Molly P. Michael collection of Booth Tarkington material

Molly P. Michael collection of Booth Tarkington material

Descriptive Summary

Title: Molly P. Michael collection of Booth Tarkington material
Creator: Michael, Molly P.
Creator: Tarkington, Booth, 1869-1946
Inclusive Dates: 1896-1990
Language(s): English
Extent: 3.25 Linear Feet (3 boxes)
Collection Number: ms3820
Repository: Hargrett Library

Collection Description

Historical Note

Newton Booth Tarkington was an American novelist and dramatist best known for his novels, The Magnificent Ambersons (1918) and Alice Adams (1921). He was born to John S. Tarkington and Elizabeth Booth Tarkington in Indianapolis, Indiana on July 29, 1869. He attended Purdue and later Princeton University where he helped establish the Triangle Club, a musical theatre troupe in which he acted and co-wrote plays. Tarkington also edited the university's Nassau Literary Magazine. While Tarkington was very active on campus and popular among his peers, he never completed a degree from Princeton.

Tarkington received the Pulitzer Prize in fiction for The Magnificent Ambersons and Alice Adams, making him one of only four novelists to win the award more than once. A Publisher's Weekly poll in 1921 declared him the most significant contemporary American author. He won the O. Henry Memorial Award in 1931 for his short story "Cider of Normandy," and several of his works, including The Two Vanrevels and Mary's Neck, appeared on bestsellers lists. Many of Tarkington's novels were set in his home state of Indiana and reflected his midwestern background, including his family's financial struggles resulting from the Panic of 1873.

Tarkington was married to Laurel Fletcher from 1902 until their divorce in 1911. Their only child, Laurel, was born in 1906 and died in 1923. He married Susanah Keifer Robinson in 1912, but they had no children. Tarkington began losing his eyesight in the 1920s and was blind in his later years, but continued producing his works by dictating to a secretary. He spent much of his later life at his beloved home Seawood in Kennebunkport, Maine. Tarkington passed away in 1946.

Scope and Content

The collection consists primarily of magazines from the early twentieth century featuring Tarkington's short stories, as well as musical scores and theatre programs from performances of his plays. The collection also includes a small portion of correspondence, clippings, movie posters, and printed ephemera relating to film adaptations of his work.


Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Molly P. Michael collection of Booth Tarkington material, ms 3820, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.

Finding Aid Publication

Finding aid prepared on: 2013.


Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

Related Collections in this Repository

Related collections in other repositories include the Booth Tarkington Papers, 1812-1956; 1812-1956 (mostly 1899-1946), Manuscripts Division, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton University Library, and the Booth Tarkington Collection, M 0274, Indiana Historical Society.


Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 
boxfolder
1A1The American, 1945 February
 
1A2American Legion (2), 1943-1945
 
1A3Book of the Month Club News, 1932 January
 
1A4Boys' Life, 1943 September
 
oversized_boxfolder
11Collier's Magazine (2), 1917-1927
 
boxfolder
1A5Cosmopolitan, "Temptations of a Young Author"
 
oversized_boxfolder
12The Delineator, 1923 December
 
boxfolder
1A6Films in Review, 1978 January
 
1A7Firsts: The Book Collectors' Magazine, 1999 April
 
1A8Good Housekeeping, 1933-1934
 
1A9Hearst's International, 1923 December
 
1A10House and Garden, 1942 November
 
oversized_boxfolder
13Ladies Home Journal (4), 1926-1937
 
14Life, 1939 September 4
 
boxfolder
1A11Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, 1968 February
 
oversized_boxfolder
15McCall's (3), 1929-1935
 
boxfolder
1A12McClure's Magazine, 1905 August
 
oversized_boxfolder
16Metropolitan, 1917 December
 
boxfolder
1A13"The Middle West"
 
1A14November Leaf, 1896
 
1A15Pearson's Magazine, 1903 March
 
oversized_boxfolder
17Radio and Amusement Guide, 1933 February 12-18
 
boxfolder
1A16Reality: The World's Searchlight on Germany
 
1A17Redbook Magazine (2), 1922-1933
 
oversized_boxfolder
18Saturday Evening Post (7)
 
boxfolder
1B1Smart Set, 1928 February
 
1B2St. Nicholas, 1928 February
 
1B3Time (2), 1925-1943
 
1B4The Trumpeter, 1936 September 10
 
1B5Woman's Day, 1942 June
 
oversized_boxfolder
19Woman's Home Companion, 1933 November
 
boxfolder
1B6Bristol Glass program, Ohio Theatre, 1923 April 2
 
1B7Clarence program, Hudson Theatre, 1919
 
1B8Drake's Drum program, Princeton University, 1923-1924
 
1B9Gentle Julia press book
 
1B10How's Your Health? program, Vanderbilt Theatre, 1929
 
1B11The Man from Home program, Astor Theatre, 1908
 
1B12Mister Antonio program, Ohio Theatre, 1923 January 15
 
1B13The Ohio Lady program, Blackstone Theatre
 
1B14Tarkington Night program, Murat Theatre, 1934 February 23
 
1B15Tweedles, The Boothbay Playhouse
 
1B16"Dear Little Boy of Mine" score
 
1B17"Give Me That Rose" score
 
1B18"Love and the Moon" score
 
1B19"Monsieur Beaucaire" score
 
1B20"Reciprocity" score
 
1B21"Soon" score
 
boxfolder
21Correspondence, 1922-1982
 
22Clippings, 1935-1990
 
23Microfiche - "What the Victory or Defeat of Germany Means to Every American"
 
oversized_boxfolder
110Penrod and Sam movie poster, 1931
 
111The Magnificent Ambersons movie poster (reprint)
 
boxfolder
24Printed ephemera

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