Who's who in the American theatre records, 1941-1969

Summary Information

At a Glance

Call No.:
MS#1341
Bib ID:
4078377 View CLIO record
Creator(s):
Rigdon, Walter; Heineman, James H.
Repository:
Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Physical Description:
73 boxes (73 boxes; 1 oversize folder 3 card file drawers)
Language(s):
English .
Other Finding Aids

Legacy Finding aid

Access:
You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.

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.

This collection has no restrictions.

Description

Summary

Correspondence; biographical forms; typescript biographical entries, often corrected and amended by the subjects; documents; proofs; memoranda; notecards; photographs; clippings of reviews; and other printed materials for the project with the working title "Who's Who in the American Theatre." The materials were assembled by Walter Rigdon, editor, and James H. Heineman, publisher, from 1963, when the first biographical forms were sent out, until 1969, when plans for a second edition were abandoned. The 1101 page volume which was published under the title "The Biographical Encyclopaedia & Who's Who of the American Theater" includes 3350 biographical entries for theater people and a necrology of 9000 names, playbills from 1959-1964, histories of theater buildings and theater groups, production records of Plays staged in New York since 1900, a theater bibliography of 600 entries, lists of awards, and lists of foreign productions. Among those for whom original materials were included are Truman Capote, John Dos Passos, Richard Eberhart, T.S. Eliot, Arthur Miller, Elmer RIce, and Virgil Thomson.

Arrangement

Selected materials cataloged; remainder arranged.

Using the Collection

Other Finding Aids

Legacy Finding aid

Restrictions on Access

You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.

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.

This collection has no restrictions.

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.

Preferred Citation

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Who's who in the American theatre records; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Accruals

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

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Working files: Source of acquisition--Heineman, James H. Method of acquisition--gift; Date of acquisition--1986. Accession number--M-86-12-02.

Publications About Described Materials

Rigdon, Wlater. The biographical encyclopaedia & who's who of the American theater. -- New York : J.H. Heineman, 1966.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Processing Information

Working files Processed HR 04/--/86.

Revision Description

June 2020 PDF replaced with full finding aid, YH

Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches for other collections at Columbia University, through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, and through ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

All links open new windows.

Genre/Form
Photographic prints CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Subject
Actors -- United States -- Biography CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
American drama -- 20th century CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Theater -- United States -- Biography CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID