archives.nypl.org -- Townsend Walsh papers (original) (raw)

The Townsend Walsh Papers cover the dates 1763-1935 with the bulk of the material falling between 1890 and 1935. The papers document the personal and professional life of Townsend Walsh (1872-1941) who was involved in many aspects of American theatre and circus life. The Townsend Walsh Papers are organized in ten series: Correspondence, Press Releases, Circus Manuscripts, Circus Writings and Notes, Writings and Notes on Theatrical and Miscellaneous Subjects, Walsh Family Correspondence and Documents, Business Papers, Collected Material, Clippings, and Printed Material. Because Walsh worked with many of the most prominent American actors, producers, and managers of his day, the collection is rich in information about this period of American theatrical history. The collection is particularly important because it contains valuable information about the working conditions, responsibilities, and salaries of theatrical press agents.

The correspondence (1890-1935) included in this collection is the best source of information about Walsh's work as a press agent. The correspondence, consisting almost entirely of letters written to Walsh, includes various types of information such as Walsh's itinerary on the road, financial details of advertising, casts lists, transportation arrangements, and financial figures for advertising costs. In addition the press releases written by Walsh for the theatre and circus complement the correspondence in any study of his career as a press agent. These press releases not only reveal the quality and range of Walsh's writing, but can also be used to research the publicity for particular plays. Researchers interested in Mrs. Fiske's work as an actress, for instance, will find Walsh's press releases on Becky Sharpe, Tess of the D'Ubervillesand Ghostsan important aid in studying these productions. Business documents such as cast lists, instructions too press agents, and route books are also part of Walsh's papers and add to the value of the collection in a study of the theatrical business world.

The correspondence is also the most valuable source of information about Walsh's personal life. Unfortunately, the letters do not contain much information about Walsh's family. There appears to be only one letter from a family member, Walsh's sister Esther, in the correspondence. However, the letters do reveal the strength of Walsh's many friendships and suggest much about his reputation as a lively, but loyal, friend. Walsh's enjoyment of socializing and drinking is also clear in the letters. Walsh seemed to cope with the tedium of the road by enjoying evenings with other press agents as well as various actors and actresses in different cities. The letters also reveal his lifelong interest in collecting material related to the circus and theatre. Letters from book and autograph dealers such as H. S. Renton indicate that he purchased theatrical material throughout his life. An examination of the list of prominent correspondents will suggest the wide range of friends and professional colleagues with whom Walsh corresponded.

Walsh's interest in theatre and circus history is evident in his own writings on these subjects as well as his collected materials. Walsh's two manuscripts on the circus King Clownand Love of the Circusappear to rely, in part, on Walsh's interviews with circus performers, and consequently, may be of value to scholars despite the fact that Walsh does not often cite sources. His notes on the circus and theatre should be examined in conjunction with his writings because sources are sometimes cited in the notes but not in the finished manuscripts. Several brief essays on nineteenth century American performers are among the most valuable of his writings on the theatre.

Other material collected by Walsh includes correspondence of theatrical and circus personalities. A list of correspondents from this group of letters will allow researchers to identify potentially interesting letters. Although less valuable to researchers, there is also a group of autograph signatures acquired by Walsh. This latter group is probably most valuable in revealing Walsh's collecting interests. In addition a group of letters of playwright Dion Boucicault and other Boucicault family members were collected by Walsh. These letters have been separated from the Townsend Walsh Papers and may be examined as part of the Boucicault Family Papers.

Because of the lack of information about Walsh's family in the correspondence, the few items included among the Walsh Family documents and correspondence are especially valuable. Of particular note is the horoscope done for Walsh in 1913 which appears to be the only place that his birth date is documented in this collection. In addition, family letters suggest some of the history of the Walsh family.

Although the newspaper clippings in this collection are not identified directly with Walsh, it is possible that some of these may be articles that he wrote; a good number of the articles concern the performers for whom Walsh did press work. A close examination of the press releases with some of the articles might reveal whether or not Walsh was the author of any of the articles. In any case, the clippings, like Walsh's other collected material, reveals his interest in particular performers and theatrical subjects.

Researchers interested in Townsend Walsh will want to consider two other sources of material in addition to the Townsend Walsh Papers. Correspondence between Walsh and John Quinn is included in John Quinn Memorial collection at New York Public Library. These letters are particularly important because they include approximately 30 letters written by Walsh. In addition, Quinn and Walsh appear to have been relatively close friends and, consequently, Walsh's letters are more revealing than they might be to a mere acquaintance. The letters in the Quinn collection are most informative about Walsh's interest in Irish literature and his struggles with writing and publishing his biography of Boucicault. In addition, the New York Public Library's Billy Rose Theatre Collection at Lincoln Center has the prompt book (with manuscript notes and corrections) of Walsh's play, The Boys of Kilkenny(1897) and a copy of another play by Walsh, The Adventures of Adam(n.d.).

The Townsend Walsh papers are arranged in ten series: