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Creator
Carter, Randolph, 1908-1998
Call number
*T-Mss 1999-019
Physical description
5.4 linear feet (9 boxes, 3 volumes, 1 oversized folder)
Preferred Citation

Randolph Carter papers, *T-Mss 1999-019. Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library.

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

Randolph Carter (1908-1998) was an American writer, director, and critic. The Randolph Carter papers date from 1860s-1997 (bulk dates 1930s-1980s) and contain manuscripts, typescripts, journals, photographs, letters, sound recordings, and programs.

Biographical/historical information

Randolph Carter (1908-1998) was an American writer, director, and critic. He wrote plays and theater reviews, television and film scripts, and non-fiction books. A few of his original plays were produced on Broadway such as Eugenia (1957) and Arms for Venus (1937). He was the stage director for the 1938 and 1939 Litchfield Summer Theatre seasons in Connecticut. He authored The World of Flo Ziegfeld (1974), Ziegfeld: The Time of His Life (1988), and Joseph Urban: Architecture, Theatre, Opera, Film (1992, co-written with Robert Reed Cole). Carter was also a World War II Navy veteran.

Scope and arrangement

The Randolph Carter papers date from 1860s-1997 (bulk dates 1930s-1980s) and contain manuscripts, typescripts, journals, photographs, letters, sound recordings, and programs.

The bulk of the collection consists of typescripts for theater and television, many of which were written by Carter, while others were collaborations or adaptations. There is a manuscript draft for The Green Stick: Last Days of Leo Tolstoy (1950s), and a few published versions of plays such as Lenient in Love (1983) and Fish Cure (1935).

Production materials such as programs, flyers, sound recordings, and clippings document the plays Gabrielle (1941), The Late Late Show (1960s, part of Triple Play ), Battle of Heaven (1969), The Green Stick, and Eugenia (1955). There are also production materials for Carter's non-fiction projects such as book proofs for The World of Flo Ziegfeld ; and chapter drafts, notes and letters related to the development of Joseph Urban: Architecture, Theatre, Opera, Film .

The collection holds drafts of an autobiography, a journal record from 1969 to 1997 about Carter's life and work, and personal letters and photographs. There are also materials related to his military service in the Navy during World War II, including medals, and a written recollection of USS Chauncey (DD-667) for his participation in a naval history project.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged alphabetically by subject or format.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

Donated by Eugene Sorenson, 1999

Processing information

Compiled by Joyce Joseph, 2015

Compiled by Joyce Joseph, 2015.

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

The author/creator retains copyright of materials. For information on obtaining permission to publish, contact the Theatre Division at theatre@nypl.org.

Access restrictions

Audiovisual materials will be subject to preservation evaluation and migration prior to access. Sound recordings available by appointment only.