Research Catalog

Details

Description

1. 2.23 linear feet (5 boxes, 1 volume)

Summary

1. Jan Miner (1917-2004) was an American actor who worked in theater, radio, television, and film. She appeared in the American Shakespeare Festival from 1966 to 1972 and was known for portraying the character of Madge in Palmolive dish soap commercials. The Jan Miner papers (1932-1993) contain clippings, programs, photographs, a scrapbook, and other papers. The collection primarily concerns her work in the theater, though there are also materials related to her work in radio, television, film, and advertisements. A scrapbook documents Miner's life and career between 1932 and 1945; the scrapbook contains clippings, photographs, and programs from performances at the Straw Hat Theatre and elsewhere. The bulk of the collection consists of production files, mostly related to theater productions, dating from 1958 to 1993. Some productions are represented only by one or two items, usually a clipping or a program, while others are represented by extensive clippings, production photographs, contracts, and other materials. Some of the better-represented productions include Dinner at Eight (San Francisco, 1993), Gertrude Stein and a Companion (1985), The Heiress (1976), The Music Keeper (1982), The Show-Off (Olney, Maryland, 1975), Watch on the Rhine (Long Wharf Theatre, 1979, and John Golden Theatre, 1980), The Women (1973), and various American Shakespeare Festival productions. The file for Gertrude Stein and a Companion includes a script. The collection contains a small file on the film Lenny (1974). The collection also contains headshots and general articles about Miner. Material related to Madge and Palmolive advertisements consist mostly of photographs, clippings of print advertisements, and other printed promotional materials; there are also name badges that Miner wore in commercials. The collection includes a small amount of personal material, mostly letters written to Miner.

Subject

1. Actresses > United States > 20th century
2. Scrapbooks
3. Theater > United States > 20th century
4. Actors in the advertising industry
5. American Shakespeare Festival Theatre and Academy
6. Programs (documents)
7. Photographs
8. Clippings (information artifacts)

Genre/Form

1. Clippings (information artifacts)
2. Photographs.
3. Programs (documents)
4. Scrapbooks.

Call number

1. *T-Mss 1991-015

Access (note)

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

Terms of use (note)

1. The author/creator retains copyright of materials. For information on obtaining permission to publish, contact the Theatre Division at theatre@nypl.org.

Source (note)

1. Donated by Jan Miner, 1991-1997.

Author

1. Miner, Jan.

Title

1. Jan Miner papers, 1932-1993.

Restricted access

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

Terms of use

1. The author/creator retains copyright of materials. For information on obtaining permission to publish, contact the Theatre Division at theatre@nypl.org.

Source

1. Donated by Jan Miner, 1991-1997.

Connect to:

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

Research call number

1. *T-Mss 1991-015