George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center
George B. Dowell papers
Dowell, George Brendan, 1909-1997
C0219
/repositories/2/resources/337
1.5 Linear Feet
3 boxes
1931-1986
This collection contains personal papers donated by George B. Dowell and includes playscripts, programs, photographs, correspondence, and publications relating mostly to theatre activities with the Federal Theatre Project, Smith College, and Vassar College.
English
Access Restrictions
There are no access restrictions.
Use Restrictions
The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)
Preferred Citation note
George B. Dowell papers, C0219, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.
Acquisition Information
Donated by George B. Dowell in May 1987.
Processing Information
Processing and EAD markup completed in November 2012 by Greta Kuriger Suiter.
Biographical Information
George Brendan Dowell was born in New York City on December 15, 1909. He spent his life working in the theatre and academic institutions. In 1933 he received a certificate in playwriting from Yale University. In 1939 the Federal Theatre Project produced a play Dowell wrote entitled "The God Innis". Dowell met Hallie Flanagan while working with the Federal Theatre Project and continued to work with her throughout his career. He served with the Army in World War II from 1941 to 1943. In 1946 he graduated from New York University and received a doctorate from Columbia University Teachers College in 1949. He worked at Smith College from 1949 to 1955, first as a Visiting Lecturer of Theatre and then as an Assistant Professor of Theatre from 1950 to 1955. Dowell and Flanagan worked together on the play "Heritage" in commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of Smith College in 1950. After teaching at Smith he went on to work at Skidmore College (1954-1956), Vassar College (1957-1961), and Goucher College (1962-1975). His work at Vassar College revolved around their Centennial Celebration in 1961. At Goucher College he was instrumental in developing the drama program and held the position of Associate Professor of Speech and Drama. He died of cancer in Towson, Maryland in January of 1997.
Scope and Content
This collection contains personal papers donated by George B. Dowell and includes playscripts, programs, photographs, correspondence, and publications relating mostly to theatre activities with the Federal Theatre Project, Smith College, and Vassar College.
Related Material
The Works Progress Administration oral histories collection, the Federal Theatre Project collection, the Federal Theatre Project photograph collection, as well as numerous other personal papers.
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Theater -- United States
New Deal, 1933-1939
Universities and colleges
Flanagan, Hallie, 1890-1969
Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)
George B. Dowell papers/repositories/2/archival_objects/859221931-1986American Theatre: A panorama of theatrical activity from the 16th to the 20th century/repositories/2/archival_objects/85923197011Scope and ContentDraft with handwritten notes by Hallie Flanagan.
Article for the Alumnae Quarterly on Hallie Flanagan Davis/repositories/2/archival_objects/85924June 7, 195512Can You Hear Their Voices by Hallie Flanagan/repositories/2/archival_objects/85925193113Correspondence/repositories/2/archival_objects/859261932-198714Scope and ContentPertains to play writing in general.
Correspondence - Dowell and Flanagan/repositories/2/archival_objects/859271949-196115Scope and ContentIncludes two photographs of George Dowell and Hallie Flanagan at the 1961 Vassar Centennial.
Course packets for Dramatic Arts 221 and 230 at Goucher College/repositories/2/archival_objects/85928undated16Covenant program with notes by Hallie Flanagan/repositories/2/archival_objects/85929circa 195417Covenant published play/repositories/2/archival_objects/85930June 195518Fear/repositories/2/archival_objects/85931193419Scope and ContentScript adapted from the publication Fear by A. Afinogenov. Written by Hallie Flanagan for the Vassar Experimental Theatre.
Federal Theatre Project/repositories/2/archival_objects/85932circa 1936-1939110Scope and Content7 photographs of the Helen Tamjris Dance Unit performance of Hecuba and Cassandra.
Federal Theatre Project,
/repositories/2/archival_objects/859331937-1938111Scope and ContentTwo letters to Dowell regarding The God Innis; typewritten account of visiting Federal Theatre productions in Seattle - "Seattle Saga - Battling in the Western Wilderness", letter to Flanagan.
Grinnell College/repositories/2/archival_objects/859341959112Scope and ContentBrochure for Grinnell College and receipt for contribution gift in memory of Murray Flanagan.
Haiti program/repositories/2/archival_objects/85935March - September 1938113Hallie Flanagan bookplate; What Was Federal Theatre pamphlet/repositories/2/archival_objects/85936circa 1939114Heritage/repositories/2/archival_objects/859371950115Scope and ContentTwo published copies; note from Hallie Flanagan to George Dowell.
Heritage and Smith College related typewritten notes/repositories/2/archival_objects/85938circa 1949-1950116Heritage script/repositories/2/archival_objects/85939March 1950117In Defense of Genius script/repositories/2/archival_objects/859401939-1940118The Island volume 1 number 1/repositories/2/archival_objects/85941June 15, 1931119Middle of the Air directed by Hallie Flanagan, script/repositories/2/archival_objects/859421945120Miscellaneous/repositories/2/archival_objects/859431944-circa 1980s121Scope and ContentRoosevelt newspaper advertisements; menu for The Lambs restaurant; organization chart for Teatro Colon (Spanish); Emlyn Williams as Charles Dickens poster; American tour of players summer tour of Britain itinerary; Holiday card from Julia Thorn Kuhl to Dowell.
New Masses/repositories/2/archival_objects/859441929; 193121Scope and ContentThree issues: May 1929; March 1931; May 1931.
New Theatre/repositories/2/archival_objects/85945December 1935; August 193622Newspaper clippings/repositories/2/archival_objects/859461949-198623One-Third of a Nation script/repositories/2/archival_objects/85947circa 1938-1940s24Programs from Vassar College, Smith College, Yale University, and Goucher College/repositories/2/archival_objects/859481931-196625Publications/repositories/2/archival_objects/859491943-198626Scope and ContentThe Dream and the Deed: Seattle's official centennial play by Glenn Hughes; American Art Today: New York World's Fair published by National Art Society (catalogue); And There Were Voices: An Abraham Lincoln play in three acts by Robert Knipe; The Living Theatre Repertory 1959-60; Theatre U.S.A.: A catalog of books and plays forming a history of the American theatre from circa 1750 to the present.; Yale Drama, alumni newsletter.
Smith department of theatre newsletter; Smith Alumnae Quarterly/repositories/2/archival_objects/859501948-1949; Summer 195527Smith department of theatre poster for The Way of the World/repositories/2/archival_objects/85951undated3Teaching materials and programs/repositories/2/archival_objects/859521933-1950s28Scope and ContentOne program from 1933, mostly 1950s teaching and conference materials from Smith College and New England.
The Second Fourteen - script by student with handwritten notes by Hallie Flanagan/repositories/2/archival_objects/85953undated29Theatre Arts Monthly/repositories/2/archival_objects/85954January 1935210Vassar College Centennial/repositories/2/archival_objects/859551959-1961211Vassar newsletter; Alumnae Magazine/repositories/2/archival_objects/85956June 1959-December 1965212