2016-4-26 Guide to the Martha Scott Collection, 1917-2013, bulk 1930s-1990s SPEC.TRI.MS Finding aid prepared by Denise Paddock; Mackenzie Sommers; David Mezick

950007971

 Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections
1858 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH, 43210
2016 April; 2019 January; 2025 December This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2026-01-06T09:11-0500 English Describing Archives: A Content Standard Martha Scott Collection SPEC.TRI.MS Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections 11.637 Cubic feet Bulk, 1930-1999 1917-2013, bulk 1930s-1990s Martha Scott (1912-2003) was an American stage and film actress and a theatrical producer and director. She acted in the Broadway and film productions of Our Town as well as many other plays and motion pictures. The Martha Scott Collection, dated 1917-2013, bulk 1930s-1990s, contains materials that document Martha Scott's career as an actress and a theatrical producer and director, as well as some aspects of her personal life. Materials include photographs, programs, press clippings, scripts, and correspondence. (4) flat boxes; (3) oversize flat boxes; (3) 2.5" letter document boxes; (3) 5" letter document boxes; (1) oversize document box; (1) costume box; (1) framed item English Arrangment of Materials

The Martha Scott Collection is arranged in three series. Series 2 is further arranged in subseries.

Series 1: Personal Series 2: Education Series 3: Professional

 Acquisitions Information

Accession No. TRI.2015.0022: Purchased, 2015 March; Accession No. TRI.2015.0023: Purchased, 2015 March; Accession No. TRI.2015.0027: Purchased, 2015 April; Accession No. TRI.2025.0050: Purchased, 2019 November

 Preferred Citation

[identification of item], Martha Scott Collection, SPEC.TRI.MS, Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theater Research Institute, Ohio State University

 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Contains a long-playing record.

 Access to Materials

Materials in Box 13, Folder 1 have restricted access due to the presence of personally identifiable information and may not be viewed without prior curatorial consent. Audio/visual materials may need a use copy produced before access is allowed. The remainder of this collection is available for patron research, but may be used only in the Thompson Library Special Collections reading room.

 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: Denise Paddock, 2016 April; David Mezick, 2025 December; Finding aid written by: Denise Paddock, 2016 April; Mackenzie Sommers, 2019 January; David Mezick, 2025 December

 Biographical Note

Martha Ellen Scott was born in Jamesport, Missouri on September 22, 1912, to parents Letha (McKinley) and James Scott. She graduated high school on June 7th, 1928, in Kansas City, Missouri. Scott was married to Carleton Alsop on September 25, 1940, and divorced on July 25, 1946. They had one son, Scott Alsop. Scott later married composer Mel Powell in 1946, and they remained married until his death in 1998. Together they had two children, Mary Powell Harpel, and Kathleen Powell.

Scott began performing in her high school theater. Some documents in the collection suggest that Scott was further involved in theater at a junior college in Kansas City. Scott attended and graduated from the University of Michigan in 1932, with a Bachelor of Arts in drama and a teaching certificate. She played in various theaters around Michigan before her first professional acting role at the Bonstelle Theater for the 1933-1934 season. Scott was then hired to perform at the Shakespearean Globe Theatre at the Chicago World's Fair in 1934. This theater group toured the United States and performed one season at the California Pacific International Exposition in San Diego in 1935.

In 1938, Thorton Wilder cast Scott as “Emily” in the Broadway debut of Our Town. In 1940, She played the same role in the film adaptation of Our Town, and was nominated for an Academy Award. Throughout her career, Scott performed in radio, film, television, and stage productions. In 1969, Scott, along with Henry Fonda and Robert Ryan, started the Plumstead Playhouse Society, which later became the Plumstead Theatre Society. In 1993, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Martha Scott died on May 28, 2003, in California.

 Scope and Contents

The Martha Scott Collection contains materials that document Martha Scott's career as a actress in plays and motion pictures. Included are materials related to Scott’s early stage career, including at the Chicago World’s Fair Globe Theatre, and her role in the Broadway and film productions of Our Town. The collection also documents her role as a theatrical producer and director with the Plumstead Playhouse Society, which later became the Plumstead Theatre Society, as well as some aspects of her personal life. Materials include photographs, programs, press clippings, scripts, correspondence, and some financial records. Also included are a long-playing vinyl record, a stage backdrop, and a painting. Materials are dated from 1917-2013 with the bulk of the materials from the 1930s-1990s. Items dated from after Scott's death were created or collected by her daughter Kathleen Powell.

 Scott, Martha, 1914-2003 Actresses--United States--20th century Motion picture actors and actresses--United States--20th century Motion pictures--United States--20th century Our town (Drama) Our town (Motion picture) Photographs Scripts (documents) Theater programs Theater--United States--20th century Women theatrical producers and directors--United States--20th century Personal Series 1 1917-2010 Scope and Contents

The Personal series, dated from 1917-2010, contains materials that pertain to Martha Scott's personal life, including her family and personal acquaintances. Materials include photographs, correspondence, financial records, press clippings, programs, and medical documents.

 Arrangement of Materials

The Personal series is arranged chronologically.

 Unidentified photographs, playbills, newspaper clippings, pamphlets 1 1 1917-1982 Scott (Martha), Mel Powell, and children photographs, press release, medical documents 1 2 circa 1930s-1950s The Late Christopher Bean by Sidney Howard book 4 1 1933 Scope and Contents

Inscribed "To Darling Mezzia, Merry Christmas, from Dad."

 Ah, Wilderness notated leaflet 4 2 1933-1934 Personal documents sent between Martha Scott and parents (photographs, newspaper clippings, card, telegram) 1 3 1934-circa 1940s Various senders cards, telegram, letters 1 4 1934-1965 Finances: cashier's report and gas company correspondence, gas, telephone, electricity bills 1 5 1937, 1944 Tex telegram 4 3 1939 May Saturday Evening Post 5 1 1942 November 7 Some of These Days: The Autobiography of Sophie Tucker book 4 4 1945 Scope and Contents

Inscribed "To Mel Powell from Sophie Tucker."

 Programs 4 5 6 1 1946-1979 Powell (Mel) career newspaper clipping, fesitival booklet 1 6 1964, 1990 Dolan (John J.) letter about Connecticut property tax 6 2 1967 December 27 Harris (Jed) memorial service speaking notes 6 3 1979 Group photographs 6 4 circa 1980s Bondi (Beulah) memorial service program 6 5 1981 January 15 Ullmann (Liv) letter about UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) 6 6 1987 Feburary 12 University of Southern Califonia Professional Writing Program invitation letter 6 7 1987 April 24 Powell (Kati) photographs and promotional item 6 8 1990s-2010 Soap Opera Weekly 5 2 1992 March 24 Education Series 2 1928-1934 Scope and Contents

The Education series contains documents relating to Martha Scott's high school and college years. It includes playbills, newspaper clippings, photographs, and education documents. The materials are dated from 1928-1934.

 Arrangement of Materials

The Education series is arranged in two subseries:

Subseries 2.1: Pre-University Subseries 2.2: University of Michigan

Pre-University Subseries 2.1 1928-1929 Scope and Contents

The Pre-University subseries contains a high school commencement announcement and playbill, as well as newspaper clippings regarding a junior college. The materials are dated from 1928-1929 and are arranged chronologically.

 High school commencement announcement and theatrical program for The Patsy starring Martha Scott in the role of Patricia Harrington 1 7 1928 Junior college newspaper clippings 1 8 1929 University of Michigan Subseries 2.2 circa 1930-1934 Scope and Contents

The University of Michigan subseries, dated from circa 1930-1934, contains playbills, photographs, sheet music, sketches, newspaper clippings, and education documents related to Martha Scott's attendance at the University of Michigan. The materials are arranged chronologically with materials from the same date arranged alphabetically by title.

 Stage play photographs 1 9 circa 1930-1934 Chicago Civic Shakespeare Society broadside 6 9 1930 Romeo and Juliet photograph 6 10 1930 Waltz "A Kiss for Cinderella" sheet music 3 1 1931 University documents, diploma, report card 1 10 1931-1932 Theater playbills, newspaper clippings 1 11 1931-1934 Importance of Being Earnest cartoon sketch 1 12 1932 Professional Series 3 1930s-1990s, 2013 Scope and Contents

The Professional series documents Martha Scott's career as an actress in plays, motion pictures, and television. The series also documents her role as a theatrical producer and director with the Plumstead Playhouse Society, which later became the Plumstead Theatre Society. Included are materials related to Scott’s early stage career, including at the Bonstelle Theater and the Chicago World’s Fair Globe Theatre. Also included are materials related to her role in the Broadway and motion picture productions of Our Town, and materials related to Thornton Wilder, the writer of Our Town. Materials that document the activities of the Plumstead Theatre Society, including plays it produced, are included. Also included are materials related to the naming and opening of the Henry Fonda Theatre. The series includes photographs, programs, press clippings, scripts, letters, posters, and awards. Also included are a long-playing vinyl record, a stage backdrop, and a painting. Materials are dated from 1930s-1990s with one item from 2013.

 Arrangement of Materials

The Professional series is arranged chronologically with materials from the same date arranged alphabetically by title.

 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Contains a long-playing record.

 Access to Materials

Materials in Box 13, Folder 1 have restricted access due to the presence of personally identifiable information and may not be viewed without prior curatorial consent. Audio/visual materials may need a use copy produced before access is allowed. The remainder of this collection is available for patron research, but may be used only in the Thompson Library Special Collections reading room.

 Unidentified production photograph 3 2 1930s-1940s Correspondence, woodwind reed 1 13 1930s-1970s Photographs 1 14-15 1930s-1990s Photographs with others 1 16 1930s-1990s Employment seeking and summer theater correspondence, photograph, program 1 17 1933 Theater newspaper clippings, program 1 18 1933, 1978 Chicago World's Fair Globe Theatre photographs 6 11 circa 1934 Bonstelle Theater newspaper clippings, program, pamphlet 1 19 1934 Chicago World's Fair Globe Theatre programs 6 12 1934 Chicago World's Fair Globe Theatre programs, newspaper clippings, photographs, booklets 1 20 1934 English Village certificate of merit and pamphlet 3 3 1934 World's Fair Chicago pamphlets, booklet, newspaper clipping 1 21 1934 Githens (Beverly) letter about the Chicago World's Fair Globe Theatre 6 13 1934 October 28 Globe Theatre photographs 1 22 1934-1935 Old Globe Theatre Players tour newspaper clippings 1 23 1934-1935 Music Box Theatre (Los Angeles, California) photographs and press clippings 6 14 circa 1935-1945 California Pacific Exposition San Diego Globe Theatre newspaper clippings, photographs, employment termination document 2 1 1935-1936 Scope and Contents

Photographs in this folder originally had been sent by Martha Scott to her mother for safe keeping.

 Stage magazine 3 4 1936 Biographical newspaper clippings, rail ticket, biographical sketch 2 2 1936-circa 1980 "Charles Martin's Thrill Phillip Morris" script 2 3 1937 Compton Advertising scripts 2 4 1937 Wilder (Thornton) correspondence 2 5 after 1937-1976 Our Town (play) press clippings and programs 2 6 1938 Our Town (play) autographed programs 6 15 1938 June Advertising model magazine clippings 2 7 circa 1940s Headshots 5 3 circa 1940s Our Town (motion picture) press clippings 6 16 circa 1940 Headshots 6 17 1940s-1950s The Howards of Virginia photographs 2 8 1940 Our Town (motion picture) newspaper clippings 2 9 1940 Our Town (motion picture) posters 5 4 1940 Warshawsky (Able G.) painter biographical sketch pamphlet 2 10 1940 Warshawsky (Able G.) portrait painting "Martha Scott Powell in 'The Howards of Virginia'" 1 1940 Our Town (film) photographs and award nomination 2 11 1940-1941 From Her Lips poster 7 1 1941 One Foot in Heaven poster and photographs 7 2 1941 One Foot in Heaven promotional photograph 6 18 1941 Hi Diddle Diddle photographs 6 19 1943 American Federation of Radio Artists membership card 2 12 1946 So Well Remembered publicity photograph 6 20 1947 The Barretts of Wimpole Street program 6 21 1947 July Shakespeare in the Park speaking notes 2 13 circa 1950s The Male Animal program 6 22 1952 September 22 Anniversary Waltz by Jerome Chodorov and Joseph Fields book 6 23 1954 Scope and Contents

Inscribed "To Martha, in memory of Long Beach, L. I. [Long Island], in 1956, Donald Woods."

 Ben-Hur costume photographs 6 24 1958 Ben-Hur Deluxe Edition long-playing record 5 1-2 1959 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements Long-playing record; 12-inch; vinyl; approximate run time: unknown Ben-Hur plaque 8 1 1959 Theater productions programs, newspaper clippings 2 14 1959-1975 Klepper (Michael M.), National Broadcasting Company (NBC) letter about radio broadcast 6 25 1964 July 7 The Subject Was Roses photograph and autographed program 6 26 1965 Olivier (Laurence) letters 6 27 1967-1970 Our Town (play) programs and press clippings 6 28 1968, 1970 Plumstead Playhouse Society bylaws 6 29 1968-1970s Malden (Karl) letter about Our Town 6 30 1968 April 10 Previn (Andre) letter about Jack Lemmon 6 31 1968 July 8 The Front Page (television play) contact sheets, transparencies, and letter 6 32 circa 1970, 1976 December 13 University of Michigan Professional Theatre Program letter 6 33 1970 February 19 Freedman (Lewis) letter about Lemonade 6 34 1971 April 28 The Time of Your Life by William Saroyan script 6 35 1972 The Time of Your Life poster 7 3 1972 The Time of Your Life programs and press clipping 6 36 1972 Lunt (Alfred) and Lynn Fontanne Tribute program 9 1 1972 June 11 The Front Page (play) program 9 2 circa 1973 I Do! I Do! programs and photograph 9 3 circa 1973 I Do! I Do! company operating account book 10 1 1973 May-August The Skin of Our Teeth autographed poster 7 4 1975 The Skin of Our Teeth by Thornton Wilder script 9 4 1975 The Skin of Our Teeth programs and press clipping 9 5 1975 Wilder (Thornton) biographical articles, funeral program, letter 2 15 1975-1976, 2013 Klane (Jon), assistant to Martin Baum note 9 6 1976-1980s Turning Point by Arthur Laurents script 9 7 1976 May 10 "A Celebration of Thornton Wilder" script 9 8 1977 "In Celebration of Thornton Wilder" paperweight 11 1 1977 April 18 State of California Franchise Tax Board letter 9 9 1977 September 2 First Monday in October stage backdrop 12 1 circa 1978 First Monday in October posters 7 5 1978 First Monday in October program and finanical statements 9 10 1978, 1979 November 26 Greek Theatre Association v. County of Los Angeles and State Board of Equalization court records 9 11 1978 January 12 Plumstead Playhouse Society Certificate of Amendment of Articles of Incorporation 5 5 1978 July 10 The Love Boat records 9 12 1979 April 24 Plumstead Theatre Society tax forms 13 1 1979 November Access to Materials

Materials in Box 13, Folder 1 have restricted access due to the presence of personally identifiable information and may not be viewed without prior curatorial consent.

 Grandma Merry-Jane script with note from Lillian Gish 9 13 1979 November 20, 1980 November 6 Kennedy Center Honors Gala group photograph 9 14 1979 December 1 Plumstead Theatre Society Brief of Appellee regarding a decision of the United States Tax Court 9 15 1980s Putch (William "Bill" H.) letter 9 16 circa 1981 The Late Christopher Bean poster 7 6 1981 Luttinger (Selma) letters about The Late Christopher Bean 9 17 1981 September 21 The Enthusiast: A Life of Thornton Wilder book 10 2 1983 Scope and Contents

Includes note from writer and director Michael Kanin to Martha Scott.

 Governor of Kansas Honorary Lifetime Citizenship certificate 5 6 1983 April 12 Magnum, P.I. magazine advertisement 5 7 1983 November 3 Fonda family letters about naming of The Henry Fonda Theatre 9 18 1984 October-July Twelve Angry Men (play) photographs 7 7-8 1985 Twelve Angry Men (play) program, press clipping, and photograph 9 19 1985 "Henry Fonda: A Celebration of Life" program and press clipping 5 8 1985 February California State Seal plaque presented to the Plumstead Theatre Society 14 1 1985 February 10 California State Senate Rules Committee Resolutions honoring the Plumstead Theatre Society and Martha Scott 7 9 1985 February 13 Allman (William) telegram about the John Patrick Theatre (Berea, Ohio) 9 20 1986 June 23 Murder, She Wrote press clipping 5 9 1987 Davis (Ronald L.) letters about Southern Methodist University oral history 9 21 1988 September 19 Eighteen and Anxious (1957) autographed postcard 9 22 1989 The Crucible posters 7 10 1991 The Crucible program 9 23 1991 November Walk of Fame Star photographs, invitation, and invoice 9 24 1993 Walk of Fame Star award 15 1 1993 April 23