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Creator
Adair, Jean, 1873-1953
Call number
*T-Mss 1953-001
Physical description
1 linear foot (1 box)
Preferred Citation

Jean Adair Papers, *T-Mss 1953-001, 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 Jean Adair papers document the early part of Ms. Adair's career through clippings, correspondence, photographs and ephemera. The materials span the years 1914-1936, though most of the collection documents the years 1914-1928.

Biographical/historical information

Character actress Jean Adair was born Violet McNaughton in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada in 1872?. [For a short time she was also known as Jennet Adair.] She trained for the theater in Chicago and developed her craft in stock companies. Her first important role was the lead in the William A. Brady tour of Mother. She spent several seasons on the vaudeville circuit doing one-act playlets including The Old Aristocrat, Beauty Is Only Skin Deep and Maggie Taylor, Waitress. Her Broadway career began in 1922 with It's a Boy and, after over 30 productions, ended with The Crucible in 1953. No matter how small her role, she always won praise from the critics.

Miss Adair was mainly known for playing mothers but is best remembered for her portrayal of Aunt Martha in both the stage and film versions of Arsenic and Old Lace. She died in New York City on May 11, 1953 at the age of 80.

Scope and arrangement

This collection documents the early part of Jean Adair's career through clippings, correspondence, a few photographs, and ephemera. The material spans the years 1914-1936. Programs and photographs were separated from the collection and integrated into the appropriate Theatre Collection files. [see attached list] Autographed programs remain with her papers.

The Jean Adair papers are arranged in two series:

  • Series I: Correspondence
    1925-1928
    1 folder

    Includes telegrams, a few letters, a John Cromwell-Kay Johnson wedding invitation.

  • Series II: Personal Papers
    1914-1942
    4 folders

    Includes reviews and publicity articles about Miss Adair, a few photographs, autographed programs, and ephemera. See separation sheet for a list of programs and photographs.

Administrative information

Custodial history

The Jean Adair Papers were a gift to The Billy Rose Theatre Division from Mrs. Howard Lindsay [Dorothy Stickney] in 1953.

Source of acquisition

Gift, Mrs. Howard Lindsay, 1994

Processing information

Processed by Susan McArthur.

The Jean Adair Papers were accessioned as 53M78. The collection was reprocessed in 1993.

Separated material

  • Arsenic and Old Lace
  • Broomsticks, Amen!
  • Best Years
  • Blessed Event
  • Come Easy
  • Devils
  • Fashion
  • For Services Rendered
  • The Good Fellow
  • Goodbye in the Night
  • It's a Boy
  • The Jay Walker
  • Little Women
  • Let Us Be Gay
  • Murder at the Vanities
  • Machinal
  • Mid-West
  • On Borrowed Time
  • Paris
  • The Silver Tassie
  • Scarlet Pages
  • The Show-Off
  • Sinners
  • Star Spangled Family
  • Tobacco Road
  • That Ferguson Family
  • Various vaudeville programs including: The Old Aristocrat, Beauty is Only Skin Deep, The Cake Eaters
  • Ah, Wilderness - 1 Vandamm
  • Arsenic and Old Lace (Motion picture) - 1 B file
  • Beauty is Only Skin Deep - 1 B file
  • Black Sheet - 1 C file
  • Ella Comes to Town - 3 C files
  • End of Summer - 2 A files
  • Maggie Taylor, Waitress - 2 B files, 2 C files
  • Sun Kissed - 1 C file
  • Jean Adair - 1 A file, 5 B files, 2 C files
  • Margaret Hoffmann - 1 B file
  • William A. Brady Stock Company - 1 B file
  • Arsenic and Old Lace (Motion picture) - signed by most of the cast
  • Rosita (of Rosita and Ramon)

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.