Finding Aid for the Dame Ellen Terry Papers, 1885-1916
Processed by Charlotte Payne; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé
UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections
Manuscripts Division
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
Email: spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
URL: http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/special/scweb/
© 2002
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Finding Aid for the Dame Ellen Terry Papers, 1885-1916
Collection number: 643
UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections
Manuscripts Division
Los Angeles, CA
Contact Information
- Manuscripts Division
- UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections
- Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
- Box 951575
- Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
- Telephone: 310/825-4988 (10:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., Pacific
Time)
- Email: spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
- URL: http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/special/scweb/
- Processed by:
- Charlotte Payne, April 1976
- Encoded by:
- Caroline Cubé
- Text converted and initial container list EAD tagging by:
- Apex Data Services
- Online finding aid edited by:
- Josh Fiala, April 2002
© 2002 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Dame Ellen Terry Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1885-1916
Collection number: 643
Creator:
Terry, Dame Ellen, 1847-1928
Extent:
4 boxes (2 linear ft.)
Repository:
University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Department of Special Collections.
Los Angeles, California 90095-1575
Abstract: Alice Ellen Terry (1847-1928) acted on the stage as a child and as an adult. She played the leading female parts in all of
Henry Irving's productions between 1878 and 1896. The collection consists of correspondence, manuscript materials, ephemera,
memorabilia, and photographs related to Dame Ellen Terry.
Physical location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library, Department
of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Language:
English.
Administrative Information
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library, Department of 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.
Restrictions on Access
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Advance notice required for access.
Additional Physical Form Available
A copy of the original version of this online finding aid is available at the UCLA Department of Special Collections for in-house
consultation and may be obtained for a fee. Please contact:
- Public Services Division
- UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections
- Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
- Box 951575
- Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
- Telephone: 310/825-4988 (10:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., Pacific
Time)
- Email: spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
- Ifan Kyrle Fletcher, purchase, 1951.
- Olive Percival, purchase.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Dame Ellen Terry Papers (Collection 643). Department of Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research
Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
UCLA Catalog Record ID
Biography
Alice Ellen Terry was born February 27, 1847; her parents, Benjamin Terry and Sarah Ballard, were actors; her first stage
appearance was as Mamillius in Charles Kean's production of
The Winter's Tale, 1856; acted on the stage as a child and as an adult, and she played the leading female parts in all of Henry Irving's productions
between 1878 and 1896; in 1903, she produced two plays which were not successful; toured and lectured on Shakespeare, 1910-15;
her last stage appearance was in Walter de la Mare's
Crossings, 1925; married and later separated from George Frederic Watts, Charles Clavering Wardell, and James Usselmann; had two children,
Edward Gordon Craig and Edith Craig; died July 21, 1928.
Scope and Content
Collection consists of correspondence, manuscript materials, ephemera, memorabilia, and photographs related to the life of
theater actress Dame Ellen Terry. Includes scrapbook of picture postcards, ca. 1900.
Organization and Arrangement
Arranged in the following series:
- Correspondence.
- Manuscripts.
- Presentation copies.
- Ephemera.
- Memorabilia.
- Photographs and postcards.
- Additions.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Terry, Ellen,--Dame, 1847-1928--Archives.
Actresses--England--Archival resources.
Related Material
Edith Craig Papers (Collection 1003). Available at Department of Special Collections, UCLA.
Edward Gordon Craig Papers (Collection 1006). Available at Department
of Special Collections, UCLA.
Section One - Correspondence
Box 1, Folder 1
Coleridge, Stephen. Letter to Ellen Terry. London, November 24, 1888.
Physical Description: 1 item. Holograph.
Note
Mr. Coleridge was Edward Gordon Craig's guardian, designated by Craig's mother, Ellen Terry.
Box 1, Folder 2
Collier, John. Letter to Ellen Terry. London, December 11, 1902.
Physical Description: 1 item. Holograph.
Scope and Content Note
Letter refers to Mr. Collier's commission to paint The merry wives with Ellen Terry, Mrs. Kendal and Sir Herbert Tree.
Box 1, Folder 3
Haymarket Theatre. Letter to Ellen Terry. London, July 17, 1903.
Physical Description: 1 item. Typescript.
Box 1, Folder 4
Hildesheim, Paul. Letter to Ellen Terry. London, December 31, 1903.
Physical Description: 1 item. Holograph.
Note
Mr. Hildesheim was Miss Terry's solicitor.
Box 1, Folders 5-16
Terry, Ellen. Letters to various persons. v.p., 1879-1916.
Physical Description: 213 items. Holograph.
Box 1, Folder 5
Buckheim, Annie. London, 1882.
Physical Description: 1 item.
Box 1, Folders 6-16
Campbell, Audrey. v.p., 1887-1914.
Physical Description: 183 items.
Note
Miss Campbell was Ellen Terry's understudy and personal friend.
Box 1, Folder 6
1887.
Physical Description: 2 items.
Box 1, Folder 7
1888.
Physical Description: 4 items.
Box 1, Folder 8
1889.
Physical Description: 10 items.
Box 1, Folder 9
1890.
Physical Description: 8 items.
Box 1, Folder 10
1891.
Physical Description: 11 items.
Box 1, Folder 11
1892.
Physical Description: 6 items.
Box 1, Folder 12
1893.
Physical Description: 5 items.
Box 1, Folder 13
1894.
Physical Description: 9 items.
Box 1, Folder 14
1895.
Physical Description: 8 items.
Box 1, Folder 15
1896.
Physical Description: 8 items.
Box 1, Folder 16
1897-1899.
Physical Description: 8 items.
Box 2, Folders 1-10
Terry, Ellen. Letters to various persons. v.p., 1900-1914 and n.d.
Physical Description: 104 items. Holograph.
Box 2, Folder 1
1900.
Physical Description: 7 items.
Box 2, Folder 2
1901.
Physical Description: 10 items.
Box 2, Folder 3
1902.
Physical Description: 8 items.
Box 2, Folder 4
1903.
Physical Description: 14 items.
Box 2, Folder 5
1904.
Physical Description: 8 items.
Box 2, Folder 6
1905.
Physical Description: 15 items.
Box 2, Folder 7
1906.
Physical Description: 11 items.
Box 2, Folder 8
1907.
Physical Description: 5 items.
Box 2, Folder 9
1908-1914.
Physical Description: 8 items.
Box 2, Folder 10
n.d.
Physical Description: 18 items.
Box 2, Folder 11
Courtney, Leonard. v.p., 1899-1916.
Physical Description: 3 items.
Box 2, Folder 12
Hueffer, Ford Madox. London, ca. 1908.
Physical Description: 1 item.
Box 2, Folder 13
Lathom, Lady... London, n.d.
Physical Description: 1 item.
Box 2, Folder 14
Monckton, Lady... London, June 12, 1887.
Physical Description: 1 item.
Box 2, Folder 15
Pemberton, T. Edgar. v.p., 1879-1905.
Physical Description: 7 items.
Note
Mr. Pemberton was one of Ellen Terry's biographers.
Box 2, Folder 16
Pollock, Lady... v.p., 1880-1885.
Physical Description: 2 items.
Box 2, Folder 17
St. James Gazette. London, July 7, 1892.
Physical Description: 1 item.
Box 2, Folder 18
Stuart, Otto. v.p., 1906-1907.
Physical Description: 3 items.
Box 2, Folder 19
Trevelyan, Hilda (Wendy) v.p., 1905-1907.
Physical Description: 6 items.
Box 2, Folder 20
Unknown. v.p., n.d.
Physical Description: 18 items.
Box 2, Folder 21
Wilkinson, Reverend Ernest. Letter to Ellen Terry. Southfield, Tunbridge Wells, 15 December 1888.
Physical Description: 1 item. Holograph
Note
Mr. Wilkinson was one of Edward Gordon Craig's tutors.
Section Two - Manuscripts
Box 3, Folder 1
[Daybook] v.p., 1856-1925.
Physical Description: 87 leaves, Holograph.
Scope and Content Note
Entries of dramatic appearances with a few personal notes. On title page, The Farm - Small Hythe - ET - Tenterden - Kent -
Xmas '92, in Ellen Terry's hand.
Box 3, Folder 2
Commonplace book. n.p., n.d.
Physical Description: 55 leaves, Holograph.
Scope and Content Note
Contains two poems copied out for Ellen Terry; only two leaves used. Three bookplates by Edward Gordon Craig on front paste-down
endpaper.
Box 3, Folder 3
Goethe, Johan Wolfgang von, 1749-1832.
Faust.
Physical Description: 8 leaves.
Scope and Content Note
Ellen Terry's holograph transcription of the last scene in the play with her production notes for the Lyceum production of
Faust, ca. 1885.
Section Three - Presentation Copies
Box 3, Folder 4
Smith, Pamela Colman.
The Golden Vanity; and the Green Bed. New York: Doubleday and McClure Company, 1899.
Scope and Content Note
Presentation copy to Ellen Terry from the author with inscription and original hand-colored sketch on front flyleaf.
Box 3, Folder 5
Thomas à Kempis.
Of the Imitation of Christ. London: Kegan Paul, Trench and Company, n.d.
Scope and Content Note
Presentation copy to Anna Held from Ellen Terry, July 10, 1889. Tipped-in photo of Ellen Terry and Anna Held on front flyleaf.
In leather-bound wooden box.
Box 4, Folder 1
Press clippings, miscellaneous. v.p., v.d.
Physical Description: 14 items.
Programs of plays with Ellen Terry
Physical Description: (12 items)
Box 4, Folder 2
The Dead Heart. London, Royal Lyceum Theatre, September 28, 1889.
Scope and Content Note
Ellen Terry as Catherine Duval.
Box 4, Folder 2
Ravenswood. London, Royal Lyceum Theatre, October 13, 1890.
Scope and Content Note
Ellen Terry as Lucy Ashton; Gordon Craig as Henry Ashton.
Box 4, Folder 2
Much Ado About Nothing. London, Royal Lyceum Theatre, January 13, 1891.
Scope and Content Note
Ellen Terry as Beatrice; Gordon Craig as a messenger.
Box 4, Folder 2
The Corsican brothers; and Nance Oldfield. London, Royal Lyceum Theatre, May 18, 1891.
Scope and Content Note
Ellen Terry as Anne Oldfield; Gordon Craig as M. Beauchamp in The Corsican brothers.
Box 4, Folder 2
King Henry the Eighth. London, Royal Lyceum Theatre, January 5, 1892.
Scope and Content Note
Ellen Terry as Queen Katherine; Gordon Craig as Cromwell.
Box 4, Folder 2
King Lear. London, Royal Lyceum Theatre, 10 November 1892.
Scope and Content Note
Ellen Terry as Cordelia; Gordon Craig as Oswald.
Box 4, Folder 2
Becket. London, Royal Lyceum Theatre, February 6, 1893.
Scope and Content Note
Ellen Terry as Rosamund de Clifford; Gordon Craig as the youngest knight Templar.
Box 4, Folder 2
Olivia. Benefit of Miss Ellen Terry. Royal Lyceum Theatre, July 14, 1893.
Scope and Content Note
Ellen Terry as Olivia; Gordon Craig as Moses; Ailsa (Edith) Craig as a gipsy woman.
Box 4, Folder 2
Miss Janotha's concert. n.p., Daly's Theatre, June 5, 1894.
Scope and Content Note
Ellen Terry in Journey's end in lovers' meeting.
Box 4, Folder 2
Cymbeline. London, Royal Lyceum Theatre, September 22, 1896.
Scope and Content Note
Ellen Terry as Imogen; Gordon Craig as Arviragus.
Box 4, Folder 2
Miss Ellen Terry's special performance in aid of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. London, Royal
Lyceum Theatre, June 15, 1898.
Scope and Content Note
Ellen Terry read the part of Ophelia from
Hamlet, Act 4, scene 1.
Box 4, Folder 2
The fourth Saturday night entertainment. n.p., Excelsior Hall, January 28, 1899.
Scope and Content Note
Miss Ellen Terry reading The Trial of Queen Katherine, from
Henry the Eighth.
Box 4, Folder 3
Sheet music covers with portraits of Ellen Terry. n.p., ca. 1889.
Physical Description: 2 items.
Section Five - Memorabilia
Box 4, Folder 4
Bookplate designed by Edward Gordon Craig. Winchelsea - ex libris Ellen Terry - 1899.
Physical Description: 6.5 × 5 cm.
Box 4, Folder 4
Diamantine buttons worn by Ellen Terry, n.d.
Physical Description: 10 buttons on a purple velvet ribbon.
Box 4, Folder 4
Locket with photograph of Ellen Terry as Juliet, n.d.
Physical Description: In small red velvet bag.
SECTION SIX - PHOTOGRAPHS AND POSTCARDS
Photographs of Terry family.
Box 4, Folder 5
Gordon and May (Gibson) Craig and their children (Miss Terry's grandchildren). n.p., n.d.
Physical Description: 6 items.
Box 4, Folder 5
Ellen Terry's dog, Drummy. n.p., n.d.
Physical Description: 1 item.
Box 4, Folder 5
Note from Ellen Terry reproduced on a postcard. n.p., n.d.
Physical Description: 1 item.
Box 4, Folder 5
Ellen Terry and her sister, Marion. n.p., n.d.
Physical Description: 2 items.
Box 4, Folder 6
Ellen Terry and John Doane. n.p., n.d.
Physical Description: 2 items.
Box 4, Folder 6
Ellen Terry and Anna (Held) Heinrich. n.p., n.d.
Physical Description: 3 items.
Ellen Terry in stage productions, photographs reproduced as postcards.
Box 4, Folder 7
Ellen Terry with Gordon Craig in
The Dead Heart.
Physical Description: 1 item.
Box 4, Folder 7
Ellen Terry with understudy.
Physical Description: 1 item.
Box 4, Folder 7
Ellen Terry as Imogen; with copy of personal note to Anna Held.
Physical Description: 1 item.
Box 4, Folder 7
Ellen Terry as Margaret.
Physical Description: Signed. 1 item.
Box 4, Folder 7
Ellen Terry as Mistress Page.
Physical Description: Signed. 1 item.
Box 4, Folder 8
Photographs of Ellen Terry. v.p., v.d.
Physical Description: 4 items.
Box 4, Folder 9
Photographs of Ellen Terry's cottage, Smallhythe.
Physical Description: 6 items.
Box 4
Collection of picture postcards of Ellen Terry and Henry Irving. n.p., ca. 1900.
Physical Description: 84 items mounted in scrapbook, 20 x 25 cm.
Box 4, Folder 10
Shakespeare, William.
King Lear. Edited by William Aldis Wright, M.A. Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1887.
Scope and Content Note
Ellen Terry's personal copy, signed by her on the front cover, and with marginal notes and comments in her hand.
Box 2, Folder 11a
Harvey, Sir John Martin, 1863-1944. Letter from Ellen Terry. n.p., November 12, 1894.
Physical Description: 1 item. (1 leaf and envelope).
Box 2, Folder 17a
Spence, Edward Fordham, 1860-1932. Letter from Ellen Terry. Chelsea, January 14, 1910.
Physical Description: 1 item. (3 leaves and envelope).
Box 2, Folder 18a
Taylor, Mrs. Tom. Letters from Ellen Terry. v.p., v.d.
Physical Description: 9 items. (11 leaves, 4 envelopes).
