Ruth Draper papers

1903-1956

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 was as 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 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. The Ruth Draper Collection measures five linear inches and is 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 material is arranged alphabetically, except for the correspondence which is arranged chronologically.