Printer Friendly VersionTHOMAS H. ARTHUR PAPERS, SC #2023
CARRIER LIBRARY, JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Compiled by Scott DeNoon, April 1988
SCOPE AND CONTENT
This collection consists of one Hollinger box of documents relating to Dr. Thomas H. Arthur's book on actor Melvyn Douglas, written while Dr. Arthur was a member of the James Madison University faculty.
Melvyn Hesselberg was born on April 5, 1901 in Macon, Georgia. He began his theatrical career as Melvyn Douglas in 1917. During his career he was a star of the screen, stage, and television. He was the only male actor to win a Tony Award, an Emmy Award, and an Oscar. In addition to acting, Douglas served in both world wars and was active in politics. In 1940 he became the first actor to serve as a delegate at the Democratic National Convention. He was married in 1931 and died in New York City on August 4, 1981. Dr. Arthur's interest in Douglas stems from the fact that he was a friend of Arthur's family. In addition, Douglas' involvement in politics was the topic of Arthur's doctoral dissertation. Douglas chose Arthur to help him write his autobiography in 1971. This collection consists primarily of letters and notes relating to Dr. Arthur's book, See You at the Movies: The Autobiography of Melvyn Douglas (Lanham, Md. University Press of America, 1986).
There are also a folder of miscellaneous letters to or from Douglas on a variety of topics, and information outlining Douglas' visit to James Madison University in December, 1974. The notes and manuscripts series includes Douglas' handwritten notes for the book and Arthur's typed manuscripts. One series is composed of several folders containing copies of programs and other information dealing with Douglas' early theatrical performances. There is also a series of photographs which were used in Arthur's book.
PROVENANCE
Donated by Dr. Tom Arthur in 1987.
ORGANIZATION Box 1 Series I. Letters.
Folder 1 1970-77 To Douglas and others concerning book
Folder 2 1978-1982 "
Folder 3 1974 Documents on Douglas' visit to JMU
Folder 4 1971-1973 Miscellaneous letters
10 Feb. 1972 Copy of letter from Robert Redford
Box 1, Series II. Notes & Manuscripts
Folder 5 Copy of Douglas' outline on acting
Folder 6 Douglas' handwritten notes for book
Folder 7 Arthur's manuscripts
Box 1, Series III. Programs from Early Performances
Folder 8 1921-1922 Playmongers info.; Rialto Theatre programs (copies)
Folder 9 1923-25 New Grand, Orpheum, & Fisher's Majestic Theatre programs (copies)
Box 1, Series IV. Photographs
Folder 10 Photographs of Douglas used in book
SPECIAL NOTE
Folder 11 contains a finding aid from a larger collection of Melvyn Douglas Papers located at the State Historical Society of Wisconsin.
