Shelfmark
MS 709
Author
Title
Manuscripts by Clemence Dane and related material.
Publication, distribution, etc.
London ; Axminster, [1888-1965]
Physical description
1 v. and 1 box ; 26 cm.
Note
Devised title.
Note
[1]: Original manuscript of "Will Shakespeare : an invention in four acts by Clemence Dane". This verse play was performed in 1921 at the Shaftesbury Theatre. A programme, signed by presumably all members of the cast and Dane, is tipped in at the front of the volume. Bound in brown calf ; blocked in gilt ; gilt edges ; coloured endpapers ; in brown cloth slip case.
Note
[2]: A single leaf, signed typescript of the poem "Spring rain 1918" by Clemence Dane. There is one ms. correction by Dane and it is signed below.
Note
[3]: Rough ms. draft of a poem entitled "On being asked to [?]wake on Shakespeares spring", presumably by Clemence Dane. Two leaves, with corrections.
Note
[4]: An autograph letter from Clemence Dane to Helen Waddell, a signed Christmas card from Dane to Coward, another signed Christmas card from Dane and a postcard from Sybil Thorndike and family to Clemence Dane.
Note
[5]: Visitors' book used by Elsie Arnold and Clemence Dane when they lived at Hunthay in Axminster, Devon. It contains signatures of visitors including Florence Hardy, St. John Ervine and Graham Greene. Some photographs of Dane and a newspaper cutting are loosely inserted. Inscription by Patricia Bratton, Elsie Arnold's great-niece, on front endpaper. Bound by Elsie Arnold in teal morocco ; blocked and decorated in gilt ; gilt edges.
Note
[6]: Photographs of Clemence Dane, three photographs of William Arnold as Shylock, c.1920 and an order of service from Clemence Dane's funeral.
Note
[7]: Typescripts of an article about Clemence Dane called 'The background of "Broome Stages"' by Elizabeth C. Moore, including a separate biographical sketch with ms. corrections, family trees and copies of Dane's poems.
Note
[8] With extracted leaves from 'Good Housekeeping', some of which feature stories by Dane.
Summary, etc.
Scope and content: The Clemence Dane collection includes the original manuscript of "Will Shakespeare", poems in manuscript and typescript, some autograph letters, a visitors' book that belonged to Dane and Arnold, photographs, ephemera and secondary biographical material.
Provenance
The collection presumably belonged to Patricia Bratton, Elsie Arnold's great-niece (see tipped-in inscription in visitors' book). Elsie Arnold was Clemence Dane's partner.
Added entry--name
Dane, Clemence Will Shakespeare.
Added entry--name
Arnold, Elsie former owner.
Identifier
B38634