Description of the Papers
In Series I, sixty-one scrapbooks containing clippings, printed ephemera, and photographs document Wilson's life, activities, and interests. Clippings relate to Wilson's stage productions, stage and film actors, theater, and other topics. Photographic materials in Series II include photograph albums, studio and artists' portraits of Wilson, snapshots of Wilson and others, and publicity photographs of stage productions. There are photographs of Wilson, family members, friends, and stage colleagues, including: Wilson's wife, Natalie Paley, Leonora Corbett, Noel Coward, Martin Manulis, Armina Marshall, Mildred Natwick, Graham Payn, and Clifton Webb, among others. Other papers include correspondence, printed material, such as playbills, writings, and other material.
Dates
- 1898 - 1978
Creator
Information About Access
This collection is open for research.
Box 60-61 (scrapbooks): Restricted fragile material. For further information consult the appropriate curator.
Conditions Governing Use
The John C. Wilson papers is the physical property of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. For further information, consult the appropriate curator.
Provenance
Acquired by purchase from Ken Lopez Bookseller and gift of John C. W. Macauley, 2015-2016.
Arrangement
Organized into three series: Series I. Scrapbooks, 1919-1961. II. Photographs, 1900-1969. III. Other Papers, 1898-1978.
Extent
22.6 Linear Feet (74 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog
Persistent URL
Abstract
The John C. Wilson papers consist of scrapbooks, photographs, and other material documenting the life and work of American producer and director John C. Wilson.
John C. Wilson (1899-1961)
Born in Trenton, New Jersey and educated at Phillips Academy and Yale University, John C. Wilson (1899-1961) worked briefly for C. D. Barney & Co. on Wall Street before becoming a producer and director. From the early 1930s to mid 1950s, Wilson served as Noel Coward's personal manager and, in 1934, with Coward, Lynn Fontanne, and Alfred Lunt, he established Transatlantic Productions, with exclusive production rights to Coward's plays in the United States. Wilson also served as co-director of the Westport Country Playhouse from the early 1940s to mid 1950s.
- Actors -- United States
- Actors -- United States
- Clippings (information artifacts)
- Corbett, Leonora, 1908-1960
- Coward, Noel, 1899-1973
- Dramatists
- Dramatists -- United States
- Fontanne, Lynn, 1887-1983
- Lunt, Alfred, 1892-1977
- Manulis, Martin, 1915-2007
- Marshall, Armina
- Natwick, Mildred, 1905-1994
- Paley, Natalie
- Payn, Graham
- Photographic prints
- Playbills
- Scrapbooks
- Theater -- Production and direction -- New York (State) -- New York
- Theater -- United States
- Theatrical producers and directors -- United States
- Theatrical producers and directors -- United States
- Transatlantic Productions
- Webb, Clifton, 1893-1966
- Westport Country Playhouse (Organization : Westport, Conn.)
- Wilson, John C., approximately 1899-1961
- Title
- Guide to the John C. Wilson Papers
- Status
- In Progress
- Author
- Beinecke staff
- Date
- 2018
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Part of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library Repository
Location
121 Wall Street
New Haven, CT 06511
Opening Hours
Access Information
The Beinecke Library is open to all Yale University students and faculty, and visiting researchers whose work requires use of its special collections. You will need to bring appropriate photo ID the first time you register. Beinecke is a non-circulating, closed stack library. Paging is done by library staff during business hours. You can request collection material online at least two business days in advance of your visit, using the request links in Archives at Yale. For more information, please see Planning Your Research Visit and consult the Reading Room Policies prior to visiting the library.