (San Francisco, Calif.)","Federal Theatre Project (Los Angeles, Calif.)"],"persname_ssim":["Chessé, Ralph"],"language_ssim":["English"],"descrules_ssm":["Describing Archives: A Content Standard"],"total_component_count_is":46,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-05-01T00:27:17.368Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vifgm_repositories_2_resources_342"}}],"included":[{"type":"facet","id":"repository_ssim","attributes":{"label":"Repository","items":[{"attributes":{"label":"George Mason University","value":"George Mason University","hits":1},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph\u0026f%5Brepository%5D%5B%5D=George+Mason+University"}}]},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/facet/repository_ssim.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph"}},{"type":"facet","id":"collection_ssim","attributes":{"label":"Collection","items":[{"attributes":{"label":"Ralph Chessé papers","value":"Ralph Chessé papers","hits":1},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcollection%5D%5B%5D=Ralph+Chess%C3%A9+papers\u0026f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph"}}]},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/facet/collection_ssim.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph"}},{"type":"facet","id":"date_range_isim","attributes":{"label":"Date range","items":[{"attributes":{"label":"1935","value":"1935","hits":1},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph\u0026f%5Bdate_range%5D%5B%5D=1935"}},{"attributes":{"label":"1936","value":"1936","hits":1},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph\u0026f%5Bdate_range%5D%5B%5D=1936"}},{"attributes":{"label":"1937","value":"1937","hits":1},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph\u0026f%5Bdate_range%5D%5B%5D=1937"}},{"attributes":{"label":"1938","value":"1938","hits":1},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph\u0026f%5Bdate_range%5D%5B%5D=1938"}},{"attributes":{"label":"1939","value":"1939","hits":1},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph\u0026f%5Bdate_range%5D%5B%5D=1939"}},{"attributes":{"label":"1940","value":"1940","hits":1},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph\u0026f%5Bdate_range%5D%5B%5D=1940"}},{"attributes":{"label":"1941","value":"1941","hits":1},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph\u0026f%5Bdate_range%5D%5B%5D=1941"}},{"attributes":{"label":"1942","value":"1942","hits":1},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph\u0026f%5Bdate_range%5D%5B%5D=1942"}},{"attributes":{"label":"1943","value":"1943","hits":1},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph\u0026f%5Bdate_range%5D%5B%5D=1943"}},{"attributes":{"label":"1944","value":"1944","hits":1},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph\u0026f%5Bdate_range%5D%5B%5D=1944"}},{"attributes":{"label":"1945","value":"1945","hits":1},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph\u0026f%5Bdate_range%5D%5B%5D=1945"}}]},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/facet/date_range_isim.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph"}},{"type":"facet","id":"creator_ssim","attributes":{"label":"Creator","items":[{"attributes":{"label":"Chessé, Ralph","value":"Chessé, Ralph","hits":1},"links":{"remove":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph"}}]},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/facet/creator_ssim.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph"}},{"type":"facet","id":"names_ssim","attributes":{"label":"Names","items":[{"attributes":{"label":"Chessé, Ralph","value":"Chessé, Ralph","hits":1},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph\u0026f%5Bnames%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph"}},{"attributes":{"label":"Federal Theatre Project (Los Angeles, Calif.)","value":"Federal Theatre Project (Los Angeles, Calif.)","hits":1},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph\u0026f%5Bnames%5D%5B%5D=Federal+Theatre+Project+%28Los+Angeles%2C+Calif.%29"}},{"attributes":{"label":"Federal Theatre Project (San Francisco, Calif.)","value":"Federal Theatre Project (San Francisco, Calif.)","hits":1},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph\u0026f%5Bnames%5D%5B%5D=Federal+Theatre+Project+%28San+Francisco%2C+Calif.%29"}},{"attributes":{"label":"Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)","value":"Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)","hits":1},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph\u0026f%5Bnames%5D%5B%5D=Federal+Theatre+Project+%28U.S.%29"}},{"attributes":{"label":"George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center","value":"George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center","hits":1},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph\u0026f%5Bnames%5D%5B%5D=George+Mason+University.+Libraries.+Special+Collections+Research+Center"}}]},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/facet/names_ssim.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph"}},{"type":"facet","id":"access_subjects_ssim","attributes":{"label":"Subjects","items":[{"attributes":{"label":"New Deal, 1933-1939","value":"New Deal, 1933-1939","hits":1},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Baccess_subjects%5D%5B%5D=New+Deal%2C+1933-1939\u0026f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph"}},{"attributes":{"label":"Puppet theater","value":"Puppet theater","hits":1},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Baccess_subjects%5D%5B%5D=Puppet+theater\u0026f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph"}},{"attributes":{"label":"Theater -- United States","value":"Theater -- United States","hits":1},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Baccess_subjects%5D%5B%5D=Theater+--+United+States\u0026f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph"}}]},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/facet/access_subjects_ssim.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph"}},{"type":"facet","id":"level_ssim","attributes":{"label":"Level","items":[{"attributes":{"label":"Collection","value":"Collection","hits":1},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph\u0026f%5Blevel%5D%5B%5D=Collection"}}]},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/facet/level_ssim.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph"}},{"type":"search_field","id":"all_fields","attributes":{"label":"All Fields"},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph\u0026search_field=all_fields"}},{"type":"search_field","id":"keyword","attributes":{"label":"Keyword"},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph\u0026search_field=keyword"}},{"type":"search_field","id":"name","attributes":{"label":"Name"},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph\u0026search_field=name"}},{"type":"search_field","id":"place","attributes":{"label":"Place"},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph\u0026search_field=place"}},{"type":"search_field","id":"subject","attributes":{"label":"Subject"},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph\u0026search_field=subject"}},{"type":"search_field","id":"title","attributes":{"label":"Title"},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph\u0026search_field=title"}},{"type":"search_field","id":"container","attributes":{"label":"Container"},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph\u0026search_field=container"}},{"type":"search_field","id":"identifier","attributes":{"label":"Identifier"},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph\u0026search_field=identifier"}},{"type":"sort","id":"score desc, title_sort asc","attributes":{"label":"relevance"},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph\u0026sort=score+desc%2C+title_sort+asc"}},{"type":"sort","id":"date_sort asc","attributes":{"label":"date (ascending)"},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph\u0026sort=date_sort+asc"}},{"type":"sort","id":"date_sort desc","attributes":{"label":"date (descending)"},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph\u0026sort=date_sort+desc"}},{"type":"sort","id":"creator_sort asc","attributes":{"label":"creator (A-Z)"},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph\u0026sort=creator_sort+asc"}},{"type":"sort","id":"creator_sort desc","attributes":{"label":"creator (Z-A)"},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph\u0026sort=creator_sort+desc"}},{"type":"sort","id":"title_sort asc","attributes":{"label":"title (A-Z)"},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph\u0026sort=title_sort+asc"}},{"type":"sort","id":"title_sort desc","attributes":{"label":"title (Z-A)"},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Chess%C3%A9%2C+Ralph\u0026sort=title_sort+desc"}}]}