- Scope and Contents
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The Theatre Guild Archive consists of a variety of materials that document the history of the Theatre Guild from its earliest productions in 1919 through theatre and film projects in the 1980s and 1990s. Material includes correspondence and subject files relating to individuals, organizations, productions, and projects with which the company was involved; administrative and financial records; scripts and records of stage, radio, television, and film projects; scrapbooks, press books and clippings; costume, lighting and scenic designs and other art work; photographs of productions, events, and individuals; manuscript and printed music and related materials which document the creation, rehearsal, and performance of music composed and/or arranged for theatrical productions conceived of and produced by the Theatre Guild; production programs and publicity material from Theatre Guild and non-Theatre Guild productions; books, serials and other printed material published by the Theatre Guild as well as other publications acquired by Theatre Guild staff; posters and lobby cards; audiovisual materials; and records of projects with which the Theatre Guild and its administrators were affiliated including the Westport Country Playhouse, the Bureau of New Plays, the American Shakespeare Festival Theatre and Academy, the Theatre Guild American Repertory Company, and Theatre at Sea.
- Conditions Governing Access
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The materials are open for research.
Boxes 1267-1269, 1289-1292, 1303, 1319, and 1328-1333 are restricted pending preservation treatment.
Boxes 1483-1490 (audiovisual materials): Restricted fragile. Reference copies may be requested. Consult Access Services for further information.
Art 1570-1572, 1599: Restricted fragile. For further information consult the appropriate curator.
Box 1597: Restricted fragile. Reference surrogates have been substituted in the main files. For further information consult the appropriate curator.
Broadside 1598: Restricted fragile. For further information consult the appropriate curator. - Conditions Governing Use
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The Theatre Guild Archive 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.
- Immediate Source of Acquisition
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Gift of Lawrence Langner, Armina Marshall Langner, and Philip Langner, 1957-2004. Series XX. purchased from Glenn Horowitz Bookseller, Inc. on the Lydia Winston Malbin Archives Fund and the Sinclair Lewis Fund.
- Arrangement
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Organized into twenty series: Series I. Correspondence and Subject Files, 1918-1980. Series II. Administrative Files, 1919-1969. Series III. Scripts, 1919-1996. Series IV. Theatre Guild-American Theatre Society Files, 1932-1985. Series V. Play Reports, circa 1920-1963. Series VI. Financial Records, 1919-1970. Series VII. Photographs, 1915-1995. Series VIII. Music. Series IX. Casting Files, circa 1923-1957. Series X. Radio, Television and Motion Picture Files, 1919-1979. Series XI. Theatre Guild American Repertory Company Files, 1952-1962. Series XII. Scrapbooks and Clippings, 1915-1993. Series XIII. Designs and Art Work, 1921-1977. Series XIV. Posters, 1896-1975. Series XV. Associated Projects, 1935-1983. Series XVI. Audiovisual Material, 1924-1979. Series XVII. Production Programs, 1919-1989. Series XVIII. Publications, 1905-1985. Series XIX. Post-Processing Additions, 1921-circa 1980. Series XX. Addition (2016), 1954-1964.
- Dates
- 1896-1996
- Majority of material found within 1930 - 1965
- Extent
- 546.43 Linear Feet ((1531 boxes, 3 cold storage, 1 record album storage) + 9 art, 59 broadsides, 2 oversize broadsides)
- Related Names
- Theatre Guild
- Helburn, Theresa, 1887-1959
- Langner, Lawrence, 1890-1962
- Language of Materials
- English