Finding Aid for the George Barnes Collection, 1919-1926
Processed by Jennifer Myers; machine-readable finding aid created by Jennifer Myers and Julie Graham
UCLA Library, Performing Arts Special Collections
University of California, Los Angeles, Library
Performing Arts Special Collections, Room A1713
Charles E. Young Research Library, Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
Phone: (310) 825-4988
Fax: (310) 206-1864
Email: speccoll-paging@library.ucla.edu
http://www2.library.ucla.edu/specialcollections/performingarts/index.cfm
© 2005
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: George Barnes Papers
Date (inclusive): 1919-1926
Collection number: 282
Creator: Barnes, George
Extent: 2 boxes (.5 linear ft.) 1 flat box (1.0 linear ft.)
Abstract: George Barnes was a popular West Coast stock performance actor during the 1920s. The collection consists of photographs, clippings,
correspondence, scrapbook and ephemera related to his career.
Repository:
University of California, Los Angeles. Library.
Performing Arts Special Collections.
Los Angeles, California 90095-1575
Physical location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library, Performing
Arts Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Administrative Information
Restrictions on Access
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Advance notice required for access.
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library,
Performing Arts Special Collections. Literary rights, including copyright,
are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of
the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the
copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC
Regents do not hold the copyright.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], George Barnes Collection (Collection 282). Performing Arts Special Collections, Charles E. Young
Research Library, UCLA.
Biography
George Barnes was born in the late 1800's in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was popular in West Coast stock performances during
the 1920s. He performed in groups such as the President Players and the Wilkes Players. He had aspirations of performing on
Broadway, but made it only as far as Washington D.C. before resuming his career on the West Coast. Barnes died on November
18, 1949 in Hollywood, California.
Scope and Content
The collection consists of correspondence, memorabilia, photographs, and one scrapbook, related to the
career of stage actor George Barnes. The small amount of correspondence is a mixture of
professional and personal communications including telegrams of well wishes for theater appearances.
The memorabilia is programs, playbills, and other printed ephemera collected by and or related to
Barnes. The bulk of the photographs include images of Barnes and unidentified cast
members (from unidentified stage productions), along with a small number of photographs that
appear to be personal in nature. The fragile scrapbook of clippings includes reviews and publicity for
various West Coast theater productions, the majority being from Colorado performance, including
The
Copperhead
,
Petite Darling, and
The Meanest Man in the World. The bulk of the collection dates between 1919 and 1926. The folder titles were created by the processor.
Organization and Arrangement
Arranged in the following series:
- Series 1: Correspondence (Box 1, 1920-1926)
- Series 2: Memorabilia (Box 3, ca. 1919-1926)
- Series 3: Photographs (Box 2-3, ca. early to mid-1920s)
- Series 4: Scrapbook and Clippings (Box 3, 1919-1920s)
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Subjects
Barnes, George--Archives.
Actors--Archival resources.
Genres and Forms of Material
Photographs.
Series 1: Correspondence (Box 1, 1920-1926)
Scope and Content Note
This small series includes a mixture of professional and personal communications. The professional
communications appear to be related to bookings and/or professional activities such as fan mail and
telegrams of well wishes for theater appearances. The personal correspondence includes letters
concerning Barnes' separation from his wife, Susie M. Barnes. The files are arranged into four folders:
Business letters, Fan letters, Personal correspondence, and Telegrams. The files are arranged
alphabetically by folder title and the correspondence within each file is arranged chronologically.
Box 1
Business letters to George Barnes
1924, 1926
Box 1
Fan letters to George Barnes
1920, 1923, 1926
Box 1
Personal correspondence to George Barnes
1924, 1926
Note
With 2 letters pertaining George Barnes's divorce from Susie M. Barnes.
Box 1
Telegrams to George Barnes
1921-1925
Note
Mostly well wishes for theater appearances including the Alcazar Theatre in San
Fransico, CA, and President Theatre, DC.
Series 2: Memorabilia (Box 3, ca. 1919-1926)
Scope and Content Note
This series includes a small number of programs, playbills, and other printed ephemera collected by and
in some cases related to Barnes. Most of the memorabilia is playbills and printed ephemera related to
the Savoy Players and the Wilkes Players (at the Denham Theatre); some with listings for and/or illustrations
of Barnes. Additionally, there are two drawings that appear to be mock-ups for publicity. Only one of the
drawings is identified as being for A Voice in the Dark.
Box 1
Advertisement for Dufor Boys
no date
Note
Printed image of Barnes and partner as Dufor Boys.
Box 1
Calling cards collected by Barnes
no date
Box 3
Drawings of George Barnes (2 oversize items)
no date
Note
Appears to be mock ups for publicity.
Box 1
Playbill for Actor's Memorial Benefit
1919 Dec 5
Box 1
Playbills collected by Barnes
ca. 1919, no date
Note
Do not appear to related to Barnes' appearances.
Box 1
Playbills and printed ephemera for Wilkes Players with listings for and occasional
illustrations of Barnes
1919-1922
Note
Playbills mostly from Deham Theatre Colorado: A Tailor-Made Man, Adam and Eva, If I
Were King, The Commanding Officer, The Ghost Between, The Marriage of Kitty, The Ouija Board,
and The Walk Offs. Advertisements (on the back of menus) for Broken Thread and Where the
Trail Divides.
Box 1
Playbills for Wilkes Players
1918-1921
Note
One is titled Review Season 1918-1919 of the Wilkes Players (and mentions Barnes).
The other is titled, Wilkes Players Casts 1920-1921. One mention of Barnes.
Box 1
Programs for Savoy Players with listings for Barnes
no date
Note
Only 38, In Love with Love, Kiki, and The Witch Doctor. With a hand laundry receipt for
Barnes at the Savoy Theater.
Box 1
Publication for Fullers Courier
1926 Jan
Series 3: Photographs (Box 2-3, ca. early to mid-1920s)
Scope and Content Note
The majority of the photographs appear to be career related and they include a small amount of
professional portraits of Barnes, a small number of professional photographs of cast members, and a
number of small snapshots of Barnes and other performers (in costume). Additionally, there is a small
number of group shots believed to be the Savoy Players. The photographs are not identified and it is
unknown what productions they are from. Also included is a small amount of unidentified photographs
which appear personal in nature. Since the photographs are not identified, there is no specific
arrangement.
Box 2
George Barnes - duplicate photographs of head shots found in collection
no date
Box 2
George Barnes - portrait-like photographs (21 items)
ca. 1920s
Note
Mostly professional headshots of Barnes.
Box 3
George Barnes - portrait-like photographs (6 oversize items)
no date
Box 2
George Barnes and Mrs. [W?] Barnes (1 item)
no date
Box 2
George Barnes and others - possibly personal in nature (23 items)
no date
Note
Small unlabeled photographs of unidentified people. Some shots appear to be or
include Barnes.
Box 2
George Barnes and unidentified performers snapshots (131 items)
no date
Note
Snapshot size photographs of Barnes and other performers in costume. Performance(s)
is unknown.
Box 3
Photographs of [perfomers] (5 oversize items)
no date
Note
Most of the photographs are inscribed to G.B.
Box 2
Photographs of [performers] all unidentified (7 items)
no date
Box 2
Photographs of [performers] inscribed to G.B. (16 items)
1920's
Note
Some signed with first names only and/or hard to read.
Box 2
Photographs of dogs (8 items)
no date
Note
Some include two young girls with dogs.
Box 3
Photographs of performers - mostly group shots (8 oversize items)
no date
Note
Appear to be from unknown stage performances. Most include Barnes.
Box 2
Savoy Players - photographs (4 items)
no date
Note
Three group shots that appear to be the Savoy Players. One live scene photograph is
labeled Federal Theatre Project.
Series 4: Scrapbook and clippings (Box 3, 1919-1920s)
Scope and Content Note
This series contains one fragile scrapbook and a small amount of loose clippings related to Barnes' stage
career. The scrapbook contains newspaper accounts and reviews, playbill clippings, and
photographs related to Barnes' West Coast career. Much of the material represents his Colorado
appearances in productions at Denham Theatre, including
The Copperhead,
Petite Darling, and
The Meanest Man in the World. Additionally, there is a small amount of material documenting other West
Coast appearances. The majority of photographs in the scrapbook are not identified. The additional
loose clippings include theater production advertisements and reviews related to Barnes.
Box 3
George Barnes clippings - theater production advertisements and reviews related to
Barnes.
ca. 1923-1924
Box 3
George Barnes scrapbook - career related clippings and photographs
ca. 1919, 1920's