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University of Texas at Austin

Arnold Wesker:

A Preliminary Inventory of Additions to His Papers in the Manuscript Collection at the Harry Ransom Center

Creator: Wesker, Arnold, 1932-2016
Title: Additions to the Arnold Wesker Papers
Dates: 1958-2012
Extent: 28 boxes, 1 oversize box (13.52 linear feet), 39,935 electronic files (155 GB)
Abstract: These additions to the papers of British playwright Arnold Wesker complements and expands the accessions already received at the Ransom Center. Although they do not contain new works, the papers do provide some important drafts of existing plays, as well as additional material in virtually every subject category. These additions also include a number of electronic files.
Call Number: Manuscript Collection MS-04470
Language: English
Access: Open for research. Researchers must create an online Research Account and agree to the Materials Use Policy before using archival materials. To request access to electronic files, please email Reference. Part or all of this collection is housed off-site and may require up to three business days' notice for access in the Ransom Center's Reading and Viewing Room. Please contact the Center before requesting this material: reference@hrc.utexas.edu
Restrictions on Use: Certain restrictions apply to the use of electronic files. Researchers must agree to the Materials Use Policy for Electronic Files before accessing them. Original computer disks and forensic disk images are restricted. Copying electronic files, including screenshots and printouts, is not permitted.

Digitized sound recordings are available for this collection. Click here to explore.

Administrative Information


Acquisition: Purchase, 2000, 2016 (R14620.2, R14620.3, 16-03-004-P)
Processed by: Liz Murray, 2004 Born digital materials processed, arranged, and described by Chance Adams and Brenna Edwards, 2015-2023.
Repository:

Harry Ransom Center, The University of Texas at Austin

Scope and Contents


These additions to the papers of British playwright Arnold Wesker complements and expands the accessions already received at the Ransom Center. Although they do not contain new works, the papers do provide some important drafts of existing plays, as well as additional material in virtually every subject category. So too, the date span includes a sixty year period from the onset of Wesker's professional career to 2012.
Following the arrangement of the previous preliminary inventory, this material is organized in five series: Series I. Works and Related Material, 1960-2012; Series II. Career Related; Series III. Correspondence, 1966-2006; Series IV. Personal; and Series V. Works of Others.
Series I. Works and Related Material contains manuscript and associated material for produced and unproduced works, primarily stage plays. Of particular interest is the original handwritten manuscript and first corrected draft for Chips with Everything, as well as additional drafts of Shylock. Some material for film and television is also included; however, no titles beyond 1995 are present.
The Career Related series consists of Subseries A. Events, Subseries B. Organizations, Subseries C. Univesrity Teaching, and Subseries D. Early Writings and Journalism. The events in Subseries A. include addresses, lectures, readings, speeches, radio presentations, tributes, conferences, and festivals from 1958-1997. Organizations are represented in Subseries B., especially correspondence and related material for Centre 42 and Roundhouse from 1960-1968. Subseries C. contains materials related to Wesker's time at Denison University in Granville, Ohio from 1995-1996. Subseries D. provides additional writings and journalism in the form of articles, essays, contributions to other works, letters to the editor, poetry, reviews, and short stories from 1958-1998.
The correspondence in Series III. dates from 1966-2006 and includes general correspondence, as well as letters from individuals such as Brenda Bruce, Francesca Pollard, Connie Ricono, and Walt-Christopher Stickney.
Series IV. Personal contains articles about Wesker, biographical information, daily calendars, family and financial papers, and interviews, as well as theses, dissertations, and research projects on Wesker's plays.
The works of others in Series V. consist of plays sent to Wesker for his comment, as well as other works of well-known writers such as Doris Lessing. Also present are various writings of Wesker's brother-in-law, Ralph Saltiel.
The collection is in good physical condition with the exception of several items which have incurred mold damage.

Separated Material


Books and sound recordings received with this accession have been transferred to appropriate departments with in the Ransom Center.

Folder List