The John Cromwell Papers, 1902-1972, are arranged in four categories: Correspondence, Motion Pictures, Theater, and Photographs. In addition to correspondence, the papers include scripts, clippings, playbills, production stills, reviews, and other materials.
The CORRESPONDENCE contains letters from writers whose works Cromwell adapted to stage or screen; this includes Joseph Conrad (Victory, 1918), Robert Sherwood (Abe Lincoln in Illinois, RKO, 1940), and Paddy Chayefsky (The Goddess, Independent, 1956). There are also letters and telegrams from performers with whom he worked, including Bette Davis, Ruth Gordon, Katherine Hepburn, and others; and correspondence with his producers, most notably David O. Selznick. Of special interest is Cromwell's correspondence with John Hess of Fortress Productions, which thoroughly documents the production of his Swedish film, A Matter of Morals (United Artists, 1961). Arrangement is alphabetical.
The MOTION PICTURE material includes two scrapbooks and ten bound volumes of scripts, which contain occasional production stills concerning some of his more notable films, 1930-1950. These are arranged chronologically by release date. Following them is a folder of general material including reviews of later films, a partial filmography, and several informative newspaper articles on Cromwell's film career.
The THEATER material contains three scrapbooks and a file on Broadway and various regional theaters. One scrapbook concerns his early career, 1902-1931; another concerns his return to Broadway in Point of No Return in 1951; and the third concerns his appearances in the Tyrone Guthrie Theatre's first season in 1963. Most of this material reflects Cromwell's interest in regional theater as an alternative to Broadway. There are clippings, playbills, and production and promotional material from plays in which Cromwell, his wife Ruth Nelson, or his son James were involved, 1963-1972. The collection also includes a script from The Aspern Papers (Cleveland Play House, February 1963), the only production Cromwell directed after his return to the theater. This material is arranged chronologically; and the regional theater material is further broken down alphabetically by name of company.
The PHOTOGRAPHS are primarily personal and include snapshots of Cromwell's homes, travels, horses, and a wedding in the 1940s.
