The research materials compiled by authors' representative Scott Meredith for his biography of playwright George S. Kaufman have been arranged into three alphabetical files: PEOPLE, PLAYS AND SCREEN PLAYS, and SUBJECTS. The three types of files contain similar material however--primarily clippings, reviews, correspondence, handwritten and typed notes, data sheets, and correspondence. A large quantity of this material is not dated.
The PEOPLE files include research correspondence primarily carried out by Meredith during l97l. It seems unlikely, however, that these files represent the totality of Meredith's research correspondence. Included are letters from Marc Connelly, Frank Sullivan and Charles Friedman (in the file on Beatrice Kaufman), Charles Martin, Jo Mielziner, Harold Rome, Morrie Ryskind, Irwin Shaw, and Gertrude Tonkonogy. Especially valuable is a multi-page letter from Ruth Kaufman Friedlich. The files also contain copies of numerous exchanges between Kaufman and Max Gordon from l953 to l958. Although the source of this correspondence is not identified, the original material is believed to be part of the Gordon Papers held by Princeton University.
The SUBJECT FILES contain copies of photographs selected by the author for use in the book (not all of which were published), galley pages, and some publicity. The majority of the galleys received with the collection did not differ substantially from the published volume, and so they were not microfilmed. Because of the deteriorating condition of the paper, the original files were destroyed after filming. Original photographic prints, however, were separated to the WCFTR Names and Title File.
