{"value"=>"<p>The personal files pertain to Stone's family and personal life, as well as professional involvements outside of specific productions. Family files include photographs of Stone's parents as children, family papers, documents and family trees. Files on Stone's early life include photographs, correspondence with his parents from camp, elementary school reports and report cards and high school diplomas. His time as an undergraduate at Bard College is even more extensively covered, with school publications, photographs and his regular correspondence with his parents. These letters provide valuable insights into Stone's development as a writer at this crucial stage, as he got performing and writing experience in theatre at Bard and with his regular show on the campus radio station. These letters also document his frequent visits to New York and his opinions of the many plays and musicals he saw there.</p> <p>The general correspondence files, which are largely unsorted, contain letters from many prominent theatrical figures of the day, but Stone's most frequent correspondents were his future wife, Mary O'Hanley, prior to their 1961 marriage, his father, John Stone and his mother and stepfather, Hilda and George Marton. The business correspondence files contain contracts, agreements and other legal and financial documents. They occasionally refer to financial aspects of productions and to general legal and financial matters.</p> <p>Writings include poems and short stories written by Stone as well as ideas for other writing projects and his masters' thesis from Yale University. A highlight of this series is the extensive collection of witty, poignant, touching, raunchy and irreverent speeches and toasts. During the latter part of his career Stone was frequently asked to host awards ceremonies and to write and deliver award tributes and memorial tributes to friends and colleagues.</p> <p>Personal ephemera holds maps, notes, schedules and photographs relating to Stone's travels in Europe, Africa and the Soviet Union in the 1950s and 1960s. Stone was politically active his whole life and he corresponded with many prominent politicians, most notably President and Mrs. Clinton, with whom he formed a personal relationship. This series also documents Stone's activities as an administrator and board member for many arts organizations though correspondence, publications, contracts and other negotiations. The most extensively represented organization is the Dramatists' Guild, of which Stone served as President from 1981-1999.</p>"}