Department of Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation Rush Rhees Library Second Floor, Room 225 Rochester, NY 14627-0055 rarebks@library.rochester.edu URL: http://www.library.rochester.edu/rbscp
Table of Contents Summary Information... 3 Biographical/Historical note... 3 Scope and Contents note... 4 Administrative Information... 4 Related Materials... 5 Collection Inventory... 5 - Page 2 -
Summary Information Repository: Department of Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation Creator: Pinero, Arthur Wing, 1855-1934 Title: ID: D.5 Date [inclusive]: 1875-1935 Physical Description: Language of the Material: Preferred Citation SIR ARTHUR WING PINERO PAPERS 2 boxes English (Name of item, if applicable), SIR ARTHUR WING PINERO PAPERS, 1875-1935. Rare Books Special Collections & Preservation Department, University of Rochester. Biographical/Historical note Sir Arthur Wing Pinero (1855-1934) was the son of a London solicitor, and received his early training in his father's office. He left the law office in 1874 to work as a character actor of R.H. Wyndham of the Edinburgh Stock Company, and made his first appearance at the Theatre Royal, Edinburgh. He was next employed at the Alexandra Theatre, Liverpool under the management of Edward Saker in 1875. He moved to the Lyceum company in London in 1876, and the Haymarket in 1881, where he was employed by the Bancrofts. He ceased acting in 1884. His playwrighting career began in 1877, his first efforts being one act curtain-raisers and farces. In 1889 the tone of his plays became more serious. With "The Profligate" he began the vogue for "problem plays." The best known and most successful of these was "The Second Mrs. Tanqueray" (1893). After 1914, Pinero was eclipsed by changing social conditions and newer playwrights, although he continued to have plays produced until 1932. Altogether, he wrote fiftyfour plays. - Page 3-
Scope and Contents note The collection consists mainly of correspondence between Sir Arthur Wing and Lady Pinero with members of the English and American theatre. Of interest is a group of letters written in 1875 by Pinero to his friend Tom Tomlin while Pinero was a young actor in Liverpool and other provincial theatres. Administrative Information Publication Statement Department of Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation Rush Rhees Library Second Floor, Room 225 Rochester, NY 14627-0055 rarebks@library.rochester.edu URL: http://www.library.rochester.edu/rbscp Restrictions on Access The SIR ARTHUR WING PINERO PAPERS is open for research use. Researchers are advised to contact the Rare Books Special Collections & Preservation Department prior to visiting. Upon arrival, researchers will also be asked to fill out a registration form and provide photo identification. Immediate Source of Acquisition note Various gifts and purchases, 1946 to present. Restrictions on Use In consultation with a curator, reproductions may be made upon request. Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from a curator. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions. - Page 4-
Related Materials Related Archival Materials note Biographical information: Dictionary of National Biography; Dunkel, Wilbur. Sir Arthur Pinero. (Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 1941); Dawick, John. Pinero; a Theatrical Life. (Niwot, CO: Unversity Press of Colorado, 1993. Photographs of the production of "The Second Mrs.Tanqueray" at the Playhouse, London in June, 1922 can be found in the Theatre Photo File. Collection Inventory Title/Description Contents List Box 1: Indexed correspondence, 1875-1933 Box 2 Title/Description Contents List Folder 1. Indexed correspondence, undated 2. Indexed correspondence, undated 3. Indexed correspondence, undated 4. Indexed correspondence, undated 5. Indexed correspondence, undated 6. Indexed correspondence, undated 7. Unidentified correspondents, undated - Page 5-
8. Manuscript statement, signed, by Sir Arthur Wing Pinero, September 9, 1916 appealing to the United States to enter the First World War 9. Portraits of Sir Arthur Wing Pinero including an original caricature of Pinero drawn by Leslie Ward ("Spy") for Vanity Fair. 10. Order of service for memorial to Sir Arthur Wing Pinero, November 28, 1934 11. Manuscript contract between Sir John Fairs Hare and Irene Vanbrugh for her to act in Hare's production of "The Gay Lord Quex" by Arthur Wing Pinero, June 1, 1899 12. Typescript for "Sweet Lavender; an original Domestic Drama in Three Acts" by Arthur Wing Pinero. Apparently prepared for a production at the Amateur Comedy Club, New York City, undated. Bound in paper wrappers. 13. Typescript for "The Amazons; a Farciful Romance in Three Acts" by Arthur Wing Pinero. Prepared for Charles Frohman's production at the Lyceum Theatre, New York, February, 1894. Bound volume. 14. Bound manuscript of "The Passions," a play by T.W. Robertson. Inscribed to Arthur Wing Pinero by the author. 15. Program for the original production of Pinero's "His House in Order." St. James's Theatre, London, February 1, 1906. 16. Sotheby Co. auction catalogue for a sale held May 20-21, 1935 at which several Pinero manuscripts were sold 17. 1 reel of microfilm of Pinero letters owned by the University of Rochester Library made for J.P. Wearing in December, 1968 (see list in register file) - Page 6-