archives.nypl.org -- George Oppenheimer papers (original) (raw)

The papers of George Oppenheimer consist of professional correspondence, writings, clippings, annotated programmes and scrapbooks. Of special note is the correspondence relating to his time in India during World War II. There is a large portion of correspondence from famous personalities of stage and screen.

The George Oppenheimer papers consist of correspondence, clippings, writings, research notes, and annotated playbills from his professional career as a writer and drama critic. The papers span the years 1943-1977, though there is not much from his early professional career. Of special note is the correspondence from many famous personalities of stage and screen. The largest collection of letters are from Edna Ferber, and Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne, however most of the letters are thank-you's for copies of his books or performance reviews.

The George Oppenheimer papers are arranged in four series:

• The correspondence of George Oppenheimer consists of professional letters from actors and colleagues concerning his reviews as a drama critic and his writings. Some noted correspondents included in the collection are: Edna Ferber, Orson Welles, Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne, Richard Rodgers, Thornton Wilder and Katharine Cornell to name a few.
• The personal papers of George Oppenheimer consist of drafts of his writings, reviews of his books, memberships and speeches. Of special note are issues of India Ink, his World War II newspaper column and his citation from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for the film, The War Against Mrs. Hadley.
• The annotated playbills consist of approximately 100 programs from Broadway, non-Broadway and European productions that Mr. Oppenheimer attended. There is marginalia on each programs concerning reactions and opinions of the performances.
• The scrapbooks were compiled by George Oppenheimer and are chronological record of his Newsday reviews.