Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Edwin T. Booth Papers, 1860-1874
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Booth, Edwin T.
- Title
- Edwin T. Booth Papers
- Dates
-
1860-1874 (inclusive)18601874
- Quantity
- 3 containers., (2 linear feet of shelf space.), (26 items.)
- Collection Number
- Cage 587
- Summary
- Records of Booth's Theatre, New York, chiefly financial. Manuscripts of plays and prompt books with handwritten notes; correspondence.
- Repository
-
Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Terrell Library Suite 12
Pullman, WA
99164-5610
Telephone: 509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu - Access Restrictions
-
This collection is open for research use.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Edwin Thomas Booth (1833-1893) was born to the stage. His father, Junius Brutus Booth, was of a notable English theatre family and well established both in America and Europe. Thus, Edwin Booth not surprisingly became the first American actor to win European acclaim. Edwin Booth toured with his father's company and gained a world-wide reputation as a tragedian actor. He managed the Winter Garden Theatre in New York from 1863 to 1867 where in 1864 he played 100 consecutive performances of Hamlet. In 1864, Edwin Booth and his brothers, John Wilkes (President Lincoln's assassin) and Junius Brutus, performed in Julius Caesar together --- the only combined performances of their careers.
Edwin T. Booth built his own theatre following the destruction by fire of the Winter Garden Theatre in 1867. He established the theatre as a national playhouse for poetic drama, opening in 1869 with Romeo and Juliet. Unfortunately, the theatre was on the very edge of the theatre district; poor location and poor financial management combined to force the theatre into bankruptcy in 1873. Despite the failure of his theatre, Edwin Booth continued to tour as an internationally respected and successful actor. He became the first president of the Players Club after donating his house to the club in 1888. He lived there until his death in 1893.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Preferred Citation
[Item Description]. Cage 587, Edwin T. Booth Papers. Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The materials contained in this collection fall into three series: financial records, correspondence, and prompt books.
The financial records are arranged chronologically from 1869-1874, although a volume of cash disbursement records for the period May through December of 1869 is missing. The series includes five volumes of cash disbursement records and one receipts journal. The cash disbursement volumes contain daily entries and show titles written by theatre manager W. H. Magonigle or by Edwin T. Booth's brother Joseph. The receipts journal contains several hundred daily entries by Joseph A. Booth during the last year the theatre was in business.
The correspondence series contains two signed letters by Edwin T. Booth. The first, dated February 9, 1860, was written to Gideon H. Hollister, a well-known lawyer and author. It concerns the writing and staging of Hollister's play, Thomas a Becket, of which Booth owned the acting copyright and once produced on stage. The second letter was written to J.M. Leavitt of New Jersey, dated June 30, 1869. This letter contains Booth's response to Leavitt's request for advice on how to write a successful play.
The third series contains 13 manuscripts of prompt books and play scripts for 11 plays performed by members of the Booth family. Some of the plays were performed in the Booth Theatre. The manuscripts contain numerous scene sketches, blocking notes, stage setting sketches and stage directions as well as character and script changes. Signatures and notes of Agnes Booth, wife of Junius B. Booth Jr., and performer in both La Femme de Feu and Cleopatra, along with those of her son, Sydney, appear on many of the scripts and prompt books.
Custodial History
Golden Legend, a rare books dealer in California, had acquired this material from Mr. Franklin Lenthall, a private collector. The prompt books and scripts originally belonged to Elizabeth Barton Booth, granddaughter of Junius Brutus Booth Jr (Edwin T. Booth's brother) before they were purchased by Golden Legend.
Acquisition Information
This collection of theatre records, receipt books, handwritten prompt books, scripts, and correspondence of actor Edwin T. Booth, his family and the Booth Theatre in New York, 1860 through 1874, was purchsed by the Washington State University Libraries in 1990 and 1991 (MS90-71 and MS91-35) from Golden Legend.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
Financial RecordsReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1 / A | Collection histories and
descriptions |
|
| 1 / 1 | Cash Dispersal Record Books,
vols.1-4 |
1869-1873 |
| 1 / 2 | Cash Dispersal Record Books, vol.
5 |
1873 |
| 1 / 3 | Cash Receipts Journal,
|
Sept.1, 1873- May 30, 1874 |
CorrespondenceReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1 / 4 | Edwin T. Booth Letter to
Hollister, Gideon H. 4 p; 1 item.
|
Feb.9, 1860 |
| 1 / 4 | Edwin T. Booth Letter to
Leavitt, J.M., Rev. 6 p. 1 item.
|
June 30, 1869 |
Prompt Books and Scripts Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description |
|---|---|
| Box/Folder | |
| 1 / 5 | Manuscript of
The Enchantress (another version of
Elena) |
| 1 / 6 | Manuscript of
One Hundred Years Old, Acts 1-3 |
| 1 / 7 | Manuscript of
One Hundred Years Old, Acts 4-5 |
| 2 / 8 | Manuscript of
La Femme de Feu (a second 4 act version in
French) |
| 2 / 9 | Manuscript of
Kinght of Arra
|
| 2 / 10 | Manuscript of
Arra
|
| 2 / 11 | Manuscript of
Cleopatra
|
| 2 / 12 |
King Jo n script with handwritten
notes |
| 3 / 13 | Manuscript of
La Femme de Feu, Acts 1-3 |
| 3 / 14 | Manuscript of
La Femme de Feu, Acts 4-6 and Music
Score. |
| 3 / 15 | Manuscript of
Elena, Acts 1-4 and Music Score |
| 3 / 16 |
Elene Music Score |
| 3 / 17 | Manuscript of
On Earth Peace; Prompt book for part of
Little Ray Armstrong; Prompt book for part of
Lieutenant Woodbury
|
| 3 / 18 | Manuscript of
The Plebian
|
| 3 / 19 | Manuscript of Act 3 of
Leah
|
| 3 / 20 | Printed Script of
Memmon
|
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Theater--New York (State)--New York--Records and correspondence
Personal Names
- Booth, Junius Brutus, 1821-1883
- Booth, Edwin, 1833-1893. --Archives (creator)
Corporate Names
- Booth's Theatre
Family Names
- Booth family
Finding aid prepared by Liza
Rognas
2012
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
