William Harlowe Briggs Papers

Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Call Number:

C0729

Repository:

Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division

Extent:

9 boxes
3.95 linear feet

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); William Harlowe Briggs Papers, Box and Folder Number; Special Collections, Princeton University Library.

Date:

1864-1940 (inclusive) and 1900-1936 (bulk)

Creator:

Briggs, William Harlowe, 1876-1952

Form:

Commonplace books., Correspondence., Diaries., Playbills., and Scripts.

Abstract:

William Harlowe Briggs was a playwright and editor at Harper & Brothers during the early part of the twentieth century. His papers include 24 scripts from Briggs's plays, family correspondence, playbills, lectures, and diaries from Briggs's mother and father.

Briggs, William Harlowe, 1876-1952

William Harlowe Briggs (1876-1952) was the son of Judge Henry C. Briggs and Amanda R. Hebard Briggs. Born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, his family pioneered West around 1886 and settled in Ipswich, South Dakota. Briggs began his literary career there as a young man by publishing a small newspaper, the Praire Grove Leaflet, in 1889-1890. Moving to the East, Briggs became an editor for the Chicago American and from 1908 in New York for Harper & Brothers. Briggs was also the author of many plays, such as Behold thy Wife, produced in 1915 by Henry W. Savage, and a novel, Dakota in the Morning (1942).

Consists of selected papers of Briggs, a playwright and editor at Harper & Brothers, including 24 scripts for plays such as Behold Thy Wife (1910), By Dawn's Early Light (1936), Benjamin Franklin (1938), and Keeping Up With Lizzie (1911), co-authored with Irving Bachellor; family correspondence (1894-1936), juvenalia, playbills, and copies of the Praire Grove Leaflet, edited by Briggs in 1889. Also present are articles, lectures, commonplace books, and diaries (1864-1901) of Briggs' mother, Amanda R. Hebard Briggs, and a few diaries (1876-1885) of Briggs' father, Henry C. Briggs. The diaries document the family's moves from Massachusetts to Michigan and then to the Dakota Territory.

Gift of The Hampton Booth Theatre Library.

This collection was processed in 1995. Finding aid written in 1995.

No appraisal information is available.

People

Briggs family

Subject

Place

Middle West -- Description and travel -- 19th century -- Sources.

Publisher: Manuscripts Division
Finding Aid Date: 2002
Access Restrictions: Collection is open for research use.
Use Restrictions: Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. No further photoduplication of copies of material in the collection can be made when Princeton University Library does not own the original. Inquiries regarding publishing material from the collection should be directed to RBSC Public Services staff through the Ask Us! form. The library has no information on the status of literary rights in the collection and researchers are responsible for determining any questions of copyright.

Collection Inventory

Scope and Contents

Consists of the papers of William Harlowe Briggs, primarily containing writings and correspondence.

Arrangement

This series is arranged into three subseries: Writings, Correspondence, and Miscellaneous Papers.

Physical Description

7 boxes

Scope and Contents

Consists of 23 typescripts, with some autograph notes for plays written by Briggs between the years 1903-1938. Included are scripts for Behold Thy Wife, produced in 1915 at the Apollo Theater in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Benjamin Franklin, The Passionate Salesman, Keeping Up With Lizzie, written in collaboration with Irving Bachellor, and Night Court, written in collaboration with Fulton Oursler.

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by title.

Physical Description

5 boxes

Physical Description

1 box

TMs (bound copy), dates not examined. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

Physical Description

1 box

TMs (corrected copy), dates not examined. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

TMs (3 acts bound separately), dates not examined. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

TMs (prompt copy), dates not examined. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

TMs (act 3 cuts), dates not examined. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

AMs (notes), dates not examined. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

Playbills, 1915. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

Scrapbook of clippings, 1915. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

Physical Description

1 box

TMs (corrected copy), dates not examined. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

TMs, dates not examined. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

AMs (notes), dates not examined. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

Research Material, dates not examined. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

Physical Description

1 box

TMs, dates not examined. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

TMs (stage directions in red), dates not examined. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

Physical Description

2 boxes

TMs (submission copy), dates not examined. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

TMs (carbon), dates not examined. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

TMs, dates not examined. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

TMs (corrected copy with AMs notes), dates not examined. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

TMs (revised copy, "B script"), dates not examined. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

Physical Description

1 box

TMs, dates not examined. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

Physical Description

1 box

AMs (notes, early title "The Man Who Wanted a Tent", dates not examined. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

TMs, dates not examined. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

TMs (carbon), dates not examined. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

Physical Description

1 box

TMs (carbon), dates not examined. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

Physical Description

1 box

TMs, dates not examined. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

Physical Description

1 box

TMs (corrected copy), dates not examined. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

Physical Description

1 box

TMs, dates not examined. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

Physical Description

1 box

TMs, dates not examined. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

Physical Description

1 box

TMS, dates not examined. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

Physical Description

1 box

TMs (act 2 only), dates not examined. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

Physical Description

1 box

TMs, undated. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

Physical Description

1 box

TMs, dates not examined. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

Physical Description

1 box

TMs (draft, 171 pp.), undated. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

TMs (early script), undated. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

Physical Description

1 box

TMs, dates not examined. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

Physical Description

1 box

TMs ("A script" first version), dates not examined. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

TMs ("B script" revision), dates not examined. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

TMs, dates not examined. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

Physical Description

1 box

TMs, dates not examined. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

TMs (2nd copy), dates not examined. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

Physical Description

1 box

TMs, dates not examined. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

Physical Description

1 box

TMs, dates not examined. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

Physical Description

1 box

TMs and AMs notes, dates not examined. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

Scope and Contents

Consists of letters (1890s) by Briggs to his mother, Amanda R. Hebard Briggs, while working on local newspapers in Illinois and South Dakota; correspondence (1895-1919) with his father, Henry C. Briggs; letters from his wife "Berta" and his brother Henry B. R. Briggs (1881-1936), a journalist and Postmaster of Los Angeles. Also present is correspondence with Briggs concerning the development and disposition of his Dramatic Criticism Clipping Collection (1905-1933), which was acquired by the University of Chicago in 1933, and miscellaneous letters.

Arrangement

Arranged by genre of correspondence.

Physical Description

1 box

Physical Description

1 box

Amanda R. Hebard Briggs (mother), circa 1894-1896. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

Henry C. Briggs (father), circa 1895-1896. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

Physical Description

1 box

Henry C. Briggs (father), circa 1890-1919. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

"Berta" (wife), circa 1907-1915. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

Henry B. R. Briggs (brother), circa 1919-1936. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

Scope and Contents

(acquired by the University of Chicago, 1933)

Physical Description

1 box

notebook, 1905-1932, correspondence 1931-1933, includes 3 ALsS by Brander Matthews, 1905-1932. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

Miscellaneous letters, dates not examined. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

Scope and Contents

Consists of juvenalia of Briggs, including a diary (1887), school papers (1887-1888), and proofs of articles for his newspaper the Praire Grove Leaflet (1889-1890). In addition, there are copies of the Holmes' Trade Sheet (1916-1920), family memorabilia, and miscellaneous clippings.

Arrangement

Not arranged according to any arrangement scheme.

Physical Description

1 box

Diary, 1887. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

School papers, 1887-1888. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

"Prairie Grove Leaflet,", 1889-1890. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

Memorabilia, dates not examined. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

Orpheum Theatre Opera House programs, dates not examined. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

Iroquois Theatre, Chicago, fire, 1904 clippings, 1904. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

Holmes' Trade Sheet, 1916-1920. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

Miscellaneous clippings, dates not examined. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

Scope and Contents

Consists of the papers of Amanda R. Hebard Briggs, including articles, lectures, and diaries, as well as commonplace books.

Arrangement

This series is arranged into three subseries: Articles & Lectures, Commonplace books, and Diaries.

Physical Description

2 boxes

Scope and Contents

Consists of drafts and notes for articles and talks at various clubs by Amanda R. Hebard Briggs, mother of William Harlowe Briggs and a former English instructor at Andover College, on such subjects as women and patriotism, women and fashion, and the bible as literature.

Arrangement

Not arranged according to any arrangement scheme.

Physical Description

1 box

Articles & Lectures, dates not examined. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

Scope and Contents

Consists of 5 volumes (circa 1863-1872) of notebooks kept by Amanda R. Hebard Briggs containing copies of favorite verse and prose and her own notes on various topics of history, literature and religion.

Arrangement

Not arranged according to any arrangement scheme.

Physical Description

1 box

5 volumes, circa 1863-1872. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

Scope and Contents

Consists of 17 volumes (1864-1901) of diaries kept by Amanda R. Hebard Briggs while living in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and then from 1886 on in Ipswich, Dakato Territory, which became South Dakota in 1889.

Arrangement

Not arranged according to any arrangement scheme.

Physical Description

1 box

17 volumes, 1864-1901. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

Scope and Contents

Consists of the papers of Henry C. Briggs, including his diaries.

Arrangement

Arranged by genre of material.

Physical Description

1 box

Scope and Contents

Consists of 4 volumes (1876; 1883-1885) of diaries of brief entries kept by Henry C. Briggs (1831-1920), father of William Harlowe Briggs and a prominent judge and lawyer, while living in Michigan and South Dakota.

Arrangement

Not arranged according to any arrangement scheme.

Physical Description

1 box

4 volumes, 1876. 1 box.

Physical Description

1 box

Suggest a correction

Main content

Notifications

Overview and metadata sections

Collection Overview

Biography/History

Scope and Content

Acquisition Information

Processing Information

Appraisal

Name and Subject Headings

People

Subject

Place

Administrative Information

Collection Inventory

Series 1: William Harlowe Briggs, 1887-1938. 7 boxes.

Subseries 1A: Writings, 1903-1938. 5 boxes.

An Average Man, comedy in four acts, 1907. 1 box.

Behold Thy Wife, play in three acts, 1910. 1 box.

Benjamin Franklin, play in three acts, 1938. 1 box.

Blown in the Bottle, play in three acts, 1931. 1 box.

By the Dawn's Early Light, play in three acts, 1936. 2 boxes.

Chew Chew, comedy in four acts, 1924. 1 box.

He Wanted a Tent, play in three acts, 1932. 1 box.

Honor Bright, comedy in four acts, 1906. 1 box.

Keeping Up With Lizzie, comedy in four acts, by Irving Bachellor and WHB, 1911. 1 box.

Light, play in three acts, 1936. 1 box.

Making a Man of Herself, comedy in four acts, 1918. 1 box.

Night Court, play in three acts, by Fulton Oursler and WHB, 1928. 1 box.

The Passionate Salesman, comedy in four acts, 1928. 1 box.

Saturday Night, play, 1936. 1 box.

That Kind of a Girl, play in four acts, undated. 1 box.

This Our Life, play in three acts, 1903. 1 box.

The Town That Committed Suicide, play, undated. 1 box.

The Under Dog, play in three acts, 1909. 1 box.

When Did I Marry You?, play in three acts, 1932. 1 box.

Window Dressing, comedy in three acts, 1929. 1 box.

Wives of Yesterday, comedy in three acts, 1904. 1 box.

The Woman Pays, comedy in four acts, 1905. 1 box.

Unidentified script, 1927. 1 box.

Subseries 1B: Correspondence, 1890-1936. 1 box.

Letters by William Harlowe Briggs to, 1894-1896. 1 box.

Letters to William Harlowe Briggs by, 1890-1936. 1 box.

Correspondence concerning WHB's "Dramatic Criticism Clipping Collection", 1905-1933. 1 box.

Subseries 1C: Miscellaneous Papers, 1887-1920. 1 box.

Series 2: Amanda R. Hebard Briggs, 1863-1901. 2 boxes.

Subseries 2A: Articles & Lectures, dates not examined. 1 box.

Subseries 2B: Commonplace books, 1863-1872. 1 box.

Subseries 2C: Diaries, 1864-1901. 1 box.

Series 3: Henry C. Briggs, 1876-1885. 1 box.

Subseries 3A: Diaries, 1876-1885. 1 box.

Print, Suggest