Stempel, Frederick W. “Signor Faranta” (1846-1924). Papers, 1883-1932
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of Stempel’s scrapbooks, photographs, and newspapers.
This collection is on loan to UAAMC.
Dates
- 1883-1932
Creator
Biographical / Historical
Frederick William “Signor Faranta” Stempel was born 30 October 1846 in Buffalo, New York, the son of Frederick William Stempel, a brewer from Strasbourg, France. He was the oldest of nine children.
Stempel left home at age 14 to join the circus, and worked as a contortionist for 28 years. Later he became interested in the theatrical business, building the first popularly-priced playhouse in the South, located in New Orleans. His Iron Theatre (1883-1889), on Bourbon and Orleans streets, offered inexpensive, popular entertainment: jugglers, contortionists, trained animals, dancers, sword swallowers, minstrel singers, hypnotists as well as plays. Stempel was a lifelong member of the Elks Lodge. He died in New Orleans on 10 January 1924 and was interred in the Elks tomb in Metairie Cemetery.
Extent
0.416667 Linear Feet (5 inches of materials contained in 1 box)
Language of Materials
English
- Title
- Frederick W. “Signor Faranta” Stempel Papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Zack Stein
- Date
- 03/23/2020
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the University Archives and Acadiana Manuscripts Collection Repository
Edith Garland Dupré Library
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
400 East St. Mary Blvd.
Lafayette LA 70503 United States
337-482-6031
speccoll@louisiana.edu