Archive & Library
Preserving History
The Lee Strasberg Library is an ambitious project that seeks to permanently cement Lee Strasberg’s legacy, his unparalleled contribution to the American theatre, and his impact on New York City life, in the city itself. With a permanent home for Lee Strasberg’s collection of rare books and music, an archive of historical materials, personal effects of his storied career, and an extensive collection of his taped sessions and lectures at the Actors Studio and abroad, The Lee Strasberg Library hopes to be a permanent home for research and study on actor training, and the theatre.
The Tapes
The Lee Strasberg Archive houses and preserves over a thousand hours of audio and visual recordings of Lee Strasberg’s sessions at the Actors Studio including lectures from visiting artists and Lee Strasberg’s work.
Additionally, the archive has digitized several of Lee Strasberg’s lectures at The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute, NYU and The New School for Social Research; this includes his famous lectures on The History of the Theatre and The Development of The Method.
The Books
Housed at the future Lee Strasberg Library, this extraordinary archive of rare and out-of-print books reflects Lee Strasberg’s lifelong devotion to the craft of acting and the history of the stage.
From early treatises on performance and directing to annotated volumes on Stanislavski, Meyerhold, Vakhtangov and other theatrical pioneers, the collection offers a unique glimpse into the theoretical and practical materials that shaped Strasberg’s own approach to actor training.
An invaluable resource for scholars, artists, and historians, the library stands as a testament to Strasberg’s role not only as a teacher but as a meticulous collector and preserver of theatrical thought.
The Robert Hethmon Archives
In 2014, The Lee Strasberg Creative Center acquired the Robert Hethmon Archives, a significant collection that enriches the Center's commitment to preserving the legacy of Method Acting.
Robert Hethmon, editor of the seminal work Strasberg at the Actors Studio, compiled an extensive array of materials that provide deep insights into Lee Strasberg's teachings and the evolution of American theatre.
The archives encompass a vast collection of theatre books, plays, and a series of reel-to-reel interviews with numerous luminaries of the American stage, offering firsthand accounts and discussions on acting methodologies and theatrical practices.
This acquisition not only safeguards invaluable historical resources but also serves as an educational cornerstone for students and scholars dedicated to the study of Method Acting and its profound impact on performance art.
Get in touch
The Lee Strasberg Creative Center archives are available to qualified researchers by appointment. We welcome scholars, students, theater and film professionals, and others with legitimate research interests. Please inquire with the subject of your work and your requests.
