Jan Miner papers

1932-1993

Jan Miner (1917-2004) was an American actor who worked in theater, radio, television, and film. She appeared in the American Shakespeare Festival from 1966 to 1972 and was known for portraying the character of Madge in Palmolive dish soap commercials. The Jan Miner papers (1932-1993) contain clippings, programs, photographs, a scrapbook, and other papers. The collection primarily concerns her work in the theater, though there are also materials related to her work in radio, television, film, and advertisements. A scrapbook documents Miner's life and career between 1932 and 1945; the scrapbook contains clippings, photographs, and programs from performances at the Straw Hat Theatre and elsewhere. The bulk of the collection consists of production files, mostly related to theater productions, dating from 1958 to 1993. Some productions are represented only by one or two items, usually a clipping or a program, while others are represented by extensive clippings, production photographs, contracts, and other materials. Some of the better-represented productions include Dinner at Eight (San Francisco, 1993), Gertrude Stein and a Companion (1985), The Heiress (1976), The Music Keeper (1982), The Show-Off (Olney, Maryland, 1975), Watch on the Rhine (Long Wharf Theatre, 1979, and John Golden Theatre, 1980), The Women (1973), and various American Shakespeare Festival productions. The file for Gertrude Stein and a Companion includes a script. The collection contains a small file on the film Lenny (1974). The collection also contains headshots and general articles about Miner. Material related to Madge and Palmolive advertisements consist mostly of photographs, clippings of print advertisements, and other printed promotional materials; there are also name badges that Miner wore in commercials. The collection includes a small amount of personal material, mostly letters written to Miner.