Female Dramatists in the Yale Collection of American Literature

January 9, 2015

By Melissa Barton

The Yale Collection of American Literature recently announced its acquisition of the papers of playwright Paula Vogel, noting that Vogel is the first female playwright whose papers have joined the American Literature collection at Beinecke. Though Vogel is the first formal, full-time female playwright, she joins an impressive roster of female dramatists, whose work is represented in the following collections:

The Adele Gutman Nathan Theatrical Collection documents Nathan’s career as a writer and pageant producer.

The Isabel Leighton Papers document Leighton’s life writing plays, screenplays, and journalism.

The Theatre Guild Archive and the Theresa Helburn Papers document the life and career of Theresa Helburn, administrative director of the Theatre Guild.

The Civic Repertory Theatre Records document the work of Eva Le Gallienne as a director and actress.

The Mary Hunter Wolf Papers document Wolf’s career as a director and theatre educator.

The Living Theatre Records document the life and work of co-founder and director Judith Malina.