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Thomas Albert Curry (dates unknown) was a writer and, from 1914 to 1931, private secretary to famed theater producer David Belasco (1853-1931). Curry was born in Hartford, Connecticut and was involved in the theater as a young man. After his marriage in 1893 he worked as a reporter and in advertising. He returned to the theater in 1913 when he submitted a play to several producers, including Belasco. Belasco liked the play enough to work on the script with Curry. After the death of Belasco's private secretary, he offered the position to Curry. Curry accepted and remained Belasco's secretary until the producer's death. Thomas Curry's son Thomas Albert Curry, Jr. (1900-1976) was a prominent writer of adventure stories and novels.
The Thomas A. Curry Papers contains several items related to Curry's tenure as secretary to famed producer David Belasco. There are numerous articles and drafts of articles about the life and career of Belasco and his associates. There is also draft material for an additional volume to William Winter's Life of David Belasco which was originally published in two volumes covering Belasco's life up to 1917. This volume, the work of Winter's son Jefferson Winter was either published for a very limited distribution or never at all. There are correspondence from Belasco and to Belasco and Curry from numerous associates including Ruth Dayton, W. Somerset Maugham and Lenore Ulric. There are other mementos including Curry's address book, used in conducting business for Belasco. Portraits have been removed to the library's photgraphic collection.
The collection includes about 100 prints, processed to the folder level. It is arranged in groups of David Belasco portraits, Belasco family and friends, production images, and photos of Belasco with colleagues. Many of the images are identified. The principal photographer is the White Studio of New York. With the exception of some of the early family images, the bulk of the collection dates from Curry's employment period, 1914-1931. Box 1 contains images up to 8x10, box 2 contains larger production images, and box 3 contains larger images of Belasco portraits and Belasco with colleagues.