Sam Coit and Estelle H. Davis Papers
SPEC.TRI.SC
Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections
3.65 Cubic feet
1890s-1935
Sam Coit (1872-1933) was an actor who primarily performed on the stage; he was married to Estelle H. Davis (1868-1950), who directed the Columbia University Laboratory Players theatre group, and wrote on the subjects of Shakespeare, and voice and speech problems. The Sam Coit and Estelle H. Davis Papers date from 1890s-1935, and consist of items documenting their professional lives, as well as several personal items. Included in the collection are scrapbooks documenting Coit's theatrical career, theatrical contracts, and essays by Davis on Shakespearean characters.
(6) flat boxes; (2) card boxes; (1) 5" letter document box; (1) 2.5" legal document box; (1) oversize flat box
English
Coit, Samuel, 1872-1933
Davis, Estelle H. (Estelle Headley)
Arrangement of Materials
Materials are arranged in chronological order; items with the same date are further arranged in alphabetical order by item title. A single undated item originally created by an Aunt Katie "as a girl" is at the beginning of the container list, since aunts are usually older than their nephews, and therefore Katie was likely a girl before Sam Coit was born.
Acquisitions Information
Unknown.
Preferred Citation
[identification of item], Sam Coit and Estelle H. Davis Papers, SPEC.TRI.SC, 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: Audrey Wimbiscus, 2021 June; finding aid written by: Audrey Wimbiscus, 2021 June
Biographical Note
Sam Coit (1872-1933) was an actor who primarily performed on the stage, but also starred in three silent movies. Though his plays were primarily performed in New York City, New York, he also had roles in touring companies. Coit was married to Estelle H. Davis (1868-1950), who directed the Columbia University Laboratory Players theatre group, and wrote on the subjects of educational dramatics, Shakespeare, and voice and speech problems.
Scope and Contents
The Sam Coit and Estelle H. Davis Papers date from 1890s-1935, and consist of items documenting their professional lives, as well as several personal items. Included are scrapbooks by an unknown creator documenting Coit's theatrical career from 1900-1932. Publications from Coit's professional clubs and associations, theatrical contracts, and promotional photographs of Coit are also included in the collection. The collection also contains Davis's essays on Shakespearean characters, as well as correspondence she received when Coit died, and clippings about her. Several personal items, such as a family history of Coit's mother Sarah Isham Coit, a poem by Sarah, and photographs of friends and family, are also included in the collection.
Coit, Samuel, 1872-1933
Davis, Estelle H. (Estelle Headley)
Actors--New York (State)--New York--19th century
Actors--New York (State)--New York--20th century
Actors--United States--19th century
Actors--United States--20th century
Black-and-white photographs
Correspondence
Essayists, American--United States--20th century
Essays
Scrapbooks
Theater--New York (State)--New York--19th century
Theater--New York (State)--New York--20th century
Theater--United States--19th century
Theater--United States--20th century
Frog painting by Aunt Katie
1
1
undated
Coit (Sam) family and friends photographs
1
2
1890s-1928
"Gallery of Players" no. 6
2
1
1895
"Gallery of Players" no. 7
2
2
1895
"Gallery of Plays and Players" no. 10
2
3
1897
"Gallery of Plays and Players" no. 11
2
4
1897
Scrapbook
3
1
1900-1902
Coit (Sam) portrait photographs
1
3
1902-1920s
Scrapbook
4
1
1902-1903
Scrapbook
5
1
1903-1904
Scrapbook
6
1
1904
Manual of the National Art Theatre Society
1
4
1904
Scrapbook
5
2
1905-1906
Constitution and By-laws of the Alumni Association of the National Conservatory of Dramatic Art
1
5
1906
Maeha (F. F.) portrait photograph
11
1
1906
Scrapbook
4
2
1906
Scrapbook
7
1
1908
Coit (Sam) newspaper clipping with inscription
11
2
1909 November 17
Scrapbook
3
2
1909-1912
Coit (Sam) in costume photograph
2
5
circa 1910s
Isham of Lamport family history
1
6
circa 1910s
"This Dear Little Shanty of Mine" poem by Sarah Isham Coit
1
7
circa 1910s
Small painted wooden man in uniform figurine with fabric cape
9
3
1910s-1920s
"In Memory of Frank Worthing" pamphlet
1
8
1911
Davis (Estelle H.) correspondence received
1
9
1911
Savage Club rulebook
1
10
1912
Scrapbook
8
1
1912-1916
"The Kate Douglas Wiggin 1914 calendar" gifted to Sam Coit by Wiggin
1
11
1913
"A Midsummer Night's Dream: Songs and Incidental Music Arranged and Composed by Cecil J. Sharp"
1
12
1914
Scrapbook
8
2
1916-1919
Scrapbook
7
2
1919-1921
Davis (Estelle H.) manuscript essays on Shakespearean characters
1
13
circa 1920s
Coit (Sam) portrait photographs
1
14
1920-1933
Bacon (Frank) memorial poem
1
15
1921
Lambs Club event programs
2
6
1923
Scrapbook
6
2
1923-1924
"Lightnin'" contract
1
16
1923 December 17
Coit (Sam) correspondence received
1
17
1924-1927
Scrapbook
9
1
1925-1929
"Wooden Kimono" contract, correspondence
1
18
1926
"Wooden Kimono" salary information
1
19
1926-1927
"Wooden Kimono" contract, correspondence
1
20
1927
"Comedie Francaise" program
1
21
1928
"Gods of the Lightning" contract, correspondence
1
22
1928 October-November
Scrapbook
9
2
1929-1932
"The Nut Farm" contract
1
23
1929 April 9
"The Nut Farm" contract
10
1
1929 August 28
"Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York: Reports and Proceedings"
10
2
1930 July-1932 June
Coit (Sam) obituary clipping
10
3
1933 January
"Equity" nos. 1-3
10
4
1933 January-March
Davis (Estelle H.) correspondence received on Sam's death
10
5
1933 January-April
Davis (Estelle H.) newspaper clipping
11
3
1935 March 1