Harold Clurman papers, 1922-1980

Creator:

Clurman, Harold, 1901-1980

Extent:

1 linear feet (2 boxes)

Language:

English

Scope and content:

Correspondence, notebooks, and photocopies of manuscripts. There are letters from Jean Dubuffet, Walter Matthau, Arthur Miller, Harold Pinter, and Tennessee Williams. There are also six of Clurman's notebooks with notes on theater and photocopies of typescript pages re. his book, THE FERVENT YEARS (1945).

Biographical / historical:

Harold Edgar Clurman (1901-1980) was an influential New York City theater director and drama critic. In 1931, he co-founded the Group Theatre with Cheryl Crawford and Lee Strasberg. Clurman directed more than 40 Broadway plays, including the original productions of works by playwrights including Lillian Hellman, William Inge, Clifford Odets, Eugene O'Neill, and Tennessee Williams. He also wrote dramatic criticism for The New Republic (1948–1952), The Nation (1953–1980), and New York magazine (1968), as well as seven books on theater. The Fervent Years: The Group Theatre and the Thirties, Clurman's memoir of the Group Theatre, was published in 1945; his other 6 book-length works were published between 1972 and 1981.

Clurman attended Columbia University in 1921 and the University of Paris. He married Stella Adler, another founding member of the Group Theatre, in 1943. Adler and Clurman divorced in 1960. Clurman married Juleen Compton, an independent filmmaker, the same year; while they separated shortly afterward, it is unclear whether they were ever legally divorced. He had no children.

Catalog record:

View in CLIO

Local call number:

MS#0237

Processing information:

Cataloged Christina Hilton Fenn 05/04/89.

Acquisition information:

Accession number--M-59. Gift of the estate of Harold Clurman, 1982.

Arrangement:

Selected materials cataloged, remainder arranged.

Accruals:

Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.

Related material:

Reminiscences of Harold Edgar Clurman, 1979: Oral history interview with Clurman, discussing his career and writings. Oral History Archives, Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University.

Reminiscences of Lee Strasberg, 1980: Oral history interview with Clurman's Group Theatre cofounder, the acting coach Lee Strasberg. Oral History Archives, Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University.

Clifford Odets papers, 1937-1964, bulk 1945-1963: Papers of Clurman's Group Theatre colleague, the playwright Clifford Odets. At the Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University.

Harold Clurman papers, 1938-1978: Notebooks and journals, director's annotated scripts, manuscript drafts and annotated typescripts of Clurman's books, and photograph scrapbooks documenting Clurman's career as a director, critic and writer. At the Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library.

Harold Clurman's reviews for the Nation, 1955-1956: Handwritten drafts of Clurman's The Nation column, "Theatre," and book reviews by Clurman. At the Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library.

Harold Clurman Notebooks, 1945-1951: Notebooks containing Clurman's notes on the New York theatrical seasons between 1945 and 1950, as well as two notebooks from Clurman's trips to Europe in 1947 and 1951. At the Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin.

Stella Adler and Harold Clurman Papers, 1898-2003 (bulk 1950-1990): The bulk of this collection is made up of Adler's teaching material from the Stella Adler Conservatory of Acting. Series V, the Harold Clurman series, contains original and photocopy material gathered by Marjorie Loggia, who edited The Collected Works of Harold Clurman with Glenn Young. At the Harry Ransom Center, the University of Texas at Austin.

Alternative form available:

Selected notebooks are on microfilm.

Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Preferred citation:

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Harold Clurman papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is located on-site.

This collection has no restrictions.

Terms of access:

Reproductions may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Location of this collection:: Rare Book & Manuscript Library

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Collection