Preliminary Inventory to the Ruth Manning Papers, 1937-2004 SPEC.TRI.RM Finding aid prepared by Mackenzie Sommers Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections
1858 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH, 43210
2018 January This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2018-03-10T13:10-0500 English Describing Archives: A Content Standard Ruth Manning Papers SPEC.TRI.RM Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections 4.13 Cubic feet 1937-2004 Ruth Manning was an American film, stage, and television actress whose career spanned 60 years, but is best known for her role as Aunt Harriet in a series of Kraft Mayonnaise commercials. The Ruth Manning Papers contains material related to Ruth Manning's acting career, including scrapbooks, photographs, posters, programs, correspondence, call sheets, a magnetic tape reel, awards, and a printer's block with her portrait on it. Materials range in date from 1937-2004. (2) cartons, (2) 5" letter document boxes, (1) 2.5" letter document box, (1) flat box English Manning, Ruth Arrangement of Materials

This collection is unprocessed. Materials are arranged in the order received.

 Acquisitions Information

Donated by: Rex McGraw, 1989 April. Some accessions are unknown.

 Preferred Citation

[identification of item], Ruth Manning Papers, SPEC.TRI.RM, Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute, Ohio State University

 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

The Ruth Manning Papers contain one magnetic tape.

 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

This collection is unprocessed. Finding Aid written by: Mackenzie Sommers

 Biographical Note

Ruth Manning was an American stage, television, and film actress who was professionally active for 60 years, but is best known for her role as Aunt Harriet in a series of Kraft Mayonnaise commercials. Manning's career began in 1940 where she began working in stock and repertory theatre companies. Her Broadway debut was in Robinson Jeffers' "The Tower Beyond Tragedy" in 1950. She had featured roles in "The Prisoner of Second Avenue", "Sticks and Bones" and "Molly". She was also featured in "The Iceman Cometh", "Little Murders" and many others. She broke into film and television in the 1970s with roles on "Audrey Rose", "All in the Family", "Three's Company", and "ER". She didn't become a household name though until 1981 when she starred alongside Norma Macmillan in a series of Kraft Mayonnaise commercial as Aunt Harriet. Manning continued working, making appearances on popular television shows, films, and commercials until her death during an audition in 2004.

 Scope and Contents

The Ruth Manning Papers contains material related to Ruth Manning's acting career, including scrapbooks, photographs, posters, programs, correspondence, call sheets, a magnetic tape reel, awards, and a printer's block with her portrait on it. Materials range in date from 1937-2004.

 Manning, Ruth Motion picture actors and actresses--United States--20th century Motion picture actors and actresses--United States--21st century Photographs Programs (documents) Television actors and actresses--United States--20th century Television actors and actresses--United States--21st century Women dramatists--United States--21st century Three scrapbooks related to career 1 1937-1963 Printer's block of Ruth Manning 1 undated Headshots/Resume 2 1 undated Headshots 2 2 undated Correspondence 2 3 1969-1988 Programs 2 4 1962-2003 Clippings 2 5 1992-2004 Calligraphy and art 2 6 undated Television Call Sheets 2 7 undated Awards and family name information 2 8 1984-1990 Television call sheets 2 9 1991-2000 "Lost in Yonkers" Columbus Dispatch article 2 10 1998 Biographies 2 11 2002 "You Know I Can't Hear When The Wate's Running" programs from tour 2 12 1968-1971 Programs and Reviews from Scrapbook 2 13 1957 "You Know I Can't Hear You When The Water's Running" reviews from tour 2 14 1968 "You Know I can't Hear You When The Water's Running" national tour photographs, letters, drawings, and advertisement 2 15 1967 Hamlet Script 2 16 1940 "The Big Day Performing Arts Magazine Program, Clippings, Photographs 2 17 1990-1991 "The Madwoman of Challiot" script 2 17 1993 "The Moundbuilders" and "Tumbleweed" reviews, flyers 2 18 1977 "The Ecccentricities of a Nighingale" performance magazine, programs, photos, flyers, map 2 19 1979 "A Dream Out of Time" Reviews, Photographs, Programs 2 20 1970 "The Rimers of Eldritch" program, reviews, photographs, telegrams; "Forty Carats" reviews, programs, photographs; "Split Lip" program 2 21 1967, 1974 "Yerma" program, reviews, photographs, telegram 2 22 1966 "Plain and Fancy" programs, photographs, Columbus Dispatch article 2 23 1970 "Mame" programs, photographs, reviews, script notes 2 24 1969 "Molly" program, Playbill magazine, photographs 2 25 1973 Los Angeles Times article on Kraft Mayo Advertisement 2 26 1968 June 20 "The Prisoner of Second Avenue" Playbill Magazine, program, clipping, memo 2 27 1972-1973 Programs for "Spring in the Air", "Guest in the House", "Merrilly We Roll Along", "Heaven Can Waot", and "The Eagle Has Two Heads" 2 27 1943-1948 War service information 2 28 1945-1949 Ensemble Studio Theatre productions and clippings 2 29 1985-1986 The Apple Orchar Theatre programs and clippings 2 30 1941 Kenley Players Production Programs 2 31 undated "The Fatal Weakness" programs and newsclippings 2 32 1948 Mayonnaise advertisement 3 1 1981 Carictures of Ruth Manning 3 2 1966 Photograph portraits of Ruth Manning 3 3 undated Costume mock-up 3 4 undated Production posters 3 5-8 undated Photographs 4 1 circa 1960s Headshots/Resume 4 2 undated Clippings 5 1 1941-1986 Correspondence and ephemera 5 2 1975-1989 Drawing and painting books 5 6 1947, 1952 Envelope of photograph ephemera 5 4 undated "Guiding Light" by Christopher Schemering 5 5 1986 Photographs 5 6 circa 1949, 1990s Photographs 5 7 circa 1950s Photographs 5 8 circa 1960s-1990s Photographs 5 9 circa 1960s, 1980s-1990s Photographs 5 10 circa 1980s Programs 6 1 1965-1972 "Keep in Touch" script 6 2 undated "The Jewish Wife" script 6 3 undated "What Are Friends For?" script 6 4 undated Ruth Manning Reel 6 undated Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Magnetic Tape; sound; Approximate run time: unknown.