Contents and Arrangement Collection View
Scope and Contents

The collection consists of manuscripts of the three radio plays in, and the introduction to The Free Company Presents . . ., compiled by James Boyd (Princeton Class of 1910). Two versions of Boyd's introduction give the background of this group of authors and actors who presented American propaganda plays over CBS radio in the spring of 1941. A copy of Boyd's "One More Free Man" (final title) and a mimeograph copy of Orson Welles's "His Honor, the Mayor" (annotated, probably by Boyd) exist in the collection. The third play, "Above Suspicion," is ascribed to Sherwood Anderson, although the play was not completed at his death. Anderson's idea was developed by the company, and the play was presented in tribute to him.

Collection Creator Biography:

Boyd, James, 1888-1944

In 1940, American novelist James Boyd (Princeton Class of 1910) organized the Free Company of Players, a group of American writers that produced a series of original radio plays in response to what they saw as antidemocratic attitudes prevalent in America due to the growing war in Europe.

Acquisition:

Gift of James Boyd '1941. AM 12239.

Appraisal

No appraisal information is available.

Processing Information

Folder Inventory added by Hilde Creager '15 in 2013.

Conditions Governing Access

Open for research/

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. For instances beyond Fair Use, 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:

"The Free Company Presents . . ." Collection; Manuscripts Division, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library

Permanent URL:
http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/ht24wj48w
Location:
Firestone Library
One Washington Road
Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
(609) 258-3184
Storage Note:
  • ReCAP (scarcpxm): Box 1
Existence and Location of Copies

Published under same title (New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1941)

Subject Terms:
Radio in propaganda.
World War, 1939-1945 -- Propaganda.
Genre Terms:
Radio plays -- United States.