Earle Ernst Finding Aid

Earle Ernst Finding Aid

Archives & Manuscripts Department University of Hawaii at Manoa Library 2

Table of Contents Introductory Information.. 4 Administrative Information.. 5 Biographical Sketch..... 6 Scope & Content Note..... 6 Series Descriptions...... 7 Inventory....... 9 3

Introductory Information Collection Name: Earle Ernst Collection Number: Manuscript A1997:002 Inclusive/Bulk Dates: 1950 s- 1990 s Size of Collection: 3 Linear Feet Creator of Papers: Earle Ernst Abstract: Earle Ernst (1911-1994) was a renowned theatre professor who taught at the University of Hawaii at Manoa for over 30 years. He was a scholar of Asian theatre and is known as one of the founding members of the Theatre Department of University of Hawaii at Manoa. The Earle Ernst Papers is composed of writings, letters, and personal effects from his time at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. There are five series within the collection: Academic, Personal, Notebooks, Audio, and Letters and Correspondence. The materials shed a very personal side of Ernst and the relationships he had with friends and family in both a professional and personal setting. 4

Administrative Information Repository Information: Archives & Manuscripts Department University of Hawaii at Manoa Library 2550 McCarthy Mall Honolulu, Hawaii 96822 Phone: (808) 956-6047 Fax: (808) 956-5968 Email: archives@hawaii.edu URL: http://libweb.hawaii.edu/libdept/archives/ Processing Information: Julia Jennings-Jarrell and Kelly Ann Campbell, Library and Information Science Graduate Student Archivists for LIS 652 Completion Date: August 2014 Restrictions: Some files restricted by donor, written request specifying purpose of research required for access to restricted files Provenance: Note: Renee Ernst (niece of Earle Ernst) might have been the donor of the Papers after the the passing of Earle. Another person who might have donated the Papers would have been Takeo Miji. Both Renee and Takeo have been primary benefactors in Ernst s will. Preferred Citation: [Identification of item], [Collection Name], Archives & Manuscripts Department, University of Hawaii at Manoa Library. Copyright Notice: Copyright is retained by the University of Hawaii. It is the responsibility of the user to determine any copyright restrictions, obtain written permission, and pay any fees necessary for the reproduction or proposed use of the materials. Literary Rights Notice: All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the University of Hawaii Library as the owner of the physical items. 5

Biographical Sketch Earle Ernst (1911-1994) was a professor and historian at the University of Hawaii at Manoa who wrote extensively on Japanese theatre. He was the first to stage English translations of Asian plays in authentic performing style. As with many people of his generation, it was Ernst s experiences in the Army during World War II that brought him into contact with theater in Asia, especially Japan. He graduated from Gettysburg College in 1933 then received his MA and PhD from Cornell University and became a founding member of the University of Hawaii at Manoa s Theatre Department. He wrote and translated hundreds of plays and which have been performed at the theatre lab that soon became his namesake. Besides writing and translating Japanese theatre, he explored Japanese history as well as writing about Asia and Southeast Asia s performing arts. He is known as a prolific scholar of Kabuki which is a Japanese dace-drama, known for its stylization in drama and elaborate make-up. Scope & Content Note The records in this collection span the years of 1938-1994, with the bulk of the material dating from the 1950 s - 1990 s. The subjects are correspondences between colleagues, manuscripts, books, personal notes, staff records, and personal belongings. The collection is divided into five series: Academic, Personal, Notebooks, Audio and Letters and Correspondence. 6

Series Descriptions Series 1: Academic Dates: Size of Series: 1 linear foot Arrangement: It has been arranged by physical format. Physical Format: Loose leaf papers, published books, scripts and drafts. Description of Contents: This series includes papers about his employment to the school, recommendations for students, drafts for plays and books, and books that have been published that he either wrote or contributed to. There are also two hard-cover books in Japanese on Japanese Theatre that Ernst would have used for research. Series 2: Personal Dates: Size of Series: 1 linear foot Arrangement: Arranged by physical format grouped together. Description of Contents: Among the items that would be deemed personal are material items: passport, pictures, address pads, an award, videotapes, and a book. Physical Format: Hard-cover book, video cassette tapes, passport, picture, address pads, award. Series 3: Notebooks Dates: N.D. Size of Series: ½ linear foot Arrangement: Arranged by type of notebook. Physical Format: Legal sized notebooks, composition notebooks, spiral bound notebooks. Description of Contents: Notes inside notebooks are undetermined. Mixture of personal and academic. Mainly handwritten notes in pencil and pen. 7

Series 4: Audio Dates: 1982 Size of Series: Physical Format: Audio cassette tapes Arrangement: Two cassette tapes arranged by date Description of Contents: The cassette tapes are in their original cases. The first cassette tape is dated April 15, 1982, labeled ISLAND VIEWS. Labeled on the case reads Earle Ernst Ah Quon McElrath 4/15/82. The second cassette tape is dated September 25, 1982, labeled Ernst, Earle - Island Views - 9/25/82 on A side. On B side reads the label On Golden Pond - Hepburn/Fonda - Excerpts from Soundtrack. The case reads Ernst, Earle - Island Views - 9/25/82 On Golden Pond - Hepburn/Fonda - excerpts from Soundtrack. Series 5: Letters and Correspondences Dates: 1959-1994 Size of Series: ½ linear foot Physical Format: Letters, photographs, envelopes, postcards, and greeting cards. Arrangement: Chronologically by year. Also includes correspondences where the date is undetermined. Description of Contents: Letters that are both personal and professional. Included is famous author and filmmaker Donald Richie. Among Richie s letters were clippings related to homosexuality which should prove a more in-depth look at society at the time. Included are handwritten letters from Japanese scholar Eugene Langston from June 1988 to December 1988. 8

Inventory Box 1: Personal Box 1: Address pads Box 1: Audio cassette tapes Box 1: Award Box 1: Hardcover book On Thrones of Gold Box 1: Passport Box 1: Picture in frame Box 1: Video cassette tapes Folder: Obituary Papers Folder: Publishers Correspondence (1990-1994) Folder: Fifty Minute Occupation (11 pages, N.D.) Unpublished Short Story) Folder: Eugene Langston Letters (1988) / Amos P. Leib + Photos Folder: (Faubion) Bowers Sensei Conflict (1987) Box 1: Original magazine related to Bowers Sensei Conflict in Japanese (1987) Folder: 1991 - Donald Richie Correspondence Folder: 1992 - Donald Richie Correspondence/Manuscripts/Articles Folder: 1993-1994 Donald Richie Correspondence/Articles Folder: N.D. (No Date) / Donald Richie / Post cards Box 1: Donald Richie Manuscripts Kumagai (317 pages) Japanese Cinema (74 pages) Box 2: Academic Books Arthur Symons On The Drama And The Theatre- A Thesis By Earle Ernst Three Japanese Plays by Earle Ernst Cycles In The Development of the Dramatic Arts- A Thesis By Earle Ernst Japanese Theater in Hightlight By Francis Haar The Kabuki Theatre By Earle Ernst Manuscripts/ Drafts Monju And The Redhaired Barbarians by Earle Ernst The Cherry Orchard English Version by Earle Ernst and Ealla Wiswell The Defeated by Teruaki Miyata English Version by Earle Ernst 9

Encyclopedia of Japan Folder: Recommendations Folder: Maya Folder: P Folder: Japan-Modern Theatre Folder: My Memos Folder: Staff Records: Ernst Folder: Reviews Green Binder- Sansom, WW and Japan Box 3: Letters and correspondence, Notebooks Personal correspondence Folder: 1990-1959 Folder: 1991 Folder: Dec. 1992 Folder: Jan-Oct 1992 Folder: Oct-Dec 1993 Folder: Jan-Oct 1993 Folder: 1994 Folder: N.D. Notebooks Legal sized notebooks Spiral bound notebooks Composition books Folder 1: Book cover 10