Contents


Collection Overview

Administrative Information

Scope and Contents of the Collection

General and miscellaneous

Film

Stage

Performers

OVERSIZE MATERIALS

BOOKS ON SHELF

APPENDIX: Title List

Theater Collection, 1870-1982

Finding Aid

2010

Collection Overview

Title:Theater Collection
Dates:1870-1982
Abstract: The collection documents the work of women in the performing arts, especially American actresses, women playwrights, and dancers. There are biographical files on individuals; articles and dissertations; several contemporary plays by women; and printed material on women filmmakers and feminist theater.
Extent: 12 boxes(7 linear ft.)
Language: English
Identification: MS 450

Administrative Information

Materials in this subject collection were either purchased or given to the Sophia Smith Collection by various donors.

Please use the following format when citing materials from this collection:

Theater Collection, Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College, Northampton, Mass.

The collection is open to research according to the regulations of the Sophia Smith Collection with the following exceptions:

Access to audiovisual materials may first require production of research copies.

This collection has not been fully processed; therefore it may be difficult to use.

Material in this collection may be protected by copyright and it is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy all copyright holders. Permission to publish reproductions or quotations beyond "fair use" must also be obtained from the Sophia Smith Collection as owners of the physical property.

Periodic additions are expected.

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Scope and Contents of the Collection

Tom Thumb, Mrs. Tom Thumb, and Tom Thumb's brother, undated

The collection documents the work of women in the performing arts, especially American actresses, women playwrights, and dancers. There are biographical files on individuals such as Maude Adams, Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, Doris Day, Marlene Dietrich, Isadora Duncan, Cloris Leachman, Ida Lupino, Tatum O'Neal, Mary Pickford, Lillian Russell, Marlo Thomas, and Cicely Tyson, among others. Articles and dissertations include topics related to women in theater and dance, including biographical writings on Hallie Flanagan, Lillian Helman, Katherine Cornell, Eva LeGallienne, Olive Logan, Alla Nazimova, Cornelia Otis Skinner, and Ruth St. Denis. Also included are several contemporary plays by women, and printed material on women filmmakers and feminist theater.

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General and miscellaneous


Box
Folder
11
Bibliography and note cards circa 1975

2
American Women Playwrights and correspondence 1979

3
Chinoy: flyer, activities list, pamphlets, and newsletter 1975-82

4
Correspondence and mailing 1975-79

5
Dance: clippings and memo 1854-1982

6
Helen Duberstein: clippings 1972-76

7
Actors & Actresses: photographs 1888-90

8
Toulouse-Lautrec: postcards n.d.

Film



Catalogs

Box


2
Serious Business Company, 1976


Women and their Sexuality in the New Film, by Joan Mellen 1973


Women's Films in Print, by Bonnie Dawson circa 1975

9
Workprint 1976

10
Flyers, pamphlets, and correspondence 1972-81

11
Flyers, newsletters, clippings, correspondence, and pamphlets 1962-73

12
Handbook, programs, and pamphlets 1972-75

13
Pamphlets, flyers, and articles 1973-81

Stage


Box


3
Scrapbook: clippings and photographs 1929-31

14
Clippings 1969-79

15
General Articles 1855-1929

16
Newsletter and address labels 1975-81

17
Reviews, pamphlet, clippings, and scripts 1971-80

18
Guerilla Theatre: pamphlets n.d.

19
I Woman: stories, poster, scripts, and poems 1961-70


Feminist Theater

20
Pamphlets, play, and correspondence 1975-85

21
General: pamphlets, poster, articles, and programs 1972-75

Performers



Adams, Maude

Box
Folder
422
Photographs, clippings, and correspondence 1900-57

23
Script n.d.

24
Anderson, Mary: photographs, clippings, correspondence, and book 1877-95

25
Barnett, Margo: pamphlet n.d.

26
Bernhart, Sarah: photographs, clippings, and pamphlets 1891-1922

27
Bloom, Claire: clippings 1971

28
Cayvan, Georgia: clippings 1884-86

29
Connard, Phyllis (with Lynn Fontanne)

30
Crabtree, Lotta: clippings n.d.

31
Crawford, Joan: photograph and clipping 1978

32
Davis, Bette: photograph and clippings 1978

33
Day, Doris: clipping n.d.

34
Dietrich, Marlene: photograph and clipping 1977

35
Draper, Ruth: clippings and correspondence 1954-57

36
Duncan, Isadora: clipping , 1927

37
Duse, Eleonora: articles, pamphlets, photograph, and clippings 1896-1924

38
Elssler, Franzisca (Fanny), Ballet dancer: "letters and journal" 1845

39
Enters, Angna: programs and clippings 1933-46

40
Espert, Nuria: clippings 1972

40a
Faucit, Helen: scrapbook 1917

41
Fiske, Minnie Maddern: clippings, correspondence, and photograph 1924-32

42
Fonda, Jane: clippings 1970-71

43
Gerstenberg, Alice: articles 1947-48

44
Alice Gerstenberg Experimental Theatre Workshop: book 1958

45
Gordon, Ruth: clipping 1973-76

46
Gregory, Augusta Persse Lady: clippings 1860-1932

Box
Folder
547
Hamlin, Joanne: pamphlets, programs, clippings, and photographs 1976

48
Harris, Julia Ann (Julie): clippings and magazine 1955-79

49
Havoc, June: photographs, Early Havoc, clippings 1959

50
Hayes, Helen: clipping 1975

51
Hellman, Lillian: articles and clippings 1975-76

52
Holzer, Adela: clippings 1975

53
Jackson, Glenda: clippings 1971

54
Kendal, Madhe: photograph 1889

55
Kennedy, Edith Wynne: correspondence n.d.

56
Lamb, Myrna: articles, clippings, and pamphlet 1970-71

57
Lasser, Louise: clipping 1976

58
Leachman, Cloris: clipping 1975

59
Leontovich, Eugenie: clipping 1972

60
Loden, Barbara: clipping 1970


Logan, Olive

61
Lupino, Ida: clippings 1974

62
Marlowe, Julia: photograph, article, and correspondence 1892

63
Marsh, Jean: clipping 1974

64
Mather, Margaret: photograph n.d.

65
Meader, Clara Fisher: clipping 1897

66
Mercouri, Melina: clippings 1971


Morris, Clara

67
O'Neal, Tatum: clippings 1973

68
Pavowa, Anna: clippings 1931

69
Pickford, Mary: clippings and correspondence 1937-79

70
Rachel (Elisa Felix): correspondence and clippings 1843-1913

71
Rehan, Ada: correspondence and A Daughter of Comedy 1891

72
Robinor, Hanna: photograph n.d.

73
Russell, Anna: The Power of Being a Positive Stinker with LP record 1955

74
Russell, Lillian: clippings 1922

75
Seeback, Marie: memoir 1891

76
Siddons, Sarah: photograph, clipping, and article 1845

77
Terry, Ellen: articles and clippings 1907-58

78
Thomas, Marlo: clippings 1975

79
Tyson, Cicely: clipping 1978

80
Ward, Genevieve: memoir 1863

81
Webster, Margaret: programs 1964

Box


6
Audio tapes


#1 Cheryl Crawford


#2 Celeste Holm, Ann Burr


#3 Megan Terry


#4 Ann Burr, Vinie Burrows, Ethyl Barrymore Colb, Dorothy Olim


Microfilm

Box


6
#1. Humble, A.L.: Matilda Heron, American Actress, 1959


#2. James Walton Swain, Dept. of Theatre & Speech, Tulane University: Mrs. Alexander Drake, A Biographical Study 1970


#3. Loganbill, G. Bruce: Cornelia Otis Skinner and her Art Form of Monologue


Articles and pamphlets

Box
Folder
682
General, 1961-76

83
Matriarchs of the Regional Theatre 1975

84
A Salute to Women in Theatre, the Charles Macarthur Center for American Theatre


Drama for Health, by E. Macer Story

85
Mattack, Cynthia S.: On the Affinity Between the Historiography of Theatre History and Women Studies 1974

86
Settlement House Theatre: Community & Theatrical Transformations, Sonja Enloe 1982


PhD theses

Box


7
Rosamond Gilder and the Theatre, by C. Dodge 1975


A Study of Character in Selected Plays of William Inge: Come Back…J. Epolito 1974


The Career of Rachel Corothers in the American Drama, by I. Abrahmson 1956


The Development of the Leading Feminine Character in Selected Librettos of American…, by E. Klein 1962


A Descriptive Study of the Acting of Alla Nazimova, by M. McKerrow 1974


The Role of Ruth St. Denis in the History of American Dance, 1906-1922, by C. Schlundt 1958


Hallie Flanagan: Her Role in American Theatre, 1924-1935, by B. Mendoza,volume I 1976

Box


8
Dancing Ground: An Approach to the criticism of the Modern Dance, by N. Hitchcock II


Lillian Hellman and Her Critics, by M. L. McPherson


Hallie Flanagan: Her Role in American Theatre, 1924-1935, by B. Mendoza, volume II 1976

Box


9
Women In Focus in Major Plays and Productions of Rachel Corothers, by Z. Kaplan 1979

Box


10
Leontovich/Chinoy Interview: IBM belts 1968


Plays, contemporary

Box


11
Asher, Sandra Fenichel


Afterthoughts in Eden 1974


How I Nearly Changed the World, but Didn't (Not Yet, Anyway)


Focus On Me, by Bobbi Ausubel 1974


Boesing, Martha


The Gelding 1974


Pimp 1977


Penelope, by Sophy Burnham 1976


Can You Hear Their Voices?, Vassar Experimental Theatre.


Aunt Ealdygyth is Coming Today! Stand Back!, by Anita Gustafson 1975

Box


12
Both Ancient and Modern, by J. Gates n.d.


Susan LaTempa


A Play of One's Own…The Story of Virginia Woolf 1974


Wanda Winner 1975


Minnie's Last Jig, by L. Morris 1976


Love from the Madhouse: A One-Act Play, by E. Nass 1972


Stars in a Person's Backyard, by Jay Presson


Approaching Simone, by M. Terry 1973


Impression of Loving, by Louise Thompson


Donna Wilshire


A Revolution is a Circle 1976


Daughters of Liberty 1976

OVERSIZE MATERIALS



Portraits reproduced from the Sophia Smith Collection: Great Ladies of the Theatre n.d.


Miscellaneous photographs of actors, playbills, and circus bills 1851, 1858, n.d.

BOOKS ON SHELF



Havoc, June, Early Havoc 1959


Logan, Olive, Before the Footlights and Behind the Scenes 1870


Margetts, Ralph E., A Study of the Theatrical Career of Julia Dan Hayne 1959


Moffat, Marjorie, The One Woman Show 1935


Moss, Linda T., A Historical Sketch of Katharine Cornell as an Actress-Producer, 1931-1960, (2 copies) 1974


Schanke, Robert A., Eva Le Gallienne: First Lady of Repertory 1975


Small, Miriam R., Charlotte Ramsay Lennox 1935


Stephens, Judith L., The Central Female Characters in the Pulitzer Prize Plays, 1918-1949 1977

APPENDIX: Title List

Articles

Tapes

Plays

Dissertations

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