Scope and arrangement
The collection, dated 1950s - 1990s (bulk dates, 1970s-1980s), documents the Broadway Show League during the tenure of Commissioner Frances Froehlich Lewin. There is also some material that documents the parent organization the Actors Fund of America, and the founder of the League, John Effrat.
The collection contains bulletins and rosters, correspondence, financial data, flyers, notices, photographs, printed matter and memorabilia.
The Actors Fund of America files hold a copy of the reorganization of the Broadway Show League for 1972; letters to the Broadway Show League regarding their financial contributions; and several copies of the Fund's annual reports from the 1970s to the 1980s, including the centennial edition report, from 1982.
John Effrat files hold a copy of the articles of the incorporation of the League, a certificate list of officers, rules and regulations of the game, acknowledgments of contributions, financial status, and two rosters for the games of 1956 and 1957.
The bulletins and rosters files contain press releases, forms for registration, rules and regulations, release agreements for playing in games, and the results of the softball divisions.
During Lewin's tenure the League's correspondence was arranged in two files: correspondence to officials and correspondence to others. Lewin's correspondence illustrate her position as an advocate and her letters were sent to officials,such as Mayor John Lindsay, Mayor Ed Koch, Carol Bellamy, and Parks Commissioner Henry J. Stern. Her major concerns involved the deterioration of the Hecksher Fields, the substandard park facilities for the League, and park fees charged for the use of the ball fields.
Lewins' correspondence to others holds announcements for registration, entry and playing rules, memos to prospective sponsors and managers, results from games, invitations to playoffs, flyers, solicitations for sponsors, and feedback from games.
The special events file holds minor information about The All-Star game held at Shea Stadium and the Oldtimers' Day games.
Lewin also kept two notebooks which she used to track appointments, schedules, telephone numbers, and her League duties.
Photographs, dating from the 1970s to 1980s, are mostly black and white, and show casts and crews from Broadway playing Hecksher Fields and spectators watching the games. Danny Aiello, Lauren Bacall, Richard Burton, Colleen Dewhurst, Pat Hingle, and Gwen Vernon were photographed either playing or watching the games. Printed matter consists of clippings, and brochures advertising of the Broadway Show League and Central Park.