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Start Over Form Plays (performing arts compositions)

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Paul Eldridge papers, 1909-1982 (inclusive)

Extent:
13.5 linear feet (16 boxes)
Abstract:
Paul Eldridge (1888-1982) was an American poet, novelist, essayist, short story writer, and teacher. Most prolific in the 1940s, Eldridge's writing focused on issues of World War II, the Israeli-Palestine conflict, and Zionist and Jewish issues more generally. This collection consists of manuscripts, typescripts, and reprographic copies of Eldridge's poems, stories, and essays; scrapbooks of clippings related to Eldridge's writing and other activities; dustjackets; photographs; issues of newspapers and periodicals in which his columns appeared; and correspondence related to Eldridge's writing and career.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Padraic Colum plays, circa 1929-1963 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.2 linear_foot (1 box)
Abstract:
Padraic Colum (1881-1972) was a poet, playwright, novelist, biographer, and folklorist, known primarily for his collections of myths and folktales for children, his novels Castle Conquer and The Flying Swans, a volume of collected poetry, and several plays. This collection consists of typescript manuscripts of three plays by Padraic Colum: Balloon(circa 1929), Moytura: a play for dancers (circa 1962), and Timbuktu (1957).

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Lewis Mumford papers, circa 1905-1987 (inclusive)

Extent:
82.5 linear feet (197 boxes)
Abstract:
Comprising nineteen series, the Mumford papers provide extensive documentation of Mumford's professional life over a period of approximately seventy years. Predominant are correspondence and drafts of and notes for Mumford's writings, which include publications of over forty books and pamphlets and approximately one thousand articles and book reviews.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Shakspere Society of Philadelphia records, 1851-2000 (inclusive)

Extent:
3.5 linear feet
Abstract:
The minutes, correspondence, publications, programs, article clippings, and limited ephemera collected in these records relate to the history, structure, and day-to-day operations of the Shakspere Society of Philadelphia, the oldest continuously operating Shakespeare society in the United States, during the period of 1851-1995.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Roberto Morgadanes collection of Mexican religious dramas, 1684-1942 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.4 linear feet (1 box)
Abstract:
Roberto Morgadanes, a native of Mexico, studied for his doctorate in Romance languages at the University of Pennsylvania from 1940 to 1942, specializing in the origin of colonial Mexican drama. This collection consists of documents relating to Roberto Morgadanes's studies as well as original Mexican religious dramas, mainly dating from the late 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Henry Peterson manuscript plays, circa 1870s-1891 (inclusive)

Extent:
.4 linear feet (1 box)
Abstract:
Henry Peterson (1818-1891) was an author, poet, playwright, and the editor of the Saturday Evening Post. This collection consists of six hand-written manuscripts of plays that appear not to have been published.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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The effusions, collection of volumes, 1905-1914 (inclusive)

Extent:
1 volume (+ 2 photographs, 2 leaves)
Abstract:
The effusions, a collection of volumes consists of several issues of a handmade magazine bound in one volume. The magazine was created by the Philadelphia club named Ell Kube and was founded by a group of young Jewish men in 1904. There are seven volumes spanning the years from 1905-1914.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Edgar Meck Dilley writings, 1876-1923 (inclusive) 1911-1923 (bulk)

Extent:
1 linear feet (3 boxes)
Abstract:
Writer, song-writer, and reporter Edgar Meck Dilley attended the University of Pennsylvania from 1893 to 1895 and is known for having written the school's alma mater, "Hail, Pennsylvania." This collection consists mainly of drafts of his writings, including novels and stories, plays and operas, lyrics, poems, and musical scores, as well as a few accompanying miscellaneous items.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Gerald Clifford Weales writings, circa 1956-1985 (inclusive)

Extent:
3 linear feet (6 boxes)
Abstract:
Gerald Clifford Weales was a professor of English and Drama who taught for about 30 years the University of Pennsylvania, until 1987. This collection of writings includes the drafts and galley proofs of several books, both fiction and non-fiction, as well as the typescript of four unpublished plays.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Mitchell and Day family papers, 1889-1965 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.2 linear feet (1 box)
Abstract:
The Mitchell and Day family papers contain two bound manuscripts, dated between 1889 and 1965, which directly pertain to these prominent Philadelphia families. The first volume is a play written by Langdon Elywn Mitchell, and the second is a family history written by George Valentine Massey II, referencing Kenneth Mackenzie Day and Helena Mary Langdon Mitchell Day as the primary figures of his historical research.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Charlotte Cushman Club records, 1818-2000 (inclusive) 1907-1998 (bulk)

Extent:
16.6 linear feet (26 boxes)
Abstract:
Founded in 1907, the Charlotte Cushman Club was originally intended to provide respectable lodgings for actresses appearing in Philadelphia theaters. In the years of World War II the Club ceased to provide residential services, becoming a favorite gathering place of theater lovers as well as of the many actresses and actors visiting the city with their touring companies. The Charlotte Cushman Club Records offer insight into the activities, the administration, and the membership of the Club during the whole life of the organization, until its closure in 1998. The collection also includes part of the holdings of the former Club's museum and library.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Joseph Martin du Colombier manuscript of "Napoleon Bonaparte, Martyr of St. Helena", 1840 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.2 linear feet (1 box)
Abstract:
This collection contains two manuscript drafts of Joseph Martin du Colombier's play, "Napoleon Bonaparte, Martyr of St. Helena," written in 1840. The first volume is a draft of the play written in English and the second volume is a draft of the play written in French. This play, possibly inspired by the return of Napoleon's body to France in 1840, describes the end of Napoleon's life during his exile in St. Helena.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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William Wister Haines papers, 1932-1967 (inclusive)

Extent:
7.33 linear feet (8 boxes)
Abstract:
William Wister Haines (1908-1989) was an American author, screenwriter, and playwright, most famous for his novels Slim and High Tension, which depicted working-class protagonists during the Great Depression, and Command Decision, a play and novel depicting the final stages of World War II. This collection includes material related to his literary work, especially in the form of drafts of novels, short stories, essays and articles, screenplays and television scripts, and plays.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Joseph Francis Ambrose Jackson scrapbook on theatrical subjects, 1857, 1886-1902 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.5 linear feet (2 boxes)
Abstract:
Joseph Francis Ambrose Jackson (1867-1946) was a historian, lecturer, artist, journalist, and writer active in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This scrapbook contains newspaper clippings on theatrical subjects, dating from 1886 to 1902, and includes reviews, interviews, short biographies, and articles relating to the history of American theater.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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David Belasco play scripts, 1887-1912 (inclusive)

Extent:
1 linear_foot (1 box)
Abstract:
This collection contains twelve bound volumes, each containing a typescript of a single play authored, co-authored, or in one case adapted by David Belasco (1853-1931), the influential American theater impresario, producer, and playwright.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Arthur Henry papers, 1893-1936 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.4 linear_foot (1 box)
Abstract:
Arthur Henry (1867-1934) was an author and a playwright who enjoyed a close friendship with Theodore Dreiser. This collection includes one of Henry's marriage licenses; a draft typescript of The Night Before, a play he co-wrote with his daughter, Dorothy Henry Van Auken; and two typescripts of his semi-autobiographical novel, "Roger Allen."

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Louis Lippa papers, 1953-2017 (inclusive)

Extent:
14.5 linear feet (16 boxes)
Abstract:
Louis Lippa (1928-2018) was an American playwright, actor, theater director, and teacher of the dramatic arts. An experimental and prolific playwright, he was influenced by the dramatic theories of Bertolt Brecht and concerned with political, historical, and social issues. This collection contains material produced and collected by Lippa, primarily but not exclusively related to his work as a playwright-in-residence at the People's Light and Theatre Company in Malvern, PA.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Hide and seek, or natural magic: a farce, 1846 (inclusive)

Extent:
1 volume
Abstract:
Paper volume containing a comedic, one-act play entitled Hide and Seek, or Natural Magic: a Farce written by John Baldwin Buckstone dated 1846.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Howard Fast papers, 1903-2006 (inclusive) 1931-2003 (bulk)

Extent:
41 linear feet ((105 boxes, 1 oversized folder))
Abstract:
Howard Melvin Fast (1914-2003) was a best-selling and prolific American author of historical fiction, mysteries, and science fiction, known for his books on themes of patriotism, social justice, and the immigrant experience. He wrote nearly 100 books and more than 150 short stories, as well as numerous screenplays, stage plays, and newspaper columns. The Howard Fast papers include correspondence, journals, appointment books, address books, financials, writings, promotion and reviews, scrapbooks, biographies, profiles, chronologies, bibliographies, interviews, governmental and political files, vital records, personal documents, awards, photographs, artwork, and audiovisual materials. The papers were deposited at the University of Pennsylvania over the course of 45 years and represent nearly all facets of the writer's life.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Edith Wharton and Clyde Fitch typescript of "The House of Mirth: A Play in Four Acts, circa 1906", circa 1906, undated (inclusive)

Extent:
0.2 linear_foot (1 box)
Abstract:
Edith Wharton (1862-1937) was an American novelist, best known for works that provided insightful representation of New York high society. In 1905, her novel, The House of Mirth, was published; and shortly thereafter, she worked with dramatist, Clyde Fitch (1865-1909), to develop a play adapted from the novel. The collection consists in the complete typescript of the play The House of Mirth, as well a photocopy made at a later date.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Adelaide B. Snyder director's copy of The Beautiful People by William Saroyan, after 1941 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.2 linear feet (1 box)
Abstract:
Adelaide B. Snyder (1881-1962) was a director and producer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who worked most notably at the Little Theatre of Philadelphia, now known as the Plays and Players Theatre. This collection contains her director's copy of The Beautiful People, a play written by William Saroyan and published in 1941. This copy is heavily annotated and includes extensive stage directions and other director's notes.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Hedgerow Theatre Company records, 1901-2016 (inclusive)

Extent:
59.5 linear feet (67 boxes)
Abstract:
The Hedgerow Theatre Company was established in 1923 by Jasper Deeter, a New York based actor and director. Located in the Rose Valley Arts and Crafts Community of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Hedgerow holds the distinction as the longest serving Repertory Theatre in America. The Hedgerow Theatre Company records contains a wide variety of materials, from business records and show materials to member ephemera and photographs. The collection provides both a practical and intimate look into the workings of this repertory theatre.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Clyde Fitch typescripts and letters, circa 1890-1925 (inclusive)

Extent:
1 linear_foot (2 boxes)
Abstract:
William Clyde Fitch (better known as Clyde Fitch, 1865-1909) is considered one of the most successful American playwrights of his time, and the first to be produced abroad on a regular basis. This collection consists of typescripts of ten unpublished plays and four autograph letters written by Fitch.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Margaret McHenry papers, 1930-1948 (inclusive)

Extent:
2 linear feet (6 boxes)
Abstract:
Margaret McHenry earned her doctorate in English from the University of Pennsylvania in 1931. Her dissertation was titled "The Ulster Theatre in Ireland." Following her graduation, she taught English at Roxborough High School in Philadelphia and continued to write. This collection contains writings by Margaret McHenry, including "The Ulster Theatre in Ireland;" poetry; a biography of S. Weir Mitchell; and "A Booklover's Britain," later "England in English." For the most part, each of her works is represented by a nearly finished copy; and in some cases, with drafts and notes.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Robert L. Sherman collection of plays, 1853-1920 (inclusive)

Extent:
3 linear feet (8 boxes)
Abstract:
Robert L. Sherman, born in 1866, was a playwright and a theater manager. A prolific author, he began writing plays for Alexander Byers and the Chicago Manuscript Company, a printing business that sold and rented play scripts to theater companies in the United States from 1895 until 1922. Alexander Byers acquired most of the plays he published by pirating them. This collection consists of 139 mimeograph versions of play scripts which were part of the inventory of the Chicago Manuscript Company.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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George H. Boker papers, 1837-1919 (inclusive)

Extent:
0.8 linear feet (2 boxes)
Abstract:
George Henry Boker (1823-1890) was an American poet, playwright, and diplomat whose patriotic writings supported the Union government during the American Civil War. This collection contains letters to and from Boker; a small portion of financial records, largely relating to the publishing of Boker's poetry; and poems, plays and other writings by Boker.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Joseph E. Gillet collection, 1909-1956 (inclusive)

Extent:
1.6 linear feet (4 boxes)
Abstract:
Joseph E. Gillet (1888-1958), a native of Belgium, was a professor of Spanish at Bryn Mawr College. He directed doctoral dissertations both at Bryn Mawr College and at the University of Pennsylvania, and he achieved several critical editions recognized in the academic world. His papers include photostats, transcripts and translations of Spanish texts, correspondence with his colleagues and libraries in America and Europe, clippings of journals mentioning his publications, and handwritten research notes.

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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Theodore Dreiser papers, circa 1890-1965 (bulk dates 1897-1955) (inclusive) 1897-1955 (bulk)

Extent:
244 linear feet (503 boxes)
Abstract:
Contains 22 series, including correspondence (118 boxes); legal matters (7 boxes); writings (260 boxes), comprising books, essays, short stories, poems, plays, screenplays, radio scripts, addresses, lectures, interviews, introductions, and prefaces; journals edited by Dreiser (6 boxes); notes (9 boxes); diaries (5 boxes); biographical material (1 box); memorabilia (41 boxes), comprising scrapbooks, photographs (many of which are available online), art work, promotional material, postcards, and miscellanea; financial records (5 boxes); clippings (23 boxes); works by others (12 boxes); and oversize materials (2 boxes). Also includes materials regarding various family members: brother Paul Dresser (8 boxes of correspondence, sheet music and lyric sheets, clippings and memorabilia, and two plays written by Dresser); second wife Helen Dreiser (4 boxes of diaries and other writings); and niece Vera Dreiser (2 boxes of correspondence).

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]

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