2017-04-14 Guide to the Virginia Harden Stewart Papers, 1903-1963 SPEC.RARE.CMS.0081 Finding aid prepared by Nicole Miller Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections
1858 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH, 43210
2017 July This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2017-10-27T16:40-0400 English Describing Archives: A Content Standard Virginia Harden Stewart Papers SPEC.RARE.CMS.0081 Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections 8.0 Cubic feet 1903-1963 Virginia Harden Stewart was a script writer for children’s audio recording, theatre and radio programs. Harden Stewart was also a theatrical makeup artist, director, and theatrical performer. The papers range 1903-1963, and contain scripts, scrapbooks, correspondence, notes, and ephemera. Included in these papers are the scripts and correspondence for the audio recordings of the James Thurber short stories “Many Moons”, and “The Great Quillow”. (7) boxes English Stewart, Virginia Harden Arrangement of Materials

This collection is arranged in two series; series one is further subdivided into seven subseries.

Series 1: Professional Activities Series 2: Personal Material

 Acquisitions Information

Unknown

 Preferred Citation

[identification of item], Virginia Harden Stewart Papers, SPEC.RARE.CMS.0081, Rare Books and Manuscripts Library, Ohio State University

 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Contains one audiocassette.

 Access to Materials

Materials in this collection are available for use, but may be used in the Thompson Library Special Collections reading room only. Audio/visual materials and computer media may need a use copy produced before access is allowed.

 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: Nicole Miller, 2017 July; Finding aid written by: Nicole Miller, 2017 July

 Biographical Note

Virginia Harden Stewart was born in Virginia. Harden Stewart attended William and Mary and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts. In 1929, she graduated with Honors from the Academy of Speech Arts in Boston. She founded the Virginia Harden Studio of Speech Arts in Norfolk, Virginia, in 1930. In 1935, Harden Stewart was one of the founders of the Norfolk Children’s Theatre, where she produced and directed productions. She participated in many community pageants performing recitations, along with carrying out production work such as applying makeup for cast members, and directing the pageants themselves. Harden Stewart wrote scripts for radio programs, plays, and children’s audio recordings. During World War II, she worked with the American Theatre Wing and the Special Services Division of the Army giving makeup demonstrations at hospitals and camps for soldiers. Harden Stewart was noted in 1946 as being the head of the makeup department at Eddie Senz Studio in New York.

 Scope and Contents

The Virginia Harden Stewart papers range 1903-1963, and are comprised of scripts, scrapbooks, correspondence, notes, and ephemera. Also included are newspaper clippings, photographs, and Harden Stewart’s research materials. Included in these papers is the script for the audio recording of the short story by James Thurber “Many Moons”, along with Harden Stewart’s correspondence with Thurber and an audio cassette tape containing a recording of the record. Also included are a script for Thurber’s “The Great Quillow”, along with correspondence regarding that script.

 Related Materials Many Moons The Great Quillow Stewart, Virginia Harden Thurber, James, 1894-1961 Children's audiobooks--History--20th century Children's theater--Virginia--Norfolk--20th century Community theater--Virginia--20th century Theater--United States--History--20th century Women dramatists--United States--20th century Professional Activities Series 1 1903-1951 Scope and Contents

This series contains seven subseries containing scripts, correspondence, and papers related to Harden Stewart’s professional life, ranging 1903-1951.

 Scripts Subseries 1.1 1942-1951 Scope and Contents

This subseries ranging from 1942-1951, contains scripts written by Virginia Harden Stewart, along with her drafts and notes for each script. Certain folders may also contain correspondence, notes, and copies of the original story that Harden Stewart’s scripts are based on. This subseries also includes the scripts, correspondence, and an audio cassette relating to the recording of James Thurber’s “Many Moons” and the scripts for Thurber’s “The Great Quillow”.

 "The Adventures of Midge and Mudge" 1 1 1951 April "The Adventures of Midge and Mudge" 1 2 1951 "The Adventures of Midge and Mudge" additional episodes 1 3 undated "The Adventures of Midge and Mudge: Seven at One Blow" 1 4 1945 "The Adventures of Midge and Mudge": synopses (working) 1 5 undated "The Adventures of Midge and Mudge: They Kill a Wild Boar" 1 6 undated "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves" 1 7 undated Beauty consultant scripts 1 8 undated "Bowleg Bill" 1 9 undated "Bowleg Bill" correspondence 1 10 1948-1951 "The Bremen Town Musicians" 1 11 undated "Buffalo Bill" 1 12 1948-1949 "Comedy Relief for Bird Songs" 1 13 undated "The Emperor's New Clothes" 1 14 1948-1950 "The Emperor's New Clothes" stage version songs 1 15 undated "Five Golden Wrens" 1 16 1947-1949 "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" 1 17 undated "The Great Quillow" 1 18 1948 "High Falutin Chirpers" 1 19 undated "High Falutin Chirpers" album cover 5 4 1948 "Many Moons" 1 20 1947 "Many Moons" ads and reviews 1 21 1948-1950 "Many Moons" audiocassette 2 1 undated "Many Moons" correspondence 2 2 1947-1949 "Many Moons" correspondence and reviews 2 2 1948-1949 Office of Civil Defense radio programs 2 4 1942 "Popeye" 2 5 1947 "The Silver Swan" 2 6 undated "Washable Jones and the Schmoos" 2 7 undated Theatre Subseries 1.2 1927-1950 Scope and Contents

This subseries contains papers related to Virginia Harden Stewart’s career in the theatre, including her experiences as a makeup artist, writer, and director, ranging 1927-1950.

 American Theatre Wing war services 2 8 1944-1950 "The Common Glory" 2 9 1947 Fontaine (Lynn) note 2 10 undated Hemphel (Frieda) note and theatre programs 2 11 1943-1946 "The Music of Kostelantz" program 2 12 1946 Playbill covers 5 3 undated Sarah Lawrence Wagon Theatre Group 2 13 1950 Scrapbook 7 1-5 1927-1947 Scope and Contents

Contains ephemera from throughout Harden Stewart’s school and professional life, concentrating on her life in the theatre.

 Senz (Eddie) correspondence 2 14 1947-1948 "The Twin Menaechmi" 2 15 1947-1948 Norfolk Children's Theatre Subseries 1.3 1930-1949 Scope and Contents

This subseries is comprised of photographs, programs, and a scrapbook focusing on the Norfolk Children’s Theatre, ranging 1930-1949.

 Clippings and notes 2 16 1945-1949 "Old Man Taterburg" correspondence 2 17 1939 Photographs and programs 2 18 1930-1941 Program 2 19 1935 Scrapbook 6 1 1935-1942 Virginia Harden Studio of Speech Arts Subseries 1.4 1930-1942 Scope and Contents

This subseries, ranging 1930-1942, contains papers related to the Virginia Harden Studio of speech arts, including programs and pamphlets.

 Annual recital program 2 20 1942 Pamphlets 2 21 1930-1931 Research Subseries 1.5 1903, 1930-1951 Scope and Contents

This subseries, ranging 1903 and 1930-1951, includes scrapbooks, clippings, and other papers related to research carried out by Harden Stewart over the course of her career. Topics range from costumes and scenery to children’s stories and a Hans Christian Andersen book dated 1903.

 Biblical stories scrapbook 5 1 undated Birds 2 22 1938-1950 Children's recordings 2 23 1948-1949 Children's stories 2 24 1934,1945-1948 Clippings: children's programs, radio 2 25 1947-1950 Clippings: children's recordings 3 1 1946-1950 Clippings: folklore 3 2 1947-1951 Clippings: radio and theatre production 3 3 1950-1951 Clippings: television 3 4 1944-1951 Correspondence regarding books 3 5 1947-1951 Costumes scrapbook 7 2 undated "Fairy Tales" by Hans Christian Andersen 7 2 1903 Passion Players for 1930 3 6 1930 Scenery/sets scrapbook 5 2 undated Stories scrapbook 5 1 5 2 undated Venice print 3 7 undated Dictation and Speech Subseries 1.6 undated Scope and Contents

This subseries contains Harden Stewart’s undated files of poems, scenes, and notes on phonetics.

 Impersonations 3 8 undated Phonetics 3 9 1951 Poems and scenes 3 10 undated Poems for voice 3 11 undated Scripts by Others Subseries 1.7 1905, 1934-1939 Scope and Contents

The subseries ranging 1905 and 1934-1939, contains scripts written by authors other than Virginia Harden Stewart. In some cases, they contain prompt notes from the productions of the plays.

 "Mary Poppins" dramatized by Sara Spencer 3 12 1934, 1939 "The Princess of the Blue Mountain" by Clarence Stratton 3 13 1936 "The Queen's Lost Dignity" by Alice Rostetter 3 14 undated "Robinhood" 3 15 undated "The Story of Epaminondas and his Auntie" by Sara Cone Bryant 3 16 1905 "The Swan" by Ferenc Molnar 3 17 undated "Tattercoats and the Black Prince" by Elizabeth McCormick 3 18 1935 Personal Materials Series 2 circa 1920s-1963 Scope and Contents

This series is comprised of undated photographs and negatives from throughout Harden Stewart’s life, along with an undated school paper and correspondence.

 Clippings 3 19 1936-1942 Correspondence 4 1 1933-1942 Correspondence 4 2 1943-1950 Negative 4 3 circa 1920s-1940s Negatives 4 4 circa 1920s-1940s Photographs 4 5 circa 1920s-1930s Photograph 4 6 1963 Photographs 5 5 undated Photographs- headshots 4 7 circa 1920s-1930s Photographs- headshot 4 8 circa 1940s-1950s School paper 4 9 before 1930