Scope and arrangement
The collection contains correspondence, photographs, contact sheets, negatives, programs, financial papers, contracts, sheet music, and some personal papers documenting the career and life of producer and director Herman Shumlin from ca. 1902 to ca. 1989 (bulk dates 1932-1978).
Correspondence includes letters concerning professional projects and notes from celebrities such as Russell Baker, Agnes de Mille, Peter de Vries, Christopher Fry, Peter Sellers, Neil Simon, and Orson Welles. There is also a telegram regarding Inherit the Wind, signed "Spence," March 13, 1956, possibly from Spencer Tracy. Some letters relate to Shumlin's professional and personal financial difficulties. One of Shumlin's creditors was Julie Clayburgh (actress Jill Clayburgh's mother, who mentions her daughter in two notes, August 18, 1964 and ca. 1964).
Financial papers include bank statements for Shumlin's proposed production of a musical version of All the King's Men (1971-1972) and the play, How to Be Hip Over Thirty, as well as correspondence and papers relating to his personal finances. There are also contracts and agreements for productions such as Spofford (1967) and The Deputy (1964).
There is also a piece of published sheet music for Get Together (1963) with an original sheet of music for a scene change inserted.
Among Shumlin's personal papers are passports, membership and identification cards and appointment books. Also included is a command to appear before the House Un-American Activities Committees (January 24, 1957) and a copy of an undated memorandum submitted to the judge that appears to be related. There is also a copy of a letter and a typed memo regarding Shumlin's meeting with Associate Justice Arthur Goldberg (October, 1964) on Goldberg's opinion of The Deputy's portrayal of Pope Pius XII.
Photos and contact sheets for productions include the National Theatre marquee of Tallulah Bankhead in The Little Foxes (1939), The Corn Is Green (1940), publicity photos with the 1954-1955 Outer Circle Award for Inherit the Wind (1955), As You Like It (1974), The Deputy set (1964), and unidentified rehearsal photos.
Photos of Watch on the Rhine contain both the stage production (1941) and a few publicity photos for the motion picture (ca. 1943); Lillian Hellman and cinematographer James Wong Howe are also pictured. Oversized photos include Inherit the Wind, signed by some cast members with a note by Staats Cotsworth), and one of Paul Muni. There are also some portraits, personal photos and negatives (some color), including some of Shumlin fishing, and vacation photos.
A folder of Shumlin's step-daughter, Lila Shumlin's, papers containing her resume and a manuscript titled "The Circle," is included with the collection. Folder titles do not reflect the contents accurately.
Arrangement
Alphabetical by folder title