August Wilson theater collection, 1985-2007
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Summary
- Creator:
- John Hope Franklin Research Center for African and African American History and Culture
- Abstract:
- August Wilson (born Frederick August Kittel Jr. on April 27, 1945) was a Black American playwright whose work examines the experiences of Black people in the United States. He is best known for a series of ten plays, collectively called The Pittsburgh Cycle, which chronicle the experiences and heritage of the Black community in the United States during the 20th century. The August Wilson Theater collection includes playbills from performances of Wilson's work, as well as programs and ephemera related to the Signature Theatre Company's "August Wilson Series" of productions. Acquired as part of the John Hope Franklin Research Center for African and African American History and Culture.
- Extent:
- 0.25 Linear Feet
- Language:
- Materials in English.
- Collection ID:
- RL.11961
Background
- Scope and content:
-
Collection includes playbills for performances of Wilson's plays, as well as ticket stubs from some performances. Also included is a 2003 photograph of Wilson and programs related to the Signature Theatre Company's "August Wilson Series" of productions from 2006 to 2007.
- Biographical / historical:
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August Wilson (born Frederick August Kittel Jr. on April 27, 1945) was a Black American playwright whose work examines the experiences of Black people in the United States. He is best known for a series of ten plays, collectively called The Pittsburgh Cycle, which chronicle the experiences and heritage of the Black community in the United States during the 20th century. Plays in the series include Jitney (1982), Fences (1984), Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (1984), Joe Turner's Come and Gone (1986), The Piano Lesson (1987), and King Hedley II (1999). Fences and The Piano Lesson received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and Fences also won a Tony Award for Best Play. Wilson passed away on October 2, 2005, and in 2006 he was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame.
- Acquisition information:
- The August Wilson Theater Collection was received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a purchase in 2021.
- Custodial history:
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Before coming to the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, this material resided in the library of Clive Hirschhorn.
- Processing information:
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Processed by Leah Tams, December 2021.
Accessions described in this collection guide: 2021-0155.
- Arrangement:
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This collection is arranged into three groupings: Photograph of Wilson, Playbills and Ephemera, and Signature Theatre Company Programs and Ephemera. Playbills are arranged chronologically.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Subjects
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Contents
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- Restrictions:
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Collection is open for research.
- Terms of access:
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The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the Rubenstein Library's Citations, Permissions, and Copyright guide.
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- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], August Wilson Theater Collection, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.
- Permalink:
- https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m1tf06