Robert and Wilva Breen papers

Access and use

Location of collection:
George Mason University
2400 Fenwick Library
Special Collections Research Center
Fenwick Library MS2FL
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA 22030
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Mieko Palazzo
Phone: (703) 993-2220
Fax: (703) 993-2669
Restrictions:

Box 35, Folder 12; Box 36, Folder 1; and Box 70, Folder 18 are restricted due to their physical fragility.

Box 89, Folder 8 and 9 are restricted due to personally identifiable information.

There are no other access restrictions.

Terms of access:

The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/).

Preferred citation:

Robert and Wilva Breen papers, C0004, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

Summary

Extent:
80.5 Linear Feet 207 boxes, 1 map case
Creator:
Breen, Robert and Breen, Wilva
Abstract:
The Robert and Wilva Breen papers consists of correspondence, memoranda, newsclippings, photographs, notebooks, and audiovisual materials largely related to the creation and running of the American National Theater and Academy (ANTA), as well as Robert and Wilva Breen's long-term involvement with the organization. The bulk of the collection originates from 1933 - 2000s, with an outlier date of 1834 from an antique newspaper.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Robert and Wilva Breen papers, C0004, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

Background

Scope and content:

The Robert and Wilva Breen papers consists of correspondence, memoranda, newsclippings, photographs, notebooks, and audiovisual materials largely related to the creation and running of the American National Theater and Academy (ANTA), as well as Robert and Wilva Breen's long-term involvement with the organization from 1944 through the 1950s. The collection also contains many photographs of theaters and theatrical performances from across the United States, including from Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters and shows, as well as numerous colleges, universities, high schools, and local children's theaters. The bulk of the collection originates from the 1940s - 2000s, with an outlier date of 1834 from an antique newspaper.

Biographical / historical:

Robert Breen, born December 26, 1909 in Hibbing, Minnesota, served as the Executive Secretary of the American National Theatre and Academy (ANTA) from 1946-1952, and was instrumental in much of the organization's success, both domestically and internationally. In addition to serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps, Breen had an extensive background in theater. Prior to joining ANTA, Breen founded a theater program at the College of St. Thomas in Saint Paul, Minnesota, as well as established the Chicago unit for the Works Progress Administration's Federal Theatre Project with his wife, Wilva Davis Breen. Wilva herself was instrumental in promoting and guiding ANTA's many and varied operations, and getting the organization off the ground. The Breens' apartment home - situated above the Hudson Theatre in New York City, NY - served as ANTA's early headquarters. Davis Breen served as Breen's constant support and collaborator until he passed away on March 31, 1990.

The American National Theatre and Academy (ANTA) was the United States' first national theater and dance organization, in the tradition of European national theaters. Originating in 1935 with a charter from the U.S. Congress, ANTA continued until 1966 when the National Endowment for the Arts came into being. ANTA was responsible for both the presentation of American theater in the U.S. and abroad.

Although officially formed in 1935, ANTA did not begin actual operation until 1946 due to a variety of factors, including the Great Depression and World War II. During the depression, federal funding was funnelled towards the Works Progress Administration's Federal Theatre Project, another national performing arts program. In addition to these setbacks, the ANTA board, comprised of prominent citizens and business leaders from outside the theater community, could not agree on the goals of ANTA. Eventually, Robert Breen and Robert Porterfield, two men with Army and theater backgrounds, took the reins of ANTA and initiated its revitalization. Porterfield and Breen developed ANTA's "Foundation Plan," with the intention of having ANTA become the foundation for and driving force behind the stimulation of growth of American theater. The plan, successfully undertaken by Breen, Porterfield, and Breen's wife Wilva Davis Breen, called for a National Foundation to make loans and grants, insure theater projects against loss, as well as a National Service Bureau to provide technical assistance for acting companies, as well as a national clearing house for theater information. The plan was adopted by the ANTA Board in 1946.

Under the guidance of Breen, ANTA produced several projects in the U.S. with successful results during the postwar years. From 1946 - 1948, ANTA sponsored a series of plays called the Experimental Theatre. Its goal was to "present new, interesting plays which would not see production on Broadway due to present high costs." Admittedly, the plays were "not necessarily perfect" but "worthy of a trial production in a simplified fashion" according to an ANTA letter offering subscription to the series, which included high profile playwrights and actors. During the late 1940s and early 1950s ANTA sponsored a number of drama festivals across the U.S., featuring well-known actors. ANTA also featured a televised production of short plays for NBC television. With the intention of promoting theater growth in the U.S. and showcasing new talent, ANTA produced, supported, and promoted theater projects all across the United States.

Internationally, ANTA promoted artistic exchange between the U.S. and Europe, and entertained American troops there. This was initiated with a 1949 tour of William Shakespeare's "Hamlet" throughout Europe, produced by and starring Breen in the titular role. This tour famously culminated in a performance at Elsinore Castle in Denmark - the actual setting of the play. Perhaps ANTA's, as well as Breen's, greatest success came with the international tour of George Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess" (produced with Blevins Davis), which toured from 1952-1956, visiting 89 cities and 29 countries. The opera's performance in the Soviet Union was considered the first cultural exchange post-World War II between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. ANTA also sponsored the American National Ballet Theatre's tour of Europe in 1950, performing in eighteen cities and eight countries. The tour lasted from August to December of 1950 and played to an audience of over 150,000, and was the first international tour of any American ballet company.

ANTA also produced a number of Broadway plays and musicals out of the formerly named Guild Hall Theatre, renamed the ANTA Theatre in the 1960s and 1970s. ANTA West, which grew out of the Greater Los Angeles Chapter of ANTA in 1957, promoted and facilitated the growth of theater in the Southern California region.

Acquisition information:
This collection was donated by the trustees of the Robert and Wilva Breen papers in 1988, and Wilva Breen and The Ohio State University in 1989. There were multiple accessions of materials throughout the 1990s. Additional materials were donated by Diana Lawrence and Mike Timoney in 2011.
Custodial history:

Part of the Robert and Wilva Breen papers was donated to The Ohio State University.

Processing information:

Processed by Special Collections Research Center Staff. EAD markup completed in February 2009 by Jordan Patty. Reprocessed by Amanda Brent from 2017-2018. EAD markup completed by Amanda Brent in December 2018.

Arrangement:

The collection was originally arranged by subject and then topic. Additional accessions were added and arranged in the order they arrived in Special Collections Research Center.

Physical / technical requirements:

The Special Collections Research Center does not have the equipment necessary to play obsolete audiovisual material found in the found in the Robert and Wilva Breen papers. Additional time and money may be required to digitize this material for access.

Physical location:
R2, C9, S3- C11, S7 R3 C1 S1 - C2, S5 OSR3, C4, S4 Map Case 8.1-8.2, 9.1
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard