Scope and arrangement
The Elinor Jones papers, dating from 1967 to 2007, document the writer's work through writings, correspondence, photographs, clippings, publicity material, and programs. The most significant content in the collection pertains to the plays Colette and A Voice of My Own.
Writings comprise the bulk of the papers. They include scripts for full length and ten-minute plays, and printed manuscripts for short stories. Many of the plays are in draft form only and were never produced; some have correspondence, critiques, or revisions. Three of the full length plays (Colette, A Voice of My Own, and Out of Season) were produced, and their files contain additional documentation. Correspondence is with agents, directors, publishers, theatres, actors, and friends.
The files for Colette include correspondence with Colette's estate; with her United States publisher, Farrar, Strauss and Giroux; and with foreign presenters regarding productions in other countries. Letters to the publisher and the estate outline the development of the script. There is also a scrapbook of production photographs, clippings, and programs; a costume design; opening night letters and telegrams to Jones; a folder of source material and notes, which contains portions of the script in progress; and a folder of publicity literature, programs, and clippings. No final script is present.
The files for A Voice of My Own and Out of Season have programs, correspondence, and clippings regarding multiple productions. The files for A Voice of My Own also contain production photographs.
Portions of the short stories were written for a writer's group Jones attended at the League of Professional Theater Women. Some of the story manuscripts include comments and critiques.
The papers also hold the program for Jones's memorial service, and Jones's notes on particular actors.
Arrangement
The papers are arranged by document type.