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Schneider (Alan) Papers
MSS 0103  
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Collection Overview
 
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Description
Papers of Alan Schneider (1917-1984), a prominent American theater director who staged the U.S. premiere of Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot. The collection includes Schneider's production files, which contain the director's prompt books with conceptual notes, analysis of theme and characters, and notes on direction; his research files; original writings and manuscripts; play scripts; and correspondence.
Background
Alan Schneider was born Abram Leopoldovich Schneider on December 12, 1917, in Kharkov, Russia. When the Russian Revolution spread to Kharkov, the Schneiders immigrated to the United States in 1923. His parents, Leo Victor Schneider and Rebecka Malkin Schneider, were both physicians specializing in tuberculosis. They later practiced together at the Maryland State Tuberculosis Sanitorium in Sabillasville, Maryland. Schneider attended high school in Baltimore and began staging productions at summer camp. Schneider entered Johns Hopkins University and studied physics for one year, then transferred to the University of Wisconsin, Madison, to major in political science and literature. He was an award-winning member of the student debate team and president of the college drama group. In 1939 he was awarded a B.A. degree magna cum laude and elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Returning to Baltimore, Schneider worked as a radio announcer and as a speech writer for Postmaster General James A. Farley. He won a fellowship to Cornell University to study drama and received a master's degree in 1941.
Extent
58 Linear feet (99 archives boxes, 7 record cartons, 12 card file boxes, 12 flat boxes, 3 map case folders, and 1 film)
Restrictions
Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.
Availability
COLLECTION PARTIALLY STORED OFF-SITE (Boxes 84-114 at Annex). ALLOW 3 DAYS FOR RETRIEVAL.