James Robinson Planché Papers, 1794-1882

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Summary

Creators:
Planché, J. R. (James Robinson), 1796-1880.
Abstract:
This collection contains the papers of English dramatist and antiquary James Robinson Planché (1796-1880). The majority relates to his work in the theater, antiquarian pursuits, and costume expertise.
Extent:
361 pieces in 8 boxes
Language:
English.

Background

Scope and content:

The papers consist of the following series:

1. Manuscripts, Correspondence & Documents (Boxes 1-6) are arranged alphabetically by author and title. The majority of the material consists of manuscripts, correspondence, documents, and drawings directly related to James Robinson Planché and his work in the theatre, antiquarian pursuits, and costume expertise. Among the authors and correspondents are: John Baldwin Buckstone, William E. Gladstone, Benjamin Robert Haydon, Leigh Hunt, Ellen Kean, Frances Maria Kelly, Charles Kemble, Albert Denison (Baron Londesborough), Rosina Bulwer Lytton (Baroness Lytton), William Charles Macready, Richard Brinsley Peake, Jane Porter, David Roberts, William Makepeace Thackeray, and Carl Maria von Weber.

The other main part of the collection is the material, including fragments and clipped signatures, which were collected for the autograph value only, and have no relation to Planché or his work. Among the authors and correspondents are: Adelaide, Queen consort of William IV, William Blanchard, Richard Daly, Thomas Frognall Dibdin, George III, Edwin Henry Landseer, Robert Peel, William Pitt, Lucia E.B.Vestris, and Arthur Wellesley (Duke of Wellington). There is also a small group of letters written to Thomas Francis Dillon Croker, mainly regarding Planché and his work and family.

2. Ephemera (Box 7) is arranged alphabetically by author, title and format. The material includes printed play texts and proof sheets by Planché, newspaper clippings, a scrapbook mainly about Planché (possibly collected by T. F. Dillon Croker), and printed musical scores.

3. Manuscripts, Correspondence & Documents (Box 8) are arranged alphabetically by author. The majority of the letters are from Planché to Thomas Francis Dillon Croker, with one letter from Croker to Planché and one letter each from Planché to Thomas Hailes Lacy, Charles Roach Smith and John Thwaites.

Biographical / historical:

James Robinson Planché (1796-1880), a dramatist, antiquary, and officer of arms, was born in Piccadilly, London, on February 27, 1796; the son of Huguenot refugees. He wrote or adapted over 170 plays over the course of his 60 year career; these included extravaganzas, farces, comedies, burlettas, melodramas, and operas. Planché was also the first to introduce historically accurate costume into 19th century British theatre, and subsequently, wrote several important works on costume; one of which is still in print. His antiquary research led to the appointment of Rogue Croix Pursuivant in 1854 and he was promoted to Somerset Herald in 1866.

Planché married Elizabeth St. George (1796-1846), on April 26, 1821; she was also a published playwright. They had two daughters, Katherine Frances (b. 1823), who later married William Curteis, and Matilda Anne (b. 1826), who became a children’s author under her married name of Mackarness. Planché continued to write and pursue his antiquarian studies until the last year of his life; he died in Chelsea, on May 30, 1880.

Acquisition information:

The collection was acquired from three separate sources: The bulk of the collection was most likely purchased by George D. Smith in the Major William H. Lambert sales of Jan.-Feb. 1914; Smith subsequently sold it to Henry E. Huntington, though the exact date of this sale is not available in Huntington acquisition records. (Donald C. Dickinson, Henry E. Huntington’s Library of Libraries , p. 69-70). A second group of Planché-related material, the letters addressed to T.F. Dillon Croker, was acquired from Ifan Kyrle Fletcher, Feb. 18, 1950. A third group of Planché-related material, manuscripts, printed articles, clippings and play texts, was acquired from Winifred A. Myers in March 1972.

All of this material has now been cataloged as one collection, with the Fletcher and Myers provenance noted on the front of the folders.

Processing information:

1. The original group of Planché Papers was cataloged, with “JP” call numbers assigned, sometime before 1945. It was decided, that in order to best incorporate all three Planché acquisitions into one collection, it was necessary to re-catalog all of the material and assign new “JP” call numbers. Therefore, if this collection was consulted before 2012, it might be necessary to do a search of the Container List in order to verify the correct call number.

2. The original acquisition in 1914 was a folio bound volume with over 300 pieces pasted down on the pages of the volume. The items were removed from the volume for cataloging but many still retain evidence of this original placement, such as old glue, loss of text, and other damage (since repaired by the Huntington Conservation Department).

3. There appears to be two distinct groups of material in this collection; the majority of the collection is material directly related to Planché, either written to him or by him, or is about him. The other group of material appears to have been collected for the autograph value only, and has no apparent connection to Planché; this material may have been collected by Planché or, more likely, by his daughter Katherine F. Whelan. All of the material has been cataloged as one collection regardless of this distinction.

4. In January 2018 thirty Planché letters were discovered in a box of uncataloged literary manuscripts. These letter are from the February 1950 acquisition from Ifan Kyrle Fletcher and were separated from the other Planché material at an unknown date. It was decided to catalog this material together in Box 8 rather than try to interfile the letters with the material already cataloged.

Arrangement:

Organized in the following manner: 1. Manuscripts, Correspondence & Documents (Boxes 1-6, 8); 2. Ephemera (Box 7); arranged alphabetically.

Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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