Booth Tarkington Collection 1892-1945

Access and use

Location of collection:
University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
University of Virginia
P.O. Box 400110
170 McCormick Rd
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Special Collections Public Services & Reference Staff
Phone: (434) 243-1776
Fax: (434) 924-4968
Restrictions:

Collection is open to research.

Terms of access:

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred citation:

Booth Tarkington Collection, Accession 7416-b, Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

Summary

Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Booth Tarkington Collection, Accession 7416-b, Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

Background

Scope and content:

[Tribute to Julian Street. ]

[Includes autograph corrections.]

[Includes printed advertisement for a short film entitled " Wayman AdamsPainting a Portrait."]

[Sends thanks of cast and crew of "Katherine" for telegram which was read to the cast before the curtain; writes that it inspired the cast; believes the performance of "Katherine" was more professional and scholarly than the other production of the [Princeton College Dramatic] Association; believes audience enjoyed it; states that [J. C. B.] Pendletonwill send an accounting of books sold in the lobby.]

[Includes typed copy; recommends Charles Fisk Daltonas a man of character and ability in literary matters.]

[Declines invitation to dinner; plans to take his wife to a dinner given by George Harveyin honor of H[enry] James; asks for forgiveness for delaying his response; writes that he is almost as irresponsible as Oliver Herford. ]

[Satirically prohibits further communication or access to box-office, yacht or club; describes grand dinner given by "Handsome Newt Tarkenheimer" for "Hon. Ed. Simmings"; gives examples of "Simmings'" restrained vocabulary because of the presence of young ladies.]

[States that he has sent manuscript of [ Of His Own People]; praises [Lawrence] Mazzanovitch's paintings; asks that Mac write him; comments favorably on Mark Lee Luther's latest novel; writes that he is working on a comedy drama with H. L. Wilson; requests that " Cord and Creese" and " The Dodge Club" be sent to him; hopes " A Castle in Spain" and " The American Baron" will be included in the DeMiller; urges commission be given to Mazzanovitch.]

[Gives permission to perform "Monsieur Beaucaire" for charity event, waiving his share of the fee although the estate of his collaborator, [Evelyn Greenleaf] Sutherland, will collect her share; states that the manuscript can be obtained from R. Cooper McGrueof Elizabeth Marbury's firm; explains that sets are simple and the number of characters may be cut, as the play has been performed with fifty under [Richard] Mansfieldand thirteen under [Crestor ?] Clark. ]

[Thanks him for the pictures, which are right for light comedy; believes those by Miss Green were too serious; states that he is finishing The Flirtwhich will begin in the Saturday Evening Poston December 1; writes that he received " Mark Twain" from [A. B.] Paineand finds it to be exceptionally well written.]

[Writes that he has no pictures of himself, but recommends reproducing the portrait by Wayman Adams; mentions that he is "spending the summer at the Doubleday-Pagebookshop in the Lord & Taylorstore on Fifth Avenue."]

[Apologizes; states that they will do it.]

[Regrets missing the seance; writes he has been busy rewriting a play; hopes to see him at Kennebunk Beachand learn what happened.]

[Says his association with Richard Harding Daviswas infrequent although it covered 15 years; feels every meeting made him "exhilarated and optimistic."]

[Signs N.B.T.; encloses the note suggested; requests proofs of serial; wishes to change the wording in ["Jinny's"] letter; fear it will give readers the wrong impression of "Anne."]

[Thanks him for note; says he will remember the [request for a submission to the Literary Review].]

[Declines request to review a book because of other commitments.]

[Expresses thanks for the "gadget"; describes meeting with a Bostondetective and an individual who suspect 2 summer visitors of his burglary as well as abducting Raymond Robbins; appreciates Brandt's bringing the portrait when he comes; hopes to identify the painter's style.]

[Regrets being unable to attend his class reunion at the Phillips Exeter Academy; writes that his ten year ordeal with vision problems has left him a "nervous invalid" whose "dancing days are over."]

[Regrets being unable to receive an honorary degree from Rollins Collegeand participating in its Animated Magazine; says that a nervous disorder makes it impossible for him to be among large groups; mentions happy memories of Archie Bradshawand Ethel Moorein Brooklynand Holt's in-laws, Berkley Smithand family.]

[Includes item from the Chicago Sunday Tribune, 1945 Jan 14; thanks him for copies of Magazine of Sigma Chimemorializing George Ade; praises the tribute to an exceptional man and suggests that it be "made into a book."]

[Comments on the difficulty of being objective about one's own work; states he rarely re-reads his books; finds it too painful; judges his best work to be the most recent, Kate Fennigatea year or so ago, Josephinenow, something else later.]

[Expresses familiarity with Tolstoy's Kingdom of God; hopes it encourages the idea that the Russian mind is open to world peace if we do not arm ourselves and force them to do the same; mentions a Tolstoy Society was formed by Quakers but is uncertain whether or not it still exists; encloses comments on peacetime conscription.]

[Signs N. B. Tarkington; accompanies a letter of introduction to S. Adamsof the advertising staff of McClureswho will know whom to contact at Harper's; suggests getting a letter from Riley to Century, from Major to MacMillan Publishing Co., and from Curtis of B. M. to Dodd, Mead, Scribner's, Appleton, etc.; hopes McClures will be satisfactory.]

[Invites her to Mrs. Fraser's dance; hopes many months of atonement have resulted in "absolution" and a positive reply.]

[Signed by Booth Tarkington. ]

[Signed.] (Mounted on red border)

Acquisition information:
Deposit [ 1963 Dec 17] 1966 May 16
Processing information:

Funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities

Physical location:
Physical description:
29 items