2019-07-17 Guide to the Samuel Beckett Collection, 1955-2009 SPEC.RARE.0282 Finding aid prepared by Karen Glenn Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections

1858 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH, 43210

2019 July This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2019-08-14T14:35-0400 English Describing Archives: A Content Standard Samuel Beckett Collection SPEC.RARE.0282 Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections 1.2 Cubic feet 1955-2009 Samuel Beckett was an Irish playwright, novelist, poet, and theatre director whose works were influenced heavily by modernist theory and were associated with the Theatre of the Absurd movement during the 1950s-1960s. Beckett moved to Paris in the late 1920s to teach at the École Normale Supérieure, eventually becoming a permanent resident of France. The Samuel Beckett Collection contains materials related to Samuel Beckett and his work, such as promotional materials for his plays, a typescript for Happy Days, clippings, posters and other material for exhibits on his life or in celebration of his work, a Waiting for Godot program signed by Robin Williams, and an award received by an actor for a performance in Beckett. Most of the collection is in English, with the remaining in French and Dutch. (3) oversize folders; (1) flat box; (1) 2.5" letter document box English, French, and Dutch Ohio State University. Libraries. Rare Books and Manuscripts Library. Arrangement of Materials

Materials in the collection are arranged chronologically, with one undated item listed at the end.

Acquisitions Information

Purchased, 1996 December; Purchases, 2003 August; Purchased, 2009 May; Purchased, 2009 May; Purchased, 2009 June; Purchased, 2013 August

Preferred Citation

[identification of item], Samuel Beckett Collection, SPEC.RARE.0282, Rare Books and Manuscripts Library, Ohio State University

Access to Materials

Materials in this collection are available for use, but may be used in the Thompson Library Special Collections reading room only.

Use of Materials

Materials in this collection may be protected by copyright, and are made available for research and educational purposes. In general, the OSU Libraries do not own the copyright for materials from our collections and cannot grant copyright permissions for these materials. The user is responsible for making a final determination of copyright status. If copyright protection applies, permission must be obtained from the copyright holder to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exceptions to the law. Works in the public domain are not protected by copyright and do not require permission to use.

Processing Information

Processed by: Elizabeth Hubbard, Beth Crowner, 2019 June; Finding aid written by: Elizabeth Hubbard, Beth Crowner, 2019 June

Biographical Note

Samuel Beckett (1906-1989) was an Irish playwright, novelist, poet, and theatre director whose works were influenced heavily by modernist theory and were associated with the Theatre of the Absurd movement during the 1950s-1960s. Beckett moved to Paris in the late 1920s to teach at the École Normale Supérieure, eventually becoming a permanent resident of France. He is known for writing the play Waiting for Godot, first performed in 1953. Other plays of Beckett’s include Endgame in 1957, which was originally written in French as Fin de Partie, and two plays written in English: Krapp’s Last Tape and Happy Days. Watt was his second novel, published in English in 1953.

Scope and Contents

The Samuel Becket Collection contains materials related to Samuel Beckett and his work, such as promotional materials for his plays, a photographic print of Beckett with the cast of Was Wo, a typescript for Happy Days, newspaper clippings, posters and other material for exhibits on his life or in celebration of his work, a Waiting for Godot program signed by Robin Williams, and a Village Voices Off-Broadway Obie Award received by Jack MacGowran in Beckett. Most of the collection is in English, with the remaining in French and Dutch.

Related Materials SPEC.RARE.0124 Samuel Beckett Papers Beckett, Samuel, 1906-1989. En attendant Godot. English Beckett, Samuel, 1906-1989. Happy days. Beckett, Samuel, 1906-1989 Authors, French--Exhibitions--20th century Authors, French--Exhibitions--21st century Authors, Irish--Exhibitions--20th century Authors, Irish--Exhibitions--21st century Dramatists, French--20th century Dramatists, Irish--20th century English drama--Irish authors--20th century French drama--20th century Novelists, French Novelists, Irish Posters Criterion Theatre Waiting for Godot program 1 1 1955 September 12 "Samuel Beckett Irlandais de Paris Etonne Londres" in Arts Spectacles 2 7 1957 April 10-16 The Samuel Beckett Theatre fundraising brochure 1 2 circa 1968 Village Voices Off-Broadway Obie Award, Jack MacGowran in Beckett 2 1 1970-1971 Portrait of Samuel Beckett 2 2 1976 Happy Days typescript used by Irene Worth 1 3 circa 1979 Beckett Trilogy, American Premiere poster 1 circa 1985 "Samuel Beckett at 80: A Celebration" program 1 4 1986 April 12 John Calder (Publisher) Ltd., "Samuel Beckett at 80" poster 2 3 circa 1986 National Portrait Gallery "In Close-Up: Samuel Beckett" exhibit poster 2 1987 December 11-1988 May 1 Poltroon Press sample typeface poster with Beckett quote 2 4 1988 February Waiting for Godot Lincoln Center program 1 5 1988 October "Stirrings Still" in Review Guardian 2 5 1989 March 3 "When the Nobel Laureate Samuel Beckett" in Summer Book Supplement 2 6 1990 May 24 Samuel Beckett Festival promotional materials 1 6 1992 April Becket with cast of "Was Wo," circa 1985 photographic print 1 9 circa 2003 "Beckett at 100" poster 3 circa 2006 Centre Pomidou Samuel Beckett exhibit program 1 7 2007 March 14-June 25 Tarik O'Regan: on text excerpts from "Westward Ho" in Chanticler: An Orchestra of Voices program 1 8 2009 March "Samuel Beckett editions de minuit" poster 2 8 undated