Loading...
Creator
Bryant, Nana, 1888-1955
Call number
*T-Mss 1997-027
Physical description
1.42 lin. ft. (2 boxes)
Preferred Citation

Nana Bryant Papers, *T-Mss 1997-027, 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 Nana Bryant papers focus primarily on the early part of Bryant's career when she was a stock company leading lady. A scrapbook of clippings about performances in California, Washington, D.C. and Maine, a few fan letters and snapshots document this time. Her Broadway career is represented by opening night telegrams for the Firebrand in 1924 and a program from the 1945 production of Marriage Is for Single People autographed by cast members. The collection merely touches on a career that spanned over fifty years.

Biographical/historical information

Nana Bryant was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1888. She began her acting career at the age of sixteen when she joined a repertory company that later toured in the West. Bryant was the leading lady in stock companies in San Francisco, Oakland, Salt Lake City, Washington, D.C., and Portland, Maine and appeared in Topsy and Eva with the Duncan Sisters. In 1924 she debuted on Broadway in The Firebrandand for the next several years appeared in musicals and comedies in New York.

A contract with Columbia Pictures Corporation took her to Hollywood in 1935 and began a motion picture career that lasted twenty years. She played roles in over ninety films including Mad about Music, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Calling Dr. Gillespie, The Song of Bernadette, Brewster's Millions, The Virginian, Harvey, Bright Victory, and The Private War of Major Benson.

Her television appearances included roles on Robert Montgomery Presents, Studio One, Life with Father, Make Room for Daddy, The First Hundred Years and Our Miss Brooks.

Scope and arrangement

The focus of the collection is the early part of Bryant's career when she was a stock company leading lady. A scrapbook of clippings about performances in California, Washington, D.C. and Maine, a few fan letters and snapshots document this time. Her Broadway career is represented by opening night telegrams and a published script for The Firebrand in 1924 and a program from the 1945 production of Marriage is for Single Peopleautographed by cast members. The papers also include publicity photos of Bryant from her early days until late in her career, but motion picture stills and unautographed programs were separated from the collection and added to the appropriate Theatre Collection files (see separation sheet). The collection merely touches on a career that spanned over fifty years.

The Nana Bryant papers are arranged in two series:

  • Series I: Personal Papers,.
    1917-1955
    5 folders

    The series includes correspondence which consists of telegrams marking the Broadway opening of The Firebrand and fan mail; Bryant's speech to the Portland Business and Professional Woman's League, given when she was part of the Jefferson Theatre Company; 1930-1937 income statements; and biographical materials which include magazine articles, clippings, obituaries, and a tribute by David Hanna.

  • Series II: Ephemera,.
    1920-1931
    1 box and 4 folders

    Ephemera includes publicity photographs of Bryant and snapshots of Bryant and fellow actors in costume for productions of Rollo's Wild Oat, Tiger Rose, and what appears to be Road to Rome; Bryant's annotated copy of the operetta Die Dubarry; a published script of The Firebrandsigned by the cast; an autographed program from the 1945 Broadway production of Marriage is for Single People; and a scrapbook of clippings about Bryant's career (1920-1931). The scrapbook also includes clippings about actress Emelie Melville.

Administrative information

Custodial history

This small collection of Nana Bryant memorabilia was given to the Billy Rose Theatre Division by Helene MacLean in 1997 and 2004.

Source of acquisition

Gift, MacLean, Helene, 1997

Processing information

Processed by Susan McArthur.

Separated material

  • Always in Trouble - 2
  • Counsel for Crime - 2
  • Espionage Agent - 5
  • Her Husband's Affairs - 1
  • The King Steps Out - 2
  • Lincoln in the White House - 3
  • A Little Bit of Heaven - 1
  • Mad About Music- 4
  • Man-Proof - 1
  • Nice Girl - 1
  • Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus - 2
  • The Private War of Major Benson - 1
  • Sinners in Paradise - 3
  • State Department - File 649 - 1
  • Everywoman - 1919
  • Once in a Lifetime - 1931
  • Road to Rome - 1931
  • Roberta - 1946
  • Scarlet Pages- 1931
  • Song of Norway - 1947 (playbill and souvenir program)
  • Nana Bryant portrait - C file

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.