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:
  1. Series 1: Correspondence (Box 1, 1920-1926)
  2. Series 2: Memorabilia (Box 3, ca. 1919-1926)
  3. Series 3: Photographs (Box 2-3, ca. early to mid-1920s)
  4. 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

Note

Listing for Barnes.
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