Guide to the Adams T. Rice papers 1922-1960 Adams T. Rice papers C0238

Guide to the Adams T. Rice papers 1922-1960

Adams T. Rice papers
C0238


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George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections & Archives

Special Collections & Archives
Fenwick Library (2FL)
George Mason University
Fairfax, Virginia 22030-4444
USA
Phone: (703) 993-2220
Fax: (703) 993-2669
Email: speccoll@gmu.edu
URL: http://www.gmu.edu/library/specialcollections

September 2013

Finding aid prepared by Greta Kuriger Suiter

Repository
George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections & Archives
Collection Number
C0238
Title
Adams T. Rice papers 1922-1960
URL:
http://sca.gmu.edu/finding_aids/rice.html
Physical Characteristics
2 linear feet (3 boxes)
Creator
Rice, Adams T., 1892-
Language
English
Abstract
The Adams T. Rice papers consists of newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, photographs, and programs relating to theatre in Detroit, Michigan, the Federal Theatre Project, and Rice's lecture "The Magic of Science." Material was collected by Rice and dates from the 1920s to 1960, with the bulk of the material dating from the 1920s to the 1930s.

Administrative Information

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions on personal use. Permission to publish material from the Adams T. Rice papers must be obtained from Special Collections and Archives, George Mason University Libraries.

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions.

Preferred Citation

The Adams T. Rice papers, C0238, Special Collections and Archives, George Mason University Libraries.

Acquisition Information

Donated by Adams T. Rice's daughter Olivia Hudson on October 11, 1979.

Processing Information

Processing completed by Greta Kuriger Suiter in September 2013. EAD markup completed by Greta Kuriger Suiter in September 2013.


Biographical note

Adams T. Rice was born in 1892 in Newton, Massachusetts. He graduated from Newton Technical High School and received his PhD from Brown University in 1915. He also attended classes at the Rhode Island School of Design and the Boston Museum School of Design and completed a certificate in Engineering at Pratt Institute.

In the early 1920s Rice married the actress Helen Elizabeth Morrow. Rice and Morrow worked together at the Bonstelle Stock Company in Detroit, Michigan. In total Rice worked for 18 years with the Bonstelle Stock Companies (Detroit Civic Theatre) as a Stage Manager, Technical Director, and Stage Director. Throughout his career in the theatre he held jobs as Stage Manager for the Northampton Players, The Copley Players in Boston, and Director for the Clair Tree Major Players. He was both owner and director of "The Detroit Players" a traveling dramatic tent show, and spent five summers with various circuses as Lot Superintendent and Transportation Manager. He created the traveling lecture "The Magic of Science" and performed it on the east coast from New York to Boston. Later in his career he was the Director of Video Effects for the Bunin Motion Picture Studio, and created video effects for the Lucky Pup TV program. He also spent time teaching, working as an electrical engineer, designing exhibits for the N.Y. Worlds Fair, and wrote several children's plays.

Scope and Content

The Adams T. Rice papers consists of newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, photographs, and programs relating to theatre in Detroit, Michigan, the Federal Theatre Project, and Rice's lecture "The Magic of Science." Material was collected by Rice and dates from the 1920s to 1960, with the bulk of the material dating from the 1920s to the 1930s.

Material related to the Federal Theatre Project includes newspaper clippings and programs for the productions: American Holiday, Class of '29, Ethiopia, A Hero is Born, It Can't Happen Here, Murder in the Cathedral, and the Sun and I. Also related to the Federal Theatre Project is the publication Red Spotlight, the WPA Federal Theatre Unit Communist Party newsletter. The scrapbooks document the Rice's work with the Bonstelle Company, the Detroit Players, and the Federal Theatre Project.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged alphabetically by folder title.

Related Material

The Works Progress Administration oral histories collection, the Federal Theatre Project collection, the Federal Theatre Project photograph collection, as well as numerous other personal papers.

Index Terms

    Persons:

  • Bonstelle, Jessie.
  • Rice, Adams T., 1892-
  • Corporate Names:

  • Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)
  • Subjects:

  • Actors--Photographs.
  • New Deal, 1933-1939.
  • Performing arts.
  • Theater--United States.
  • Document Types:

  • Scrapbooks.

Significant Persons Associated With the Collection

  • Bonstelle, Jessie.
  • Rice, Adams T., 1892-
  • Rice, Adams T., 1892-

Contents List

Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 1
Bonstelle Playhouse,
1920s

Programs and photocopies of newspaper clippings

Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 2
Detroit Civic Theatre letterhead; Helen Morrow membership card,
1928
Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 3
Federal Theatre Project: American Holiday newsclippings,
February 1936
Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 4
Federal Theatre Project: Class of '29 newsclippings,
1936
Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 5
Federal Theatre Project: Ethiopia newsclipping,
circa 1936-1939
Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 6
Federal Theatre Project: A Hero is Born,
1937
Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 7
Federal Theatre Project: Highlights of the First Production Conference in New York City,
July 22-24, 1936
Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 8
Federal Theatre Project: It Can't Happen Here newsclippings,
1936
Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 9
Federal Theatre Project: Murder in the Cathedral newsclippings,
1936
Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 10
Federal Theatre Project: Playbills,
1936-1939
Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 11
Federal Theatre Project: Red Spotlight,
May 1937

WPA Federal Theatre Unit Communist Party newsletter

Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 12
Federal Theatre Project: The Sun and I newsclippings,
1937
Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 13
The Magic of Science,
circa 1940s

Photographs and program for lecture

Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 14
Newsclippings,
1920s-1930s
Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 15
Newsclippings,
circa 1927
Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 16
Newsclippings,
circa 1932
Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 17
Newsclippings,
1935-1936
Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 18
Newsclippings,
June 13, 1937
Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 19
Newsclippings: Ann Harding,
October 21, 1926
Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 20
Newsclippings: The Barretts of Wimpale Street,
1932
Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 21
Newsclippings: Detroit Players tent show,
1929
Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 22
Newsclippings: The Goose Hangs High, The Magic Cloak,
1927
Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 23
Newsclippings: 'Let's Feed Our Own' slogan of dinner club for actors,
February 1, 1932
Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 24
Newsclippings: New York Herald Tribune,
April 22, 1935
Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 25
Newsclippings: Saint Joan,
April 3, 1928
Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 26
Newsclippings: The Water Babies,
circa 1920s
Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 27
Newsclippings and programs,
1928-1960
Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 28
Newsclippings, programs, memos,
1920s-1930s
Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 29
Photographs,
1920s-1930s
Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 30
Photographs,

Theatre production photographs, portraits, Helen Morrow

Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 31
Resume,
undated
Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 32
Scrapbook: Bonstelle Company,
1925-1929
Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 33
Scrapbook: Bonstelle Playhouse,
1927-1929
Mixed materials Box: 2 Folder: 1
Scrapbook of newsclippings (1 of 2),
1922-1927
Mixed materials Box: 2 Folder: 2
Scrapbook of newsclippings (2 of 2),
1922-1934
Mixed materials Box: 2 Folder: 3
Scrapbook of newsclippings covers,
1922
Mixed materials Box: 3
Scrapbook,
1928-1930

Newspaper clippings about the Detroit Players.

Mixed materials Box: 3
Scrapbook,
1930

Dr. Charlotte Richmond, The Detroit Players publicity. Includes newspaper clippings, programs, letters, and handwritten notes.