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Creator
Row, Arthur William, 1878-1961
Call number
*T-Mss 1953-003
Physical description
1 linear foot (2 boxes)
Preferred Citation

Arthur William Row Papers, *T-Mss 1953-003, 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 consists primarily of correspondence (bulk late 1950s) concerning Row's writings, especially his book on Sarah Bernhardt; and the writings themselves, mostly theatrical reminiscences, in typescript and note form. As well as Bernhardt, Row wrote laudatory personal accounts of the Barrymores, John Gielgud, Richard Mansfield, Paul Muni, Cornelia Otis Skinner, Ellen Terry and Blanche Yurka, among others. The collection also contains some personal biographical material, publicity for Row's book, clippings of play reviews, and some material, mostly publicity, for The Afternoon Theatre under Row's direction.

Biographical/historical information

Born on June 12, 1878 in Montreal, Canada, actor and author Arthur William Row moved with his family to Boston, Massachusetts in 1893. He entered Tufts College as a special student in 1897, started writing dramatic criticism for Boston area newspapers, and began his acting career as an extra with Richard Mansfield in The Devil's Disciple before joining the Castle Square Theatre stock company in 1898. The following year, Row appeared in New York in Becky Sharp with Mrs. Fiske, Maurice Barrymore and Tyrone Power, Sr. Over the course of a long career, Row also appeared with Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, John Barrymore, Ethel Barrymore, Sir Henry Irving, Otis Skinner, Marie Dressler and Jane Cowl, among others.

As well as acting, Row wrote on theatrical and other subjects for various magazines including Harper's, Bellman Magazine and Poet Lore. He was the press representative for Sarah Bernhardt's 1916 American tour and published a serial about her which he later turned into a book, Sarah The Divine. In 1919 he was a founder and director of the Afternoon Theatre where he produced Maurice Maeterlinck's Aglavaine and Selysette with Eva Le Gallienne and Clare Eames, Moliere's The School for Scandal and Oscar Wilde's Lady Windermere's Fan. The Afternoon Theatre was a cooperative venture that sought to expand opportunities for actors, playwrights and audiences to try new roles by producing seldom seen plays on afternoons without regularly scheduled matinees.

While Row's death date is uncertain, his pen seems to stop in the summer of 1961, shortly after his 83rd birthday.

Scope and arrangement

Correspondence (bulk late 1950s) mostly concerns his writings especially his book, Sarah the Divine. It documents his efforts to get published as well as his distribution of the book to prominent individuals including heads of state. Writings are typescript manuscripts of magazine articles on theatrical and other subjects, his book on Sarah Bernhardt, and various unpublished pieces. His notes and notebooks are mostly his reminiscences of his life in the theater and the famous actors he knew and with whom he appeared, preparatory jottings for his book on Sarah Bernhardtand his intended memoirs, never finished. There is also a small amount of material, mostly publicity, pertaining to The Afternoon Theater when under his direction, publicity for his book, clippings of play reviews and some personal biographical material.

The Arthur William Row papers are arranged in seven series:

  • Series I: Personal papers
    1940-1960
    1 folder

    Contains biographical material including publicity, membership cards, a grant application filled out by Row and an interview conducted with him in 1949 when he was appearing in A Streetcar Named Desire.

  • Series II: Correspondence
    1902-1962
    18 folders

    Correspondence, both personal and professional, is mostly incoming letters from Row's later years arranged alphabetically. Much is about his writings, especially his book, Sarah the Divine, including correspondence with publishers and many letters of thanks for copies received. Correspondents include Eva Le Gallienne, Nance O'Neil, Hesketh Pearson and Blanche Yurka. Letters by Row include clippings of some of his letters to the editor on various topics.

  • Series III: Writings
    1908-1957
    Alphabetical

    Typescripts of his articles primarily on theatrical subjects, some of which were published in magazines are divided into theater and non-theater and then arranged alphabetically by subject name or title. Includes a manuscript with handwritten revisions for his book, Sarah the Divine; other writings about Sarah Bernhardt; brief essays of Row's reminiscences of other actors including the Barrymores, Richard Mansfield, Ellen Terry, and Blanche Yurka; essays on prominent people not connected to the theater such as Mary Baker Eddy and Randolph S. Churchill; and various versions of his "Home As the Root of All Evil". There are also a few mysterious typescripts that came with Row's papers: two long letters addressed to Dear A-- and purportedly written by an Englishwoman who describes the bombing of London during World War II. They appear to have been transcribed by Row for newspaper publication. Also two typescript articles by an anonymous woman newspaper reporter in America, also probably transcribed by Row.

  • Series IV: Notes
    3 folders

    Handwritten notes are on Sarah Bernhardt, Row's memoirs, and miscellaneous subjects.

  • Series V: Notebooks
    1923-1961
    9 folders

    Notebooks, mostly spiral and composition books, are primarily from Row's later years and contain his notes of reminiscences and drafts of letters. The last two, dated 1960-1961, are titled Mummer's Memories.

  • Series VI: The Afternoon Theatre
    1922-1932
    1 folder

    A small amount of material, mostly publicity and financial papers, for The Afternoon Theatre which Row founded and directed. The Theatre produced plays seldom seen, on afternoons without regularly scheduled matinees, to give actors a chance to try different roles than those they normally performed.

  • Series VII: Printed material: Publicity & Clippings
    1938-1958
    4 folders

    Consists of printed publicity for Row's book, Sarah the Divine, clippings of reviews of Orson Welles' production of Julius Caesar and A Streetcar Named Desire, two plays in which Row appeared, and other clippings collected by Row.

Administrative information

Custodial history

The Arthur William Row Papers were given to The Billy Rose Theatre Division of The New York Public Library by Row beginning in 1953.

Source of acquisition

Papers: gift, Arthur William Row, 1953

Processing information

Processed by Elisabeth Elkind.

In 1998 the papers were reprocessed for inclusion in the Library's online catalog.

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.