University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
2117
James, Florence Bean, 1892-1988
Florence Bean James papers
1916-1988
2.31 cubic feet plus 1 vertical
file and 2 microfilm reels
Collection materials are in
English.
Papers of Florence Bean James, a Seattle theater director and consultant
Florence Bean James, along with her husband Burton W. James, were
founders of the Seattle Repertory Playhouse and played a central role in the
city’s theatrical life for nearly 30 years. They arrived in 1923, coaxed west
from New York to teach drama and produce plays at the Cornish School. They
established the Repertory Playhouse (not to be confused with the Seattle
Repertory Theatre) five years later. Their reputation was tarnished and their
theatre forced out of business after they became targets of the Washington
State Legislative Committee on Un-American Activities, headed by Representative
Albert Canwell, in 1948. After Burton’s death in 1951, Florence James accepted
a position as a drama instructor at the Saskatchewan School of the Arts. In
1953, she joined the Saskatchewan Arts Board as drama consultant, holding that
position until 1968. She was instrumental in the founding of the acclaimed
Globe Theatre in Regina, Saskatchewan. She was much honored for her work in
Canada, receiving, among other awards, the Legion of Honor Medal, the Queen’s
Silver Medal, and the Diplôme d’Honneur from the Canadian Conference of the
Arts. She died in Regina on January 18, 1988, at age 95.
Organized into 3 accessions.
- Accession No. 2117-001, Florence Bean James papers,
1916-1972
- Accession No. 2117-003, Drafts of manuscript "Fists upon a star",
before 1978
- Accession No. 2117-004, Florence Bean James papers, 1988
The Florence Bean James papers contain correspondence, programs,
photos, clippings, and other papers, relating to James's career as director of
theater, Cornish School of Allied Arts, Seattle, Washington (1923-1928);
co-founder (with her husband, Burton W. James) and director, Seattle Repertory
Playhouse (1928-1950); director, Washington State Theatre (1936-1939);
director, Federal Theatre Project, Seattle (1936-1938); and director,
instructor, or consultant with various drama groups in Canada from 1937.
Includes manuscript of James's unpublished memoir, "Fists Upon a Star," and
anonymous manuscript (44 pages) documenting defense preparation and appearance
before Washington State Legislature Joint Legislative Fact-Finding Committee on
Un-American Activities (1948) of James and her husband and four co-defendants
(the Seattle Six). Also included is a program, clipping, obituaries, tributes
from a memorial celebration for Florence James held in Seattle in 1988.
Open to all users.
Request at UW
Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington
Libraries.
Gundlach, Ralph H. (Ralph Harrelson), 1902-1978
James, Burton W
James, Florence Bean, 1892-1988--Archives
Ottenheimer, Albert M
Cornish School of Allied Arts (Seattle, Wash.)
Seattle Repertory Playhouse
Seattle Repertory Theatre
Washington (State). Legislature. Joint Legislative Fact-Finding Committee on Un-American Activities
Washington State Theater
Theatrical companies--Washington (State)--Seattle
Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
Performing Arts
Seattle
Accession No. 2117-001: Florence Bean James papers, 1916-1972
2.31 cubic feet (6
boxes)
Scope and Content:
Correspondence, autobiography and other writings, interview
transcript, programs, newsletters, ephemera, reports, clippings, 1914-51.
Includes drafts of James' autobiography and biography, records relating to her
theater companies, Seattle Repertory Playhouse and Washington State Theatre and
to the Federal Theatre Project. Also includes papers of her husband, Burton W.
James.
Restrictions on Access:
Open to all users.
Restrictions on Use:
Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of
Washington Libraries.
Acquisition Info:
Donated by Florence James and others, 4/20/0197.
Series 1
Personal Papers
1/1
2117-001
Biographical Features
1944-1988, undated
Incoming Letters
1/2
2117-001
Hellman, Jerome
1969
1/3
2117-001
Ottenheimer, Albert M.
1930-1969
General Correspondence
1/4
2117-001
Bennington College
1935
1/5-6
2117-001
B-W Miscellaneous
1929-1972
1/7
2117-001
Re: "Fists Upon A Star"
1969-1972, undated
Speeches and Writings
1/8-14
2117-001
Miscellaneous
1940-1970, undated
"Fists Upon A Star" (Autobiography)
1/15-4/2
2117-001
Typescripts
1969
4/3
2117-001
Oral Interview Transcripts - Johnson,
Robert
1969
Speeches and Other Writings
4/4-8
2117-001
Johnson, Robert S., An Unpublished Biography of
Florence and Burton James, "Fists Upon A Star"
1952
4/9
2117-001
Financial Records - Estates of A.B. and Mary
Bean
1932-1936
4/10-11
2117-001
Clippings
1936-1972
4/12-14, 5/1
2117-001
Ephemera
1916-1967, undated
5/2
2117-001
Miscellany
undated
5/3-4
2117-001
Reports - Saskatchewan Arts Board
1951-1969
Canwell Committee Hearings
5/5-6
2117-001
Reports
1949-1950
5/7-8
2117-001
Clippings
1949-1972
Series 2
Burton W. James
5/9-10
2117-001
General Correspondence
1914-1950
5/11-12
2117-001
Speeches and Writings
1938-1947, undated
5/13
2117-001
Legal Documents - Passport
1925
5/14
2117-001
Clippings
1933, 1951
Series 3
Seattle Repertory Playhouse
5/15
2117-001
Historical Features: Anniversary
Publications
1927-1947
5/16
2117-001
Historical Features: Repertoires
1928-1943
5/17-19
2117-001
Historical Features: "A 20 Year History of the
Playhouse" by Albert M. Ottenheimer and Walter F. Gyger
1948
5/20
2117-001
Programs
1929-1947, undated
5/21
2117-001
Newsletters
1943-1951
6/1
2117-001
Ephemera
1934-1946, undated
Series 4
Cornish School of Allied Arts, Cornish
Theatre
6/2
2117-001
Incoming Letters and Related Papers
1924-1927
Series 5
Washington State Theatre
6/3-6
2117-001
Reports
circa 1938
6/7
2117-001
Speeches and Writings: Burton W. James
1938
6/8-9
2117-001
Speeches and Writings: Ralph H. Gundlach
1938-1950, undated
6/10
2117-001
Related papers
undated
Series 6
U.S. Federal Theatre Project
6/11
2117-001
Programs and Related Papers
1936, undated
6/12
2117-001
Bulletin
circa 1936
Accession No. 2117-003: Drafts of manuscript "Fists upon a star", before
1978
1 microfilm reel : positive
Scope and Content:
Microfilm copy of "Fists Upon a Star" drafts.
Restrictions on Access:
Open to all users.
Restrictions on Use:
Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of
Washington Libraries.
Acquisition Info:
Filmed from originals at UW, 4/1/1977.
Accession No. 2117-004: Florence Bean James papers, 1988
1 vertical file
Scope and Content:
Program, clipping, obituaries, tributes.
All items concern memorial celebration for Florence James in
Seattle on 26 Sep 1988.
Restrictions on Access:
Open to all users.
Restrictions on Use:
Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of
Washington Libraries.
Acquisition Info:
Donated by Joan Freeman, 5/5/1988.