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- © Harry Ransom Center 2025
Edith Evans, 1888-1976
A Preliminary Inventory of her Papers at the Harry Ransom Center
Creator: | Evans, Edith, 1888-1976 | |
Title: | Edith Evans Papers | |
Dates: | 1893-1976 (bulk 1912-1956) | |
Extent: | 21 document boxes, 1 oversize box, 10 bound volumes (11.00 linear feet) | |
Abstract: | The archives of the English actress Dame Edith Evans include letters from her husband, Guy Booth, and from Margot Asquith, Enid Bagnold, Noel Coward, John Gielgud, Katharine Hepburn, George Moore, Terence Rattigan, George Bernard Shaw, Edith Sitwell, Ellen Terry, Sybil Thorndike, and Thornton Wilder. The balance of the collection contains clippings, programs, autograph drafts of replies and working notes, scrapbooks of press cuttings, and presentation and acting copies of books and filmscripts. | |
Call Number: | Performing Arts Collection PA-0127 | |
Language: | English | |
Note: | This brief collection description is a preliminary inventory. The collection is not fully processed or cataloged; no biographical sketch, descriptions of series, or indexes are available in this inventory. |
Access: | Open for research |
Administrative Information
Acquisition: | Purchase, 1980 (R8980) | |
Processed by: | Helen Adair, 2001-2002 |
Repository: |
Scope and Contents
One of the finest actresses of her time, Edith Evans began her career as a milliner in London before making her first stage appearance as an amateur under William Poel's direction. Subsequently she toured with Ellen Terry as a professional actress. She joined the Old Vic Company for the 1925-26 season where her roles included Portia, Rosalind, Beatrice, and the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet. Outstanding parts in her distinguished stage and film career were in The Way of the World (1924), The Chalk Garden (1964), and The Whisperers (1967); she portrayed her most famous role, Lady Bracknell in Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest, on stage in 1939 and on film in 1952. In 1946 she was made D.B.E. Evans gave her last stage performance at the age of 85 in a one-woman show at the Haymarket, "Edith Evans ... and Friends." | ||
The bulk of the Edith Evans Papers consists of correspondence, clippings, scrapbooks, and performance-related materials such as rehearsal copies of playscripts. The papers are arranged in three series: I. Correspondence, 1910-1976 (5.5 boxes), II. Theater Papers, 1899-1976 (15 boxes, 10 bound volumes), and III. Miscellaneous, 1893-1976 (1.5 boxes). Within each series, materials are arranged alphabetically by title or subject, with some materials further sorted chronologically. | ||
The Correspondence series consists of incoming correspondence from Evan's husband, Guy Booth, her parents, and from Margot Asquith, Enid Bagnold, Noel Coward, John Gielgud, Katharine Hepburn, George Moore, Terence Rattigan, George Bernard Shaw, Edith Sitwell, Ellen Terry, Sybil Thorndike, and Thornton Wilder, among others. Also included is an index of correspondents, perhaps compiled by Evans' biographer Bryan Forbes. | ||
The Theater Papers series is divided into four subseries. Subseries A. Performance Texts and Works, 1937-1973, contains marked rehearsal copies, presentation copies, and typescripts for stage and film projects, poems, radio broadcasts, and works by Evans. The Publicity Materials subseries, 1899-1976, consists chiefly of photographs, programs, clippings, and scrapbooks of press cuttings. Nearly all of these materials pertain to performances by Evans. Item-level descriptions of the newspaper and magazine clippings are available in the Theatre Arts card catalog, and separate item-level lists of the newspaper clippings and the assorted poems and play excerpts are also available. Subseries C. Administrative and Financial Records, 1920-1971, includes weekly financial summaries for The Chalk Garden and The Millionairess as well as contracts and lists of tour dates and production personnel for other productions. The Sponsorship of Others subseries, 1952-1968, contains materials related to Evans' charitable activities, nearly all of which supported theater professionals. | ||
The Miscellaneous Series, 1893-1976, includes papers of the Evans and Booth families, Evans' honorary degrees, and other materials collected by Evans. Although the material in this series is not directly related to Evans' work as an actor, much of it is of a theatrical nature, e.g., theater programs for performances attended by Evans. |
Related Material
The Ransom Center also holds Henry Hurford Janes' Collection of Edith Evans. |
Separated Material
One film strip was transferred to the Film Collection in 2006. |
Container List
Series I. Correspondence, 1910-1976
-
Index of letters Container 1.1 Request entire Container 1 -
Chronological files -
1910-1919 Container 1.2 -
1920-1929 Container 1.3 -
1930-1939 Container 1.4 -
1940-1944 Container 1.5 Request entire Container 1 -
1945-1949 Container 2.1 -
1950-1952 Container 2.2 -
1953 Container 2.3 -
1954 Container 2.4 Request entire Container 2 -
1955-1959 Container 3.1 -
1960-1965 Container 3.2 -
1966-1969 Container 3.3 -
1970-1972 Container 3.4 Request entire Container 3 -
1973-1974 Container 4.1 -
1975-1976 Container 4.2 Request entire Container 4 -
Subject files -
Bagnold, Enid Container 4.3 -
Beaumont, Hugh Container 4.4 Request entire Container 4 -
Booth, George Container 5.1-3 -
Coward, Noel Container 5.4 -
Evans, Edward, 1936 Container 5.5 -
Evans, Edward and Caroline, 1930-1935 Container 5.6 Request entire Container 5 -
Fry, Christopher Container 6.1 -
Gielgud, John Container 6.2 -
Gordon, Ruth Container 6.3 -
Moore, George Container 6.4 -
Olivier, Laurence Container 6.5 -
Shaw, George Bernard Container 6.6 -
Terry, Ellen Container 6.7 -
Thorndyke, Sybil, and Lewis Casson Container 6.8 -
Wilson, Judith Container 6.9 Request entire Container 6
Series II. Theater Papers, 1899-1976
-
Subseries A. Performance Texts and Works, 1937-1973 -
Berkeley, Reginald. Woman Power. Rehearsal copy, undated Container 6.10 -
Davidson, Eric. Max. Rehearsal copy, undated Container 6.11 Request entire Container 6 -
Evans, Edith -
Calling South Africa, "The First Night of Macbeth in London." Typescript, 1942 Container 6.12 -
Home Service, "Calling All Women" and "A Homely Christmas: A Talk by Edith Evans." Typescripts with corrections, 1940 Container 6.13 -
The Long View, "No. 44 The Responsibility of the Actor." Typescript with corrections, 1954 Container 6.14 -
Overseas North America Transmission, "Democracy Marches." Typescripts, one with corrections, 1940 Container 6.15 Request entire Container 6 -
Farjeon, Herbert. Diversion,, "Prologue," "The Hop- Picker," and "The Hop-Picker Returns." Typescripts, some with corrections and annotations, circa 1940 Container 7.1 -
Fleming, Tom."So That Was Spring . . .": First Poems in Scots and English. Typescript, undated Container 7.2 -
Hodge, Merton. My Life in the Theatre , "No. 2 Edith Evans." Rehearsal copies, 1941 Container 7.3 -
Lenthall, Ben, after Edith Sitwell. English Eccentrics and Eccentricities, "No. 1 Charles Waterton." Typescript, undated Container 7.4 -
Mérimée, Prosper. The Coach. Rehearsal copy, undated Container 7.5 -
Murdoch, Helen, and Ethel McCracken. Alan and the King's Daughter. Typescript with annotations, circa 1969 Container 7.6 -
Nichols, Wallace. Madame Letizia. Typescript, undated Container 7.7 -
Rasky, Harold. Upon This Road: The Drama of the Building of Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome. Presentation copy, 1969 Container 7.8 -
Shaw, George Bernard. "He Calls Her Unscrupulous." Typescript with annotations, undated Container 7.9 -
Wilder, Thornton. The Merchant of Yonkers. Presentation copy, 1938 Container 7.10 -
Williamson, Hugh Ross. Queen Elizabeth (author's note). Typescript, 1946 Container 7.11 Request entire Container 7 -
Unidentified authors -
"Careless Talk." Typescript, undated Container 7.12 Request entire Container 7 -
Journey's End in Lovers' Meeting . . . Will Shakespeare. Typescript, undated Container 8.1 -
Monteverdi in the Golden Age. Typescript with annotations, 1967 Container 8.2 -
"Oh Madam." Typescript, undated Container 8.3 -
"Please, Captain Eversleigh." Typescript, undated Container 8.4 -
St. John Ervine: A Programme for His 80th Birthday. Typescript, 1963 Container 8.5 -
With Great Pleasure. Rehearsal copy, undated Container 8.6 -
Woman of Action. Typescript, 1973 Container 8.7 -
Unprocessed--see catalog cards 6.1.22-6.1.82 Container 8.8-12 Request entire Container 8 -
Miscellaneous -
Assorted poems and excerpts from plays. Typescripts, some with annotations, 1937-1964, undated -
A-I Container 8.13 Request entire Container 8 -
L-Y Container 9.1 Request entire Container 9 -
Interviews (live) -
With Gilbert Harding. Typescript with annotations, (1948) Container 9.2 -
With Gerry Wilmot. Typescript, undated Container 9.3 -
Mayfair (London), advertisement for television program hosted by Richard Dimbleby. Rehearsal copies, 1955 Container 9.4 -
The Midsummer Banquet, reply to the Lord Mayor's toast. Typescript with corrections, 1970 Container 9.5 -
Shakespeare, radio (?) program. Typescript fragments, 1937 (?) Container 9.6 Request entire Container 9 -
Subseries B. Publicity Materials, 1899-1976 -
Photographs -
Personal photograph, undated Container 9.7 -
Production photographs, with order list, undated Container 9.8 Request entire Container 9 -
Programs, leaflets, fliers, brochures, and souvenir menus -
Fully staged productions, A-Z, 1912-19(71), undated Container 9.9 -
Recitals and other dramatic performances, 1932-1973, undated (*oversize materials removed to box 22) Container 9.10* -
Speeches and nontheatrical appearances, 1952-1968 Container 9.11 -
Composite "program" for the Phoenix Theatre pasted into a greeting card, 1965 Container 9.12 -
Russian theater programs, 1948 Container 9.13 Request entire Container 9 -
Clippings -
From newspapers -
1912-1924 Container 9.14-24 Request entire Container 9 -
1925-1927 Container 10.1-67 Request entire Container 10 -
1927-1933 Container 11.1-84 Request entire Container 11 -
1933 Container 12.1-73 Request entire Container 12 -
1933-1934 Container 13.1-86 Request entire Container 13 -
1934-1935 Container 14.1-84 Request entire Container 14 -
1935-1936 Container 15.1-79 Request entire Container 15 -
1936-1937 Container 16.1-79 Request entire Container 16 -
1937-1976 Container 17.1-47 Request entire Container 17 -
From magazines -
1919-1927 Container 17.48-71 Request entire Container 17 -
1927-1935 Container 18.1-64 Request entire Container 18 -
1935-1970 Container 19.1-76 Request entire Container 19 -
Scrapbooks -
Evans' press cuttings -
1922-1925 Container bv 1 Request entire Container bv 1 -
1929 Container bv 2 Request entire Container bv 2 -
1929-1931 Container bv 3 Request entire Container bv 3 -
1931-1932 Container bv 4 Request entire Container bv 4 -
1932 Container bv 5 Request entire Container bv 5 -
1948-1954 Container bv 6 Request entire Container bv 6 -
1954-1956 Container bv 7 Request entire Container bv 7 -
Clippings from The Play Pictorial -
1899-1907 (with two souvenir programs) Container bv 8 Request entire Container bv 8 -
1902-1905 Container bv 9 Request entire Container bv 9 -
London programs, 1927-1929 Container bv 10 Request entire Container bv 10 -
Miscellaneous -
Articles about Edith Evans -
Re trip to Russia, typescripts with corrections and annotations, 1948 Container 20.1 -
Other articles, typescripts with corrections, circa 1948-circa 1960 Container 20.2 -
Celebrity Bulletin, 1950 Container 20.3 -
Gordine, Dora, exhibition catalog of works by, 1938 Container 20.4 -
Newspapers in London, list of addresses, undated Container 20.5 -
"This I Believe," guest lists, undated Container 20.6 -
Who's Who in the Theatre, galley proof, undated Container 20.7 Request entire Container 20 -
Subseries C. Administrative and Financial Records, 1920-1971 -
B.B.C., contracts and entry pass, 1941-1949 Container 20.8 -
The Chalk Garden (stage production), daily returns and weekly financial summaries, 1956 Container 20.9 -
The Chalk Garden (film), Box Office Blue Ribbon Award, 1964 Container 20.10 -
Daphne Laureola, list of theaters and dates for tour, (1950?) Container 20.11 -
Dear Antoine, list of actors and understudies, (1971) Container 20.12 -
E.N.S.A., lists of payments, 1974-1945 Container 20.13 -
A Garden of Cucumbers, contract, 1966 Container 20.14 -
Journal of expenses, 1965 Container 20.15 -
The Last Days of Dolwyn, list of production personnel, 1948 Container 20.16 -
The Millionairess, weekly financial summaries, 1940 Container 20.17 -
Old Acquaintance, list of theaters and dates for tour, 1942 Container 20.18 -
Screen Actors Guild, membership card and receipt, 1966 Container 20.19 -
Tennent Plays Ltd. and Tennent Productions Ltd., report, 1950 Container 20.20 -
Unused standard contracts, 1920-1952 Container 20.21 -
Wardrobe trunk list and assorted papers, 1950-1955, undated Container 20.22 -
Waters of the Moon, check stubs, 1952-1953 Container 20.23 -
West Coast Motion Picture, list of clients, 1970 Container 20.24 Request entire Container 20 -
Subseries D. Sponsorship of Others, 1952-1968 -
Ellen Terry Fellowship, minutes, 1954 Container 20.25 -
James Bridie Memorial Fund, leaflet, 1952 Container 20.26 -
King George's Pension Fund for Actors and Actresses, schedule for royal visit, 1955 Container 20.27 Request entire Container 20 -
Shakespeare Theatre Trust, certificate, 1968 Container 22 Request entire Container 22 -
Stewart Headlam Shakespeare Association, executive committee report, prize-winning essay, and fliers, 1955, undated Container 20.28 -
Third Foundation for Women in the University of Cambridge, leaflets, 1954 Container 20.29 -
William Poel Centenary Committee, program and fliers, budgets and accounts, and minutes, 1952 Container 20.30 -
Winston Churchill 80th Birthday Presentation Fund, flier, [1954] Container 20.31 Request entire Container 20
Series III. Miscellaneous, 1893-1976
-
Books belonging to Edith Evans, list of, undated Container 20.32 -
Dinner parties, souvenir menus and seating charts for, 1945-1969 Container 20.33 -
Evans/Booth/Foster families, legal documents, 1893-1963 (*oversize materials removed to box 22) Container 20.34* -
Funerals and religious services, programs for, 1948-1973 Container 20.35 -
Honorary degrees, programs and assorted papers, 1950-1968 (*oversize materials removed to box 22) Container 20.36* Request entire Container 20 -
Personal -
George Booth, assorted papers, 1925 Container 20.37 Request entire Container 20 -
Edith Evans, assorted papers, 1934-1976, undated Container 21.1 Request entire Container 21 -
Sheet music, 1927-1960 Container 22 Request entire Container 22 -
Theater programs and fliers, 1951-1973, undated Container 21.2 Request entire Container 21 -
Theatrical organizations -
Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, financial statement and annual audits, 1953-1954 Container 21.3 -
Other organizations, brochures, leaflets, and fliers, undated Container 21.4 Request entire Container 21