Paul Kester papers

Description data TOP

unitid

{"value"=>"1641", "type"=>"local_mss"}

{"value"=>"MssCol 1641", "type"=>"local_call"}

unitdate

{"type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1880/1933", "value"=>"1880-1933"}

date_inclusive_start

1880

date_inclusive_end

1933

keydate

1880

date_start

1880

date_end

1933

unittitle

{"value"=>"Paul Kester papers"}

physdesc

{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"43 linear feet (42 boxes)"}], "supress_display"=>true}

repository

{"value"=>"<span class=\"corpname\">The New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division.</span> <div class=\"address\"> <span class=\"addressline\">Stephen A. Schwarzman Building</span> <span class=\"addressline\">Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street, New York, NY 10018-2788</span></div>"}

abstract

{"value"=>"Paul Kester (1870-1933) was an American dramatist and author. He wrote popular novels and also plays which were produced on Broadway with well-known American and British actors. His older brother, Vaughan Kester (1869-1911) was a journalist and novelist who wrote short stories and assisted Paul with his plays. Harriet Watkins Kester was their mother and Jessie Jennings Kester was married to Vaughan Kester. Collection consists of correspondence, literary manuscripts and personal papers of Paul Kester and his brother Vaughan covering their work as dramatists and their correspondence with people in the performing arts. Harriet Watkins Kester's and Jessie Jennings Kester's personal papers are included in the collection. The bulk of Paul Kester's papers is correspondence with actors, actresses, playwrights, producers, publishers, and script writers. His personal letters, 1888-1924, are mainly to his mother, brother and sister-in-law and many of the letters refer to his daily activities as a playwright. Writings contain his working notes and drafts of some of his plays and novels. Miscellaneous papers include photographs of the Kester family and small collections of other individuals' papers. Vaughan Kester's papers contain incoming letters from colleagues; outgoing letters, 1891-1907, to his mother and to Paul Wilstach; writings; and miscellaneous papers. Papers of Harriet Watkins Kester consist of correspondence, 1874-1926, with her sons Paul and Vaughan about their careers and with her daughter-in-law Jessie; and writings, diaries and other materials. Jessie Jennings Kester's correspondence, 1899-1914, is with friends, her brother-in-law and mother-in-law, and with various members of the Kester and Watkins families. Also includes scrapbooks with press notices of Paul Kester's novels and plays."}

langmaterial

{"value"=>"Materials in English"}

prefercite

{"value"=>"<p>Paul Kester papers, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library</p>"}

origination

{"value"=>"Kester, Paul, 1870-1933", "type"=>"persname"}

bioghist

{"value"=>"<p>Paul Kester (June 20, 1870 - November 2, 1933), author and playright, the son of Franklin Cooley Kester and Harriet (Watkins) Kester; the younger brother of Vaughan Kester. Kester was educated by tutors and private schools as was his brother Vaughan. Kester was a success in the Dramatic Arts; at the age of 22, his first play appeared on Broadway titled \"Countess Roudino\" (1892). This intial start was followed by approximately 25 plays which include \"Eugene Aram\" (1896), \"The Cavalier\" (1902), and \"Friend Hannah\", produced by Annie Russell (1906). Many well known American and British actors and actresses appeared in his plays including Margaret Anglin and Lynn Fontaine.</p> <p>When Kester was not writing plays, he penned novels including \"The Course of True Love\" and \"His Own Country\". A shy and diffident man, he remained most of the time in his Virginia home \"Gunston Hall\", while his plays were produced in New York.</p> <p>Kester died at the age of 63 from an attack of thrombosis (1933), in his Mohegan Lake, New York home. Unmarried, he was survived by a cousin Mrs. Eberhard Lueders (Florence Wickham).</p> <p>His Books:</p> <p>The Course of True Love Conservative Democracy</p> <p>Diana Dauntless</p> <p>His Own Country (1917)</p> <p>\"Sambo\"</p> <p>\"Tales of the Real Gypsy</p> <p>His Plays:</p> <p>The Countess Roudine (w/ Minnie Maddern Fiske) [prod, by Modjeska] (1892)</p> <p>Zamar [produced by Alexander Salvini] (1893)</p> <p>The Student of Salamanca [produced by Alexander Salvini]</p> <p>Eugene Aram [produced by Walter Whiteside] (1896)</p> <p>Guy Mannering [produced by Janauschek] (1898)</p> <p>The Musketeers (1898)</p> <p>What Dreams May Come [produced by Janauschek] (1898)</p> <p>Sweet Nell of Old Drury [produced in England by Julia Neilson and Fred Terry; in America by Rhea and Ada Rehan; in Australia by Nellie Stewart; in Orient by Matheson Lang]</p> <p>When Knighthood Was in Flower [produced in America by Julia Marlowe; in London by Marlowe & Sothern; in Australia by Nellie Stewart] (1901)</p> <p>The Cavalier (w/ George Middleton) [produced by Julia Marlowe] (1902)</p> <p>Queen Fiametta (w/ Mildred Aldrich from the French Catule Mendes) [produced by Julia Marlowe] (1902)</p> <p>Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall [produced by Bertha Gallahd in America; in England Julia Neilson and Fred Terry] (1903)</p> <p>Mademoiselle Mars [produced by Mrs. Langtry] (1903)</p> <p>Friend Hannah [produced by Annie Russell; revived under the title of The Love of a King] (1906)</p> <p>Don Quixote [produced by E. H. Sothern] (1908)</p> <p>Lily, the Bill Topper [produced by Marie Tempest] (1910)</p> <p>The Lady in the Case [produced by Annie Russell] (1914)</p> <p>Beverly's Balance [produced by Margaret Anglin] (1915)</p> <p>The Love of a King (1917)</p> <p>The Woman of Bronze [produced by Margaret Anglin] (1920)</p> <p>Lady Dedlock [produced by Margaret Anglin] (1923)</p> <p>Tom Sawyer [produced 1931]</p> <p>Rachel Vour [produced in England by Maud May]</p> <p>The Cousin of the King (w/ Vaughan Kester) [produced by Walter Whiteside]</p> <p>The Head of the Family (w/ C. Haddon Chambers)</p> <p>La Zulma</p> <p>Vaughan Kester (September 12,1869 - July 4, 1911), journalist and novelist, the son of Franklin Cooley Kester and Harriet (Watkins) Kester; the elder brother of Paul Kester (1870-1933). Kester spent his young adulthood travelling throughout the South and West; these early experiences were later captured in his works. Kester was also influenced to write by his mother's cousin William Dean Howell, an association maintained through his literary career. On August 31, 1898, Kester married Jessie B. Jennings of Mount Vernon, New York. There were no children.</p> <p>During his residence in New York City, Kester was on the staff of Cosmopolitan Magazine and the International Literary & News Syndicates. He also assisted his brother Paul with his plays. Kester's works include short stories for magazines and novels. One of his finest, works is considered to be \"The Prodigal Judge\" (1911).</p> <p>Was member of staff of Cosmopolitain Magazine and the International Literary and News Syndicates, Irvington-on-Hudson</p> <p>His Books:</p> <p>The Fortunes of the Landrays (1905)</p> <p>John O' Jamestown (1907)</p> <p>The Prodigal Judge (1911)</p> <p>The Hand of the Mighty (1913)</p>"}

scopecontent

{"value"=>"<p>The papers, 1880-1933, are the personal papers of Paul Kester (1870-1933), and to a lesser extent his brother Vaughan (1869-1911), their mother Harriet (Watkins) Kester and, sister-in-law Jessie (Jennings) Kester; illustrating the careers of the Kester brothers and the strong inter-personal relationship between family members.</p> <p>The bulk of Paul Kester's papers are from individuals in the performing arts, such as actors and actresses, mainly American and British, playrights, producers, publishing companies and script writers. The correspondents include: American Play Company, Margeret Mary Anglin, David Belasco, Carl Bernhardt, Laucelot M. Blackford, John Blair, William Conrad Bobbs, Bobbs-Merrill Co., Susan Maria Breeks, George Platt Brett, Glenn Brown, W. Graham Browne, William Jennings Bryan, Witter Bynner, George Washington Cable, Charles Creighton Carlin, Andre Castaigne, Egerton Castle, Edith Louisa Cavell, David Laurance Chambers, Samuel Langhorne Clemens (Mark Twain), Edward Henry Clement, Constance Collier, Augustin Daly, Walter Johanne Damrosch, Charles Bancroft Dillingham, John J. Donnelly, Doubleday & McClure Co., Robert L. Downing, Theodore Dreiser, Douglas Fairbanks, Warren Farmer, William Faversham, Harrison Grey Fiske, Minnie Maddern Fiske, Carroll Hamilton Fitzhugh, John Tainto Foate Foate, Charles Frohman.</p> <p>Other correspondents are: Clara (Clemens) Gabrilowtsch, Bertha Galland, Helen Hamilton Gardener, Arthur Garrett, Frederick Parker Gay, Grace George, Jeannette Leonard Gilder, Charlotte Anna Perkins Stetson Gilman, Harper & Brothers Co., William Surrey Hart, Walter J. Helm, James A. Herne, Agnes (Denfort) Hewes, Laurence Ilsley Hewes, Hillary & Hill Co., William Dean Howells, John Albert Tifin Hull, Fanny Janauschek, Henry Spencer Jennings, Mary Johnston, Mitchell Kennerly, Jane King, Arnold Kruckman, Oliver Hazard Perry LaFarge, Lilly Lantry, Harry Miller Lydenberg, Grant MacMillan, Macmillan Publishing Co., Elizabeth Marbury, Helen Mason, Everard Meade, Roi Cooper Megrue, Charles Henry Meltzer, Henry Louis Mencken, Robert Walton Moore, John Sanburn Phillips, Mary Pickford, Augustus Pitou, Harold John Pohl, Ada Rehan, Paul Robeson, May Robson, Theodore Roosevelt, Elihu Root, Annie Russell, Maud Dixon Salvini, Alessandro, Margaret Winthrop Sargent, Herbert Livingston Satterlee, Elizabeth Montgomery Sharpe, Edward Hugh Sothern, Julia Marlowe Sothern, Booth Tarkington, William Taft, Courtnay Thorpe, Charles Hanson Towne, Kate Nichols Trask, Ernest Truex, George Crouse Tyler, Edith Wharton, Gordon A. Wilkins, Paul Wilstach, Eugenia Woodward and Olive Wyndham.</p> <p>Kester's personal letters, 1888-1924, are mainly to his mother, brother and sister-in-law. Many of the letters refer to his daily activities as a playwright such as scripts, reviews, actors, etc. These letters indicates that Kester maintained daily correspondence with his family. The writings contain Kester's working notes and drafts of his works including \"Diane Dauntless\", \"His Own Country\" and, \"Why is Art? \".</p>"}

{"value"=>"<p class='list-head'>The Paul Kester papers are arranged in three series:</p>\n<ul class='arrangement series-descriptions'>\n<li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/1641#c1175006'>Letters of Paul Kester</a></div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>Letters to Paul Kester from stage performers, authors, editors, playwrights, personal friends, etc. relative to his career as dramatist and author (arranged alphabetically) [18 ctns] ; his letters to his mother, 1888-1924, his brother Vaughan and other family members [2 ctns] ; a few manuscripts of his writings incl. his novel Diana Dauntless, and galley proofs of his novel His Own Country [1 ctn] ; personal financial and miscellaneous papers incl. contracts and agreements, royalty statements, clippings and photographs [6 ctns] ; papers relating to Edith Louisa Cavell [1865-1915] papers relating to gypsies, etc. [1 ctn]. Also, papers of his brother Vaughan Kester [1869-1911, journalist and author] [2 ctns] ; his mother Harriet Watkins Kester [d. 1926, a founder of Cleveland School of Art], Jessie Jennings Kester [wife of Vaughan Kester], incl. their letters to him, and letters of other family members [5 ctns]. Correspondents of Paul Kester include: Margaret Anglin, David Belasco, Charles B. Dillingham, Minnie Maddern Fiske, William Dean Howells, Fanny Janauschek, Klaw & Erlanger, Lily Langtry, Julia Marlowe, George Middleton, E. H. Sothern, and Paul Wilstach.</p> <p>The remaining papers in this section are miscellaneous papers, photographs of the Kester family and small collections of other individuals papers. Kester collected papers about other individuals including Edith Louisa Cavell (1865-1915), an English nurse executed during W. W. I., Paul Wilstach (1870-), novelist and associate and gypsies.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/1641#c1175156'>Papers of Vaughan Kester</a></div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>Vaughan Kester papers contain incoming letters from colleagues; outgoing letters to his mother, 1891-1907, and Paul Wilstach, 1893-1895; writings and miscellaneous papers.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/1641#c1175210'>Papers of Harriet Watkins Kester</a></div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>Harriet (Watkins) Kester papers contain incoming letters from friends, etc., 1874-1926; outgoing letters to her sons Paul and Vaughan. Mrs. Kester appears to have been very interested in the careers of her sons, noted by the fact that they took every opportunity to write to her. One letter dated 27 December 1919 to her son Paul notes the first notices of his book \"Conservative Democracy\", that \"it pleased us very much\". Other family letters are mainly to her daughter-in-law Jessie Jennings Kester, with whom she had continual correspondence, 1908-1922. Writings: diaries and miscellaneous papers.</p></div></li></ul>\n", "type"=>"arrangement"}

arrangement

{"value"=>"<p>Five series: Papers of Paul Kester; Papers of Vaughan Kester; Papers of Harriet Kester; Letters of Jessie Jennings Kester et al; Scrapbooks, Other Bound Volumes, etc</p>", "supress_display"=>true}

acqinfo

{"value"=>"<p>Gift: [Paul Kester?]</p>"}

processinfo

{"type"=>"processing", "value"=>"<p>Jds May, 1971</p>"}

altformavail

{"value"=>"<p>Lillie Langtry letters, 1903-1906, 1910-1912, 1916 available on microfilm; New York Public Library; *ZL-496</p>"}

{"value"=>"<p>Eileen W. Anglin letters and Margaret M. Anglin correspondence available on microfilm; New York Public Library</p>"}

{"value"=>"<p>Henry G. Rogers and Paul Wilstach papers; papers relating to Edith Cavell and to gypsies; and writings by others (Box 27) available on microfilm; New York Public Library</p>"}

extent_statement

43 linear feet (42 boxes)

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Child components TOP

1. Letters of Paul Kester [32/1]
2. Papers of Vaughan Kester [7/1]
3. Papers of Harriet Watkins Kester [9/1]
4. Letters of Jessie Jennings Kester et al [5/1]
5. Scrapbooks, Other Bound Volumes, Photographs & Drawings (oversize) [6/1]
6. Paul Kester - Index of Correspondents [1899/1]