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Creator
Van Druten, John, 1901-1957
Call number
MssCol 3134
Physical description
3 linear feet (3 boxes, 12 volumes) (2 linear feet (8 boxes))
Language
English
Preferred Citation

John Van Druten Papers, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library. Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations.

Repository
Manuscripts and Archives Division
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.

Collection of correspondence, book reviews, typescripts of plays and books written by Van Druten, and clippings. Correspondence, 1938-1957, consist of letters concerning his writings and personal letters between Van Druten and his friend, dramatist and novelist Dodie Smith. Book reviews, ca. 1920-1925, written by Van Druten for an English publication published in Switzerland. Typescripts of his plays and books, many of which contain changes and corrections in his hand. Clippings of articles collected by Van Druten from magazines and newspapers, 1924-1951.

Biographical/historical information

John Van Druten (1901-1957) was an Anglo-American playwright, theatrical director, screenwriter and novelist. Born in London of a Dutch father and an English mother Van Druten graduated from the University College School in that city. Formerly a solicitor and lecturer on English law and legal history at the University College of Wales, he first came into prominence with Young Woodley,1928, which was banned by the censor, and produced by the Stage Society as a protest. When the ban was removed, it was seen in London and had a long run. It was also very successful in New York.

Van Druten's later plays, which are mainly comedies, include There's Always Juliet,1931, The Distaff Side,1933, Old Acquantaince,1940, The Damask Cheek,(with Lloyd Morris) 1942, The Voice of the Turtle,1943, Make Way For Lucid,1948 and Bell, Book and Candle,1950. Among novels written by him are: A Woman On Her Way,1931, And Then You Wish,1936, Playwright At Work,1953, and The Vicarious Years,1956.

In 1951 Van Druten directed Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King And Iand was elected to the National Institute of Arts and Letters.

Scope and arrangement

The papers of John Van Druten are arranged in the four series: Correspondence, Book Reviews, Clippings, and Typescripts.

The Correspondence is sub-divided in two sections: letters concerning writings by Van Druten and Van Druten - Smith letters. The material regarding writings includes correspondence about The Way To the Present,1938, with publisher Michael Joseph and people mentioned. Also included is correspondence with Lloyd Morris, 1942, regarding the development of the play The Damask Cheek.

The Van Druten - Smith letters are between Van Druten and his friend, dramatist and novelist Dodie Smith(1896 -). The correspondence, 1941 - 1957, is both incoming and outgoing and in chronological order. The writing is very intimate in tone. They discuss their daily lives and creative work, debate the theory and practice of dramatic writing, and share frank, and often intensely critical views of their friends and acquaintances in the theater and motion picture world.

The Book Reviews, ca. 1920-1925, were written by Van Druten for the English Herald Abroadpublished in Montreux, Switzerland. Among authors reviewed are: Aldous Huxley, W. Somerset Maugham, Virginia Woolf and H.G. Wells.

Clippings, 1924-1951, are articles saved by Van Druten from Punch magazine and several newpapers.

The Typescripts are of plays and books written by Van Druten, many of which contain changes and corrections in Van Druten's hand.

The John Van Druten papers are arranged in four series:

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

Gift of John Van Druten, 1945; and Carter Lodge, 1963; purchase, 1990. Additional material donated to the Billy Rose Theatre Collection. See Separated Materials Note.

Processing information

Laura Bailey; machine readable finding aid created by APEX data services and revised by Chatham Ewing.

Separated material

See also the following collection:

John Van Druten Papers, 1901-1957. *TMss 1958-002 2 linear feet (8 boxes) The New York Public Library Billy Rose Theatre Collection. View finding aid.

Related Material

Other Van Druten papers at the Billy Rose Theatre Collection, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts

Using the collection

Location

Manuscripts and Archives Division
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street, New York, NY 10018-2788
Brooke Russell Astor Reading Room, Third Floor, Room 328