Bertha Case papers

id
695
origination
Case, Bertha
date statement
1932-1985 [bulk 1963-1984]
key date
1932
identifier (local_mss)
18836
org unit
Billy Rose Theatre Division
call number
*T-Mss 2012-029
b-number
b19685511
total components
87
total series
0
max depth
3
boost queries
(none)
component layout
Default Layout
Extended MARC Fields
false
Extended Navigation
false
created
2013-04-01 14:58:59 UTC
updated
2026-08-14 02:09:35 UTC
status note
(missing)
Display Aeon link
true

Description data TOP

physdesc
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"2.52 linear feet", "unit"=>"linear feet"}, {"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"6 boxes", "unit"=>"containers"}], "supress_display"=>true}
unitid
{"value"=>"*T-Mss 2012-029", "type"=>"local_call"}
{"value"=>"18836", "type"=>"local_mss"}
unitdate
{"value"=>"1932-1985", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1932/1985"}
{"value"=>"1963-1984", "type"=>"bulk", "normal"=>"1963/1984"}
date_inclusive_start
1932
date_inclusive_end
1985
keydate
1932
unittitle
{"value"=>"Bertha Case papers"}
repository
{"value"=>"<span class=\"corpname\">The New York Public Library. <span class=\"subarea\">Billy Rose Theatre Division</span></span> <div class=\"address\"><span class=\"addressline\">New York, New York</span></div>"}
abstract
{"value"=>"As a literary agent, Bertha Case worked with a variety of authors, playwrights, and performers, including María Irene Fornés, Anthony Quinn, and Ira Wallach. Case also served as the literary representative of the estates of German playwright Bertolt Brecht and composer Kurt Weill. This collection primarily documents Case's career through correspondence with clients, publishers, and producers; the collection also contains contracts, press clippings, performance programs, and photographs."}
prefercite
{"value"=>"<p>Bertha Case papers, Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library.</p>"}
origination
{"value"=>"Case, Bertha", "type"=>"persname"}
bioghist
{"value"=>"<p>Known professionally as an authors' and artists' representative, Bertha Case worked to promote and establish the literary works of a variety of authors, playwrights, and performers. According to her 1984 obituary in <span class=\"title\">The New York Times</span>, Case worked in the literary and film industries for Hollywood's A. S. Lyons Agency and New York's M.C.A. agency before establishing her own agency in New York in the 1950s.</p> <p>Notably, Case acted as the literary representative of the estates of German playwright Bertolt Brecht and composer Kurt Weill.</p> <p>Source: \"Bertha Case,\" <span class=\"title\">The New York Times</span>, December 13, 1984. Accessed July 2012. http://www.nytimes.com/1984/12/13/obituaries/bertha-case.html.</p>"}
scopecontent
{"value"=>"<p>The Bertha Case papers document the literary agent's career in New York City, mostly from 1963 through her death in December 1984. The vast majority of the collection consists of client files, which contain correspondence with clients, publishers, and producers demonstrating the agent's fondness for, and championing of, the individuals with whom she worked. The client files remain as they were organized by Case; in addition to correspondence, the files may also contain contracts, screenplays, royalty statements, photographs, press clippings, reviews, drafted writings, and poems, including works by Clarissa Aikens, María Irene Fornés, and Melba Thomas. Other notable clients include Lotte Lenya, Anthony Quinn, James Schevill, and Ira Wallach.</p> <p>As the American literary representative for the Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill estates, many of the client files in this collection concern their works and royalties, specifically regarding Brecht. Not all correspondence relating to Brecht's estate is filed under his name. Researchers interested in the Brecht and Weill literary estates should review files of known collaborators and translators, as well as files containing titles of their works.</p> <p>Separate from the client files, the Bertha Case papers include three folders of professional correspondence, royalty statements, and a telephone message book relating to Case's clientele. Correspondence consists of one folder of letters received after Case's death in December 1984 while the other two, titled by correspondent, concern inquiries into the Brecht estate.</p>"}
arrangement
{"value"=>"<p>Alphabetical by document type.</p>"}
acqinfo
{"value"=>"<p>Donated by Dolores Sutton, July 1990.</p>"}
processinfo
{"value"=>"<p>Compiled by Sarah Wade, Pratt Institute, 2012.</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p>Original folders and folder titles have been retained when possible. The creator's filing system has been maintained: the bulk of the collection is arranged alphabetically in client files. A small amount of previously unorganized material has been arranged alphabetically by document type.</p>"}
userestrict
{"value"=>"<p>For permission to publish, contact the Curator, Billy Rose Theatre Division (theatrediv@nypl.org).</p>"}
relatedmaterial
{"value"=>"<span class=\"archref\">Alan Schneider papers. Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library.</span> <span class=\"archref\">Anthony Quinn letters to Bertha Case. Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library.</span> <span class=\"archref\">Bertha Case collection. Music Division, The New York Public Library.</span> <span class=\"archref\">Henry Miller letters to Bertha Case, Uncataloged Manuscripts. Berg Collection of English and American Literature, The New York Public Library.</span> <span class=\"archref\">Papers relating to Lotte Lenya and Bertha Case. Weill-Lenya Research Center, Kurt Weill Foundation for Music.</span>"}
extent_statement
2.52 linear feet (6 boxes)
date_start
1932
date_end
1985
date_bulk_start
1963
date_bulk_end
1984

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https://nyplorg-data-archives.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/collection/pdf_finding_aid/the18836.pdf

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