Collections : [Rare Book & Manuscript Library]

Papers include typed carbons of correspondence, memoirs, speeches, and biographical materials. The correspondence consists of letters to and from Crane, 1869-1939, and telegrams and letters to his wife upon his death. The memoirs include information on his diplomatic service and travels. The speeches, 1910-1930, are largely based on his travels and activities. There are diaries by other persons of his trips to Albania, Russia in 1921, and to the Near East. Finally, biographical materials include editorials, articles, and speeches. While a sizable amount of material concerns Russia, the collection includes information on his other activities as well.

Correspondence, manuscripts, playscripts, screenplays, diaries, documents, contracts, financial records, photographs, phonograph records, motion pictures, playbills, posters, sheet music, cartoons, art work, memorabilia, scrapbooks, and printed materials. . The collection consists chiefly of correspondence and production files relating to the creation, production, and performance of their works for stage, screen, radio, and television, such as Leave It To Me and Kiss Me Kate (with music by Cole Porter), Boy Meets Girl, and My Three Angels. Correspondence (with twentieth century authors, playwrights, musicians, political figures, and actors) includes: George Abbott, Jean Arthur, Bennett Cerf, Katharine Cornell, Jo Davidson, George and Ira Gershwin, Alec Guinness, W. Averell Harriman, Lilli Lehmann, Mary Martin, Laurence Olivier, Mary Pickford, Cole Porter, Regina Resnick, Eleanor Roosevelt, Robert E. Sherwood, Lincoln Steffens, Kurt Weill, Rebecca West, and Thornton Wilder. There is also correspondence concerning Bella Spewack's work with the New York Girls' Scholarship, UNRA, and the Sports Center of Israel. In addition to the production files, there are manuscripts and typescript drafts for novels, short stories, and articles by the Spewacks.