Guide to the Ann Preston Bridgers Papers, 1871-1967
[top]Descriptive Summary
TitleAnn Preston Bridgers Papers, 1871-1967
Creator
Bridgers, Ann Preston, 1891-1967
Extent
8.8 Linear Feet
3,100 Items
Repository
3,100 Items
Duke University Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library
Language
English.
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Administrative Information
Access RestrictionsCollection is open for research.
However, patrons must sign the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibility and Privacy Rights form before using this
collection.
Also, all or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. Consequently, there may be a 24-hour delay in obtaining these materials.
Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library to use this collection.
Use Restrictions
The status of the copyright interests in the papers is unknown. For further information, see the section on copyright in the Regulations and Procedures of the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], The Papers of Ann Preston Bridgers, Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke University.
Provenance
The papers of Ann Preston Bridgers (1891-1967) actress, playwright, and patron of the arts were acquired by the Manuscript Department through purchase in 1974.
Processing Information
Processed by: Janie C. Morris
Completed February 12, 1988
Encoded by Stephen Douglas Miller
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.
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Biographical Note
| 1891, May 1 | Born Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina |
| ca. 1908 | Attended Mary Baldwin Seminary, Staunton, Va. |
| 1915 | A.B., Smith College, Northampton, Mass. |
| 1919 | Member of the Smith College Unit of the YMCA that served overseas with the Rolling Canteen |
| 1923-1930 | Wrote weekly column, "Impressions Along Broadway" for the Raleigh News and Observer |
| ca. 1923 | Served as understudy to Lynn Fontaine in the play "Dulcy" while it was on tour |
| 1925 | Wrote first draft of play "Coquette" |
| 1926 | Acted in play on Broadway called "Broadway" |
| 1926 | Enrolled in English class at Columbia University |
| 1927 | Collaborated with George Abbott to bring Coquette starring Helen Hayes to Broadway |
| 1935-1936 | Instrumental in founding the Raleigh Little Theater under the auspices of the Federal Theatre Project of the Work Projects Administration |
| 1936 | Her play "Quicksand" was presented by the Raleigh Little Theater |
| 1936-1937 | Wrote column "The Theatre" for the Raleigh Times |
| 1937 | Her play Coquette was performed by the Raleigh Little Theater |
| 1938 | Her play "Carrie Was a Lady" was performed by the Raleigh Little Theatre |
| 1965-1966 | Member of the Raleigh Little Theater Board of Directors |
| 1967, May 3 | Died |
Collection Overview
The papers of Ann Preston Bridgers span the years 1871-1967, although the bulk of the material covers the period 1925-1963. Included in the collection are correspondence, manuscript drafts and notes, business items and programs related to the Raleigh Little Theatre, contracts, wills, newsclippings, and photographs.
Miss Bridgers' life is best documented in the correspondence. It is chiefly of a personal nature, between Miss Bridgers and her family, including her sisters Elizabeth (Bab) and Emily and to a lesser extent her brother Robert. Elizabeth was the wife of Jonathan Daniels, son of Josephus Daniels, and there are several letters from Jonathan to the Bridgers and references made to his parents. Later correspondence includes letters from Bab's daughter, Elizabeth and her husband Charles (Chick) B. Squire, in which they often critiqued each other's writings.
Elizabeth Lawrence, horticulturist and author of gardening works, is also represented extensively in the correspondence from the mid 1930's until about 1948. Other correspondents include George Abbott, whose correspondence dates primarily from 1962 to 1964, and various literary agents.
The Writings series comprises the bulk of the collection, and includes works by Miss Bridgers and other members of her family and friends. Coquette, the work for which she is best known is not represented in this series. There is, however, information regarding this play, which opened on Broadway in 1927, in the Correspondence, Legal and Financial Papers, Raleigh Little Theater, and Clippings series. Also included in this series are several drafts of
"Those Without Freedom,"
an unpublished novel about the South after the Civil War.
The National Union Catalog Pre-1956 Imprints lists two published works by Miss Bridgers: Coquette, where she is listed as the joint author, and an article in the Saturday Review of Literature in 1935 about Thomas Wolfe. Drafts and background material for this article are located in the Writings series. Other persons represented in the Writings series include: Emily and Robert R. Bridgers; Elizabeth (Daniels) Squire; and Elizabeth Lawrence.
The efforts of Miss Bridgers and others involved with the founding of the Raleigh Little Theater are reflected in the Correspondence and Raleigh Little Theater series.
In addition to legal papers relating to the play Coquette, the Legal and Financial Papers series also includes documents concerning the will and estate of Miss Bridgers' aunt, Emily Bridgers, receipts, and other miscellaneous financial data. Financial concerns of the family are also found in the Correspondence series.
The Clippings series contains reviews of the Broadway production of Coquette, as well as book reviews and newspaper columns by Miss Bridgers. The series also provides information about Miss Bridgers, other family members, and miscellany items.
Genealogical information about the Bridgers family, an engagement book Miss Bridgers kept while traveling in Europe (1961), and other items comprise the Miscellany series.
The Photographs series contains three albums of photographs. Some appear to be of theatrical productions; many are of unidentified persons. Loose photographs include those of Ann Preston Bridgers, George Abbott, Mr. and Mrs. Josephus Daniels, and Miss Bridgers' grandfather, Robert Rufus Bridgers.
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Subject Headings
These are searchable subject entries for this collection. Performing a search on these subjects in the Duke University Libraries online catalog will bring up other related research materials.
Online Catalog
- Bridgers Family.
- Bridgers, Ann Preston.--Coquette.
- Raleigh Little Theater (Raleigh, N.C.)
- Lawrence, Elizabeth, 1904-1985.
- Abbott, George, 1889-
- Daniels, Jonathan, 1902-
- Authors, American.
- Theater--North Carolina.
- Federal Theater Project (U.S.)
- 1. Bridgers Family
- 2. Bridgers, Ann Preston. Coquette
- 3. Raleigh Little Theater (Raleigh, N.C.)
- 4. Lawrence, Elizabeth, 1904-1985
- 5. Abbott, George, 1889-
- 6. Daniels, Jonathan
- 7. Authors--American--Papers of
- 8. Theater--North Carolina
- 9. Federal Theater Project (U.S.)
- 1. Bridgers, Ann Preston
- 2. Abbott, George
- 3. Daniels, Josephus
Detailed Description of Collection
Box 1Information Folder
Correspondence, 1894-1967 and undated
1887-1929
(7 folders)
Box 2
1930-1939
(8 folders)
Box 3
1940-1945
(6 folders)
Box 4
1946-1957
(8 folders)
Box 5
1958-1966 and undated
(8 folders)
Box 6
Writings
Ann P. Bridgers
"Alice and the Duchess-Swing It"
or
"Pig and Peppers"
Misc. Notes and Mss.
"Carrie Was a Lady,"
Misc. Notes and Mss. of Version entitled
"Once A Virgin"
"Carrie Was a Lady"
Mss. of Play, Version 1
"Carrie Was a Lady"
Mss. of Play, Version 2
"Carrie Was a Lady"
Mss. of Play, Version 3
"David and King Saul"
Misc. Notes and Mss. of Play
(4 folders)
"David and King Saul"
Mss. of Play
Box 7
"Henrietta"
Opera, Mss. and Pages Which were cut
"Henrietta"
Opera, Mss.
"Henrietta"
Opera, Mss. First Copy
"It's Not Always Easy"
Play, Mss. of Version entitled
"It Isn't Always Easy"
"It's Not Always Easy"
Mss. of Play
"Lindsay Harper"
Notes and Mss. of Play
"Lindsay Harper"
Mss. of Play
"Mark of Murder"
Misc. Notes and Mss.
"Mrs. John Emerson"
Version Entitled
"Quicksand"
"Mrs. John Emerson"
Version Entitled
"Mrs. John Latimer"
Box 8
"Mrs. John Emerson"
Mss. of Play, Version 1
"Mrs. John Emerson"
Mss. of Play, Version 2
"New York 1918"
Mss. of Play, Version 1
"New York 1918"
Mss. of Play, Version 2
"New York 1918"
Mss. of Play, Version 3
"November 8, 1942"
Misc. Notes and Radio Script, 1943
"A Play About America Today, the Particular Scene Being the South"
Version Entitled
"Break This Heavy Chain"
"A Play About America Today, the Particular Scene Being the South"
Mss. With Notes 1940
"A Play About America Today, the Particular Scene Being the South"
Mss. 1940
"Possess These Shores"
Mss. of Play, Version 1
"Possess These Shores"
Mss. of Play, Version 2
"Possess These Shores"
Mss. of Play, Version 3
Box 9
"The Same House"
"Shanty Boat,"
"The Theatre"
Background Material, Drawings and Notes
"The Theatre"
Incl. Dance
"This Beautiful Structure"
Version Entitled
"Calhoun"
"This Beautiful Structure"
Long Version
"This Beautiful Structure"
Short Version
(2 folders)
"This Beautiful Structure"
Edited Version
(2 folders)
Box 10
"This Throne of Kings"
Working Notes
"This Throne of Kings"
Misc. Notes and Mss.
(5 folders)
"This Throne of Kings"
Mss. of Play
Box 11
"Those Without Freedom"
Misc. Notes and Mss., Version 1,
(5 folders)
"Those Without Freedom"
Misc. Notes and Mss., Version 2,
(4 folders)
Box 12
"Those Without Freedom"
Misc. Notes and Mss., Version 2,
(3 folders)
"Those Without Freedom"
Version 1, Chapters 1-17
(5 folders)
"Those Without Freedom"
Version 1, Edited Pages
Box 13
"Those Without Freedom"
Version 2, Chapters 1-17
(5 folders)
"Those Without Freedom"
Version 3, Chapters 1-17
(4 folders)
"Those Without Freedom"
Notes
"Those Without Freedom"
Mss. of Play
"Those Without Freedom"
Omitted Last Chapters
Box 14
"Tine"
Mss. of Play, Edited Version 1
(3 folders)
"Tine"
Mss. of Play, Edited Version 2
"Tine"
Mss. of Play
"When I Love Thee Not"
Mss. and Notes, Version 1
"When I Love Thee Not"
Mss., Version 2
"When I Love Thee Not"
Mss. and Notes, Version 3
"Who Help Themselves"
Mss. Fragment
"Who Treads the Boards"
Box 15
Wolfe, Thomas - Background Material for Published Magazine Article
"Thomas Wolfe"
and the Article
Misc. Mss.
(2 folders)
Misc. Notes and Mss.
(2 folders)
Unidentified
(2 folders)
Box 16
Writings of Others
Bridgers, Emily N.
Misc.
Bridgers, Robert R.
"Driftwood"
"Easter"
"The Golden Rods"
Misc. Notes and Mss. Version 1
"The Golden Rods"
Mss. Version 2
"Ogeechee Swamp"
Notes and Mss. Version 1
(3 folders)
Box 17
"Ogeechee Swamp"
Mss. Version 2
(3 folders)
"Ogeechee Swamp"
Mss. of Play by Katherine Simons from the Story by Robert R. Bridgers
"Old Man Gooch"
Misc. Notes and Mss.
"Yellow Gal"
Mss.
Untitled Mss., 1938
Lawrence, Elizabeth L.
Articles on Gardening
Misc.
Squire, Elizabeth B. Daniels
"Carolina--Two Families"
The Feud; The Castle
"Rhoda"
Box 18
"A Touch of Meanness"
Misc. Notes and Mss.
"A Touch of Meanness"
Mss.
Mss. Title Unidentified
(3 folders)
Unidentified Notes and Mss.
(2 folders)
Box 19
Unidentified Notes and Mss.
(2 folders)
Misc. Notes and Mss.
(3 folders)
Willis, Winifred
"Byron"
Unidentified Authors
Box 20
Raleigh Little Theater
General, 1936-1966 and undated
(2 folders)
Programs, 1936-1966
(2 folders)
Clippings, 1936-1965 and undated
Legal and Financial Papers
Coquette,
1926-1933
Emily Bridgers Estate, 1924-1944
Miscellany, 1913-1959 and undated Clippings
Clippings
Book Reviews, 1925-1937
Coquette,
1927-1965 and undated
(3 folders)
Box 21
"Impressions Along Broadway,"
1923-1930 and undated
(4 folders)
"The Theatre,"
1936-1937 and undated
Miscellany, 1925-1966 and undated
Miscellany, 1871-1961 and undated
Photographs
Albums
Box 22
Albums
(2 folders)
Miscellany
