urn:taro:rice.wrc.00063 Guide to the Edward Knoblock papers, 1904-1936 Finding aid prepared by Woodson Research Center circa 1975. Text converted by SPI Content Sciences Inc., April 2003. Finding aid written in English. 20030807 Edited with XMetal 3 by Mandy York, according to instructions in TARO 2 EAD 2002 Editing Instructions. Descriptive Summary Edward Knoblock papers 1904-1936 169 items (2 folders) MS 324 Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University, Houston, TX Materials are in English. Playwright, scenarist and novelist, Edward Knoblock (1874-1945) was born in New York City and educated at Harvard, but spent most of his professional life living and working in Great Britain. The Knoblock papers are comprised of two folders of correspondence received by Knoblock between the years 1904 and 1936, relating to theater in Great Britain during the early 20th century. Most of Knoblock's correspondents in this collection are well-known literary figures of the day, or prominent managers and producers from the world of the theatre, including Sir William Nicholson (1872-1949). Access Restrictions

This material is open for research.

 Use Restrictions

Permission to publish material from the Edward Knoblock papers must be obtained from the Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library.

 Index Terms Correspondents Knoblock, Edward, 1874-1945. Nicholson, William, Sir, 1872-1949- Correspondence. Priestley, J. B. (John Boynton), 1894- - Correspondence. Walpole, Hugh, Sir, 1884-1941 - Correspondence. Sitwell, Edith, Dame, 1887-1964 - Correspondence. Pinero, Arthur Wing, Sir, 1855-1934 - Correspondence. Wyndham, Charles, 1837-1919 - Correspondence. Belasco, David, 1853-1931 - Correspondence. Bennett, Arnold, 1867-1931 - Correspondence. Coward, Noel, 1899-1973 - Correspondence. Gielgud, John, Sir, 1904- - Correspondence. Hawtrey, Charles, 1858-1923 - Correspondence. Mackenzie, Compton, Sir, 1883-1972 - Correspondence. Maude, Cyril, 1862-1951 - Correspondence. Subjects Drama - Theatrical productions. Playwriting. Theater- Great Britain - History - 20th century. English drama - 20th century. Formats Correspondence. Sketches. Preferred Citation

Edward Knoblock papers, 1904-1936, MS #324, Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University]

 Acquisition Information

Purchased 1955 through Friends of Fondren.

 Biographical Note

Edward Knoblock (1874-1945) was born in New York City and educated at Harvard, but spent most of his professional life living and working in Great Britain. Playwright, scenarist and novelist, Knoblock was in constant touch with many of the leading literary and artistic figures of his generation, as the ensuing collection will show. As well as working independently, Knoblock often collaborated with others. The plays, Milestones (1912), and, London Life (1924) were produced with the assistance of Arnold Bennett. Similarly, The Good Companions, originally published in 1929 by J.B. Priestley, was dramatised jointly by Knoblock and the author in 1931. Plays written by Knoblock alone include, The Faun (1911), Kismet (1911), My Lady's Dress (1914), Marie-Odile (1915), and Tiger-Tiger (1918). Among the novels written by Edward Knoblock are, The Ant Heap (1929), The Man With Two Mirrors (1931), The Love Lady (1933), and Inexperience (1941). Some of these works are referred to throughout the collection, notably by Dame Edith Sitwell and David Belasco.

 Scope and Contents

The Edward Knoblock collection comprises two folders of correspondence received by Knoblock between the years 1904 and 1936, relating to theater in Great Britain during the early 20th century. The collection is 169 items in total. Folder number one contains 92 pieces, all letters or notes from various sources. Folder number two contains 34 letters from several correspondents and a group of 30 written items from Sir William Nicholson along with ten of his sketches. Correspondence relates to British theater in the early 20th century.

Most of Knoblock's correspondents in this collection are well-known literary figures of the day, or prominent managers and producers from the world of the theatre. Some of these are; Sir Arthur Wing Pinero (1855-1934), the English dramatist and actor; J.B. Priestley (1894- ), the Yorkshire born novelist, essayist, playwright and critic; all the members of the literary Sitwell family, especially, Edith (1887-1964), Osbert (1892-1969), and Sacheverell (1897- ); Sir Hugh Walpole (1884-1941) the New Zealand born novelist and son of the bishop of Edinburgh; Sir Charles Wyndham (1863-1913), the English actor and stage manager; David Belasco (1854-1931), the San Francisco born New York stage manager and producer; Arnold Bennett (1867-1931), the famous English novelist and dramatist of the 'Five Towns' region; Noel Coward (1899- ), the playwright, actor, and composer; English actors, Sir John Gielgud, born in 1904, and Sir Charles Hawtrey (1858-1923); statesman, and first Labour Prime Minister, Ramsey MacDonald (1866-1937); novelist, journalist, and critic, Compton MacKenzie (1883- ); and, Cyril Maude (1863-1951), the English actor, co-manager of the Haymarket theatre in London (1896-1905) and manager and builder of the Playhouse until 1915.

Owing to the volume of correspondence from him contained in the collection (folder two), Sir William Nicholson (1872-1949) deserves a special mention. Nicholson was principally a portrait painter, although he also devoted time to painting figure subjects, still life and open-air studies. He was also a wood engraver and designed posters along with his brother-in-law James Pryde under the name of the Beggarshot Brothers. A series of woodcuts were published including, The Square Book of Animals (1896), and An Almanac of Twelve Sports (1898), this latter being produced in collaboration with Rudyard Kipling. Most of Nicholson's letters to Knoblock are accompanied by small illustrations of some kind, and the collection concludes with ten miscellaneous sketches by this artist.

 Arrangement

The correspondence has been arranged in roder by correspondent's last name, with the exception of Sir William Nicholson's correspondence, which has been filed last.

 Processing Note

The abbreviations used in the following description of the collection are defined as:

ALS: Handwritten signed letter.

TLS: Typed signed letter.

AC: Handwritten card.

 Detailed Description of the Collection Correspondents A-G 1 5 February 1919 AC Sir George Alexander to Edward Knoblock An expression of thanks. 1 5 March 1912 ALS Sir George Alexander to Edward Knoblock Invitation to be a guest at the annual dinner of a theatrical fund. 1 6 October 1908 ALS William Archer to Edward Knoblock Agreeing to attend the rehearsals. 1 24 February 1918 ALS Enid Bagnold to Edward Knoblock Praising and discussion some of Knoblock's poems. 1 9 June 1914 ALS Squire Bancroft to Edward Knoblock Saying he had made use of Knoblock's name, privately. 1 1 October 1914 ALS Squire Bancroft to Edward Knoblock Acknowledgement of a gift to the Academy of Dramatic Art. 1 10 July 1918 TLS David Belasco to Edward Knoblock Praising him for his play Tiger-Tiger. 1 25 March 1919 TLS David Belasco to Edward Knoblock Saying how well Tiger-Tiger is progressing, and asking for more. 1 29 May 1919 TLS David Belasco to Edward Knoblock Saying he is glad Knoblock is out of the war and is looking forward to receiving a new Ms. 1 18 July 1919 TLS David Belasco to Edward Knoblock Writing about Knoblock's new play, One. 1 6 October 1919 TLS David Belasco to Edward Knoblock Telling of the progress of Tiger-Tiger on tour. 1 1 December 1919 TLS David Belasco to Edward Knoblock Asking Knoblock to write some verse for framing. This series from Belasco also contains a flier about a life of David Belasco by a William Winter. 1 12 October 1917 AC ? to Edward Knoblock A note of thanks. 1 12 July 1918 ALS Arnold Bennett to Edward Knoblock Asking Knoblock if he would like to be a secretary of a new 'entertainment-of -foreigners' committee which is being formed. 1 4 December 1926 TLS Irving Berlin to Edward Knoblock Thanks for a wire and hoping for a visit. 1 Undated, ALS Louis Bromfield to Edward Knoblock Saying he will be coming to London. 1 Undated, ALS Louis Bromfield to Edward Knoblock About Knoblock's request for French lodgings for a freind of his. 1 Undated, ALS Sir Charles Cochran to Edward Knoblock Congratulaing Knoblock on producing a new play and offering his criticisms. 1 Undated, ALS Sir Charles Cochran to Edward Knoblock Hoping to neg tiate a West End opening with Douglas Fairbanks and Robin Hood. 1 20 August 1920 ALS Sir Charles Cochran to Edward Knoblock Thanks, and asking him to use his first name and not the formal mode of address. 1 22 October 1922 ALS Sir Charles Cochran to Edward Knoblock Asking for a lunch date. 1 31 May 1924 ALS Sir Charles Cochran to Edward Knoblock Glad to hear Knoblock can come up to London for rehearsals. 1 ? August 1935 ALS Sir Charles Cochran to Edward Knoblock Letter from the Kurhaus Hoven - a sanatorium/ convalescence home. 1 23 July 1935 ALS Sir Charles Cochran to Edward Knoblock Letter from Freiburg 1 9 August 1935 ALS Sir Charles Cochran to Edward Knoblock Letter from Konstanz/Bodensee. 1 ? August 1935 ALS Sir Charles Cochran to Edwards Knoblock Letter from Freiburg. 1 29 March 1928 ALS Noel Coward to Edward Knoblock 1 10 April 1929 ALS Noel Coward to Edward Knoblock 1 22 May 1931 ALS Noel Coward to Edward Knoblock 1 21 September 1933 ALS Noel Coward to Edward Knoblock 1 29 September 1933 ALS Noel Coward to Edward Knoblock 1 Undated, ALS Edith Craig to Edward Knoblock Discussing a childrens performance of The Old Woman im the Shoe. 1 Undated, ALS Clemence Dane to Edward Knoblock Thanking him for a gift and hoping they can meet soon. 1 20 June ? ALS Ruth D(raper) ? to Edward Knoblock 1 28 December 1920 TLS Eddy ? Dennis to Edward Knoblock 'Everything is much the same in London; the usual parties, the usual gang. I don't go to any of them.' 1 Undated, ALS Lynn Fontanne to Edward Knoblock 1 25 June 1928 TLS St John Simms to Edward Knoblock Trying to arrange a time to meet. 1 Undated, ALS ? (John Geilgud) to Edward Knoblock 1 Undated, ALS Helen Granville Barker to Edward Knoblock 1 Undated, ALS Helen Granville Barker to Edward Knoblock 1 Undated, ALS Helen Granville Barker to Edward Knoblock 1 2 November 1920 ALS Helen Granville Barker to Edward Knoblock 1 12 July 1922 ALS Helen Granville Barker to Edward Knoblock 1 1 February 1925 ALS Helen Granville Barker to Edward Knoblock 1 Undated, C Yvette Guilbert to Edward Knoblock 1 Undated, C Yvette Guilbert to Edward Knoblock 1 Undated, ALS Yvette Guilbert to Edward Knoblock 1 Undated, ALS Yvette Guilbert to Edward Knoblock 1 Undated, ALS Yvette Guilbert to Edward Knoblock 1 19 May 1919 ALS Yvette Guilbert to Edward Knoblock 1 Undated, ALS Sacha Guitry to Edward Knoblock 1 Undated, ALS Sasha Guitry to Edward Knoblock 1 Undated, ALS Sasha Guitry to Edward Knoblock 1 Undated, ALS Sasha Guitry to Edward Knoblock 1 Undated, ALS Sasha Guitry to Edward Knoblock 1 Undated, C Sasha Guitry to Edward Knoblock 1 Undated, ALS Sasha Guitry to Edward Knoblock 1 11 August 1912 ALS Sasha Guitry to Edward Knoblock 1 12 December 1912 ALS Sasha Guitry to Edward Knoblock 1 12 October 1912 C Sasha Guitry to Edward Knoblock 1 14 June 1920 ALS Sasha Guitry to Edward Knoblock Correspondents H-S 1 24 October ? ALS Sir Charles Hawtrey to Edward Knoblock 1 22 December 1919 TLS Sir Charles Hawtrey to Edward Knoblock 1 Undated, ALS Anita Loos to Edward Knoblock 1 20 October ? ALS E.V. Lucas to Edward Knoblock 1 6 November 1919 ALS E.V. Lucas to Edward Knoblock 1 3 June 1934 ALS E.V. Lucas to Edward Knoblock 1 16 July 1934 ALS E.V. Lucas to Edward Knoblock 1 18 July 1934 ALS E.V. Lucas to Edward Knoblock 1 15 March 1928 ALS Sir Edward Lutyens to Edward Knoblock 1 18 November 1935 TLS Ramsey MacDonald to Edward Knoblock 1 15 October 1917 ALS Compton MacKenzie to Edward Knoblock 1 10 November 1917 ALS Compton MacKenzie to Edward Knoblock 1 15 October 1918 ALS Compton MacKenzie to Edward Knoblock 1 7 February 1919 TLS Compton MacKenzie to Edward Knoblock 1 18 November 1935 TLS Compton MacKenzie to Edward Knoblock 1 Undated, ALS Eddie Marsh to Edward Knoblock 1 29 April 1922 ALS Eddie Marsh to Edward Knoblock 1 8 May 1922 ALS Eddie Marsh to Edward Knoblock 1 24 March 1931 ALS Eddie Marsh to Edward Knoblock 1 14 August ? ALS A.E.W. Mason to Edward Knoblock 1 13 August 1934 ALS A.E.W. Mason to Edward Knoblock 1 20 March ? ALS A.E.W. Mason to Edward Knoblock 1 20 December 1934 ALS A.E.W. Mason to Edward Knoblock 1 20 March ? ALS Cyril Maude to Edward Knoblock 1 10 March ? ALS Cyril Maude to Edward Knoblock 1 20 September ? ALS Cyril Maude to Edward Knoblock 1 8 June ? ALS Cyril Maude to Edward Knoblock 1 24 April ? ALS Cyril Maude to Edward Knoblock 1 22 September 1904 ALS Cyril Maude to Edward Knoblock 1 29 December 1908 TLS Cyril Maude to Edward Knoblock 1 7 March 1911 TLS Cyril Maude to Edward Knoblock 1 1 January 1910 ALS Mary Moore to Edward Knoblock An invitation to dinner and an apology for missing Knoblock earlier. 2 Undated, ALS Margot Oxford to Edward Knoblock 2 Undated, ALS Margot Oxford to Edward Knoblock 2 11 July 1930 ALS Margot Oxford to Edward Knoblock Dinner invite. 2 29 August 1916 ALS Arthur Pinero to Edward Knoblock A note of thanks. 2 23 October 1920 ALS Arthur Pinero to Edward Knoblock 2 20 February 1921 ACS Arthur Pinero to Edward Knoblock 2 28 May 1928 ALS Arthur Pinero to Edward Knoblock 2 3 March ? TLS J.B. Priestley to Edward Knoblock 2 15 February 1932 TLS J.B. Priestley to Edward Knoblock 2 Undated, ALS Edith Sitwell to Edward Knoblock Offering her opinions on Knoblock's novel The Ant Heap. 2 10 August 1930 ALS George Sitwell to Edward Knoblock 2 6 October 1934 TLS Osbert Sitwell to Edward Knoblock Asking if he can convert a book into a play. 2 5 January 1935 ALS Osbert Sitwell to Edward Knoblock 2 4 March 1936 ALS Osbert Sitwell to Edward Knoblock 2 14 August 1930 ALS Sacheverell Sitwell to Edward Knoblock 2 Undated, ALS Eleanor Smith to Edward Knoblock Correspondents T-Y 2 ? ALS Herbert Tree to Edward Knoblock 2 18 November ? ALS Herbert Tree to Edward Knoblock 2 17 February 1914 TLS Herbert Tree to Edward Knoblock Also contains an incomplete letter in the hand of Tree, but not listed as a separate item. 2 8 July 1912 TLS Lewis Waller to Edward Knoblock 2 12 July 1912 ALS Lewis Waller to Edward Knoblock 2 ? ALS Hugh Walpole to Edward Knoblock 2 2 June 1918 ALS Hugh Walpole to Edward Knoblock 2 6 October 1919 ALS Hugh Walpole to Edward Knoblock 2 27 August 1925 ALS Hugh Walpole to Edward Knoblock 2 25 September 1925 ALS Hugh Walpole to Edward Knoblock 2 14 May 1919 ALS Hugh Walpole to Edward Knoblock 2 14 March 1925 ALS Hugh Walpole to Edward Knoblock 2 11 March 1923 ALS Hugh Walpole to Edward Knoblock 2 ? C Lord Wyndham to Edward Knoblock 2 ? ALS Lord Wyndham to Edward Knoblock 2 11 May 1911 ALS Lord Wyndham to Edward Knoblock 2 5 February 1913 ALS Lord Wyndham to Edward Knoblock 2 18 June 1921 ALS Francis Brett Young to Edward Knoblock

Following is the inventory of the William Nicholson correspondence.

 Sir William Nicholson correspondence and sketches 2 29 June 1936 ALS Sir William Nicholson to Edward Knoblock 2 14 August 1917 ALS Sir William Nicholson to Edward Knoblock 2 Undated, ALS Sir William Nicholson to Edward Knoblock 2 Undated, ALS Sir William Nicholson to Edward Knoblock 2 Undated, C Sir William Nicholson to Edward Knoblock 2 Undated, ALS Sir William Nicholson to Edward Knoblock 2 Undated, ALS Sir William Nicholson to Edward Knoblock 2 Undated, ALS Sir William Nicholson to Edward Knoblock 2 Undated, ALS Sir William Nicholson to Edward Knoblock 2 20 March 1913 ALS Sir William Nicholson to Edward Knoblock 2 Undated, ALS Sir William Nicholson to Edward Knoblock 2 Undated, ALS Sir William Nicholson to Edward Knoblock 2 23 October 1912 C Sir William Nicholson to Edward Knoblock 2 Undated, ALS Sir William Nicholson to Edward Knoblock 2 Undated, ALS Sir William Nicholson to Edward Knoblock 2 Undated, ALS Sir William Nicholson to Edward Knoblock 2 Undated, ALS Sir William Nicholson to Edward Knoblock 2 10 November 1907 ALS Sir William Nicholson to Edward Knoblock 2 Undated, ALS Sir William Nicholson to Edward Knoblock 2 29 December 1919 ALS Sir William Nicholson to Edward Knoblock 2 Undated, ALS Sir William Nicholson to Edward Knoblock 2 Undated, ALS Sir William Nicholson to Edward Knoblock 2 Undated, ALS Sir William Nicholson to Edward Knoblock 2 Undated, ALS Sir William Nicholson to Edward Knoblock 2 Undated, ALS Sir William Nicholson to Edward Knoblock 2 30 December 1913 ALS Sir William Nicholson to Edward Knoblock 2 10 December 1917 ALS Sir William Nicholson to Edward Knoblock 2 14 October ? ALS Sir William Nicholson to Edward Knoblock 2 Undated, ALS Sir William Nicholson to Edward Knoblock 2 Undated, ALS Sir William Nicholson to Edward Knoblock 2 Undated, ALS Sir William Nicholson to Edward Knoblock

The collection ends with 11 sketches/pictorial items sent by Nicholson to Knoblock at various times.