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Creator
Sarton, May, 1912-1995
Call number
Berg Coll MSS 186360
Physical description
0.42 linear feet (1 box)
Language
English
Preferred Citation
May Sarton photographs, Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature, The New York Public Library
Repository
Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature
Access to materials
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The May Sarton photographs, dating from the 1930s, documents the Associated Actors Theatre (formerly the Apprentice Theatre), which was founded by May Sarton. The collection holds candid, non-commercial black and white photographs taken by Sidney Ball.

Biographical/historical information

May Sarton (1912-1995) was a Belgian-American poet, novelist, and memoirist. May Sarton was the pen name of Eleanore Marie Sarton. Sarton was the child of George Sarton, a science historian and his wife Mabel Elenore Elwes Sarton, an English artist and designer. Sarton developed an early interest in theatre during her time as an apprentice at Eva Le Gallienne's Civic Repertory Theatre in New York from 1929 to 1934. Gallienne would present classic and foreign productions including those by Anton Chekhov and Henrik Ibsen. The Theatre closed due to the Depression. Around this time, Sarton would become the founder, director, and an actor of the Apprentice Theatre. Sarton would change the name officially to the Associated Actors Theatre. The traveling troupe presented their productions in New England from 1933 through 1936. After Sarton's theatre closed, possibly due to financial constraints, she made the decision to pursue a new career as a writer. Sarton would eventually publish over fifty novels, books of poetry, and several children's books. Sarton died in York, Maine in 1995.

Scope and arrangement

The May Sarton photographs, circa the 1930s, are photographs taken of the Associated Actors Theatre. Notes in the collection indicate that the pictures were taken by Sidney Ball in Rowley, Massachusetts and Hartford, Connecticut. The photographs depict rehearsals, improvisations, actors standing inside the Company's truck, and individual actors. Sarton is often photographed with the other actors. These photographs were not commercially reproduced, and do not have descriptive information attached to the images.

Arrangement

Alphabetical.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

Gift of Penny Purcell, 2023.

Processing information

Processed by Valerie Wingfield in 2024.

Related Material

May Sarton papers, 1846-1995. Call number: Berg Coll MSS Sarton, Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature.

May Sarton letters and poems, 1932-1985. Call number: Berg Coll MSS 186028, Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature.

Using the collection

Location

Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street, New York, NY 10018-2788
Third Floor, Room 320