Scope and arrangement
The collection documents the professional life of Helen Richards between 1945 and 1985, though the bulk of the collection concerns the period between 1954 and 1985. In addition to a large collection of scripts, the collection includes publicity material, correspondence, photographs and accounting documents related to the management and promotion of theatrical productions. This collection is arranged in two series: Office Files and Scripts. Each series is arranged in alphabetical order.
The Helen Richards papers are arranged in two series:
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1945-19815 boxes
The first series in the collection contains office files. Some are dedicated to theaters, and contain mostly programs, calendars and correspondence about programming. Other files are dedicated to performers for which Richards acted as a press agent, with programs, publicity material, and correspondence related to promotion.
The bulk of this series concerns the shows Helen Richards managed. The files are mostly contracts and accounting documents for ticket sales. They also provide details about the cast and crew. Some contain clippings, reviews, photographs, or calendars of the shows. There is some correspondence between Helen Richards and theater managers or advertising agencies. Also included are files on popular shows in which Richards invested, such as Bye Bye Birdie and Fiddler on the Roof.
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1962-198510 boxes
The other series in the collection contains typescripts of musicals and plays. A small number of these scripts include revisions and annotations.