- Collection Overview
- Collection Description & Creator Information
- Access & Use
- Collection History
- Find Related Materials
Expanded View
Collection Overview
- Creator:
- Tarkington, Booth (1869-1946)
- Title:
- Booth Tarkington Papers, 1812-1956
- Repository:
- Manuscripts Division
- Permanent URL:
- http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/4q77fr37m
- Dates:
- 1812-1956 (mostly 1899-1946)
- Size:
- 281 boxes and 131.9 linear feet
- Storage Note:
- Firestone Library (scamss): Boxes 1-166; 168-279; custom; 221A
- Language:
- English
Abstract
Consists of extensive writings -- novels, plays, short stories, articles, film scenarios, radio scripts -- and correspondence of "The Gentleman from Indiana" Booth Tarkington, noted American author and winner of the Pulitzer Prize.
Collection Description & Creator Information
- Scope and Contents
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.
There is no Box 167 in the numerical sequence.
- Collection Creator Biography:
Tarkington, Booth
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.
- Appraisal
No appraisal information is available.
- Processing Information
In 2022, restrictions on original material where researchers were required to use a surrogate were lifted as part of a restrictions review project.
Access & Use
- Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research use.
- Conditions Governing Use
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. Inquiries regarding publishing material from the collection should be directed to RBSC Public Services staff through the Ask Us! form. The library has no information on the status of literary rights in the collection and researchers are responsible for determining any questions of copyright.
- 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:
Booth Tarkington Papers, 1812-1956; Manuscripts Division, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library
- Permanent URL:
- http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/4q77fr37m
- Location:
-
Firestone LibraryOne Washington RoadPrinceton, NJ 08544, USA
- Storage Note:
- Firestone Library (scamss): Boxes 1-166; 168-279; custom; 221A
Find More
- Subject Terms:
- American drama -- 20th century.
American fiction -- 19th century.
American fiction -- 20th century.
Dramatists, American -- 20th century.
Novelists, American -- 20th century.
Radio scripts -- United States.
Short stories, American -- 20th century.
World War, 1939-1945 -- Propaganda.
World War, 1939-1945 -- War work -- United States. - Genre Terms:
- American diaries -- 20th century.
Drawings -- 19th century
Fiction -- 20th century.
Manuscripts (for publication). - Names:
- College of New Jersey (Princeton, N.J.). Class of 1893.
Seeing Eye, Inc.
Trotter, Elizabeth Stanley
