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Collection Data
- Description
- The John Van Druten papers consist of diaries, correspondence, writings, scrapbooks and ephemera documenting his life and career. The papers span the years 1901-1957 and give excellent insight into Van Druten's creative processes. Missing from the collection are scripts of his most well-known works. There are however, scripts for some plays including AWAKENING, CHANCE ACQUAINTAINCE, DANCING IN THE CHECKERED SHADE, THE RETURN HALF and SOLITAIRE. The papers also include many other literary forms: essays, parodies and poetry all written by Van Druten.
- Names
- Van Druten, John, 1901-1957 (Creator)
- Brooke, Jocelyn (Contributor)
- Evans, Maurice, 1901-1989 (Contributor)
- Hassall, Christopher, 1912-1963 (Contributor)
- Huxley, Aldous, 1894-1963 (Contributor)
- Irwin, Margaret, d. 1967 (Contributor)
- Lawrence, Gertrude (Contributor)
- Nesbitt, Cathleen, 1888-1982 (Contributor)
- Priestley, J. B. (John Boynton), 1894-1984 (Contributor)
- Robson, Flora, 1902-1984 (Contributor)
- Rodgers, Richard, 1902-1979 (Contributor)
- Savoir, Alfred, 1883-1934 (Contributor)
- Sullavan, Margaret, 1909-1960 (Contributor)
- Thorndike, Sybil, Dame, 1882-1976 (Contributor)
- Dates / Origin
- Date Created: 1901 - 1957
- Library locations
- Billy Rose Theatre Division
- Shelf locator: *T-Mss 1958-002
- Topics
- dramatists
- Parodies
- Theater -- United States
- Genres
- Diaries
- scrapbooks
- Scripts
- Notes
- Content: 2 linear feet (8 boxes)
- Content: 3 linear feet (3 boxes, 12 vols.)
- Biographical/historical: John Van Druten was born in London, England in 1901. Son of Eve and Wilhemus Van Druten, he demonstrated at a very early age his talent and love of writing. He first piece, written at the age of seven was a three page play about Mary, Queen of Scots. Because his father believed writing to be an unreliable career, Van Druten studied law and qualified as a solicitor of the Supreme Court Judicature in 1923. Not wanting to practice law he became a lecturer of legal history at the University College of Wales in Aberystwyth.
Van Druten continued his writing and realized his real talent in 1925 with the completion and production of his play, Young Woodley. This marked the end of his teaching career and the beginning of his career as a writer and playwright. Thoughout his career as a playwright it was apparent that Van Druten's forte was comedy plays about everyday life. Many of his plays focus on women and their relationships with men. Among his best known works are: I Am a Camera, based on The Berlin Stories by Christopher Isherwood; The Voice of the Turtle; Bell, Book and Candle; There's Always Juliet; I've Got Sixpence and I Remember Mama. As a director he was acclaimed for his direction of the Broadway production of The King and I.
Van Druten emigrated to the United States and became a citizen in 1944. Most of his creative time was spent writing at his ranch in California, although the New York theater scene was the locale of his greatest successes and triumphs. Van Druten fell ill with heart problems in 1956 from which he never fully recovered. He died in 1957.
- Content: The John Van Druten Papers consist of diaries, correspondence, personal papers, ephemera, scrapbooks and writings documenting his life and career. The papers span the years 1901-1957. Photographs were separated and included in B photo files and autographed photograph collection. (See separation sheet). The papers give an excellent insight into Van Druten's creative processes and include much information on his intellectual interests. Missing from the collection are scripts of his most well-known works, rather the collection includes many other literary forms including essays, parodies and poetry.
- Type of Resource
- Text
- Identifiers
- Other local Identifier: *T-Mss 1958-002
- NYPL catalog ID (B-number): b11904005
- MSS Unit ID: 21311
- Universal Unique Identifier (UUID): 7cd1b300-cc7d-013e-c2d1-0242ac110002
