Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Ray Middleton papers, 1896-1987
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Middleton, Ray
- Title
- Ray Middleton papers
- Dates
- 1896-1987 (inclusive)Date of CollectionDate of Collection
- Quantity
- 33.06 cubic ft. (31 boxes)
- Collection Number
- 11040
- Summary
- Contains materials documenting the professional career and personal life of actor and singer Ray Middleton.
- Repository
-
American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
American Heritage Center
University of Wyoming
1000 E. University Ave.
Dept. 3924
Laramie, WY
82071
Telephone: 3077663756
ahcref@uwyo.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Access Restrictions
There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.
- Languages
- English
Historical NoteReturn to Top
Ray Middleton, 1907-1984, was a singer and American character actor. His musical career began in New York where he sang roles in opera and on radio. He also sang roles in Broadway musicals such as "Roberta" in the 1930s, co-starred with Ethyl Merman in the original "Annie Get Your Gun" (1946), and was in "South Pacific". In 1965, he played the Innkeeper in the first Broadway production of "The Man of La Mancha." As an actor he became involved in motion pictures such as "Hurricane Smith" (1941), "Lady for a Night" (1942), "I Dream of Jeanie" (a movie about Stephen Foster, 1952), "Jubilee Trail" (1954), and "1776" (1972). He served in the US Air Force during World War II and performed in Air Force shows such as "Winged Victory." He then entered television where his career spanned three decades and included roles in "M*A*S*H*" (1981) and "Too Close for Comfort" (1981-1984). In the 1950s he appeared several times on "The Ed Sullivan Show" and "The Colgate Comedy Hour". He had been a Chatauqua performer, 1932-1933, and later in life he developed lecture tours and one man shows such as "America in Song and Story" and "Mr. Lincoln Goes to Gettysburg".
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection contains documentation for Middleton's acting career and includes scripts, scores, correspondence, photographs, posters, clippings, scrapbooks, reviews, publicity, and sheet music from several of his performances. There are reel to reel and cassette audio tapes of his radio shows and other recordings. Additionally there is material related to his personal life and interests such as poetry, correspondence with family members, and miscellaneous biographical information.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Copyright InformationThe researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.
Preferred Citation
Preferred CitationItem Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Related Materials
Related MaterialsThere are no known other archival collections created by Ray Middleton at the date of processing.
Acquisition Information
Acquisition InformationThis material was received from Terry Furlong in 1987.
Processing Note
Processing InformationThe collection was processed by Laura Uglean Jackson in March 2011.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series I. Professional Materials, 1934-1982Return to Top
Contains scripts, theater programs, posters, advertisements, reviews, and other publicity for productions involving Ray Middleton. Correspondence, images, newspaper clippings, and ephemera relating to Middleton's career can also be found in this series.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box | ||
1 | 1 1/2 Hour Program |
undated |
1 | 1776 |
circa 1971 |
1 | Abridged Scripts [9 Haggadahs] |
undated |
1 | Act - Night Club, etc |
undated |
1 | Actor's Organizations |
1973 |
1 | Americana/Treasury of America |
circa 1956 |
1 | And David Wept |
1970-1976 |
31 | Awards |
undated |
1 | Banjo 6 Shooter, $8.00 Curtain |
undated |
1 | Ballad for Americans |
1941 |
1 | Bill Brown |
1948-1951 |
1 | Candle Records |
1957-1958 |
1 | Christmas Day at Night |
circa 1973 |
1 | Christmas Program |
undated |
1 | Coliseum |
1954-1955 |
1 | The Community Concert Association |
undated |
1 | Contracts |
1935-1982 |
1 | Creation, Shape of Things, Extra Verse "Let it Alone" Lyrics |
undated |
1 | Day's End (Lincoln) |
1957 |
1 | De Los Angeles (lyrics) |
undated |
1 | Easter |
1967 |
1 | England |
undated |
1 | Hullabaloo |
undated |
1 | I Dream of Jeanie |
circa 1952 |
2 | Illinois, Illinois |
1930-1955 |
2 | Jubilee Trail |
1954 |
10 | King David |
1959-1960 |
2 | Leigh Lecture |
circa 1964 |
2 | Lincoln |
1952 |
2 | Love Life |
circa 1948 |
2, 31 | The Man of La Mancha |
1965-1970 |
2, 31 | Miscellaneous |
undated |
2 | Paint Your Wagon |
undated |
2 | Passion Play |
1958 |
2 | Programs and Publicity |
1936-1965 |
2, 25 | Purple Dust |
1965 |
3, 10, 31 | Publicity |
1941-1967 |
3 | Publicity (newspaper clippings) |
1930s-1970s |
3 | Ragtime |
1969-1970 |
3 | Read the South, Religion, etc. |
undated |
11, 31 | Scrapbooks |
1934-1964 |
3 | Sherman, Editta |
undated |
3 | Ship Concert, MO "Doin It", Ray Middleton |
undated |
3 | Smock |
1971-1973 |
3 | Snader Telescriptions |
1964 |
3 | South Pacific |
1950-1965 |
3 | Speeches, Scripts, Narration |
1957-1968 |
4 | Stephen Foster Americana |
undated |
4 | The Ten Dollar Divorce |
1982 |
4 | Thy Kingdom Come |
1954-1955 |
25 | Too Close for Comfort |
1981 |
4 | Too Good to be True |
1963-1964 |
4 | Treasury of Americana |
undated |
4 | Tribute to America |
1964 |
4-5, 25 | Victor Herbert Musical |
1952-1959 |
28 | Victory Caravan |
1942 |
5 | Walk Along |
1978 |
5 | Winged Victory |
undated |
Series II. Personal Materials, 1915-1983Return to Top
Contains material relating to Middleton's personal and family life.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box | ||
5 | Address Books |
undated |
5 | Andrews, Vincent |
1964 |
25 | Army |
1943-1945 |
5 | Biography |
undated |
5 | Birth Certificates |
undated |
5 | Christmas |
1968-1969 |
5 | Coat of Arms |
1966-1972 |
5 | Communist - Nazi - Show Business Pinkos |
1946-1952 |
5 | Diaries |
1928, 1955, 1966-1979 |
5 | Divorce |
1960 |
5 | Doctor Data |
1954 |
5 | Don Q. |
1967 |
5, 10 | Dunewood |
1959-1983 |
25 | Ecology |
undated |
5 | Eulogy |
1972 |
5 | Family Information |
1965 |
5 | General Interest |
1964 |
5 | Grist |
1966-1977 |
5 | Humor |
1943 |
5 | Indian |
1955 |
5 | Japanese |
undated |
6 | Middleton, A.C. |
1947-1953 |
6 | Middleton, Ray, Youth |
1915-1929 |
5-6, 25 | Miscellaneous |
1935-1972 |
6 | National Council of Churches |
1955 |
6 | Newsletters (family) |
1972 |
6 | Poetry |
1967-1970 |
6 | Reunion Owens |
1979 |
6 | Russell, Bertrand |
1966 |
6, 29 | Society of Colonial Wars |
circa 1967 |
6 | Student Years |
1925-1927 |
6 | Student Performances |
1928-1931 |
6 | Survival- Wildlife |
1965 |
6 | Talking Books |
undated |
6 | Ten Holy Days |
undated |
6 | Time Passes |
1948 |
6 | Wallis, W. Allen |
1959-1975 |
6 | Wedding Publicity |
1967 |
6 | W.P.C. Club |
1975 |
Series III. Correspondence, 1925-1987Return to Top
Contains correspondence related to both Middleton's acting career and personal life.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box | ||
7 | Agent |
1971-1972 |
7 | Arline |
1931-1949 |
7 | Aunt Angie |
1940-1967 |
7 | "B" Miscellaneous |
1966-1979 |
7 | Beatley |
1967-1970 |
7 | Becker, Sam |
1971-1973 |
7 | Benet, Laura |
circa 1969 |
7 | "C" Miscellaneous |
1956-1979 |
7 | Cards |
undated |
7 | Chan |
1946-1967 |
7 | Civello |
circa 1981 |
7 | Conkle |
1970-1974 |
7 | Correspondence from Ray Middleton |
1964-1984 |
7 | Correspondence from Ray Middleton to A.C. Middleton |
1926-1946 |
7 | Correspondence to be Answered |
1970 |
7 | "D" Miscellaneous |
1968-1974 |
7 | Department of Commerce |
1956 |
7 | Draper |
1933-1954 |
7 | Dwan |
1952-1979 |
7 | "F" Miscellaneous |
1971-1973 |
7 | Fans |
1940-1968 |
7 | Fern (Aunt) |
1941 |
7 | F.W. |
1941-1942 |
7 | "G" Miscellaneous |
1972 |
7 | Grace (Aunt) or Grandmother Owens |
1932-1947 |
7 | Grateful Letters |
1940-1968 |
7 | Great Books |
1957 |
7 | Genealogy |
1963-1971 |
7 | "H" Miscellaneous |
1972-1987 |
7 | Herron |
1971-1972 |
7 | Jerstrom, Martin |
1952-1953 |
7 | "K" Miscellaneous |
1950-1973 |
7 | Leigh |
1972-1975 |
8 | McDonalds, Grace "Lela Owens" |
1976 |
8 | Miscellaneous Correspondence |
1925-1984 |
8 | Mueller, Olive |
1950-1954 |
8 | "N", "P", "R" Miscellaneous |
circa 1957 |
8 | "S" Miscellaneous |
1973-1979 |
8 | State Department |
1963-1970 |
8 | "T" Miscellaneous |
1974-1977 |
8 | Telegrams |
1933-1951 |
8 | Truzzi and Sarasota People |
1950 |
8 | "V" Miscellaneous |
1950-1974 |
8 | Valentine |
1970 |
8 | "W" Miscellaneous |
1970-1973 |
8 | The White House |
1974 |
Series IV. Photographs, 1896-1981Return to Top
Contains photographs of Middleton's family and personal life, acting and radio career, and some photos of him in the Army. See "Production Stills" and "Productions" for images of Middleton's films and plays.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box | ||
8 | Cardinal |
circa 1981 |
8 | Family and Baby Pictures |
1896-1909 |
8-9 | Family and Personal (includes some negatives) |
undated |
9 | Family and Personal, Jack Middleton (Ray's son) |
undated |
9, 28-29 | Middleton, Ray |
undated |
9 | Production Stills, Annie Get Your Gun |
undated |
9 | Production Stills, The Girl from Alaska |
1940 |
9 | Production Stills, Hurricane Smith |
1940 |
9 | Production Stills, Lady for a Night |
1941 |
9 | Production Stills, Lady from Louisiana |
1940 |
29 | Production Stills, Love Life |
undated |
9 | Production Stills, Mercy Island |
1940 |
9 | Production Stills, Ragtime and Straight |
1970 |
29 | Production Stills, Too Good to be True |
1963 |
9 | Production Stills, Winged Victory |
1977 |
9-10 | Productions, I Dream of Jeanie |
undated |
10 | Productions, Long Ago and Early Opera |
undated |
10 | Productions, Lucky Lady |
undated |
10 | Productions, The Man of La Mancha |
undated |
10 | Productions, Mr. Lincoln Goes to Gettysburg |
undated |
10 | Productions, Radio and Honest Abe |
undated |
10 | Productions, South Pacific (back stage) |
undated |
25 | Productions, Winged Victory |
undated |
10, 29-30 | Professional, Miscellaneous Photographs |
undated |
10 | Professional, Unidentified Photographs |
undated |
11 | Scrapbook, Personal and Professional Photos |
undated |
26-27 | Slides (Productions, Personal, Professional Misc.) |
undated |
10, 29 | Unidentified Individuals |
undated |
10 | Unidentified Photographs |
undated |
Series V. Sheet Music, undatedReturn to Top
Contains sheet music for plays, musicals, TV and movie productions.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box | ||
11-15, 25 | Sheet Music |
undated |
Series VI. Audio Tapes, undatedReturn to Top
Contains audio recordings for productions starring Middleton.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box | ||
16-24 | Audio Reels |
undated |
22-23 | Cassette Tapes |
undated |
24 | 1" Magnetic Tape |
undated |
24 | Vinyl Records |
undated |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Motion picture actors and actresses.
- One-person shows (Performing arts)
- Singers -- United States.
- Television actors and actresses.
Form or Genre Terms
- Audio tapes
- Scrapbooks
Titles within the Collection
- Annie get your gun (Motion picture : 1950)