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Correspondence regarding the production of the plays INTIMATE STRANGERS and MAGNOLIA by Tarkington. There are twelve holograph letters, one detail sketch for a costume, and one page of manuscript and one page of typescript notes by Tarkington as well as thirteen telegrams sent by him. The letters and telegrams are all addressed to Mr. Ira A. Hards, director of the plays. In addition, there are copies of seven telegrams by Hards and one by the producer, A.L. Erlanger, all but one of which are addressed to Tarkington. Also, carbon copies of four letters from Hards and Erlanger to Tarkington, two items concerned with book production and dramatic rights of THE INTIMATE STRANGERS and one theatre program.

A collection of letters, manuscripts, and documents of prominent actors, actresses, and theatrical managers. Many of these are single, unrelated items. The largest body of correspondence is from the American actress, Charlotte Cushman (14 letters). Another figure of major interest is William Charles Macready, partly because of Miss Cushman's relationship to him (she toured with him for several years) and also as there are several of his letters. Sir Henry Irving, Edwin Forrest and James Mowatt are each represented by a few letters. A group of 8 unsigned letters may have been written by the famous singer, actress, and manager, Eliza Vestris. One box contains manuscripts of Samuel Coit, Charlotte Cushman, Clyde Fitch, Wallace Gould, Henry von Heiseler, E.H. Sothern, and Lester Wallack. Six boxes contain Augustin Daly's check stubs and bank books for Daly's Theatre, New York, for 1872-1899. (For additional Augustin Daly business records, see description sheets for Daly's Theatre Collection, X810.128/D15& the Dramatic Library Collection shelf list).

A collection of letters written by various personages in theatrical and literary circles to Ira A. Hards and his wife, the actor Ina Hammer Hards. Among the letters are seventeen from George W. Cable and nine from Mary Austin, both of whom collaborated with the Hards in certain dramatic compositions. The collection also includes account books, appointment books, photographs, playscripts, programs, scrapbooks, and materials related to the Westchester Theatre.