Maurice Valency papers, 1945-1963

Summary Information

Abstract

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.

Description

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.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in one series.

Using the Collection

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.

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); Maurice Valency Papers; 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

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

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Processing Information

Cataloged Christina Hilton Fenn 09/--/89.

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

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

Revision Description

2011-02-14 xml document instance created by Carrie Hintz

2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.

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.

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.

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).

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.

Maurice Valency died on September 28, 1996.

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.

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