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Gladys Cooper papers

 Collection
Identifier: 2022

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Scope and Contents

This collection contains correspondence, scripts, scores, playbills, and a variety of production files related to the stage and film career of Gladys Cooper (1888-1971).

There are materials relating to approximately 25 motion pictures (1916-1960), 5 radio programs (1935-1954), and 90 plays (1905-1968). Contents include records of Cooper's stage debut in Bluebell in Fairyland from 1905, records from the Playhouse Theater in London (1922-1934), and scrapbooks documenting Cooper's career. There are also scripts, call sheets, shooting schedules, correspondence, and clippings pertaining to approximately 30 television shows (mainly The Rogues, 1965-65), as well as programs from 45 benefit performances given between 1908 and 1956 for such organizations as The Church of England Waifs and Strays Society. There are also some materials pertaining to the acting careers of Philip Merivale (1923-1946), Sally Cooper (1936-1946), and Joan Buckmaster (1924-1950). There are miscellaneous clippings and playbills for 29 plays dating back to 1888; approximately 50 magazines (1934-1964); 50 music scores (1924-1950) and 90 photographs and stills. Included among the screenplays are The Chalk Garden (1964) and Separate Tables (1958). There is also an original oil painting presented by Jack Warner.

Dates

  • Creation: 1888 - 1965

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Advance notice required for access.

Rights Statement for Archival Description

Finding aid description and metadata are licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Cinematic Arts Library at ctlibarc@usc.edu. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Cinematic Arts Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Biographical / Historical

Gladys Cooper (1888–1971) was a British actress in theater and film. She made her stage debut, at the age of 16, in a 1905 production of Bluebell in Fairyland. In 1934 she made her American debut in a Broadway production of The Shining Hour. She managed the Playhouse Theater for 17 years. Cooper was nominated for three Academy Awards as a supporting actress, including her 1964 role in My Fair Lady.

Extent

25.02 Linear Feet (43 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

This collection contains correspondence, scripts, scores, playbills, scrapbooks, and a variety of production files related to the stage and film career of Gladys Cooper (1888-1971).

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Dame Gladys Cooper, March 29 and April 10, 1968.

Processing Information

This collection is not fully processed. Some arrangement and labeling has been done and a detailed paper inventory is available in Box 1.

Title
Finding aid for the Gladys Cooper papers
Status
Minimally Processed
Author
Brandon Werts for History Associates Incorporated. Box list added by Diann Benti.
Date
2022 January
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the USC Libraries Cinematic Arts Library Repository

Contact:
Doheny Memorial Library G4
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles California 90089-0185 United States