Eugene (Gladstone) O'Neill Papers Finding aid created by
Diana Burnham Provenance Acquired by gift and purchase from various sources. The bulk of the material the letters, poems and snapshots sent to Beatrice Ashe Maher, were purchased from her in 1969. Other important items were part of the acquisition of the American Play Company Archives in 1966. Individual source information is given whenever possible. Access Access to the
collection is to qualified scholars and researchers through the Office
of Special Collections, Room 316. Preferred Citation (Identification of
item), Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American
Literature, The New York Public Library Scope and Content This is a synthetic
collection that includes manuscripts, letters and photographs, as well
as manuscripts and letters relating to the author. A significant part of
the collection consists of 60 letters, 13 poems and seven snapshots that
were the property of the recipient, Mrs. Beatrice Ashe Maher of New
London, Connecticut. The letters were written between 1914 and 1915 with
one exception that dates from July, 1916. During this period, O’Neill
was taking a playwriting course at Harvard with Professor George Pierce
Baker and Thirst and Other One-Act
Plays, his first book, was being published. O’Neill met Miss Ashe
in 1914 when she was not quite 18 and he was 25. The contents of the
letters ranges from discussions of the author’s work to personal
hopes, ambitions and health. The poems are mostly love poems to her. Other important
material comes from the archives of the American Play Company and
consists of 44 pieces, including typescripts (some with manuscript
corrections), memorandum and legal documents (predominantly contracts
and rights) that were created in the regular course of business. In
certain cases, the typescript may be the only known copies of various
texts. Summary Series II Manuscripts relating to Eugene O’Neill Series III Outgoing correspondence |
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