Description
This collection contains the personal
and professional papers of American writer Zoë Akins (1886-1958). It includes correspondence
with various literary, theatrical and motion picture figures of the first half of the
twentieth century. There are also manuscripts of novels, plays, poems, short stories,
outlines for plays, and articles. There is also correspondence related to her husband, Hugo
Rumbold (d. 1932), and the Rumbold family.
Background
Zoë Akins (1886-1958) was a dramatist, novelist, poet and screenwriter. Born in
Humansville, Missouri, on 30 October, she was educated at home before attending Monticello
Seminary in Godfrey, Illinois, and Hosmer Hall in St. Louis. While a teenager in St. Louis,
Akins wrote poetry and criticism for William Marion Reedy's "Mirror" in 1905, she moved to
New York to be an actress but eventually found writing to be her true talent. Her early
plays include, "Iseult the Fair," "Papa," "The Magical City," and the moderately successful
"Déclassée," with Ethel Barrymore.
Extent
92 Linear Feet
(185 boxes, 1 folder )
Restrictions
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from
or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The
responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining
necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
Availability
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department.
For more information, contact Reader Services.