Scope and Contents
The papers provide insight into the personal and professional life of Mardette Perkins, American actress and poet, and consist of correspondence, drafts of writings, clippings, ephemera, computer media, and audiovisual material dating from 1942 to 1996. Perkins’ acting career is represented in photographs, clippings, ephemera, and a film of her work for television commercials. The papers contain drafts of Perkins’ poetry, including an unpublished manuscript for her “Collected Poems, I,” and recordings of her reciting poetry. The papers also shed light on Perkins’ experience of psychoanalysis, detailed in her journals from 1961 to 1976.
Dates
- 1942-1996
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
The materials are open for research.
Box 11 (computer disks): Restricted fragile material. Reference copies may be requested. Consult Access Services for further information.
Box 19 (audiocassettes): Use of originals is restricted. Reference copies may be requested. Consult Access Services for further information.
Box 20 (film): Restricted fragile material. Reference copies may be requested. Consult Access Services for further information.
Box 11 (computer disks): Restricted fragile material. Reference copies may be requested. Consult Access Services for further information.
Box 19 (audiocassettes): Use of originals is restricted. Reference copies may be requested. Consult Access Services for further information.
Box 20 (film): Restricted fragile material. Reference copies may be requested. Consult Access Services for further information.
Conditions Governing Use
The Mardette Perkins 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.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Mardette Perkins, 1997-1999.
Arrangement
Organized into five series: I. Correspondence, 1948-1996. II. Writings, 1942-1996. III. Professional Papers, 1945-1966. IV. Personal Papers, 1948-1991. V. Audiovisual Material, 1961-1993.
Extent
6.22 Linear Feet (20 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog
Persistent URL
Overview
The papers provide insight into the personal and professional life of Mardette Perkins, American actress and poet, and consist of correspondence, drafts of writings, clippings, ephemera, computer media, and audiovisual material dating from 1942 to 1996. Perkins' acting career is represented in photographs, clippings, ephemera, and a film of her work for television commercials. The papers contain drafts of Perkins' poetry, including an unpublished manuscript for her "Collected Poems, I," and recordings of her reading poetry. The papers also shed light on Perkins' experience of psychoanalysis, detailed in her journals from 1961 to 1976.
Mardette Perkins (1924-2002)
Mardette Perkins, American actress, was born Margaret Hariot Edwards to Rev. H. Boyd Edwards, Sr. and Margaret Edwards on November 24, 1924 in Little Rock, Arkansas. She attended St. Margaret's School in Waterbury, CT., Wellesley College (1942-1946), and the Yale School of Drama (1946-1948). She married Robert Wilder Perkins on January 31, 1959 with whom she had sons Charles and Morgan. She died on May 23, 2002.
Perkins appeared in stage productions of "The Man Who Came for Dinner" (Plymouth Theater, 1949) and “Heartbreak House” (Bleeker Street Theatre, 1950). Her work for television includes “The Chair” (Armstrong Circle Theatre, 1950), “The Seventh Veil” (Lucky Strike Theatre, 1950), “The Symbol” (Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse, 1951), “Murder for Laura” (The Web), “In Small Packages (Trapped), and “Jane Eyre” (Kraft Theatre, 1951), among others. Perkins also appeared on television in commercials for Borden’s Coffee and General Electric.
Perkins appeared in stage productions of "The Man Who Came for Dinner" (Plymouth Theater, 1949) and “Heartbreak House” (Bleeker Street Theatre, 1950). Her work for television includes “The Chair” (Armstrong Circle Theatre, 1950), “The Seventh Veil” (Lucky Strike Theatre, 1950), “The Symbol” (Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse, 1951), “Murder for Laura” (The Web), “In Small Packages (Trapped), and “Jane Eyre” (Kraft Theatre, 1951), among others. Perkins also appeared on television in commercials for Borden’s Coffee and General Electric.
Processing Information
This collection received a basic level of processing, including rehousing and minimal organization. Information included in the Description of Papers note and Collection Contents section is drawn from information supplied with the collection and from an initial survey of the contents. Folder titles appearing in the contents list below are often based on those provided by the creator or previous custodian. Titles have not been verified against the contents of the folders in all cases. Otherwise, folder titles are supplied by staff during initial processing.
This finding aid may be updated periodically to account for new acquisitions to the collection and/or revisions in arrangement and description.
This collection includes materials previously identified by the following call numbers: Uncat ZA MS 558, Uncat ZA MS 627, and Uncat ZA MS 633.
This finding aid may be updated periodically to account for new acquisitions to the collection and/or revisions in arrangement and description.
This collection includes materials previously identified by the following call numbers: Uncat ZA MS 558, Uncat ZA MS 627, and Uncat ZA MS 633.
Creator
- Title
- Guide to the Mardette Perkins Papers
- Author
- by Beinecke staff
- Date
- October 2013
- 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.