Call Number:

C0239

Repository:

Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division

Extent:

3 boxes

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Archibald MacLeish Collection, Box and Folder Number; Special Collections, Princeton University Library.

Date:

1925-1962 (inclusive)

Creator:

MacLeish, Archibald, 1892-1982

Form:

Correspondence -- 20th century, Manuscripts -- 20th century., Poems -- 20th century., and Television scripts -- 20th century.

Abstract:

Consists of selected manuscripts and correspondence of American poet/dramatist and Pulitzer Prize winner Archibald MacLeish.

Archibald MacLeish was an American poet, dramatist, Librarian of Congress, and Harvard professor. He won the Pulitzer Prize three times: for Conquistador (1933, poetry), Collected Poems (1917–1952) (1953, poetry), and J.B. (1959, drama).

The collection contains the typed manuscript, first and page proofs, working dummy, and author's proof of MacLeish's verse play Nobodaddy (1926) and typed manuscripts--drafts and final versions--for two of MacLeish's shorter historical dramatizations: Our Lives, Our Fortunes and Our Sacred Honors (1961), a script for television tracing the Jefferson legacy through narration with dialogue from original sources and focusing on July 4, 1826, the day on which both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died; and The American Bell (1962), a script for a sound-and-light spectacular presented at Philadelphia's Independence Hall and concerned with the Liberty Bell and events leading up to the Declaration of Independence. Included is MacLeish's correspondence with Julian P. Boyd, editor-in-chief of the Jefferson Papers at that time, who contributed much, in terms of historical facts, suggestions, and criticisms, to both MacLeish dramatizations.