University of Utah Libraries, Special Collections
Manuscripts Division
Special Collections
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City, Utah 84112-0860
801-581-8864
http://www.lib.utah.edu/collections/manuscripts.php
ACCN 2529
McGrath, Byron, 1909-1983
Byron McGrath papers
1926-1993
2.25 linear feet
5 boxes
The Byron McGrath papers (1926-1993) consist of materials regarding the personal and professional lives of both Byron McGrath and Grace Coppin McGrath as actors, teachers, and philanthropists.
Collection materials are in
English.
Biographical Note
Byron McGrath (1909-1983) was born in New York City and studied at the American Laboratory Theatre. McGrath studied acting, directing, theatre history, drama structure, dance, phonetics, and voice projection from multiple well-known professionals in New York as well as Literature and Speech at Columbia University. Then with the Cleveland Playhouse (1929-1930) and the University Players (1930), McGrath continued to star in Playhouse and Broadway productions. McGrath continued his studies with various individuals and Universities as he directed many off-Broadway productions and performed on radio shows.
In 1939, McGrath, along with his wife, toured the U.S. and played on Broadway with Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne in
The Taming of the Shrew. McGrath joined the United States Army in 1943 and was assigned on various occasions to give instruction to army officers on communication. After being discharged from the army, McGrath returned to New York to produce and star in productions such as How I Wonder, Command Decision, and Rip Van Winkle. In 1952, McGrath opened an ice cream plant in Ecuador where he ran the plant and taught English for two years. McGrath then came to Salt Lake City, Utah to open a restaurant but then became an Assistant Professor of Theatre for the University of Utah's College of Fine Arts.
Grace Coppin McGrath (1910-1993) was born in Murray, Utah where she received her first acting position in the play
Jacob Hamblin. Grace attended UCLA where she played roles at the Pasadena Playhouse as well as working with radio. In 1936, Grace went to New York City for a job in radio and received her first lead in a Broadway musical, Fireman's Flame the following year. It was during her involvement with the part that Grace met Byron McGrath. They were married before they toured performing The Taming of the Shrew. Grace continued to star in multiple productions as well as various motion pictures and radio soap operas. After having a son, Coppin became more involved with the role of theater in her community and began organizing a Youth Theatre in New York City. After going with Byron McGrath to Ecuador, they both came to Salt Lake City where she continued to act in multiple productions for Pioneer Memorial Theatre.
The Byron McGrath papers consist of correspondence and periodicals relating to both Byron McGrath and Grace Coppin McGrath's personal lives and professional career. The papers also consist of documents, playbills, and scripts for the various productions performed and produced by both Byron and Grace.
This collection is arranged, first, with personal documents which are followed by choronologically organized correspondence. These documents are followed by writings and miscellaneous collected publications. The collection then contains documents regarding various productions alphabetically organized. Final documents are collected newspaper clippings.
Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.
The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.
Collection Name, Collection Number, Box Number, Folder Number. Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah.
Donated by Dr. J. Boyer Jarvis in 2010.
Processed by Esabelle Khaosanga in 2015.
McGrath, Byron, 1909-1983--Archives
McGrath, Grace Coppin, 1910-1993--Archives
University of Utah. Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre--Sources
Actors--Utah--Archives
Actors--New York (State) --Archives
Theater--Utah--Sources
Performing Arts
Personal correspondence
Drama
Theater programs
Newsletters
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Telegrams
Personal and professional materials
This series contains documents relating to the personal lives of Byron McGrath and Grace Coppin McGrath. Documents relate to correspondence, financial documents, and biographical information.
1
1
Biographical and financial documents 1951-1993
Documents in this folder include multiple drafts of Byron McGrath's biographical sketch as well as his resume.
1
2
Notes and teaching material
1
3
Grace Coppin McGrath honors and awards 1942-1978
This folder contains a brief biological description of Coppin in the presentation of an Honorary Life Membership to the University of Utah Women's Club.
1
4
Grace McGrath University termination 1961-1962
This folder contains related correspondence as well as documents relating to the termination of Grace McGrath's employment from the University of Utah's Theatre Department
1
5
Pictures
Documents in this folder accompany corresponding pictures.
1
6
Pioneer Memorial Theatre surveys 1966
1
7-8
General Correspondence
1940-1988
1
9
Telegrams
1936-1978
Notable telegrams in this folder are from well-known figures such as Lynn Fontanne and Alfred Lunt, Tamara Daykarhanova and Maria Ouspenskaya.
1
10
Cards
1956-1978
1
11
Thank you card
1
12
Child's letter to Grace Coppin McGrath
Writings and newsletters
2
1
Writings
2
2
Grant Gottschall Writings
2
3
Equity 1941
2
4
Radio Best 1950
2
5
University of Utah annual commencements 1964
1978
2
6
The New Republic
Productions
3
1
Aladdin, Grace McGrath
1964
3
2
Angel Street 1942
1958
3
3
Antigone 1963
3
4
Army documents
1943-1945
Documents in this folder relate to radio and theatre productions to which Byron McGrath was involved.
3
5
Calculated Risk
1965
3
6
The Investigation, director's copy
3
7
The Investigation, Byron McGrath
1973
3
8
Kind Oedipus
3
9
Lysistrata
4
1
Macbeth
1958
4
2
Man of la Mancha
4
3
Married to Murder, G. T. Fleming-Roberts
4
4
Men in White
4
5
My Friend Freddy, Grace McGrath
4
6
The New Republic
1934
4
7
The Subject Was Roses
1967
4
8
Collected playbills
1929-1979
4
9
Summer theatre
1937-1946
4
10
Musical booklets
1961-1962
4
11
Barefoot in the Park
1968
4
12
University of Utah plays and operas 1971-1973
Clippings and publications
5
1-3
Newspaper clippings
1931-1983
5
4
General publications
1974-1990
5
5
High school articles
1926
5
6
Advertisements
1947-1978