Robert Whitehead Papers
Catalog Record: http://lccn.loc.gov/2012562126
General International Standard for Archival Description
Music Division Library of Congress Washington, D.C.
Finding aid encoded by Library of Congress Music Division, 2012
Encoded Archival Description
Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
collection
Robert Whitehead Papers 1947-2002 (bulk 1950-1996)
Whitehead, Robert, 1916-2002
Biographical History for: Robert Whitehead Papers 1947-2002 (bulk 1950-1996)
Biographical Note Robert Whitehead (1916-2002) was an American theatrical director and producer. Born March 3, 1916 in Montreal, Whitehead was the son of William Thomas Whitehead, an owner of textile mills, and Lena Mary Labatt Whitehead, an opera singer. He grew up in Montreal and attended college at Trinity College School in Port Hope, Ontario. After graduation, Whitehead worked briefly as a commercial photographer before moving to New York City to pursue work in the theater. He studied acting at the New York School of Theatre and in 1936, made his New York debut in the play Night Must Fall. Whitehead then joined the Barter Theater in Abingdon, Virginia and assumed many roles, including acting, stage managing, and building sets. From 1942 to 1945, Whitehead served in World War II as an ambulance driver in North Africa, Italy, and India. Upon his return from the war, he abandoned acting in favor of producing. His first production was Robinson Jeffers' Medea starring Australian actress Judith Anderson and Shakespearean actor John Gielgud. Its success earned Whitehead a reputation as someone who could produce financially successful works with artistic merit. He would later direct the 1982 revival of Medea starring his wife, Zoe Caldwell (whom he married in 1968) in the title role and Judith Anderson as the Nurse. Whitehead's career as a producer spanned over 50 years. Among his most successful productions were The Member of the Wedding (1950), The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1968), A Matter of Gravity (1975), The West Side Waltz (1981), Lillian (1986), A Few Good Men (1989), and Master Class (1996). In 1960, Whitehead and Elia Kazan were asked to head the first Lincoln Center theater company. By 1964, the Lincoln Center Repertory Theater was established and opened its first season with After the Fall, written by Arthur Miller and starring Jason Robards. Kazan and Whitehead left the company that year amid controversies involving conflicts with the board of directors. Whitehead had a longstanding relationship with Arthur Miller and produced many of his later plays. He won a Tony Award in 1984 for his restaging of Death of a Salesman starring Dustin Hoffman. Other playwrights with whom Whitehead worked closely included Tennessee Williams, Carson McCullers, Eugene O’Neill, Thornton Wilder, Friedrich Durrenmatt, Jean Anouilh, and Robert Bolt. Whitehead was often an integral part of the creative process as well, revising scripts, making casting decisions and promoting plays once they had opened. Whitehead won six Tony Awards, including a 1996 best play honor for his production of Master Class starring Zoe Caldwell. In 2002, just weeks before his death, Whitehead received a Special Lifetime Achievement Tony Award celebrating his more than 60 years in the theater. He died of cancer at age 86 on June 15, 2002 at his home in Pound Ridge, New York.
Scope and Content Note The Robert Whitehead Papers span the period 1947-2002, with the majority of materials dating from 1950-1996. They include production files, correspondence, business papers, published and unpublished writings, photographs, costume and set renderings, programs and promotional materials, scripts, and biographical materials. The Production Files series chiefly consists of scripts and business papers related to plays Whitehead produced and directed. It also includes programs, photographs, correspondence with playwrights, actors, and investors, limited partnership agreements, and actor and production contracts. These files span the entire range of Whitehead's career as a producer from the 1940s through the 1990s. Notable files include scripts from his 1982 revival of Medea starring Judith Anderson and his wife Zoe Caldwell, scripts and correspondence from the 1968 production of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, and correspondence with Katharine Hepburn about the 1976 production of A Matter of Gravity and the 1981 production of The West Side Waltz. The "Dramatist Guild agreements" file, located within the Business Papers series, also contains contracts for many of Whitehead's signature productions. All files are arranged alphabetically by show title. Correspondence in the collection includes business and personal letters sent and received by Whitehead, beginning with papers related to the 1947 production of Medea and ending with Whitehead's death. Notable correspondents include Brooks Atkinson, Harold Clurman, Bill Inge, Harold Prince, and Christopher Plummer. All files are arranged chronologically by year. The Business Papers series contains mostly letters and contracts related to theatrical education projects, theater companies with which Whitehead was associated, and awards or memorial projects. The majority of the materials are related to Whitehead's tenure as head of the Lincoln Center Repertory Theater. Of particular interest is correspondence regarding Whitehead's decision to resign from this organization and the ensuing controversy with its board of directors. All files are arranged alphabetically by subject. The Writings series contains articles, speeches, and book materials written by and about Whitehead. Included are Whitehead's introductions to biographies of Arthur Miller and Harold Clurman, interviews about his career in the theater, materials from his 80th birthday tribute, and writings related to Whitehead's death and memorial. Reviews, articles, and fliers pertaining to Whitehead's productions are arranged by title in the Publicity Files series. Photographs in the collection are mostly images of Whitehead alone or with friends and family members. Interspersed are photos of friends and acquaintances, including Arthur Miller and business partner Roger Stevens. The remaining materials consist of piano-vocal scores or parts for Midgie Purvis and The Conquering Hero, scripts sent to Whitehead for his consideration that were never produced, memorabilia and writings related to Zoe Caldwell, awards, posters, and costume renderings from several of his productions.
series
Production Files, 1947-2001
Correspondence, business papers, scripts, photographs, programs, contracts, and other materials related to Whitehead's stage productions. Researchers should also examine the "Dramatist Guild agreements" file, located within the business papers series, for additional contracts pertaining to signature productions.
file
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue (1976)
After the fall (1964-1965)
The archbishop's ceiling (1977)
Ardele (1975)
Banderol (1962)
The bedroom farce (1979)
Bequest to the nation (1970)
Betrayal (1979)
Broken glass (1994)
Bus stop (1955-1956)
But for whom, Charlie (1964, ANTA)
Carmelina (1979)
The changeling (1964)
The cold wind and the warm (1958-1959)
The confidential clerk (1954)
The conquering hero (1961)
The creation of the world and other business (1972) see also Two-play venture
Crime and punishment (1947-1948)
The culper ring (undated)
The day the money stopped (1958)
Death of a salesman (1984)
Deathtrap (undated)
Desire under the elms (1952)
Economic necessity (circa 1974)
The emperor's clothes (1953)
The family man (1953)
A few good men (1989-1991)
Finishing touches (1973) see also Two-play venture
The flowering peach (1954-1955)
Four saints in three acts (1952)
Foxy (1964)
Golden boy (1952)
Goldilocks (1958-1959)
A hole in the head (1957)
Incident at Vichy (1964-1965)
The kidders (1950)
The last meeting of the Knights of the White Magnolia (1976) see also A Texas trilogy
Lillian (1986)
Lu Ann Hampton Laverty Oberlander (1976) see also A Texas trilogy
Lunch hour (1980-1981)
A man for all seasons (1961-1963)
Master class (1995-1997)
A matter of gravity (1976)
Medea (1982)
The member of the wedding (1950-1951)
Midgie Purvis (1961)
Mrs. McThing (1952-1953)
Much ado about nothing (1959)
No man's land (1976)
Old times (1971-1972)
The oldest living graduate (1976) see also A Texas trilogy
Orpheus descending (1957)
Park your car in Harvard Yard (1991-1992)
The petition (1986)
The physicists (1964)
The price (1968-1969)
The prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1968)
The prince of Grand Street (1978)
The prodigal daughter (1973)
The remarkable Mr. Pennypacker (1953-1954)
Resurrection blues (2001)
Saint Joan (1954)
Semmelweiss (1977-1978)
Separate tables (1956-1957)
Sheep on the runway (1970)
The skin of our teeth (1955)
The sorrows of Frederick (1970)
The speed of darkness (1991)
Sunday breakfast (1952)
Tamburlaine the great (1956)
Tartuffe (1965)
A Texas trilogy (1976) see also The last meeting of the Knights of the White Magnolia; Lu Ann Hampton Laverty Oberlander; The oldest living graduate
The time of the cuckoo (1952-1953)
A touch of the poet (1958-1959)
Two-play venture (1972-1988) see also The creation of the world and other business and Finishing touches
Financial documents for The Creation of the World and Other Business and Finishing Touches
financial documents for the creation of the world and other business and finishing touches
Up from paradise (1974)
A view from the bridge (1955)
The visit (1958)
The waltz of the toreadors (1957)
The West Side waltz (1981-1982)
Where's Daddy? (1966)
Unidentified
Correspondence, 1947-2002
Miscellaneous business and personal letters sent and received by Whitehead.
Undated
Clurman, Harold, 1949-1970
Inge, William, 1961-1970
Plummer, Christopher, 1970-1972
Prince, Harold, 1999
Business Papers, 1947-2000
Chiefly letters, financial documents, and contracts related to theatrical education projects or theater companies with which Whitehead was associated, especially Lincoln Center. The "Dramatist Guild agreements" file is of particular interest and contains contracts for many shows listed among the production files.
Agnes de Mille Foundation, 1997-1998
Agnes de Mille memorial, 1994
American Conservatory Theatre, 1965-1967
American National Theatre and Academy, 1963-1964
American Shakespeare Festival, 1963-1969
American Theatre Wing, 1963-1964
Barter Theatre, 1963-1965
The Broadway Alliance, 1987-1988
The Century Association, 2000
Department of State - Ad hoc drama panel, 1959-1965
Dominion Consultant Associates, 1963-1964
Dramatist Guild agreements, 1953-1962
Institute for Advanced Studies in the Theatre Arts, 1963-1964
Lincoln Center, 1960-1964
National Council on the Arts / National Arts Foundation, 1963-1964
National Theatre, 1976
National Theatre School of Canada, 1964
Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theatre, 1963-1964
Office of Cultural Affairs, 1963
Play reports, 1960-1962
Plays optioned but not produced, 1956-1957, 1963
The Producers' Theatre, 1952-1957
Seattle Repertory Theatre, 1963-1964
Stratford Shakespeare Festival, 1964
Theatre Development Fund, 1992-1998
Theatre Hall of Fame, 1992-1998
Trip to Russia, 1959
Whitehead-REA Productions, 1947
Whitehead-Stevens, 1969-1979, 1987
Writings, 1950-2002
Articles, speeches, and assorted draft materials.
subseries
Writings by Whitehead, 1963-2000
Articles, 1963, 1994-2000 and undated
The collected works of Harold Clurman, 1993
Fund for New American Plays, 1994
Interview, undated
Psychology and Arthur Miller, 1969
Speeches, 1969-1973, 1990 and undated
Writings about Whitehead, 1950-2002
80th birthday tribute, 1996
Articles, 1950-2002
Obituaries and memorial tributes, 2002
Production credits, 1995-1997 and undated
Publicity Files, 1958-1986
Reviews, miscellaneous clippings, fliers, and other promotional materials related to Whitehead's productions.
The creation of the world and other business (1972)
Finishing touches (1973)
Photographs, 1961-1997
Studio portraits, photographs from award ceremonies, and other miscellaneous images. Includes several photographs of Arthur Miller, Roger Stevens, and Zoe Caldwell.
R. Whitehead, alone, 1983-1985 and undated
R. Whitehead, with family, 1968 and undated
R. Whitehead, with other people, 1961-1963, 1987, 1997 and undated
Other people, 1979-1983 and undated
Tony Awards, 1993-1995
Unidentified productions, undated
Music, 1961
Piano-vocal scores or parts for The Conquering Hero and Midgie Purvis.
Miscellany, 1949-2002
Awards, miscellaneous scripts and programs, posters, and other personal effects. Includes a variety of materials related to Zoe Caldwell's performing career.
Books, 1968-1996
Miscellaneous programs, 1949-1950, 1970 and undated
Miscellaneous scripts, 1950, 1960-1975, 1993 and undated
Absurd person singular (A. Ayckbourn)
The amazing flight of the gooney bird (D. Previn)
Bus Riley (W. Inge)
Caesarean operations (W. Inge)
Colette (E. Jones)
Don't go gentle (W. Inge)
An enemy of the people (A. Miller)
Fame (A. Miller)
Free and clear (R. Anderson)
The marriage of Mr. Mississippi (F. Dürrenmatt)
Midwives turn manic (W. Inge)
Natural affection (W. Inge)
Overnight (W. Inge)
A place on the Magdalena Flats (P. Jones)
The plains of St. Augustine (P. Jones)
Voices (S. Griffin)
The wicked pigeon ladies in the garden (M. Chase)
Posters, 1968-1996
Robert Whitehead Award, 1990-2000
Zoe Caldwell materials, 1976-2002 and undated
Correspondence, programs, publicity materials, and one speech
correspondence, programs, publicity materials, and one speech