Guide to the Charles White and Ruth White Papers, 1939 December 31-1982 SPEC.TRI.0123 Finding aid prepared by Casey Blackmore Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections
1858 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH, 43210
2025 December This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2026-01-15T12:54-0500 English Describing Archives: A Content Standard Charles White and Ruth White Papers SPEC.TRI.0123 Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections 0.89 Cubic feet 1939 December 31-1982 The Charles White and Ruth White Papers include scripts, correspondence, and photographs belonging to sibling actors Charles and Ruth White. Material is dated 1939 December 31 to 1982. (2) flat boxes; (1) 5" letter document box English White, Charles, 1917-2005 White, Ruth, 1914-1969 Arrangement of Materials

Material is arranged into two series:

Series 1: Charles White Series 2: Ruth White

Acquisitions Information

Accession No.TRI.2025.0054: Purchase, 2019 June

 Preferred Citation

[identification of item], Charles White and Ruth White Papers, SPEC.TRI.0123, Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute, 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: Casey Blackmore, 2025 December; Finding aid written by: Casey Blackmore, 2025 December.

 Biographical Note

Charles White (1917-2005) was born and raised in Perth Amboy, New Jersey along with his sister Ruth White. He began his acting career after graduating from Rutgers University in New Jersey and enrolling at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater in New York City. He appeared in such films as Serpico and television shows including The Patty Duke Show, Kojack, and Spin City.

Ruth White (April 24, 1914 – December 3, 1969) was an American actress who worked in theatre, film, and television. She is the older sister of actor Charles White. She was a lifelong resident of Perth Amboy, New Jersey and started her career in the 1940s as an actress in the United States Organizations tours. She later appeared in off Broadway plays by Samuel Beckett and Edward Albee during the late 1950s, and appeared in films including To Kill a Mockingbird and Midnight Cowboy.

 Scope and Contents

The Charles White and Ruth White Papers includes scripts, correspondence, and photographs belonging to sibling actors Charles and Ruth White. Material is dated 1939 December 31 to 1982.

 White, Charles, 1917-2005 White, Ruth, 1914-1969 Actors--20th century Actresses--20th century Motion picture acting--United States--20th century Motion picture actors and actresses--United States--20th century Movement (Acting)--20th century Photographs Scrapbooks Scripts (documents) Theater--20th century Charles White Series 1 1939 December 31-1982 Scope and Contents

Series 1: Charles White contains materials pertaining to actor Charles White. Items include scripts, programs, and printed ephemera. Several scripts contain handwritten notes. Materials are dated 1939 December 31-1982.

 Arrangement of Materials

Series 1: Charles White is arranged chronolgically.

 Boy Scouts of America membership card for Charles V. White, Jr. 1 1 1939 December 31 Biographical Note

Charles V. White, Jr. is Charles White's son.

 Junior Pilots League certificate 1 2 circa 1940s Tierney Theatre Guild programs 1 3 1945 The Neighborhood Playhouse program 1 4 1946 Babes in Arms by Rodgers and Hart script 1 5 circa 1951-1953 Bloomer Girl by Harold Arlen script 1 6 circa 1951-1953 The Merry Widow by Franz Lehar script 1 7 circa 1951-1953 The Red Mill by Victor Herbert script 1 8 circa 1951-1953 Scrapbook containing scripts 2 1 circa 1951-1953 Where's Charley? by Frank Loesser script 1 9 circa 1951-1953 Bamberger (Theron) to Charles White letter 1 10 1951 August 27 New Hope edition of Pennywise newsletter 1 11 1951 Paris Hat by George Herman script 1 12 1952 The Empire Plan of Empire producing company booklet 1 13 1953 White (Charles) and Celeste Holm photograph 1 14 circa 1960s The Iceman Cometh by Eugene O'Neill script 3 1 1960 July 22 Clara's Girl by John Olive script 1 15 1982 Ruth White Series 2 circa 1950s-1965 Scope and Contents

Series 2 contains materials pertaining to actress Ruth White. Items include correspondence, photographs, and newsletters. Material is dated circa 1950s-1965.

 Arrangement of Materials

Series 2: Ruth White is arranged chronologically.

 White (Ruth) with group of unknown individuals photograph 1 16 circa 1950s New Hope edition of Pennywise newsletter 1 17 1951 Reed (Florence) headshots signed to Ruth White 1 18 1951 White (Betty) headshot 1 19 1957 American Embassy correspondence and photographs 1 20 1965