Richard Leavitt Collection of Tennessee Williams
The Richard Leavitt Collection of Tennessee Williams spans the majority of the 20th century. It contains Richard Leavitt's collected photographs, reviews, and publicity as well as magazine and newspaper articles of Tennessee Williams which document Williams's personal life and career. Also included is memorabilia gathered by Leavitt including play programs, advertisements, and private drawings by Williams himself.
Dates
- 1911-1999
Language
The material in this collection is in English.
Conditions Governing Access
Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Conditions Governing Use
The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Extent
6 Linear Feet
Abstract
This collection, compiled by Richard Leavitt, contains photographs and memorabilia related to Tennessee Williams. The material spans from Williams's childhood to his rise to prominence on the American stage, and on to the later, experimental stages of his career.
Biographical/Historical Note
Tennessee Williams was born in 1911 in Columbus, Mississippi. He began his writing career as a poet but changed to playwriting after witnessing a production of Ibsen's Ghosts in 1937. Williams wrote some of the most important American dramas of the 20th century, winning two Pulitzer Prizes and four American Drama Critic Awards for best play. Many of his dramas were adapted into films, and Williams also wrote screenplays as well as occasional short stories and novels. He died in New York City in 1983.
Arrangement
Collection consists of eight boxes and is divided into seven series: Photographs, numbered and arranged in order as devised by the collection's creator; Magazines and Magazine Articles; Newspaper Articles and Clippings; Reviews, Playbills and Programs; Advertisements, Publicity, etc.; Materials on Lyle Leverich's Tom: The Unknown Tennessee Williams; and Other Tennessee Williams Material.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository