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Creator
Owen, Barnett
Call number
*T-Mss 1985-005
Physical description
.5 lin. ft., (1 box).
Preferred Citation

Barnett Owen papers regarding Ruth Draper, *T-Mss 1985-005, Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

Repository
Billy Rose Theatre Division
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.Restrictions apply

The collection documents the work of Ruth Draper. It includes copies of her monologues as well as correspondence and typescripts about her.

Biographical/historical information

Ruth Draper, monologist, was born in New York City in 1884. She began her career writing sketches about people she knew or observed and performing them at parties, until Ignace Jan Paderewski encouraged her to take her talent to the stage. Her only appearance in a full-length play wasas the maid in A Lady's Name at the Maxine Elliott Theatre in May, 1916. In February, 1917 she made her debut as a monologist. The only successful sketch in her first performance was "The Actress" which was the only one she wrote herself. This gave her the encouragement to write and perform her own sketches, and she did this to worldwide acclaim until her final performance December 26, 1956. She died December 30, 1956 at the age of 72.

Scope and arrangement

The Barnett Owen papers regarding Ruth Draper are divided into correspondence, typescripts of her monologues in English and French, and other typescripts related to her career.

The collection contains her most popular monologues, however there is not much correspondence.

The Barnett Owen papers regarding Ruth Draper is arranged in three series:

  • Series I: Correspondence
    1955-1981
    2 folders

    This series contains letters from Ruth Draper to Bartlett Owen. There is also one letter to Owen concerning a manuscript to the Twelfth Night Bindery.

  • Series II: Monologues
    1903-1955
    35 folders

    This series contains annotated copies of Ruth Draper's monologues. Of special note is a copy of The Actress, which was her first successful monologue.

  • Series III: Typescripts
    4 folders

    Typescripts about Ruth Draper's monologues and tours.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

The collection was donated by Owen Barnett to the Billy Rose Theatre Division in 1985.

Processing information

Processed by Jeanne Mixon; machine-readable finding aid created by Mary Ellen Rogan.

This collection was recataloged with a new title and classmark in October 2002. Prior title and classmark were: Ruth Draper Papers, 8-MWEZ 28761.

Using the collection

Location

Billy Rose Theatre Division
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
40 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023-7498
Third Floor

Conditions Governing Use

For permission to publish, contact the Curator, Billy Rose Theatre Division.

Access restrictions

Photocopying prohibited.