Edward J. Crowley (1906-1984) Papers

The Edward Joseph Crowley Papers are arranged in one and one-half boxes. They span the period 1933-1966. The Papers are organized into seven subseries: biographical materials, correspondence, radio scripts, productions, education, teaching files and research.

The biographical materials date between 1934 and 1966 and are arranged in three folders. These materials include clippings, vitae and related items. The clippings generally pertain to speaking engagements.

The correspondence fills five folders. One folder, arranged alphabetically, consists primarily of short notes from prominent people in theatre (1938, 1946, 1951-1960). All letters are incoming; many confirm arrangements to speak with students following a performance. Among Crowley's correspondents were John Mason Brown, Barrett Clarke, Aaron Copland, Bette Davis, Ruby Dee, Julie Harris, Eva de Galienne, Alfred Lunt, and Mary Martin.

Another folder contains correspondence (1943-1945, 1951-1956) with the director John Van Druten, mostly confirming or canceling arrangements to meet with Crowley. Another folder contains a small amount of correspondence (as well as Christmas cards, 1945, 1949, 1953-1954) from the poet Langston Hughes. The correspondence in both folders is arranged chronologically by date.

The fourth folder contains the correspondence (1951-1952, n.d.) of novelist and critic Carl Van Vechton, primarily regarding arrangements for prospective productions. The fifth folder contains correspondence and related material (1956-1958) of Victor J.F. Kulandy regarding a teaching opportunity in India for Crowley that did not materialize.

Also included are two folders of radio scripts including a transcript of the WAAF Radio Broadcast (1933) and “Inside Arts” (1943-1944), a radio program about theatre and acting written by Crowley.

The production materials (1939-1956) fill four folders. Included are bulletins, programs, and acting scripts of productions directed by Crowley. One folder includes Crowley's acting version of Little Clay Cart, published in 1944. The play was directed by Crowley in his first year on the staff of the University Theatre. Another file includes material relating to the Prodigal world (1956), a documentary drama presented in Minneapolis for the general conference of the Methodist church. All records are arranged chronologically by date.

Comprising five folders, the education files include syllabi and term papers for Speech B4: Man and the Fine Arts (first folder) and papers for C-28: 19th Century American Melodrama. Two other folders include course material, papers, and book reports, and other student papers written by Crowley.

Comprising three folders, the teaching files include lecture notes, reading lists and outlines. The first folder of lecture notes (1953-1954) also includes a student paper.

The folder labelled Contemporary Theatre (1951-1960) contains typed summaries of talks between students and theatre professionals including Thomas Mitchell, Melvyn Douglas, Vincent Price, and Yul Brenner. These summaries are arranged in alphabetical order.

The research file contains independent study work, including notes and papers on Chinese Theatre in general.

These is also one folder of course material of Crowley's wife, Harriett Jane Allyn.