Preston Gibson papers, 1903-1920

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Series I: Non-Dramatic Material, 1904-1920

This series contains non-dramatic writings by Gibson, notably the complete manuscript for an untitled novel and a memoir of Gibson's military training entitled "The Courage of Ignorance." Personal papers consist mostly of the correspondence of William Everts Benjamin, Gibson's father-in-law, and include inquiries into the copyrights held on the multi-volume Library of American Literature (which Benjamin published) and documents relating to Benjamin's purchase of a portrait of Ralph Sheldon, painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds, from M. Knoedler and Co. A number of photographs of Gibson with members of the Pratt family and the actor Douglas Fairbanks are also part of the collection.



Box 1 Folder 1 "The Courage of Ignorance,", 1916


Box 1 Folder 2 Novel (Untitled), undated


Box 1 Folder 3 Personal Papers, 1904-1920


Box 1 Folder 4 Photographs, 1918-1920


Box 1 Folder 5 Writings, undated

Series II: Constructive Course, undated

This series contains a "constructive course" on playwriting that outlines and describes the facets of a dramatic work. Analyses of the various elements of three well-known plays are also included. While not so marked, this course appears to be the work of W.T. (William Thompson) Price, author of The Technique of the Drama and The Analysis of Play Construction. A letter from Price is also included in this series.


Box 1 Folder 6 "Constructive Course,", undated


Box 1 Folder 7 Camille--Exercises, undated


Box 1 Folder 8 A New Way to Pay Old Debts--Exercises, undated


Box 1 Folder 9 Still Waters Run Deep--Exercises, undated

Series III: Plays, 1903-1920

The vast majority of the collection is comprised of scripts, in varying stages of completeness, for a number of plays. Included are bound scripts, handwritten notes, scenarios outlining plots, and drafts, both partial and complete. In the case of The Splendid Sinner there are also printed materials, including a pamphlet on the life of Lola Montez, printed in Munich in 1848. While the collection does not contain a manuscript of Gibson's best-known play, The Turning Point, there are production notes for this work.

N.B. Several of the plays have more than one title; in these cases, the titles under which Gibson registered the works for copyright are given first and earlier titles or working titles are listed parenthetically.


Box 1 Folder 10 Anthony , undated



Box 2 Folder 1 to 2 The Conflict , 1909, (2 Folders)


Box 2 Folder 3 Crossed Wires , undated


Box 2 Folder 4 Faith , undated


The Golden Calf (The Score)


Box 2 Folder 5 Notes, circa, 1920


Box 2 Folder 6 Scenarios, circa, 1920


Box 2 Folder 7 Scripts

(Bound)


Box 2 Folder 8 Script

(Early Version)


Box 2 Folder 9 Script

(Nearly Complete)


Box 2 Folder 10 Scripts

(Partial)



Box 3 Folder 1 Grabbe and Runne , 1920


Box 3 Folder 2 The Lucky Strike (The Silver Star) , 1919


Moonshine (Stray Lock)


Box 3 Folder 3 Notes, circa, 1920


Box 3 Folder 4 Script, circa, 1920

(Nearly Complete)


Box 3 Folder 5 to 6 Scripts, circa, 1920, (2 Folders)

(Partial)


Box 3 Folder 7 Nine-Time-Out-of-Ten , undated


The Splendid Sinner (Lola Montez)


Box 3 Folder 8 Notes, 1903-1920


Box 3 Folder 9 Printed Materials, 1848-circa, 1920


Box 3 Folder 10 Scenarios, 1903-1920


Scripts



Box 4 Folder 1 1903


Box 4 Folder 2 to 3 1910, (2 Folders)


Box 4 Folder 4 to 5 1920, (2 Folders)


Box 4 Folder 6 1903-1920

(Partial)


Box 4 Folder 7 The Turning Point--Notes, 1904