Browse by Collection
The following collections are open for research, but electronic finding aids are only available for some collections. Preliminary inventories are available in the Harry Ransom Center's Reading and Viewing Rooms or by request from performing arts staff.
Some of these collections are located in the Manuscripts Collection or the Art Collection. To access these materials, please contact the Associate Librarian or Art staff.
- Abeles, Joseph (ca. 1908-1991). Studio Collection, 1935-1975
- Performing Arts
- Adler, Stella (1902-1992), and Harold Clurman (1901-1980). Papers, 1898-2003
- Performing Arts
- Albery, Donald (1914-1998). Theater Records, 1941-1978
- Performing Arts
- Anderson, Maxwell (1888-1959). Collection
- Manuscripts
- Aronson, Boris (1900-1980). Scenic Design Papers, 1939-1977
- Performing Arts
- B. J. Simmons & Co. (1857-1964). Costume Design Records, 1878-1969
- Performing Arts
- Banbury, Frederick Harold Frith (1912- ). Papers, 1926-1996
- Manuscripts
- Barker, Michael. Collection of Joan Littlewood and the Theatre Workshop, ca. 1937-1975
- Manuscripts
- Barrett, Wilson (1846-1904). Collection, 1865-1934
- Perf. Arts/Manuscripts
- Beckett, Samuel (1906-1989). Collection, 1930-1990
- Manuscripts
- Bernhardt, Sarah (1844-1923). Collection, ca. 1860-1977
- Performing Arts
- Betti, Adolfo (1875-1950). Papers, 1907-1940
- Manuscripts
- The Black Crook Collection, 1853-1929
- Performing Arts
- Blessing, Lee (1949- ). Papers, 1960s-1999
- Manuscripts
- Bowden, Charles. Collection of Tennessee Williams, 1954-2004
- Manuscripts
- Card Photograph Collection, 1860-1920
- Performing Arts
- Chodorov, Edward (1904-1988). Papers, 1936-1997
- Manuscripts
- Clurman, Harold (1901-1980)
See Adler, Stella - Conway, Gordon (1894-1956). Costume Design Collection, 1916-1936
- Performing Arts
- Costume and Scenic Design Collection, 1800-1970
- Performing Arts
- Craig, Edward Gordon (1872-1966). Collection, 1901-1943
- Manuscripts
- Crain, W. H. (1917-1998). Barnum & Bailey Circus Collection, 1805-1937
- Performing Arts
- Crain, W. H. (1917-1998). Costume and Scenic Design Collection, ca. 1650-1993
- Performing Arts
- Daly, Augustin (1838-1899)
See Rehan, Ada - Dance Collection, 1790s-1983
- Performing Arts
- The Deep Blue Sea Collection, 1949-1955
- Performing Arts
- De Niro, Robert (1943- ). Costumes and Props, 1970-2005 (bulk 1990-2005)
- Performing Arts
- De Niro, Robert (1943- ). Personal Effects, 1967-2005
- Performing Arts
- Dickerson, Gordon. Collection of Modern British Playwrights
- Manuscripts
- English Stage Company at the Royal Court Theatre. Correspondence, 1955-1959, nd
- Manuscripts
- Evans, Edith (1888-1976). Papers, 1893-1976
- Performing Arts
- Fehl, Fred (1906-1995). Dance Collection, 1940-1985
- Performing Arts
- Fehl, Fred (1906-1995). Theater Collection, 1935-1983
- Performing Arts
- Fostell, Al Emmett (1856-1920). Papers, 1879-1920
- Performing Arts
- Geddes, Norman Bel (1893-1958). Theater and Industrial Design Papers, 1873-1964
- Performing Arts
- German Plays Collection, ca. 1870-ca. 1910 (bulk 1875-1900)
- Performing Arts
- Glenville, Peter (1913-1996). Papers, 1914-2001
- Manuscripts
- Golby, Bob (b. 1901). Collection, 1931-1977, nd
- Performing Arts
- The Great White Hope
See Sackler, Howard - Hare, David (1947- ). Papers, 1968-1996, nd
- Manuscripts
- Hellman, Lillian (1905-1984). Papers, 1904-1984 (bulk 1934-1984)
- Manuscripts
- Hirschfeld, Al (1903-2003). Collection, 1951-1965, undated
- Performing Arts
- Houdini, Harry (1874-1926). Collection, 1750-1972
- Performing Arts
- Howard, George C. (1815-1887), and Family. Collection, 1833-1963 (bulk 1840-1935)
- Performing Arts
- Jones, Joseph (1908-1999). Caribbean Plays Collection, ca. 1950s-1960s
- Performing Arts
- Kennedy, Adrienne (1931- ). Papers, ca. 1954-1992
- Manuscripts
- Klein, Charles (1867-1915). Plays, 1900-1921
- Manuscripts
- Kops, Bernard (1926- ). Addition to his Papers, 1954-2000
- Manuscripts
- Kops, Bernard (1926- ). Addition to his Papers, 1959-2003
- Manuscripts
- Kraus Libretti. Collection, 1600-1900s
- Books and Periodicals
- Littlewood, Joan (1914-2002)
See Barker, Michael - Long, John Luther (1861-1927). Papers, 1870-1958
- Manuscripts
- Magicians Collection, 1750-1920
- Performing Arts
- Martin, Steve (1945- ). Papers, 1980-1990
- Manuscripts
- Marcus, Stanley (1905-2002). Collection of Sicilian Marionettes, ca. 1850, ca. 1960
- Performing Arts
- Matson, Miles (c. 1912- ). Joke Collection, circa 1950s-1990s
- Performing Arts
- Mayes, John (1921- ). Family Papers, 1879-2004
- Performing Arts
- McNally, Terrence (1938- ). Papers, 1950s-2002
- Manuscripts
- Miller, Arthur (1915-2005). Papers, 1935-1953
- Manuscripts
- Minstrel Show Collection, 1821-1959
- Performing Arts
- Musicians Collection, 1727-1981
- Performing Arts
- New Faces Records, 1950s-1980s
- Manuscripts
- O'Donnell, May (1909-2004). Collection, 1930s-1996
- Performing Arts
- Opera Collection, 1800s-1990
- Performing Arts
- Osborne, John (1929-1994). Papers, 1954-1994
- Manuscripts
- Pantomime Collection, 1793-1977
- Performing Arts
- Pastor, Tony (1837-1908). Collection, 1861-1908
- Performing Arts
- Pearson, Hesketh (1887-1964). Papers, 1789-2001 (bulk 1921-1964)
- Manuscripts
- Pillot, Eugene (1886-1966). Collection, 1917-1955
- Performing Arts
- Pinter, Harold (1930- ). Collection, 1960-1980
- Manuscripts
- Playbills and Programs Collections
London and Other United Kingdom Theaters, 1696 - present
New York City Theaters, 1750 - present
Souvenir Programs and Silk Souvenir Playbills, 1829-ca. 1990
United States Theaters, 1778-present - Performing Arts
- Playscripts and Promptbooks Collection, 1795-1978
- Performing Arts
- Poster Collection, 1880-1980
- Performing Arts
- Prints Collection, 1669-1906
- Performing Arts
- Production Photographs Collection, 1860-1970 (bulk 1900-1965)
- Performing Arts
- Rehan, Ada (1857-1916), and Augustin Daly (1838-1899). Collection, 1884-1898
- Performing Arts
- Rice, Elmer (1892-1967). Collection
- Manuscripts
- Rollitts, Sarah. Papers, 1939-1982
- Performing Arts
- Roose-Evans, James (1927- ). Papers, ca. 1961-1977
- Performing Arts
- Royal Court Theatre
See English Stage Company - Sackler, Howard (1929-1982). Manuscripts for The Great White Hope, 1967-1969
- Manuscripts
- Samuel French, Inc. (1830- ). Correspondence, 1949
- Performing Arts
- Saunders, James (1925-2004). Papers, 1959-1992
- Manuscripts
- Savage, Ann (1921-2008). Costumes for My Winnipeg, ca. 1940s-ca. 1980s
- Performing Arts
- Searle, Ronald (1920- ). Collection, 1949-1961
- Art
- Seidemann, Conrad. Collection of German Plays, ca. 1890-ca. 1920
- Performing Arts
- Shaw, George Bernard (1856-1950). Collection, 1757-1963 (bulk 1875-1950)
- Manuscripts
- Sousa, John Philip (1854-1932). Collection, 1880-1969
- Performing Arts
- Stoppard, Tom (1937- ). Papers, 1939-2000 (bulk 1970-2000)
- Manuscripts
- Taylor, Laurette (1884-1946). Papers, 1907-1959
- Manuscripts
- Theater Biography Collection, 1750-1970
- Performing Arts
- Todd, Arthur (d. 1978). Papers, ca. 1946-1978
- Performing Arts
- Trewin, J. C. (1908-1990). Papers
- Manuscripts
- The Two Orphans Collection, 1874-1926
- Performing Arts
- Uncle Tom's Cabin Collection, 1852-1945
- Performing Arts
- Walston, Ray (1914-2001). Papers, 1938-1995
- Manuscripts
- Ward, Joe E. (b. 1894 or 1895, d. 1971). Circus Collection, ca. 1811-1970
- Performing Arts
- Ward, Richard Heron (1910-1969). Collection, 1930s-1960s
- Manuscripts
- Wesker, Arnold (1932- ). Papers, 1925-2000
- Manuscripts
- Williams, Tennessee (1911-1983). Collection, 1880-1993 (bulk 1930s-1970s)
See also Charles Bowden Collection of Tennessee Williams
See also Tennessee Williams Art Collection - Manuscripts
- Wilson, Sandy (1924- ). Papers, 1936-1996
- Manuscripts
- Winter, William (1836-1917). Papers, 1857-1920
- Manuscripts
- Wolfit, Sir Donald (1902-1968). Papers, 1803-1984
- Performing Arts
- Wood, Audrey (1905-1985). Papers, 1863, 1900-1984, n.d.
- Manuscripts
- Ziegfeld, Florenz (1867-1932). Collection, 1893-1979
- Performing Arts
The Harry Ransom Center's blog Cultural Compass gives an insider's look at news, events, exhibitions, acquisitions, multimedia content, researcher and scholarly work, conservation, and items from the collections.
