Romanoff Collection
Scope and Contents
Russian nobility. Papers of the family of Prince Nikita Nikitich Romanoff, a great nephew of the last Tsar of Russia, Nicholas II. The papers include materials related to Nikita, his wife, Princess Janet, and their son, Prince Theodore. The collection contains correspondence, photographs, and films that document their lives together primarily in New York City, as well as their travels to Egypt, France, England, Italy, and many other destinations. The papers contain drafts and research materials for academic works by the Romanoffs, including including Janet’s dissertation research on V. V. Rozanov, and proofs for Ivan the Terrible, a book co-authored by Nikita. Also present in the collection are watercolors and sketches by Janet; Theodore’s schoolwork and his childhood collection of Return of the Jedi action figures; sound recordings of Russian music, and a photocopy of Grand Duchess Kseniia Aleksandrovna’s diaries. The Romanoff family library is also held by University of Oklahoma Libraries.
Dates
- 1866-2010
- Majority of material found within 1960-2007
Creator
- Romanoff, Nikita (Person)
- Romanoff, Janet (Person)
- Romanoff, Theodore (Person)
- Romanova, Marīi︠a︡, kni︠a︡gini︠a︡ (Person)
- Aleksandrovna Ksenii︠a︡, Grand Duchess, daughter of Alexander III, Emperor of Russia, 1875-1960 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Open for public research. Use the Request button to make arrangements to view archive materials at Bizzell Memorial Library's 5th Floor Special Research Collections.
Selected materials in the Romanoff Collection that contain private financial, medical, and other information have been redacted. These redactions and locations of the originals are noted in the finding aid.
The films, videos, audio cassettes, and computer media in the Romanoff Collection require digitization or duplication prior to access. Contact Special Research Collections to inquire about services and fees.
Biographical / Historical
Prince Nikita Nikitich Romanoff (1923-2007).
Born in London to Prince Nikita Alexandrovich of Russia and Countess Mariya Ilarianovna Vorontzova-Daschkova. He was the great nephew of Nicholas II, the last Tsar of Russia. Married Janet Schonwald in 1961. They had one son, Theodore. Co-authored a book, Ivan the Terrible, with Robert Payne in 1975.
Princess Janet Romanoff (1933-2017). Born in Oklahoma City to Emmanuel and Ethel Schonwald. Attended Barnard College and Stanford University, and completed her dissertation on Russian writer V. V. Rozanov. Following the deaths of Nikita and Theodore in 2007 she moved to Egypt and became involved in philanthropy and children's education.
Prince Theodore Romanoff (1974-2007). Born in New York City to Prince Nikita and Princess Janet Romanoff. Attended Columbia University, and Brown University, where he received his M.A. from The Artemis A.W. and Martha Sharp Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology and the Ancient World. His thesis (2002) was on Mycenaean Linear B Script.
Extent
54.75 Cubic Feet
Language of Materials
English
Russian
French
Italian
Spanish; Castilian
Arrangement
The Romanoff Collection finding aid is arranged alphabetcially within each series except where noted. The physical arrangement of this collection reflects original order of the materials.
Custodial History
Bequest of Princess Janet Romanoff, 2022.
Gift of Princess Mimi Romanoff, 2021: Box 42, Folders 29, 30, 31.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Bequest of Princess Janet Romanoff, 2022.
Gift of Princess Mimi Romanoff, 2021: Box 42, Folders 29, 30, 31.
Processing Information
The Romanoff Collection was primarily processed by archivists at the University of Oklahoma Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences. Folder titles were derived from the original containers or from notes included with the materials. Folder contents appear to reflect original order of the materials as kept by the Romanoff family. University of Oklahoma Libraries acquired the collection in 2022.
- Action figures Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Correspondence Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Diaries Subject Source: Library of Congress Genre/Form Terms
- Egypt -- Description and travel Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- England -- Description and travel Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- France -- Description and travel Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Home movies Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Italy -- Description and travel Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Ivan, Czar of Russia, IV, 1530-1584
- Manuscripts for publication Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Nobility -- Russia Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Photographs Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Postage stamps Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Romanov, House of
- Rozanov, V. V. (Vasiliĭ Vasilʹevich), 1856-1919
- Russia -- Description and travel Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Sound recordings Subject Source: Library of Congress Genre/Form Terms
- Sovereignty Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- United States -- Description and travel Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Watercolors Subject Source: Library of Congress Genre/Form Terms
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Special Research Collections Repository
