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Creator
Marriott, John, 1893-1977
Call number
Sc MG 149
Physical description
3.58 linear feet (10 boxes)
Language
English
Preferred Citation
[Item], John Marriott papers, Sc MG 149, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division, The New York Public Library
Repository
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.

John Marriott was an African American actor whose theater, film, and television credits extended over fifty years. The John Marriott papers reflect Marriott's acting career in theater, movies, and television commercials.

Biographical/historical information

John Marriott was an African American actor whose theater, film, and television credits extended over fifty years. He began his career in 1922 as a member of the celebrated Karamu Players of Cleveland, an association he maintained for twelve years. He appeared in the Off-Broadway production of The Respectful Prostitute in 1948, and in many Broadway productions, most notably The Iceman Cometh in 1946, The Green Pastures, The Little Foxes, The Miracle Worker, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, Mulatto, No Way Out, and You Can't Take It With You, among others. He also appeared in a number of productions at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C.

Marriott's film performances include The Little Foxes, The Joe Louis Story, The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell, The Spirit of St. Louis, and Dog Day Afternoon. He was also in a number of television shows, such as That Was The Week That Was, The Patty Duke Show, Hallmark Hall of Fame, and Kraft Theater as well as several soap operas. Marriott died in 1977 in New York.

Scope and arrangement

The John Marriott papers reflect Marriott's acting career in theater, movies, and television commercials. The Personal series, 1940-1977, consists of biographical information, news clippings, obituaries, personal correspondence from friends, and certificates. The bulk of the collection forms the Acting Career series, 1933-1976. There is professional correspondence containing letters from theatrical people informing Marriott of roles in plays scripts with scripts enclosed that he should read (1933-1976). There are numerous reviews and other articles about his many performances. Marriott's roles with the Arena Stage are documented but only a few items represent his long affiliation with the Karamu Theater. Most of the series consists of playscripts for productions in which Marriott acted, including Broadway shows. Several were written by Black playwrights such as Edward Branch, Philip Hayes Dean, Shirley Graham Du Bois, Steve Gordon, Langston Hughes, and Loften Mitchell. Other material in this series includes screenplays; scripts for radio, television commercials, and announcements that Marriott performed; and an article entitled "Keep It Small" which he wrote in 1954 for inclusion in a book How to Act for Television by William I. Kaufman.

The John Marriott papers are arranged in two series:

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

Gift of Beatrice Marriott, 1978.

Revision History

Finding aid updated by Lauren Stark. (2021 April 20)

Processing information

Accessioned by Janice Quinter, April 2009.

Separated material

Transferred to the Moving Image and Recorded Sound Division: audio and moving image materials. For more information, please contact the division at schomburgaudiovisual@nypl.org or 212-491-2270.

Transferred to the Photographs and Prints Division: photographs.

Using the collection

Location

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division
515 Malcolm X Boulevard, New York, NY 10037-1801
Second Floor