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John C. Wilson Papers

 Collection
Call Number: YCAL MSS 1127

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 gift and purchase, 2015-2016. For more information consult the appropriate curator.

Arrangement

Organized into three series: Series I. Scrapbooks, 1919-1961. II. Photographs, 1900-1969. III. Other Papers, 1898-1978.

Related Materials

Additional material by or relating to Wilson can be found in the John C. Wilson Theater Collection on Noel Coward (GEN MSS 608).

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

https://hdl.handle.net/10079/fa/beinecke.jcwilson

Additional Description

Overview

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.

Subjects

Related Names

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

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.

Repository Details

Part of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library Repository

http://beinecke.library.yale.edu/
Contact:
P. O. Box 208330
New Haven CT 06520-8330 US
(203) 432-2977

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.

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