Research Catalog

Details

Additional authors

1. O'Casey, Sean, 1880-1964
2. Williams, Tennessee, 1911-1983
3. O'Neill, Eugene, 1888-1953
4. Wilder, Thornton, 1897-1975
5. Anderson, Robert, 1917-2009
6. Anderson, Maxwell, 1888-1959
7. Odets, Clifford, 1906-1963
8. Kaufman, George S. (George Simon), 1889-1961
9. Hart, Moss, 1904-1961
10. Service, John S., 1909-
11. Hoover, J. Edgar (John Edgar), 1895-1972
12. Webster, Margaret, 1905-1972

Description

1. 11.25 lin. ft. (46 boxes).

Summary

1. The Brooks Atkinson papers contain correspondence, awards, personal papers, photographs, ephemera, scrapbooks, datebooks, clippings and subject files and document his life and career as a drama critic for the New York Times. The papers span the years 1904-1980. Significant in the correspondence are letters from notables figures of the theater community including writers, actors, scholars and other journalists. Included in these are Sean O'Casey, Tennessee Williams, Thornton Wilder, Eugene and Carlota O'Neill, Robert W. Anderson, Maxwell Anderson, Clifford Odets, Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman, to name a few.
2. The papers give a detailed look at most aspects of his personal and professional career and contain not only letters he received but often carbon copies of his responses. Issues of the day are reflected not only in his articles and columns but also in his correspondence to his readers and friends. Prominent in his files is correspondence dealing with Joseph McCarthy and the House Un-American Activities Committee.
3. Atkinson writings include diaries from his time as a correspondent in China, as well as a manuscript copy of Once Around the Sun. Other items of note are examples of his early writings and publishing attempts when he was a child.

Subject

1. World War, 1939-1945 > China
2. Theater critics
3. Atkinson, Brooks, 1894-1984
4. O'Casey, Sean, 1880-1964 > Family
5. Anti-communist movements > United States
6. Service, John S., 1909-
7. Theater > New York (State) > New York
8. O'Casey, Sean, 1880-1964 > Political and social views
9. New York Times Company
10. Off-Broadway theater

Call number

1. *T-Mss 1968-001

Access (note)

1. Collection is open to the public. Library policy on photography and photocopying will apply. Advance notice may be required.

Source (note)

1. Brooks Atkinson; Oriana Atkinson

Biography (note)

1. Brooks Atkinson, drama critic for the New York Times was born Justin Brooks Atkinson in Melrose, Massachusetts in 1894. Atkinson was a graduate of Harvard University and began writing for the New York Times in 1922. In 1926 he became the drama critic after the retirement of Stark Young. A hiatus in this work occurred during World War II when he became a foreign correspondent. He returned to the drama desk in 1946 and remained the New York Times drama critic until his retirement in 1960.
2. Brooks Atkinson's love of theater revealed itself not only in his frequenting of traditional Broadway theater but also by his discovery and encouragement of new talents to be found on the off-Broadway stage. A champion of all aspects of theater in New York, Atkinson was also known as an outspoken voice against the practices of the McCarthy era and the investigations of the House Un-American Activities Committee, using his skill as a journalist to inform the public and expose the tactics of Joseph McCarthy and his supporters.
3. Brooks Atkinson retired from the New York Times in 1960 but continued writing a twice-weekly column for another 5 years called Critic-At-Large. He died in Huntsville, Alabama on January 13, 1984.

Indexes/finding aids (note)

1. Finding aid available in repository and on Internet.

Processing action (note)

1. Processed/Cataloged

Author

1. Atkinson, Brooks, 1894-1984.

Title

1. Brooks Atkinson papers, 1904-1980.

Restricted access

1. Collection is open to the public. Library policy on photography and photocopying will apply. Advance notice may be required.

Biography

1. Brooks Atkinson, drama critic for the New York Times was born Justin Brooks Atkinson in Melrose, Massachusetts in 1894. Atkinson was a graduate of Harvard University and began writing for the New York Times in 1922. In 1926 he became the drama critic after the retirement of Stark Young. A hiatus in this work occurred during World War II when he became a foreign correspondent. He returned to the drama desk in 1946 and remained the New York Times drama critic until his retirement in 1960.
2. Brooks Atkinson's love of theater revealed itself not only in his frequenting of traditional Broadway theater but also by his discovery and encouragement of new talents to be found on the off-Broadway stage. A champion of all aspects of theater in New York, Atkinson was also known as an outspoken voice against the practices of the McCarthy era and the investigations of the House Un-American Activities Committee, using his skill as a journalist to inform the public and expose the tactics of Joseph McCarthy and his supporters.
3. Brooks Atkinson retired from the New York Times in 1960 but continued writing a twice-weekly column for another 5 years called Critic-At-Large. He died in Huntsville, Alabama on January 13, 1984.

Indexes

1. Finding aid available in repository and on Internet.

Local note

1. Some materials in this collection previously cataloged as MWEZ+ n.c. 1788A; 17305; 20753; 20962-20966; 20968-20970; 20975; 20994; 21089; 22180; 23872; 26304-26315; 26315; 26318-26335.

Connect to:

1. Request Access to Theatre Division Special Collections material
2. Finding Aid

Added author

1. O'Casey, Sean, 1880-1964.
2. Williams, Tennessee, 1911-1983.
3. O'Neill, Eugene, 1888-1953.
4. Wilder, Thornton, 1897-1975.
5. Anderson, Robert, 1917-2009.
6. Anderson, Maxwell, 1888-1959.
7. Odets, Clifford, 1906-1963.
8. Kaufman, George S. (George Simon), 1889-1961.
9. Hart, Moss, 1904-1961.
10. Service, John S., 1909-
11. Hoover, J. Edgar (John Edgar), 1895-1972.
12. Webster, Margaret, 1905-1972.

Research call number

1. *T-Mss 1968-001