Maurice Valency papers 4079425Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Butler Library, 6th FloorColumbia University, Mail Code 1127535 W. 114th St.New York, NY 10027Business Number: (212) 854-5153Fax Number: (212) 854-1365rbml@libraries.cul.columbia.eduURL:

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This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-10-22 20:22:53 -0400.Description is written in: English, Latin script.Describing Archives: A Content Standard2011-02-14xml document instance created by Carrie Hintz2019-05-20EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration. Rare Book and Manuscript Library Maurice Valency papers Valency, Maurice, 1903-1996 Giraudoux, Jean, 1882-1944 4079425 MS#1281 English /repositories/2/resources/5534 1.5 linear feet 3 boxes 1945-1963 Maurice Valency was a mid 20th Century playwright working in New York City. This collection contains manuscripts of articles, plays, teleplays, librettos, and the first draft of the book, The Flower and the Castle: An Introduction to Modern Drama, written by Valency. Restrictions on Access

This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

 Scope and Content

Collection is comprised primarily of scripts and manuscripts of plays and adaptations written by Valency. Prominent among the manuscripts are the scripts of his celebrated English versions of Jean Giraudoux's The Madwoman of Chaillot and Ondine, both of which contain his autograph corrections and emendations, as well as the script for the opera bouffe, La Perichole, which was performed during the New York Metropolitan Opera's 1956-1957 season. Also present in the collection are scripts and manuscripts of Valency's The Apollo of Bellac, The Thracian Horses, A Double Life, The Better Half, a German adaptation of Valency's The Thracian Horses for Swiss television, as well as newspaper and magazine clippings, telegrams, and the typescript, bearing autograph notations, of Valency's study of modern drama entitled The Flower and the Castle, which was published in 1963.

 Preferred Citation

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Maurice Valency Papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

 Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

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.

 Immediate Source of Acquisition

Source of acquisition--Valency, Maurice J. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--1968. Accession number--M-68.

 Biographical / Historical

Maurice Valency (1903-1996) was an American playwright, critic, author, and translator. Valency was born March 22, 1903 in New York City and was educated at the City College of New York and Columbia University.

 Biographical / Historical

Valency was a professor of comparative literature at Columbia University and taught dramatic literature at Julliard (where he also served as their director of academic studies) and Brooklyn College.

 Biographical / Historical

Valency was most active as a playwright in the 1940s and 1950s with such works as Ondine, The Madwoman of Chaillot (both adaptations from French dramatist Jean Giraudoux), The Visit (adapted from Swiss dramatist Friedrich Duerrenmatt), and La Perichole (adapted from German-born French composer Jacques Offenbach's opera bouffe).

 Biographical / Historical

Valency was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1960, which he used to complete his study of modern drama, The Flower and the Castle. Other awards and fellowships include a Ford Foundation Fellowship in 1958, The New York Drama Critics Circle Award for best foreign play in 1949 for his adaptation of The Madwoman of Chaillot by Jean Giraudoux, the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for best foreign play in 1954 for his adaptation of Ondine by Jean Giraudoux, and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for best foreign play in 1959 for his adaptation of The Visit by Friedrich Duerrenmatt. The Visit also was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Play in 1959.

 Biographical / Historical

Maurice Valency died on September 28, 1996.

 Processing Information

Cataloged Christina Hilton Fenn 09/--/89.

 Processing Information

Papers Processed Ellen Reece, Pratt Institute, 2011 01/--/2011.

 Processing Information

Finding aid Written Ellen Reece, Pratt Institute, 2011 01/--/2011.

 Arrangement

This collection is arranged in one series.

 Accruals

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

 Comparative literature -- Study and teaching French literature Drama Literature -- Adaptations Operas -- Librettos Scripts (documents) Autographs (manuscripts) College teachers Dramatists Lania, Leo, 1896-1961 Giraudoux, Jean, 1882-1944 Offenbach, Jacques, 1819-1880 Valency, Maurice, 1903-1996 Columbia University -- Faculty Series I: Maurice Valency Scripts and Manuscripts/repositories/2/archival_objects/4374991945-1963The Apollo of Bellac Television Script, Second Revision,/repositories/2/archival_objects/4375001953-195411Scope and Contents

English adaptation of a Jean Giraudoux play. Aired as a part of the Ford Foundation's Television-Radio Workshop magazine series,Omnibus.Contains handwritten corrections, emendations. (Two copies)

Battleship Bismarck/repositories/2/archival_objects/437501Script, First Revision/repositories/2/archival_objects/437525194512Scope and Contents

Contains handwritten corrections, emendations.

Notes/repositories/2/archival_objects/437526undated12Magazine Articles/repositories/2/archival_objects/437527undated12Manuscripts B-E, 1956-1957, undated/repositories/2/archival_objects/4375021956-1957undated13The Better Half Script, Final Revised Draft,/repositories/2/archival_objects/437503undated13Scope and Contents

Contains handwritten corrections, emendations.

A Double Life Television Script, First Draft,/repositories/2/archival_objects/4375041956-195713Scope and Contents

Aired as a part of Showcase Productions'Aloha Hour.Contains handwritten corrections, emendations.

The Enchanted Script, Rehearsal Copy/repositories/2/archival_objects/4375051948-194913Scope and Contents

English adaptation of a Jean Giraudoux play. Contains handwritten corrections, emendations.

Manuscripts E-F, 1953-1954, undated/repositories/2/archival_objects/4375061953-1954undated14Excursion #18 Television Script, Final/repositories/2/archival_objects/4375071953-195414Scope and Contents

Aired as a part of the Ford Foundation's Television-Radio Workshop magazine series,Omnibus.Contains handwritten corrections, emendations.

Feathertop Television Script, First Draft,/repositories/2/archival_objects/437508undated14Scope and Contents

Based on a story by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Contains handwritten corrections, emendations.

The Flower and the Castle: An Introduction to Modern Drama, Manuscript, Original Draft, undated (3 Folders)/repositories/2/archival_objects/437509undated15 to 7Scope and Contents

Contains handwritten corrections, emendations.

Manuscripts G-L/repositories/2/archival_objects/437510undated28Gina Script, First Draft/repositories/2/archival_objects/437511undated28Scope and Contents

Contains handwritten corrections, emendations.

The Long Night Script/repositories/2/archival_objects/437512undated28Scope and Contents

Co-written with Leo Lania. Contains handwritten corrections, emendations.

The Madwoman of Chaillot,/repositories/2/archival_objects/437513Scope and Contents

English adaptation of a Jean Giraudoux play.

Script, First Draft/repositories/2/archival_objects/437528194829Scope and Contents

Contains handwritten corrections, emendations.

Script, Rehearsal Copy/repositories/2/archival_objects/437529194829Scope and Contents

Contains handwritten corrections, emendations.

Letter from Herbert Myron/repositories/2/archival_objects/437530195129Newspaper clippings/repositories/2/archival_objects/4375311948210Ondine, Script Rehearsal Copy/repositories/2/archival_objects/4375141953211Scope and Contents

English adaptation of a Jean Giraudoux play. Contains handwritten corrections, emendations.

La Perichole, 1956, 1957 (5 Folders)/repositories/2/archival_objects/43751519561957Scope and Contents

English adaptation of the Jacques Offenbach opera bouffe.

Script, First Revision/repositories/2/archival_objects/4375321956212Scope and Contents

Contains handwritten corrections, emendations.

Notes/repositories/2/archival_objects/437533undated212Script, Rehearsal Copy/repositories/2/archival_objects/4375341956213Scope and Contents

Contains handwritten corrections, emendations.

Rehearsal Schedule/repositories/2/archival_objects/4375351956213"French Without Tears", Magazine Article for Opera News /repositories/2/archival_objects/4375361956214"The Little Coach that isn't There", Magazine Article for Metropolitan /repositories/2/archival_objects/4375371956214Newspaper clippings, 1956, 1957/repositories/2/archival_objects/43753819561957215Telegrams/repositories/2/archival_objects/4375391956215Score/repositories/2/archival_objects/4375401956316Scope and Contents

Copy of the 1868 Jacques Offenbach and Leon Roques score toLa Pericholein French. Valency's English adaptation is handwritten on the score, 1956.

The Queen's Gambit/repositories/2/archival_objects/437516Script, Rehearsal Copy/repositories/2/archival_objects/437541undated317Scope and Contents

Contains handwritten corrections, emendations.

8:40 in Little Theatres in New York Vol. 2, No. 10,/repositories/2/archival_objects/437542June 1955317The Reluctant Virgin/repositories/2/archival_objects/4375171948 (2 Folders)./repositories/2/archival_objects/4375431948318 to 19Scope and Contents

English adaptation of a Carlo Gozzi play.

Script, First Revised Draft/repositories/2/archival_objects/4375441948318Scope and Contents

Contains handwritten corrections, emendations.

Script, Rehearsal Copy/repositories/2/archival_objects/4375451948319Scope and Contents

Contains handwritten corrections, emendations.

The Second Stranger, undated (2 Folders)/repositories/2/archival_objects/437518undatedScope and Contents

Based on a Thomas Hardy story.

Television Script, First Draft/repositories/2/archival_objects/437546undated320Scope and Contents

Contains handwritten corrections, emendations.

Television Script, First Revised Draft/repositories/2/archival_objects/437547undated320Scope and Contents

Contains handwritten corrections, emendations.

The Thracian Horses, Script, Rehearsal Copy,1948/repositories/2/archival_objects/437519321Scope and Contents

Contains handwritten corrections, emendations.

Manuscripts T-V, 1955, undated/repositories/2/archival_objects/4375201955undated322Toine Television Script/repositories/2/archival_objects/437521undated322Scope and Contents

English adaptation of a Guy de Maupassant play.

The Virtuous Island Script/repositories/2/archival_objects/4375221955322Scope and Contents

English adaptation of a Jean Giraudoux play. Contains handwritten corrections, emendations.

Die Wilden Pferde Television Script/repositories/2/archival_objects/4375231951323Scope and Contents

Walther Franke-Ruta's German adaptation of Valency'sThe Thracian Horsesfor the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation.

Letter from Heiner Gautschy of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation/repositories/2/archival_objects/437524323