Summary
Overview
Tarkington, Booth, 1869-1946.
Booth Tarkington Papers, 1812-1956
1812-1956 (mostly 1899-1946)
122.50 cubic feet, 207 boxes, 56 flat cases, 10 cartons, 3 customized boxes, 2 packages
Princeton University. Library. Dept. of Rare Books and Special Collections
Manuscripts Division
One Washington Road
Princeton, New Jersey 08544 USA
Abstract
Consists of extensive writings -- novels, plays, short stories, articles, film scenarious, radio scripts -- and correspondence of "The Gentleman from Indiana" Booth Tarkington, noted American author and winner of the Pulitzer Prize.
Description
Description
The collection consists of the writings and correspondence of Tarkington (Princeton Class of 1893), one of the most prolific authors of his time. Nearly all of his manuscripts, many in autograph form--from his childhood diaries, through the illustrated stories of his college years, to his posthumously published novel--are preserved in the collection, including his Pulitzer Prize-winning Alice Adams and The Magnificent Ambersons, his best known work Penrod, and numerous magazine serials, short stories, plays, film scenarios, radio scripts, poems, and articles. Non-literary activities represented include Tarkington's work for the Seeing Eye, Inc., a foundation for the blind, and his war work in World War II. Illustrations, photographs, memorabilia, documents, and printed material round out the extensive collection.
Collection Creator
Biography
Booth Tarkington (1869–1946), native of Indianapolis and student at Purdue and Princeton universities (Princeton Class of 1893), was perhaps Indiana's most famous author, both as a playwright and as novelist. His best-known works were written in the first decades of the twentieth century: The Gentleman from Indiana (1899), Penrod (1910), Seventeen (1917), The Magnificent Ambersons (1918), and Alice Adams (1921). The last two won Pulitzer Prizes. In his work he showed an appreciation of the development of his native city, and an amiable understanding of the real and imagined problems of young people. He was an early member of The Dramatic Club, founded in 1889, and often wrote plays and directed and acted in its productions.
Collection History
Acquisition
Gift of Miss Elizabeth Trotter, John T. Jameson, Donald O.B. Jameson, Booth T. Jameson, ,Miss C.E. Murray, Joseph D. Dudley, Mr. and Mrs. Burton Currie, Mrs. James B. Wyman, Mildred G. Burrage, Mrs. Lewis Booker, Bruce Willsie, Betty K. Davis, T.T. Newbold, Thomas H. Creden, and Mr. and Mrs. David Lawrence Chambers. 3 photographs purchased from David Holmes
Custodial History
The collection was formed as a result of a departmental practice of combining into one collection manuscript material of various accessions relating to a particular author.
Access and Use
Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research use.
Use Restrictions
Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. No further photoduplication of copies of material in the collection can be made when Princeton University Library does not own the original. Permission to publish material from the collection must be requested from the Associate University Librarian for Rare Books and Special Collections. The library has no information on the status of literary rights in the collection and researchers are responsible for determining any questions of copyright.
Preferred Citation
Booth Tarkington Papers, 1812-1956; 1812-1956 (mostly 1899-1946), Manuscripts Division, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton University Library.
Princeton University Library Finding Aids 
View Entire Finding Aid
Download Finding Aid