Richard Kiley papers

id
5226
origination
Kiley, Richard
date statement
1939-1999
key date
1939
identifier (local_mss)
21828
org unit
Billy Rose Theatre Division
call number
*T-Mss 2005-014
b-number
b16851129
total components
476
total series
8
max depth
3
boost queries
(none)
component layout
Default Layout
Extended MARC Fields
false
Extended Navigation
false
created
2013-04-01 15:05:16 UTC
updated
2026-01-20 20:15:33 UTC
status note
(missing)
Display Aeon link
true

Description data TOP

physdesc
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"19 lin. ft.", "unit"=>"linear feet"}, {"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"40 boxes and 1 oversized folder", "unit"=>"containers"}], "supress_display"=>true}
unitid
{"value"=>"*T-Mss 2005-014", "type"=>"local_call"}
{"value"=>"21828", "type"=>"local_mss"}
unitdate
{"value"=>"1939-1999", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1939/1999"}
date_inclusive_start
1939
date_inclusive_end
1999
keydate
1939
unittitle
{"value"=>"Richard Kiley papers"}
repository
{"value"=>"<span class=\"corpname\">The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.</span> <span class=\"subarea\">Billy Rose Theatre Division.</span> <div class=\"address\"><span class=\"addressline\">New York, New York</span></div>"}
abstract
{"value"=>"Collection, mainly of marked scripts, documents the career of theater, film and television actor, Richard Kiley."}
prefercite
{"value"=>"<p> Richard Kiley papers, *T-Mss 2005-014. Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.</p>"}
origination
{"value"=>"Kiley, Richard", "type"=>"persname"}
bioghist
{"value"=>"<p>American stage, television and film actor, Richard Paul Kiley was best known for creating the Tony Award winning title role in <span class=\"title\">Man of La Mancha</span>in the original 1965 Broadway production. He was the first to sing and record the song, <span class=\"title\">The Impossible Dream</span>, and recreated the role in the London production, a Lincoln Center revival and a United States tour. Born in Chicago on March 31, 1922, Kiley began his career as a juvenile on radio and made his Broadway debut in <span class=\"title\">Misalliance</span>(1953) for which he won a Theatre World Award. His first musical role was in <span class=\"title\">Kismet</span>(1953) where he introduced the song <span class=\"title\">Stranger in Paradise</span>; his first Tony Award was for the musical <span class=\"title\">Redhead</span>(1959) with Gwen Verdon. Other musicals were Richard Rodgers' <span class=\"title\">No Strings</span>(1962) with Diahann Carroll for which Kiley received a Tony nomination for best actor, <span class=\"title\">I Had a Ball</span>(1964) and <span class=\"title\">Her First Roman</span>(1968).</p> <p>Most of Kiley's work did not make use of his strong vocal talent and rich baritone, however. He starred on Broadway in <span class=\"title\">Time Limit</span>(1956), <span class=\"title\">Advise and Consent</span>(1960), <span class=\"title\">The Incomparable Max</span>(1971), <span class=\"title\">Voices</span>(1972), <span class=\"title\">Absurd Person Singular</span>(1974), <span class=\"title\">The Heiress</span>(1976), and <span class=\"title\">All My Sons</span>(1987) for which he received a Tony nomination for best actor in a play. Kiley also won Emmy Awards and Golden Globes for his television work in <span class=\"title\">The Thorn Birds</span>, <span class=\"title\">A Year in the Life</span>and <span class=\"title\">Picket Fences</span>. His films included <span class=\"title\">The Blackboard Jungle</span>, <span class=\"title\">The Little Prince</span>, <span class=\"title\">Looking for Mr. Goodbar</span>and <span class=\"title\">Endless Love</span>.</p> <p>Kiley also had an extensive career doing voiceover work as a narrator for various documentaries including National Geographic, Nova, Planet Earth, Mysteries of the Bible, etc. He also performed in many solo shows and benefit concerts. Richard Kiley was married to Mary Bell Wood with whom he had six children from 1948-1967 and to Patricia Ferrier from 1968 until his death. He died of bone marrow disease on March 5, 1999.</p>"}
scopecontent
{"value"=>"<p>The collection is primarily marked scripts reflecting the work of Richard Kiley on stage and screen and as a narrator of documentaries. Also includes some production materials such as memos, correspondence, schedules, call sheets and cast lists as well as photos, programs, publicity and clippings. There is not much material illustrating his early career and there is very little personal material, but his busy career from the late 1960s to the late 1990s is well covered.</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p class='list-head'>The Richard Kiley papers are arranged in eight series:</p>\n<ul class='arrangement series-descriptions'>\n<li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21828#c500856'>Series I: Production materials</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1953-1998 and n.d.</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>34 boxes</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p> The bulk of the Richard Kiley Papers, this series is mostly marked scripts for productions in which Kiley appeared, often in a starring role. Also includes a small amount of correspondence, memos, schedules, cast lists, call sheets, publicity, programs, photos and clippings pertaining to the productions.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21828#c501226'>Series II: Scripts/story ideas by Kiley</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1979 and n.d.</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>5 folders</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>Most are written with John Connell.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21828#c501232'>Series III: Correspondence</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1967-1999 and n.d.</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>3 folders</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p> A small amount of professional correspondence and fan mail.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21828#c501236'>Series IV: Personal material</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1939-1999</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>11 folders</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>A small amount of miscellaneous biographical material includes interviews and awards.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21828#c501248'>Series V: Programs and printed publicity</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1953-1993</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>1 box</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>Mostly programs for various productions of <span class=\"title\">Man of La Mancha</span>. Other programs are filed here if they are the collection's only documentation of a Kiley production, otherwise they are interfiled with production materials in Series I.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21828#c501259'>Series VI: Clippings</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1960-1999</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>1 box</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>Clippings that arrived in folders with the scripts were kept with them in the production files, but loose clippings are filed in this series. If there were many for a single show, they have their own folder. The clippings have been photocopied.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21828#c501276'>Series VII. Photographs</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1949-1990s</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>1 box</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>Photos document Kiley's professional career. A number are from unidentified productions.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21828#c501321'>Series VIII: Scrapbooks and oversized material</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1939-1968</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>3 boxes and 1 oversized folder</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>The scrapbooks are the primary documentation of Kiley's early career in this collection. They are almost entirely clippings and programs though there is a scrapbook of opening night telegrams. This series also includes seven theater posters (housed separately in an oversized drawer in the Rose Building.)</p></div></li></ul>\n", "type"=>"arrangement"}
arrangement
{"value"=>"Series I: Production materials Sub-series 1 - Live performances Sub-series 2 - Filmed performances Sub-series 3. Voiceovers Series II: Scripts/story ideas by Kiley Series III: Correspondence Series IV: Personal material Series V: Programs and printed publicity Series VI: Clippings Series VII: Photographs Series VIII: Scrapbooks and oversized material", "supress_display"=>true}
{"value"=>"<p> Series I: Production materials Sub-series 1 - Live performances Sub-series 2 - Filmed performances Sub-series 3. Voiceovers Series II: Scripts/story ideas by Kiley Series III: Correspondence Series IV: Personal material Series V: Programs and printed publicity Series VI: Clippings Series VII: Photographs Series VIII: Scrapbooks and oversized material</p>"}
acqinfo
{"value"=>"<p>Gift of his widow, Patricia Kiley in 2005.</p>"}
userestrict
{"value"=>"<p>For permission to publish, contact the Curator, Billy Rose Theatre Division.</p>"}
note
{"value"=>"<p>Sheet music that came with the Richard Kiley papers was transferred to the Music Division of the New York Public Llibrary</p>", "encodinganalog"=>"500"}
processinfo
{"value"=>"<p>Processed by Elisabeth Elkind; Machine-readable finding aid created by Elisabeth Elkind.</p>"}
extent_statement
19 linear feet (40 boxes and 1 oversized folder)
date_start
1939
date_end
1999

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