University of Texas at Austin

William Winter:

An Inventory of His Papers at the Harry Ransom Center

Creator: Winter, William, 1836-1917
Title: William Winter Papers
Dates: 1852-1921 (bulk 1876-1916)
Extent: 4 document boxes (1.68 linear feet)
Abstract: The William Winter papers include Winter’s incoming and outgoing correspondence, manuscripts of works, clippings, photographs and prints, and other printed materials concerning Winter. A few manuscripts by and concerning others are present, most notably those of Winter’s son, Jefferson Winter.
Call Number: Performing Arts Collection PA-00099
Language: English
Access: Open for research. Researchers must create an online Research Account and agree to the Materials Use Policy before using archival materials.
Use Policies: Ransom Center collections may contain material with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in the collections without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the Ransom Center and The University of Texas at Austin assume no responsibility.
Restrictions on Use: Authorization for publication is given on behalf of the University of Texas as the owner of the collection and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder which must be obtained by the researcher. For more information please see the Ransom Center's Open Access and Use Policies.


Administrative Information


Acquisition: Gift, 1958, acquired as part of the Messmore Kendall Collection
Processed by: Joan Sibley, 2001; Daniela Lozano, 2017
Repository:

Harry Ransom Center, The University of Texas at Austin

Biographical Sketch


William Winter (1836-1917) was theater critic for the New York Tribune from 1865 to 1909, wrote biographies of the Jeffersons, Belasco, Booth, Irving, and Ada Rehan, and published volumes of poems and reminiscences.

Scope and Contents


The William Winter papers include Winter’s incoming and outgoing correspondence, manuscripts of works, clippings, photographs and prints, and other printed materials concerning Winter. A few manuscripts by and concerning others are present, most notably those of Winter’s son, Jefferson Winter. The papers are arranged in three series: I. Correspondence, 1857-1917, undated; II. Works and Other Papers, 1852-1917, undated; and III. Works and Papers of Others, 1870-1921, undated.
Series I. Correspondence is divided into two subseries: A. Incoming, 1858-1917, undated; and B. Outgoing, 1857-1916. Winter’s correspondence consists largely of letters received from a number of theater and literary people concerning reviews, performances, business and social engagements. Correspondents include Viola Allen, Mary Anderson, Wilson Barrett, Edwin Booth, Charles Coghan, Augustin Daly, Minnie Maddern Fiske, John Forbes-Robertson, Daniel Frohman, Sir John Hare, Henry Irving, Lillie Langtry, Julia Marlowe, Tyrone Power, Ada Rehan, Ellen Terry, and Lester Wallack, among others. A slight amount of outgoing correspondence by Winter is also present, most of it addressed to J. B. Clapp.
Series II. Works and Other Papers is divided into two subseries: A. Works, 1852-1898, undated; and B. Other Papers, 1885-1917, undated. The Winter manuscripts present in the first subseries are poems and theatrical writings, most of which are holograph drafts and fragmentary in nature. Subseries B consists of clippings of notices of several actresses, mostly likely of reviews written by Winter. A photograph, some prints, obituaries, and a program for a testimonial to Winter in 1916 complete the Winter materials in this subseries.
Series III. Works and Papers of Others contains works by others, some of which Winter either edited or had plans to work on. Winter’s son Jefferson published a testimonial to actor Frank Worthing in 1911, and manuscripts and correspondence document his efforts. Present are letters to Jefferson Winter from several figures who included their reminiscences of Worthing: Viola Allen, Blanche Bates, Acton Davies, Louis V. DeFoe, Julia Marlowe, Hale McAllister, Henry Miller, S. Morris Pentland, Tyrone Power, Augustus Thomas, and Frank Worthing.

Related Material


Additional papers from William Winter can be found in the Theater Arts Manuscripts collection, and over twenty books formerly belonging to Winter can be found in the Ransom Center’s Theater Arts Library.
A large collection of Winters’ papers can be found at the Folger Library in Washington, D.C.

Container List