The collection consists of correspondence, scripts, contracts, photographs, a production program, press clippings and other materials documenting the script development and production history of John Charles Brownell's play, Mississippi Rainbow. Correspondents include Rowena Woodham Jelliffe of the Karamu Theatre, Playhouse Settlement, Cleveland; Frank J. Sheil of Samuel French Play Publishers and Authors' Representatives; Richard Madden of the Richard J. Madden Play Company; staff members of the Works Progress Administration and the Federal Theatre Project in New York and Chicago, including Shirley Graham (later Shirley Graham DuBois), Thomas J. McElhany, Bennet R. Finn, George Kondolf, and Hallie Flanagan; Theodore Ward, an actor in the Chicago production of Mississippi Rainbow, and an aspiring playwright whom Brownell mentored; New York theater critic Brooks Atkinson; and other correspondents from whom Brownell sought financial and professional assistance. Undated typescripts for Mississippi Rainbow and a one-act play, The Closet, are also included. Photographs include portrait photographs of Brownell and production photographs from the New York production of Brainsweat and the Chicago production of Mississippi Rainbow
Description:
John Charles Brownell was born in Burlington, Vermont in 1877. He studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Art in New York City, and worked as a professional actor and scenario editor for film companies before undertaking a playwrighting career. His plays include The Nut Farm, Her Majesty the Widow, and A Woman of the Soil. His play Mississippi Rainbow, a comedy written for an all-black cast, was first produced as Nothin' but Trouble by an amateur cast at the Karamu Theatre, Playhouse Settlement in Cleveland, Ohio in 1934. The play went through rewrites and title changes, and was produced on Broadway as Brainsweat (1934), and by the Federal Theatre Project in Chicago as Mississippi Rainbow (1937). He was married to Estelle Wyne of Cincinnati. Brownell died in Starksboro, Vermont in 1961. and In English.
Subject (Geographic):
United States.
Subject (Name):
Atkinson, Brooks, 1894-1984., Brownell, John Charles., Du Bois, Shirley Graham, 1896-1977., Finn, Bennet R., Flanagan, Hallie, 1890-1969., Jelliffe, Rowena Woodham., Kondolf, George., McElhany, Thomas J., Sheil, Frank J., Ward, Theodore, 1902-1983., Federal Theatre Project (Chicago, Ill.), Federal Theatre Project (Chicago, Ill.). Negro Unit., Federal Theatre Project (New York, N.Y.), Playhouse Settlement (Cleveland, Ohio), Richard J. Madden Play Service., Samuel French, Inc., and United States. Works Progress Administration.
Subject (Topic):
African American actors, African American theater, Dramatists, American, Literary agents, Theater, Production and direction, and Theatrical producers and directors
The citizens of Alexandria, Virginia, are ridiculed in this scene for their lack of serious resistance against the British seizure of the city in 1814. At left two frightened gentlemen kneel with hands folded, pleading, "Pray Mr. Bull don't be too hard with us -- You know we were always friendly, even in the time of our Embargo!" In the center stands a bull in English seaman's clothes, holding out a long list of "Terms of Capitulation" to the Alexandrians. He says, "I must have all your Flour -- All your Tobacco -- All your Provisions -- All your Ships -- All your Merchandize -- every thing except your Porter and Perry -- keep them out of my sight, I've had enough of them already." His allusion is to American Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry and Captain David Porter. At right, a soldier and sailor carry off spirits, saying: "Push on Jack, the yankeys are not all so Cowardly as these Fellows here -- let's make the best of our time." and "Huzza boys!!! More Rum more Tobacco!"
Description:
Title from item., The print may have been a companion piece to Charles's "John Bull and the Baltimoreans" (no. 1814-4). Both prints were deposited for copyright on October 21, 1814 at the Library of Congress. Cf. http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2002708985/., and Sheet trimmed within plate mark on left and top edges: 25.4 x 35.3 cm.
Publisher:
Pubd. and sold wholesale by Wm. Charles
Subject (Geographic):
Alexandria (Va.), United States, United States., Virginia, and Alexandria.
Subject (Name):
Porter, David, 1780-1843., Perry, Oliver Hazard, 1785-1819., Capture of Alexandria by the British (Virginia : 1814), and War of 1812.
Subject (Topic):
John Bull (Symbolic character), Animals in human situations, and History
Poster showing a convoy of Army trucks labeled "food" in a snowy landscape
Description:
Title from item., Date from Library of Congress copy., Text: "We must not only feed our soldiers at the front but the millions of women & children behind our lines" Gen. John J. Pershing., United States Food Administration., In margin lower left: No. 14., and This electronic record is derived from historic data and may not reflect our current information. Review and updating of records is ongoing.
Publisher:
United States Food Administration and The W.F. Powers Co. Litho, N.Y.
Subject (Geographic):
United States.
Subject (Name):
Pershing, John J. 1860-1948. (John Joseph),
Subject (Topic):
Food conservation, World War, 1914-1918, Food supply, Economic aspects, Soldiers, Convoys, and Trucks
Contemporary Japanese manuscript translation of a letter from American President Millard Fillmore to Japanese Emperor Komei, presented by Commodore Matthew C. Perry on July 14, 1853. The letter outlines President Fillmore's aims to open trade relations with Japan. The translation was likely produced between July 1853 and February 1854
Description:
Millard Fillmore (1800-1874), thirteenth president of the United States., Emperor Komei (1831-1867), 121st emperor of Japan., and In Japanese
Subject (Geographic):
Japan, United States., United States, and Japan.
Subject (Name):
Fillmore, Millard, 1800-1874., Kōmei, Emperor of Japan, 1831-1867., and Perry, Matthew Calbraith, 1794-1858.
Collection, in a single hand, of 61 letters from Henry Seymour-Conway to his brother, Lord Francis Seymour-Conway, in which he discusses military, political, and social news between 1744 and 1784. The collection contains discussion of his military service in the Netherlands in the 1740s, including a detailed description of battle against the French in a letter dated June 30, 1743; he also mentions his campaign in Germany during the Seven Years' War, including his altercation with Col. Beckwith, his irritation with a commission he has been given, and news of a peace treaty between Austria and Prussia. In 1744 he discusses the practicality of buying a regiment, asks his brother for help raising the money, and offers to sell his own South Sea stock. He writes several letters from Dublin Castle reporting on Irish politics, including some movements in the House of Lords regarding "papists." In England, he complains about prime minister George Grenville's uncivil and unjust treatment of him and defends his decision in the affair of the Britannic Legion and in the John Wilkes affair which led to his dismissal from court and military office in 1764. Conway also occasionally mentions American affairs, including one letter in 1766 which reports the repeal of the Stamp Act, and another in 1774 in which he expresses pleasure on hearing that violent measures in America had been rejected for the present. Numerous letters make reference to friends and family, including his wife Lady Ailesbury and Conway's close friend Horace Walpole, who offers financial assistance after Conway's dismissal; becomes ill in 1765; and visits Conway after Conway's retirement in 1784
Description:
Henry Seymour Conway (1719-1795) was an army general and politician. He fought in the War of the Austrian Succession; served in Ireland during the Jacobite Rebellion, and in Germany during the Seven Years' War. He was successively promoted to major general in 1756 and to lieutenant general in 1759. Sitting in the House of Commons from 1741 to 1774 and from 1775 to 1784, Conway became a leading member of the opposition, opposing the King's action against John Wilkes regarding general warrants in 1763. In 1765, he became secretary of state for the southern department in Lord Rockingham's ministry, where he promoted a policy of reconciliation towards the American colonies. He supported the repeal of the Stamp Act in 1766, and opposed the taxation policies of Chancellor of the Exchequer Charles Townshend. He criticized British prosecution of the war with the American colonies and played an important part in the House of Commons' resolution against continuing the war. In 1747, he married Caroline Bruce, countess of Ailesbury (1721-1803), and had one child, Anne Seymour Damer (1749-1828). His aunt Catherine was the wife of Sir Robert Walpole, and Conway maintained a lifelong friendship and correspondence with his cousin Horace Walpole., Francis Seymour-Conway, first marquess of Hertford (1718-1794) and older brother of Henry Seymour Conway, was a courtier and politician. He became a lord of the bedchamber in 1757 and was sworn to the privy council in 1763. He served as ambassador to France 1763-5, lord lieutenant of Ireland 1765-6, lord chamberlain 1766-1782 and again in 1783. He was also lord lieutenant of Warwickshire from 1757 until his death. From 1766-1782, he was a friend and confidant to George III. Hertford supported Lord North's administration and the war in America, in which three of his sons served, and voted against Shelburne's peace preliminaries in February 1783. He was also influential in Irish politics, owning extensive estates in County Antrim, and serving a term as lord lieutenant in 1765-6., In English., The manuscript is accompanied by typed transcription., Pasted into letter of Aug 22, 1744: printed and handwritten note about Cadivor ap Gwaethvord, Lord of Cardigan Iscoed., Laid in with letter of August 11, 1748: list of contents of manuscript., Laid in with letter of May 11, 1764: newspaper clipping from Gazetteer, dated May 9, 1764, concerning Conway's dismissal., Vol. 2 with original binding, now housed separately. Binding: half red morocco over marbled boards. Written on cover: The Conway Correspondence. Pasted inside front cover: bookplate with Order of the Garter. Laid in with the covers are a pencilled floor plan and a page from a journal listing the numbers of foot soldiers and naval ships and guns in Europe, North America, Africa, East and West Indies, and the Mediterranean., and Binding for volume 2 shelved separately. For further information, consult library staff.
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain., Great Britain, United States., Ireland, and United States
Subject (Name):
Conway, Henry Seymour, 1721-1795., Grenville, George, 1712-1770., Hertford, Francis Seymour-Conway, Marquess of, 1718-1794., Walpole, Horace, 1717-1797., Wilkes, John, 1725-1797., Great Britain. Parliament., and Ireland. Parliament.
Subject (Topic):
Military administration, Seven Years' War, 1756-1763, Stamp act, 1765, Court and courtiers, Foreign relations, Militia, Politics and government, and Social life and customs
The correspondence consists of letters between Brestovan and Stieglitz, focusing on her personal and romantic issues and on matters at his gallery, An American Place
Description:
Lidia Brestovan, teacher and writer.
Subject (Geographic):
United States.
Subject (Name):
Brestovan, Lidia. and Stieglitz, Alfred, 1864-1946.
The correspondence consists of letters between Brestovan and Stieglitz, focusing on her personal and romantic issues and on matters at his gallery, An American Place
Description:
Lidia Brestovan, teacher and writer.
Subject (Geographic):
United States.
Subject (Name):
Brestovan, Lidia. and Stieglitz, Alfred, 1864-1946.
The correspondence consists of letters between Brestovan and Stieglitz, focusing on her personal and romantic issues and on matters at his gallery, An American Place
Description:
Lidia Brestovan, teacher and writer.
Subject (Geographic):
United States.
Subject (Name):
Brestovan, Lidia. and Stieglitz, Alfred, 1864-1946.
