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Anna Moffo collection (MSS 62)

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Held at: Archives [Contact Us]1720 Locust St, Philadelphia, PA 19103

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Archives. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Born on 27 June 1932 in Wayne, PA, Anna Moffo was an accomplished athlete and excellent student at Radnor High School before winning a place at the Curtis Institute of Music to study voice in 1950. Following her 1954 graduation, she traveled to Italy on a Fulbright Scholarship, where, soon after, her operatic career took off after a televised appearance as Cio-Cio-San in Madame Butterfly. By the early 1960s Moffo had cemented her reputation as a leading lyric-coloratura soprano, performing at, among others, the Vienna State Opera, La Scala, Teatro di San Carlo, The Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and the Royal Opera House. Celebrated as much for her beauty as for her voice (she was christened "La Bellisima"), Moffo dominated the operatic stage for nearly a decade, particularly in her signature role as Violetta in La Traviata. However, a grueling opera schedule coupled with weekly appearances on her namesake variety show led, in 1968, to serious injury to her voice from which she never fully recovered. After formally retiring from singing in 1983, Moffo served as a board member on the Metropolitan Opera Guild and taught master classes around the world until her death in 2006 at age 73.

Memorabilia, programs, publicity materials, contracts, reviews, recordings, interviews, biographies, business and personal correspondence and documents, scrapbooks, degrees, honors, awards, and photographs collected and curated by coloratura soprano Anna Moffo (Voice '54) throughout her lifetime. Her operatic roles included:

  1. Adina (L'elisir d'amore)
  2. Amina (La Sonnambula)
  3. Aida (Aida)
  4. Cio-Cio San (Madama Butterfly)
  5. Clara (Porgy and Bess)
  6. Desdemona (Otello)
  7. Elvira (I Puritani)
  8. Gilda (Rigoletto)
  9. Hélène (La belle Hélène)
  10. Juliette (Roméo et Juliette)
  11. Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi)
  12. Leonora (Il Travatore)
  13. Liù (Turandot)
  14. Lucia (Lucia di Lammermoor)
  15. Luisa (Luisa Miller)
  16. Magda (La Rondine)
  17. Manon (Manon Lescaut)
  18. Marguerite (Faust)
  19. Marie (La fille du régiment)
  20. Mélisande (Pelléas and Mélisande)
  21. Mimi (La boheme) (American debut, 1957)
  22. Nannetta (Falstaff) (La Scala debut, 1957)
  23. Norina (Don Pasquale) (Spoleto debut, 1955)
  24. Pamina (Die Zauberflöte)
  25. Périchole (La Périchole)
  26. Rosalinda (Die Fledermaus)
  27. Susanna (La nozze di Figaro)
  28. Thaïs (Thaïs)
  29. Tosca (Tosca)
  30. Violetta (La Traviata) (Met debut, 1959)
  31. Zerlina (Don Giovanni)

From the estate of Nick Moffo

All audio recordings are on cassette

This collection is currently being processed. Please contact the archivist.

Publisher
Archives
Finding Aid Author
Kristina Wilson
Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research

Collection Inventory

Arrangement

Contracts and any accompanying correspondence are organized chronologically by performance date

1950s-1960s.
Box 1 Folder 1
1970s .
Box 1 Folder 2-3
1980s-1990s.
Box 1 Folder 4-5

High school, 1942-1950.
Box 1 Folder 6
Non-Curtis, 1951-1955.
Box 1 Folder 7
Curtis Institute, 1953-1954.
Box 1 Folder 8
Post-Curtis, 1959-circa 1978.
Box 2 Folder 1-3
Posters.
Box OZ 1
Clippings, 1947-1973.
Box 2 Folder 4
Interviews and biographies, 1956-1984.
Box 2 Folder 5
Awards and honors, 1939-1980.
Box 2 Folder 6 Box OZ 1

Documents, 1973-1976.
Box 2 Folder 8
Scope and Contents

Legal documents from Moffo's divorce from first husband Mario Lanfranchi

Fan mail, 1960; 2005.
Box 2 Folder 7

Arrangement

Alphabetical by character name

Adina (L'elisir d'amore) .
Aida (Aida) .
Amina (La sonnambula) .
Cio-Cio-San (Madame Butterfly) .
Clara (Porgy and Bess) .
Desdemona (Otello) .
Elvira (I Puritani) .
Gilda (Rigoletto) .
Hélène (La belle Hélène).
Juliette (Roméo et Juliette) .
Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi) .
Liù (Turandot) .
Lucia (Lucia di Lammermoor) .
Magda (La rondine) .
Manon (Manon).
Marguerite (Faust) .
Marie (La fille du régiment) .
Mimi (La bohème).
Nannetta (Falstaff) .
Norina (Don Pasquale) .
Pamina (The Magic Flute) .
Périchole (La Périchole) .
Rosina (The Barber of Seville).
Serpina (La serva padrona) .
Tosca (Tosca) .
Violetta (La traviata) .
Moffo family, 1932-1949.
Lanfranchi family, circa 1928-1972.
Scope and Contents

family of Moffo's first husband Mario Lanfranchi; marriage; life and home in Italy

Fulbright Scholarship, 1954-1955.
Horses and horse racing, circa 1960-1973.
General, 1961-1965.
General, 1966-1985.
Concerts/recitals, 1960-1972.
Recording sessions, circa 1960s.
Television , 1960s.
Film, 1968-1970.
Scope and Contents

Includes La traviata (1968), Una storia d'amore (1968) and Concerto per pistola solista (The Weekend Murders) (1970).

Moffo's complete filmography can be found here: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0595666/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

Negatives.

Arrangement

Recordings maintain the general chronological order and labeling imposed by the creator

General

All recordings are non-commercial

Scope and Contents

Includes performances, rehearsals, television appearances, master classes, and interviews

Material Specific Details

All recordings are on cassette

1960s performances.
Box 7 - recordings Media/Data Case 1-4
Scope and Contents

  1. Rigoletto part I-II, Royal Opera House, London 2/9/1964
  2. I Puritani part I-II, Philadelphia Lyric Opera Company, 12/1/1967
1973 miscellaneous.
Box 7 - recordings Media/Data Case 5-12
Scope and Contents

  1. lesson undated
  2. holiday message to friend undated
  3. solo rehearsal undated
  4. concert orchestra rehearsal undated
  5. Una furtiva lagrima ( L'elisir d'amore) rehearsal (not Moffo) undated
  6. Silent Night, Christmas 1973
  7. Czardas (Die Fledermaus) undated
  8. Carmen (not Moffo) undated
1973-1976 Moffo at the Met (1).
Box 7 - recordings Media/Data Case 13-22
Scope and Contents

  1. Die Zauberflöte Act I and II 12/4/1973
  2. La Traviata Act I-IV 12/7/1973
  3. Die Zauberflöte Act I-II 12/15/1973
  4. Die Zauberflöte (excerpts) 12/21/1973
  5. La Traviata Act III and IV 2/26/1976
  6. La Traviata Act I and II 3/11/1976
  7. La Traviata Act I and II 3/15/1976
  8. La Traviata Acts I-IV undated
1973-1976 Moffo at the Met (2) .
Box 7 - recordings Media/Data Case 23-33
Scope and Contents

  1. Die Fledermaus 7/7/1973
  2. I Pagliacci with Richard Tucker 12/3/1974
  3. I Pagliacci 12/14/1974
  4. I Pagliacci 1/18/1975
  5. La Traviata Act I and II 2/26/1976
  6. La Traviata Act III and IV 3/15/1976
  7. Madama Butterfly Acts I-III, Van Courtlandt Park 6/19/1976
1973-1976 Moffo at the Met (3) .
Box 7 - recordings Media/Data Case 34-39 Box 8 - recordings Media/Data Case 1-3
Scope and Contents

  1. La Traviata with John Alexander and Robert Merrill 12/7/1973
  2. La Traviata Acts I-IV 1/7/1974
  3. Rigoletto 6/1/1974
  4. Rigoletto Acts I-III 6/8/1974
  5. Turandot 6/14/1974
  6. La Traviata Act III and IV 3/11/1976
  7. La Traviata Act I and II 9/7/1976
  8. La Traviata 10/17/1976
  9. Rigoletto undated
1973-1977 television shows .
Box 8 - recordings Media/Data Case 4-14
Scope and Contents

  1. interview interview with Big Wilson 12/13/1973
  2. Puerto Rico TV quando m'en Vo (La Bohème) 4/9/1977
  3. Wunder Konzert undated
  4. Un fiore è nato, Dunque io son (Callas and Gobbi) undated
  5. Un fiore è nato/In fondo ai miei occhi undated
  6. Un fiore è nato undated
  7. Italian jazz/pop recordings undated
  8. German lullaby undated
  9. Lehar talk undated
  10. Showboat undated
  11. In quelle trine morbide (Manon Lescaut) undated
1973-1981 television shows .
Box 8 - recordings Media/Data Case 15-23
Scope and Contents

  1. La Traviata 4/10/1973
  2. with John Beck, WNYC Radio 2/25/1981
  3. The Listening Room with Robert Merrill, WQXR 10/1/1981
  4. Travelin' Medley Dean Martin Show undated
  5. Dean Martin/Bob Newhart undated
  6. unidentified undated
  7. interview with Mike Douglas undated
  8. Duette unidentified singer undated
  9. Madama Butterfly undated
1973-1981 rehearsals and lessons.
Box 8 - recordings Media/Data Case 24-32
1974-1977 Moffo other than Met .
Box 8 - recordings Media/Data Case 33-39 Box 9 - recordings Media/Data Case 1-5
Scope and Contents

  1. La Traviata Acts I-IV, Trenton, NJ 1/5/1974
  2. La Traviata Acts I-IV, speech of Brendan Byrne, Newark, NJ 1/7/1974
  3. I Pagliacci 12/19/1974
  4. Madama Butterfly Act III, Van Courtlandt Park 6/29/1976
  5. La boheme Acts I-IV, Symphony Hall Newark, NJ 6/26/1977
1974-1978 rehearsals and lessons .
Box 9 - recordings Media/Data Case 6-15
Scope and Contents

  1. Ophelia 2/18/1974
  2. interview 4/4/1978
  3. orchestra rehearsal in Italian undated
  4. rehearsal in French undated
  5. lesson undated
  6. Una voce poco fa (Barber of Seville) rehearsal with orchestra undated
  7. arias with orchestra undated
  8. Deh vieni, non tardar (Le nozze di Figaro) rehearsal undated
  9. lesson undated
  10. The Merry Widow aria recital rehearsal undated
1974-1980 orchestra concerts .
Box 9 - recordings Media/Data Case 16-27
Scope and Contents

  1. Tokyo concert 4/22/1974
  2. Worcester Festival 10/25/1974
  3. Robert Merrill 12/11/1974
  4. Sydney Orchestra opening 10/12/1975
  5. NBC affiliates banquet 6/22/1976
  6. Requiem (Verdi) 12/1/1978
  7. Requiem (Verdi) Mexico City 12/3/1978
  8. Moffo and Merrill, Belmont Park, Garden State Orchestra 10/21/1980
  9. Ambler(?) Fest July 9th undated
  10. unidentified concert undated
1974-1981 performances and rehearsals .
Box 9 - recordings Media/Data Case 28-38
Scope and Contents

  1. rehearsal 9/21/1974(?)
  2. lesson 9/30/1974
  3. rehearsal 11/7/1975
  4. Die Fledermaus Act I and II 8/5/1980
  5. Eugene Onegin coaching 9/1980
  6. The Rake's Progress undated
  7. rehearsal undated
  8. rehearsal undated
  9. rehearsal undated
  10. rehearsal undated
  11. rehearsal
1974-1985 rehearsals, performances and master classes .
Box 9 - recordings Media/Data Case 39-41 Box 10 - recordings Media/Data Case 1-7
Scope and Contents

  1. Osaka orchestra rehearsal 4/8/1974
  2. Strauss 9/16/1975
  3. Folger rehearsal 11/7/1975
  4. warm ups 1982
  5. Birmingham Southern College master class 5/8/1985
  6. Micaela (Carmen) undated
  7. Merrill duet rehearsal undated
  8. Rusalka undated
  9. Lucia undated
  10. Stiffelio undated
1975 rehearsals .
Box 10 - recordings Media/Data Case 8-16
Scope and Contents

  1. Rusalka 11/7/1975
  2. Adriana Lecouvreur undated
  3. rehearsal (Stravinsky) undated
  4. Ravel/Boheme undated
  5. Iphigénie undated
  6. unidentified (Italian) undated
  7. unidentified (Italian) undated
  8. unidentified (Italian) undated
  9. unidentified singer - Japanese art song Sakura undated
  10. rehearsal/performance undated
1975-1977 rehearsals and performances .
Box 10 - recordings Media/Data Case 17-20
Scope and Contents

  1. Moffo and Merrill Newark 12/12/1981
  2. rehearsal 12/30/1981
  3. rehearsal undated
  4. rehearsal undated
  5. rehearsal undated
  6. Ach, ich fühl's (Die Zauberflöte) undated
1975-1977 rehearsals .
Box 10 - recordings Media/Data Case 21-30
Scope and Contents

  1. lesson 11/6/1975
  2. Poulenc 7/14/1977
  3. program I/II undated
  4. program I/II undated
  5. French undated
  6. Italian undated
  7. Manon Lescaut undated
  8. rehearsal – Martin undated
  9. Italian undated
  10. Il Trovatore undated
1975-1978 rehearsals and performances .
Box 10 - recordings Media/Data Case 31-38
Scope and Contents

  1. Tampa orchestra rehearsal 12/3/1975
  2. The Merry Widow 7/1977
  3. Victoria B.C. 10/1/1978 and 10/2/1978
  4. Gala Awards presentation part I undated
  5. WRJA lessons undated
  6. Thaïs rehearsal Seattle undated
  7. voice memo undated
  8. Russian lesson undated
1975-1979 rehearsals .
Box 10 - recordings Media/Data Case 39-42 Box 11 - recordings Media/Data Case 1-8
Scope and Contents

  1. with Robert Merrill 11/19/1977
  2. Taming of the Shrew 6/7/1979
  3. Macbeth undated
  4. Naughty Marietta undated
  5. Russian song undated
  6. Vanessa recital undated
  7. Italian aria undated
  8. Vitellia (La Clemenza di Tito) (reading) undated
  9. Cosi fan Tutte undated
  10. lesson on Debussy and Strauss undated
  11. Air de Lea undated
1975-1980 lessons, rehearsals, and performances .
Box 11 - recordings Media/Data Case 9-14
Scope and Contents

  1. lesson 9/15/1975
  2. encores, rehearsal 10/11/1975
  3. La Traviata 1/26/1980
  4. Die Fledermaus Act III 8/6/1980
  5. Die Fledermaus rehearsal undated
  6. Czardas (Die Fledermaus) undated
1975-1980 recitals .
Box 11 - recordings Media/Data Case 15-26
Scope and Contents

  1. Nagoya 4/24/1974
  2. Melbourne 10/19/1975
  3. Perth 10/22/1975
  4. Adelaide 10/26/1975
  5. San Juan 4/13/1977
  6. Joint recital Philadelphia 12/12/1978
  7. Carnegie Hall 1/17/1979
  8. Paul Mellon Arts Center, Wallingford, CT 4/21/1979
  9. Teatro La Fenice, Venice 9/4/1979
  10. Paris 9/29/1980
  11. Fort Lauderdale undated
1975-1984 recitals .
Box 11 - recordings Media/Data Case 27-38
Scope and Contents

  1. New Rochelle 3/4/1975
  2. >
  3. Tampa Symphony 12/4/1975
  4. Jackson, Tennessee 2/4/1976
  5. Pensacola 1/1/1979
  6. Scranton, PA 4/4/1981
  7. Wayne, PA 5/8/1981
  8. Carnegie Hall 2/21/1984
  9. Iceland undated
  10. rehearsal undated
  11. recital undated
  12. Queens College, NY undated
1975-1984 rehearsals, performances, and recitals .
Box 11 - recordings Volume 39-42 Box 12 - recordings Media/Data Case 1-7
Scope and Contents

  1. lesson teaching 10/2/1975
  2. The Merry Widow 8/1977
  3. Spanish and Cuban/operetta arias 12/10/1984
  4. unidentified male recital undated
  5. Stiffelio rehearsal undated
  6. Philadelphia Opera award presentation undated
  7. rehearsal/lesson(?) undated
  8. German with orchestra undated
  9. Russian lesson undated
  10. French song with piano undated
  11. Moffo sings Robert Stolz (3 songs) undated
1976-1977 Moffo other than the Met .
Box 12 - recordings Media/Data Case 8-19
Scope and Contents

  1. Thaïs Seattle, WA 3/8/1976
  2. general rehearsal 9/5/1976
  3. La Traviata 10/17/1976
  4. Tosca 3/19/1977
  5. La boheme Newark, NJ 6/26/1977
  6. unidentified singer (not Moffo) undated
  7. La boheme with Luciano Pavarotti undated
  8. The Merry Widow undated
  9. Dubarry piano rehearsal undated
  10. Tosca with Rubén Domínguez and Richard Fredericks undated
  11. Stiffelio Boston, MA undated
1976-1978 Moffo other than the Met .
Box 12 - recordings Media/Data Case 20-29
Scope and Contents

  1. Thaïs premiere, Seattle, WA 6/5/1976
  2. Tosca Act II, Caracas, Venezuela 1/1977
  3. Tosca Act III, with Ruben Dominguez, Richard Fredericks, San Carlo Opera, St. Petersburg Orchestra, Anton Coppola conductor 3/19/1977
  4. Stiffelio premiere, Act I 2/15/1978
  5. Don Pasquale Acts I-III, with Gimi Beni and John Sandor, St. Petersburg Opera Company 11/24/1978
  6. Don Pasquale undated
  7. La Fille du Régiment Miami Opera undated
  8. La Fille du Régiment Acts I and II undated
  9. Stiffelio Act III undated
1976-1979 television shows .
Box 12 - recordings Media/Data Case 30-41
Scope and Contents

  1. Peter Alexander Show 10/1976
  2. Peter Alexander Show 10/1976
  3. with Bob Sherman/Ginori tv ad 12/26/1978
  4. Arlene Francis Show WOR-AM 1/12/1979
  5. Radio ad for Carnegie Hall recital 1/17/1979
  6. WDET FM 7/27/1979
  7. Im Prater Bluhm, Qual Fiamma avea nel guardo (I Pagliacci), Summerfume, Funiculì, Funiculà undated
  8. Showboat Nos. 2, 4, and 5 undated
  9. Napolitani Orchestra undated
  10. Silent Night undated
  11. French song undated
  12. Accord Film - Lehar (dialogue) undated
1978 rehearsals .
Box 13 - recordings Media/Data Case 1-11
Scope and Contents

  1. Pavarotti recital at the Met 2/12/1978
  2. Stiffelio Acts I and II undated
  3. Die schöne Galathée rehearsal undated
  4. Dubarry rehearsal undated
  5. French songs undated
  6. Japanese songs undated
  7. Strauss undated
  8. The Rake's Progress undated
  9. unidentified opera (illegible label) undated
1978-1984 Moffo other than the Met .
Box 13 - recordings Media/Data Case 12-21
Scope and Contents

  1. Madama Butterfly Acts I-III, Garden State Arts Center 6/24/1978
  2. La boheme Acts I-IV, Wichita Symphony Opera 1/11/1980
  3. La boheme Acts I-IV, Wichita 1/13/1980
  4. The Merry Widow Acts I-III, Connecticut Opera 3/7/1980
  5. La Traviata Waterloo Village, NJ 8/11/1984
1979 miscellaneous .
Box 13 - recordings Media/Data Case 22-30
Scope and Contents

  1. Gene 10/13/1979
  2. lesson undated
  3. Rusalka undated
  4. Die Fledermaus medley undated
  5. rehearsal undated
  6. Sempre Libera undated
  7. Eugene Onegin undated
  8. rehearsal undated
  9. lesson undated
1980s rehearsals and performances .
Box 13 - recordings Media/Data Case 31-39
Scope and Contents

  1. Act III 8/5/1980
  2. La Belle Hélène rehearsal 5/16/1981
  3. rehearsal undated
  4. La Traviata undated
  5. unidentified opera undated
  6. rehearsal undated
  7. Thaïs (excerpts) undated
  8. rehearsal undated
1980-1985 performances .
Box 13 - recordings Media/Data Case 40-42 Box 14 - recordings Media/Data Case 1-7
Scope and Contents

  1. New Britain Symphony Orchestra 11/2/1980
  2. Franco Corelli, NJ Garden Arts Center concert 7/9/1981
  3. Manon Lescaut, Faust, Dinorah 10/29/1981
  4. First Hearing sample program WQXR 4/24/1983
  5. Wedding performance 6/25/1983
  6. La Traviata NJ State Opera 9/9/1984
  7. guest speaker, Met Opera class for young singers 4/11/1985
  8. Gala Awards presentation part II undated
  9. Talk at NYU Summer musical theatre undated
  10. Die Fledermaus undated
1980-1986 performances .
Box 14 - recordings Media/Data Case 8-11
Scope and Contents

  1. Metropolitan Center Opening Gala, Boston 12/5/1980
  2. Moffo and Merrill, Boston Symphony Orchestra 7/18/1981
  3. Allentown, PA 3/18/1984
  4. Saint Patrick's Cathedral 7/3/1986
1981 rehearsals, lessons, and performances .
Box 14 - recordings Media/Data Case 12-22
Scope and Contents

1981

  1. Carmen undated
  2. lesson undated
  3. Addio del Passato rehearsal (La Traviata) undated
  4. lesson undated
  5. Vissi d'arte (Tosca) undated
  6. piano acc. undated
  7. lesson undated
  8. La Rondine undated
  9. Thaïs rehearsal undated
  10. message from Rudy Heymann undated
  11. rehearsal undated
1981-1985 lessons, performances, and master classes .
Box 14 - recordings Media/Data Case 23-32
Scope and Contents

  1. voice lesson (teaching) undated
  2. voice lesson (teaching) undated
  3. voice lesson (teaching) undated
  4. voice lesson (teaching) undated
  5. voice lesson (teaching) undated
  6. voice lesson (teaching) undated
  7. Una voce poco fa practice (Barber of Seville) undated
  8. Worcester chorus and orchestra '81 musical festival
  9. Birmingham Southern College master class 5/8/1985
  10. Twin Cities Symphony undated
1981-1991 performances .
Box 14 - recordings Media/Data Case 33-42 Box 15 - recordings Volume 1-2
Scope and Contents

  1. Tosca Acts I-III 11/29/1981
  2. Tosca Acts I-III 12/1/1981
  3. Tosca Acts I-III 12/4/1981
  4. Tosca Acts I-III 12/6/1981
  5. interview 10/10/1991
  6. excerpts from Met marathon 11/30/1991
  7. Moffo and Karel Gott undated
  8. Profile - Anna Moffo (commercial recording) undated
1982-1985 recitals and performances .
Box 15 - recordings Media/Data Case 3-8
Scope and Contents

  1. recital Skidmore College 5/3/1982
  2. recital, Theatre of the Performing Arts San Antonio 5/31/1983
  3. Crown American party, Plaza Hotel 1/9/1984
  4. Zimbalist Memorial concert at Curtis Institute 4/1/1985
  5. Smithsonian National Museum of American History 10/12/1985
  6. Joy to the World Pops concert undated
1986-1988 performances and master classes .
Box 15 - recordings Media/Data Case 9-15
Scope and Contents

  1. master class 2/26/1984
  2. Cami Hall (incomplete) 11/15/1985
  3. interview with Lucas Ernst 4/13/1986
  4. Wakeup Call WNCN radio 7/3/1986
  5. performance 10/9/1986
  6. promo for WHYY FM 11/1986
  7. Curtis Institute 11/7/1986
undated/unidentified performances .
Box 15 - recordings Media/Data Case 16-20
Scope and Contents

  1. Moffo medley
  2. Suzanne Danco- soprano Italian songs
  3. Moffo piano rehearsal
  4. German songs with orchestra
  5. voice lesson

Scope and Contents

Comprised of newspaper clippings spanning Moffo's career. Scrapbooks covering the height of her career are fully represented while those of her later years were sampled. .

1956-1959.
1960.
Scope and Contents

Early career successes; articles on Moffo's Metropilitan debut as Violetta in La Traviate

1960-1961.
1958-1962.
General

(2) volumes

1961-1962.
1963-1964.
1964-1965.
1965-1966 .
General

(2) volumes

1966-1967.
1968.
1969.
1974.

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