- unitid
-
{"value"=>"*T-Mss 1968-001", "type"=>"local_call"}
{"value"=>"21332", "type"=>"local_mss"}
- unittitle
-
{"value"=>"Brooks Atkinson papers"}
- physdesc
-
{"format"=>"simple", "value"=>"11.25 linear feet; 46 boxes"}
- repository
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{"value"=>"<span class=\"corpname\">Billy Rose Theatre Division,</span> <div class=\"address\"><span class=\"addressline\">40 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, N.Y. 10023-7498</span></div>"}
- prefercite
-
{"value"=>"<p>[Identification of item], Brooks Atkinson Papers, *T Mss 1968-001, Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts</p>"}
- origination
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{"value"=>"Atkinson, Brooks, 1894-1984", "type"=>"persname"}
- bioghist
-
{"value"=>"<p>Justin Brooks Atkinson was born in Melrose, Massachusetts in 1894. His interest in writing became apparent at an early age when he began writing and publishing his own newspapers. He continued throughout high school and some of the publications include:<span class=\"title\"> The Bay State Amateur</span>,<span class=\"title\"> The Coagent</span>,<span class=\"title\"> The Melrose Record</span> and <span class=\"title\">The Olympian</span>. Atkinson graduated from <span class=\"corpname\">Harvard University</span> and from there taught English at Dartmouth. After a working as a reporter in Massachusetts newspapers, Atkinson joined the army in 1918. In 1922 he joined the staff of the <span class=\"title\">New York Times</span>.</p> <p>Atkinson's career at the <span class=\"title\">New York Times</span> spanned the years 1922 until his final retirement in 1965. His first position there was as editor of the Sunday literary section, although he occasionally wrote play reviews. In 1926 Atkinson became the drama critic of the <span class=\"title\">New York Times</span>, replacing Stark Young. He served in this capacity until his retirement in 1960. In 1941 he took a temporary leave from this position while be worked as a war correspondent during World War II. He officially retired from the <span class=\"title\">New York Times</span> in 1960 when he reached the mandatory retirement age of 65. However, he continued for an additional 5 years writing a twice weekly column known as Critic-At-Large. Atkinson's love of theater revealed itself not only in his frequenting traditional Broadway productions but also by his discovery and encouragement of new talents to be found on the Off Broadway stage. A champion of both traditional and new forms of theater in New York, Atkinson was also known as an outspoken voice against the practices of the McCarthy era and the interrogations of the House Un-American Activities Committee, using his skill as a journalist to inform the public and expose the tactics practiced by Joseph McCarthy and his supporters in their vigilant fight against communism.</p> <p>Atkinson maintained both professional and personal relationships with some of the foremost playwrights of the 20th century. He carried on a long standing friendship and correspondence with <span class=\"persname\">Sean O'Casey</span> which is revealed in the vast amount of correspondence between them. Other friends and acquaintances include <span class=\"persname\">Tennessee Williams</span>, <span class=\"persname\">Moss Hart</span>, <span class=\"persname\">Maxwell Anderson</span>, <span class=\"persname\">S. N. Behrman</span>, <span class=\"persname\">Robert W. Anderson</span>, <span class=\"persname\">George S. Kaufman</span>, <span class=\"persname\">Clifford Odets</span>, <span class=\"persname\">Robert Sherwood</span>, <span class=\"persname\">Thornton Wilder</span> and <span class=\"persname\">Eugene O'Neill</span>, among others.</p> <p>Brooks Atkinson was honored throughout his life both by his peers and those he served in the theater community by numerous awards and honors. In 1947, he won a Pulitzer prize for a series of articles which he had written when he was in Moscow in 1945. He was awarded the Antoinette Perry Award for his \"distinguished achievement in the theater\" and was the only critic to have a Broadway theater named after him. Honorary awards include membership in the Players and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.</p> <p>Atkinson not only wrote as a journalist but also published many other works on the theater and other topics. Some of his titles include: <span class=\"title\">Broadway Scrapbook</span>,<span class=\"title\"> The Cingalese Prince</span>, <span class=\"title\">The Lively Years</span>, <span class=\"title\">Tuesdays and Thursdays</span>, <span class=\"title\">Broadway</span>, and <span class=\"title\">This Bright Land</span>. He also edited and wrote the forward for a volume about the works of his long-time friend, Sean O'Casey entitled <span class=\"title\">The O'Casey Reader</span>.</p> <p>Atkinson died in Huntsville, Alabama on January 13, 1984.</p>"}
- custodhist
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{"value"=>"<p>The Brooks Atkinson papers were received by the Billy Rose Theatre Division in two separate donations. The papers and correspondence were received in 1967 and appraised by Laurence Gomme in 1968. An additional donation was made in 1982 at the request of his wife, Oriana Atkinson. This donation contained scrapbooks and datebooks documenting his career. The collection was reprocessed in 1993-1994.</p>"}
- scopecontent
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{"value"=>"<p>The Brooks Atkinson papers contain correspondence, awards, personal papers, photographs, ephemera, scrapbooks, datebooks, clippings and subject files and document his life and career as a drama critic for the <span class=\"title\">New York Times</span>. The papers span the years 1904-1980. Significant in the papers is the correspondence with major figures of theater community including writers, actors, scholars and other journalist. Included in these are <span class=\"persname\">Sean O'Casey</span>, <span class=\"persname\">Tennessee Williams</span>, <span class=\"persname\">Eugene O'Neill</span>, <span class=\"persname\">Carlotta Monterey O'Neill</span>, <span class=\"persname\">Thornton Wilder</span>, <span class=\"persname\">Robert W. Anderson</span>,<span class=\"persname\"> Maxwell Anderson</span>, <span class=\"persname\">Clifford Odets</span> and <span class=\"persname\">George S. Kaufman</span>, to name a few.</p> <p>His correspondence often contains not only incoming letters but carbon copies of his responses. This gives a wonderfully detailed look at all aspects of his personal and professional career. Many issues of the day interested and concerned Atkinson and this is revealed in depth not only in his articles and columns but also in his correspondence to his readers and friends. Prominent in his files is correspondence dealing with Joseph McCarthy and the House Un-American Activities Committee. His championship of the theater community during this period of harassment and persecution in American history can be viewed in this collection as both amazing and heroic.</p> <p>Atkinson writings include diaries from his time as a correspondent in China as well as a manuscript copy of <span class=\"title\">Once Around the Sun</span>. Other items of note in the collection include his early attempts at publishing when he was a child in Massachusetts. These journals entitled, <span class=\"title\">The Puritan</span>, <span class=\"title\">The Watchout</span>, <span class=\"title\">The Bay State Amateur</span>, <span class=\"title\">The Coagent</span>, <span class=\"title\">The Melrose Record</span> and<span class=\"title\"> The Olympian</span> are very rare and show his budding interest in publishing and journalism..</p> <p>Other writings of Atkinson's can be found in the scrapbooks which contain complete text of articles and columns written for the <span class=\"title\">New York Times</span> and span his entire career. There are also manuscripts of other articles and other writings done by Atkinson.</p> <p>Ephemera and awards are included in the collection and contain citations, photographs, honorary degrees and testimonial dinner programs. His subject files include information on topics of interest or research value and include much information about communism and the McCarthy anti-communist movement.</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p class='list-head'>The Brooks Atkinson papers are arranged in eleven series:</p>\n<ul class='arrangement series-descriptions'>\n<li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21332#c716952'>Series I - CORRESPONDENCE</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1921-1980</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>8 boxes 3.36 linear feet</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series consists of correspondence, including carbon copies of Brooks Atkinson's replies, documenting Atkinson's life as a writer and theater critic. Correspondence includes letters to the editor from readers, correspondence concerning the publication of his many books and letters from actors, playwrights and other notables of the theater community commenting on reviews, as well as his opinion of plays and performances. Some of his correspondents include: Maxwell Anderson, Robert W. Anderson, S. N. Behrman, J. Edgar Hoover, George S. Kaufman, Charlotte Kesselring, Lawrence Langner, Howard Lindsay, Archibald MacLeish, Jo Mielziner, Sean O'Casey, Clifford Odets, Eugene and Carlotta Monterey O'Neill, John S. Service, Irwin Shaw, Robert G. Sherwood, Margaret Webster, Thornton Wilder, Tennessee Williams, Alexander Woollcott and Flo Ziegfeld, among others.</p> <p>Of important note in the correspondence is Atkinson's political and personal perspective on the House Un-American Activities hearings. His outspoken denunciation of McCarthy and the hearings elicited positive and negative correspondence from his reading public. Another interesting section of the correspondence are the letters from <span class=\"persname\">Sean O'Casey</span> to Atkinson. This correspondence spans from the 1930's until O'Casey death and illuminates the family life of O'Casey, the political and religious response to O'Casey's plays in Great Britain and Ireland and O'Casey's opinions and thoughts on his life and his work.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21332#c717224'>Series II - AWARDS AND CITATIONS</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1917-1967</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>1 linear foot. (1 box</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series consists of Atkinson's diplomas, honorary degrees, awards, citations and membership certificates.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21332#c717249'>Series III - EPHEMERA</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1909-1962</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>.1 linear feet. ( 13 folders</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series consists of personal items including business cards printed by Atkinson when he was a child, testimonial dinner programs and a few business papers.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21332#c717263'>Series IV - SUBJECT FILES</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1950-1961; n.d.</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>.15 linear feet. (13 folders</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series contains articles and papers collected by Brooks Atkinson for his personal interest and reference. Of special note and interest in this series is information on the McCarthy era and blacklisting. Included is a copy of the newsletter Counterattack.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21332#c717278'>Series V - ARTICLES</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1917-1967</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>.02 linear feet. (3 folders</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series contains articles by and about Brooks Atkinson.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21332#c717281'>Series VI - REVIEWS AND CLIPPINGS</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1947-1973</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>.1 linear feet. (7 folders</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series contains reviews and clippings about books written by Brooks Atkinson. Included are <span class=\"title\">Broadway,</span><span class=\"title\">The Lively Years,</span><span class=\"title\">Once Around the Sun,</span><span class=\"title\">This Bright Land</span> and<span class=\"title\"> Tuesdays and Fridays.</span> Also included is the review for Oriana Atkinson's book <span class=\"title\">Over at Uncle Joe's.</span></p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21332#c717289'>Series VII - WRITINGS</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1944-1950; n.d.</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>.05 linear feet. (7 folders</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series contains manuscript copies of writings by Brooks Atkinson and others. Other authors include Robert Crandell, Percy Hammond and Oliver M. Sayler.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21332#c717297'>Series VIII - EARLY PUBLICATIONS</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1904-1916</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>.42 linear feet. (1 box</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series contains copies of publications which Brooks Atkinson either wrote for or published during his youth. Included are copies of <span class=\"title\">The Bay State Amateur</span>, <span class=\"title\">The Coagent</span>, <span class=\"title\">The Melrose Record</span>, <span class=\"title\">The Olympian</span>, <span class=\"title\">The Puritan</span>, and <span class=\"title\">The Watchout</span></p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21332#c717308'>Series IX - MANUSCRIPTS</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1944-1950</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>.42 linear feet. (3 volumes</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series consists of handwritten notebooks containing Atkinson's China diaries from his years in Asia during World War II, as well as drafts for <span class=\"title\">Once Around the Sun.</span></p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21332#c717312'>Series X - SCRAPBOOK OF WRITINGS</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1907-1976</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>3.54 linear feet. (14 volumes</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series includes scrapbooks of clippings of articles and columns written by Brooks Atkinson throughout his career. The first volume of this series contains articles and reviews written by Atkinson in the beginning of his career. Later volumes contain articles from his years as theater critic and critic at large for the <span class=\"title\">New York Times</span></p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21332#c717327'>Series XI - DATEBOOKS</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1945-1980</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>2.09 linear feet. (18 volumes</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series includes agenda books belonging to Brooks Atkinson and document his appointments. Often included in these volumes are phone lists and miscellaneous jottings.</p></div></li></ul>\n", "type"=>"arrangement"}
- arrangement
-
{"value"=>"<p>The Brooks Atkinson Papers are arranged in eleven series. They are:</p> <ul class=\"list\"> <li>Series I: Correspondence</li> <li>Series II. Awards and Citations</li> <li>Series III. Ephemera</li> <li>Series IV: Subject Files</li> <li>Series V: Articles</li> <li>Series VI: Reviews and Clippings</li> <li>Series VII: Writings</li> <li>Series VIII: Early Publications</li> <li>Series IX: Manuscripts</li> <li>Series X: Scrapbook of Writings</li> <li>Series XI: Datebooks</li></ul>", "supress_display"=>true}
- accessrestrict
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{"value"=>"<p>Photocopying prohibited.</p>"}
- userestrict
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{"value"=>"<p>For permission to publish contact the Curator, Billy Rose Theatre Division.</p>"}
- processinfo
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{"value"=>"<p>Processed by Mary Ellen Rogan.</p>"}
- unitdate
-
{"value"=>"1904-1980", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1904/1980"}
- date_inclusive_start
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1904
- date_inclusive_end
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1980
- acqinfo
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{"accession_number"=>"THE Mss 1968-001"}
{"date"=>"1968", "source"=>"Brooks Atkinson; Oriana Atkinson", "address"=>"See donor file", "method"=>"Gift", "extent"=>"11.25 o", "value"=>"Gift, Brooks Atkinson; Oriana Atkinson, 1968"}
- abstract
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{"value"=>"The Brooks Atkinson papers contain correspondence, awards, personal papers, photographs, ephemera, scrapbooks, datebooks, clippings and subject files and document his life and career as a drama critic for the New York Times. The papers span the years 1904-1980. Significant in the correspondence are letters from notables figures of the theater community including writers, actors, scholars and other journalists. Included in these are Sean O'Casey, Tennessee Williams, Thornton Wilder, Eugene and Carlota O'Neill, Robert W. Anderson, Maxwell Anderson, Clifford Odets, Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman, to name a few."}
- keydate
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1904
- date_start
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1904
- date_end
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1980