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Collection Overview

Creator:
Fehon, Charles
Title:
Charles E. Fehon Papers
Repository:
Princeton University Archives
Permanent URL:
http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/s7526c496
Dates:
circa 1947-1950
Size:
5 boxes
Storage Note:
  • Mudd Manuscript Library (scamudd): Box 1-5
Language:
English

Abstract

Consists primarily of original artwork created by Charles E. Fehon, Princeton Class of 1950, during the process of designing sets and costumes for Princeton theater groups including Theatre Intime, University Players, and the Triangle Club.

Collection Description & Creator Information

Scope and Contents

The Charles E. Fehon Papers consist primarily of original artwork created by Fehon during the process of designing sets and costumes for Princeton theater groups including Theatre Intime, University Players, and the Triangle Club. It also contains a small amount of scripts and notes related to his theatrical design work.

Arrangement

The Charles E. Fehon Papers are organized by form and, when known, the theatrical group for which the work was created.

Collection Creator Biography:

Fehon, Charles

Charles Edward Fehon, Jr. was born in East Orange, New Jersey on Dec. 5, 1928 to Maria Anna Cristina Deines and Charles Edward Fehon (1899-1981), a bank teller. He grew up in Caldwell, New Jersey, where he graduated in 1946 from Grover Cleveland High School.

Fehon entered Princeton as student in architecture, although he also took many courses in art. In the Spring of his Junior year, he requested and was granted a transfer with no loss in standing to the department of Art and Archaeology. An administrator noted of his switch from architecture to art, "Has been considering a long time. Parents opposed." He graduated with high honors in art and archaeology in 1950. The other members of the Princeton class of 1950 elected him "Most Original," "Most Likely Bachelor," and runner-up for "Greatest Woman Hater."

At Princeton, Fehon was well known and in demand for his designs for theatrical costumes and sets. A 1949 Triangle publication noted that "'Setting by Charles Fehon' has become a watchword in Princeton theatrical circles during the last two years." Fehon was the Stage Designer for Theatre Intime during his sophomore, junior and senior years; a 1948 article in the Daily Princetonian noted that Fehon had designed all Intime sets for the previous two years. He also designed for the University Players, a summer group that included both Theatre Intime members and professional actors, for three seasons from 1948-1950. A 1950 brochure for the University Players noted that Fehon also served as costume director when needed, and constructed sets and acted "bit parts" in his "spare time".

During his Junior and Senior years, Fehon did stage design for Triangle Club shows. His artwork for the 1949 show "Come Across!" was featured in a January 1950 exhibit on the Trianngle Club in Firestone library. The Summer 1950 issue of the Nassau Sovereign included an article titled "The Sovereign Congratulates: Charles E. Fehon '50, Hell and Triptychs in Murray-Dodge," which the Daily Princetonian described as "the story of one of Princeton's most talented undergraduates who has achieved no small renown for novel set and costume designing."

In his senior yearbook entry, Fehon's future prospects were listed as "a stage designer or historian." However, he does not appear to have followed either of these paths. He continued to design for the University Players through 1954. From 1954-1056, Fehon pursued graduate studies in fine art at Harvard, where he earned a Master of Arts degree in 1955. In 1960, he reported that he was employed as a bank branch manager in Boston. Around 1965, he left banking to become a salesman at Jordan Marsh & Company, a Boston department store. Fehon died in the Boston area on November 5, 1988. He left no known next of kin.

Collection History

Custodial History

The materials in this collection were previously part of the Theater Collections maintained in Firestone Library. Eight scketches in Box 3 were previously cataloged as TC017, Charles Fehon set designs, 1949-1954. That collection was transferred to Mudd Manuscript Library as accession number AR.2011.017 in April 2011.

Appraisal

Appraisal has been conducted in accordance with Mudd Library guidelines.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Christie Peterson in March 2011. Finding aid written by Christie Peterson in March 2011 and amended in April 2011.

Access & Use

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. The Trustees of Princeton University hold copyright to all materials generated by Princeton University employees in the course of their work. For instances beyond Fair Use, if copyright is held by Princeton University, researchers do not need to obtain permission, complete any forms, or receive a letter to move forward with use of materials from the Princeton University Archives.

For instances beyond Fair Use where the copyright is not held by the University, while permission from the Library is not required, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.

Credit this material:

Charles E. Fehon Papers; Princeton University Archives, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library

Permanent URL:
http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/s7526c496
Location:
Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library
Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library
65 Olden Street
Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
(609) 258-6345
Storage Note:
  • Mudd Manuscript Library (scamudd): Box 1-5