Scope and arrangement
The collection, dated 1813 to 1961 (bulk dates 1813-1832), documents the career of Shakespearean actor Edmund Kean. Other files relate to the Edmund Kean Club. The collection contains letters, clippings, playbills, prints, and artwork.
There are approximately eighteen letters autographed by Kean.
The clippings are reviews of Kean's performances at the Drury Lane Theatre and other venues. These clippings include articles about Kean's refusal to act in the play The Italians.
The playbills represent significant examples of Kean's performances at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and other theatres in England and abroad. Playbill advertisements include the plays The Castle of Morsino, Five Miles Off, Hamlet, King Richard III, The Merchant of Venice and, Othello. There are several playbills from Kean's performances of Othello including his last stage performance at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden.
Two playbills have been attributed to Kean's father and uncle Moses Kean.
The prints include Kean in character for performances, tributes, Kean's friends and acquaintances, and theatres.
Pamphlets in the collection are the Fifth edition…A Full Report on the Trial of Albion Cox, Esq. versus Edmund Kean, Esq.; A Celebrated Old Playhouse. The History of the Richmond Theatre; The Life and Theatrical Career of Mr. Kean, and The Patrician, the Tombs of Richmond Church.
There are two artistic renderings, a watercolor of the "Red House," where Kean resided for a time and a pen and ink drawing of Kean as Sir Edward Mortimer in The Iron Chest.
The Edmund Kean Club files include information about their efforts to restore the George Frederick Cooke monument at St. Paul Church which was erected by Kean.
The MWEZ numbers represent the Library's former classification system. When requesting materials,please refer to the finding aid's box list.