Cornelia Otis Skinner papers

Collection

Identifier: D.205

Staff Only

Biographical / Historical note

Cornelia Otis Skinner was born in Chicago, the daughter of the actor Otis Skinner and his wife Maud (Durbin) Skinner. After attending Bryn Mawr College (1918-1919), and studying theatre at The Sorbonne in Paris, France, she began her career on the stage in 1921. She appeared in several plays before embarking on a tour of the United States from 1926 to 1929 in a one-woman performance of short character sketches she herself wrote.

Scope and Contents

The letters in this collection were written by Cornelia Otis Skinner to the manager of her 1926-1929 tour, James Burton Pond, and his assistant, Viva Smith. James Burton Pond (1889-1961), head of the Pond Lecture Bureau in New York City, managed lecture tours of the United States by many prominent American and British speakers and performers. The letters, which are mostly undated, concern travel arrangements, bookings, expenses, and other matters related to the life of a touring actress. Also in the collection is a letter from Cornelia Otis Skinner's mother to Mr. Pond, and two printed items advertising the tour.

Creator

Skinner, Cornelia Otis, 1901-1979 (Person)
Pond, James B. (James Burton), 1889-1961 (Recipient, Person)
Smith, Viva (Recipient, Person)

Dates

Creation: 1926-1929

Language of Materials

English

Extent

1 box(es) (56 items)

Access

The Cornelia Otis Skinner Papers is open for research use. Researchers are advised to contact the Rare Books, Special Collections & Preservation Department prior to visiting. Upon arrival, researchers will also be asked to fill out a registration form and provide photo identification.

Use

Reproductions are made upon request but can be subject to restrictions. Permission to publish materials from the collection must currently be requested. It is the researcher's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections. For more information contact rarebks@library.rochester.edu.

Preferred Citation

In consultation with a curator, reproductions may be made upon request. Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from a curator. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions.

Preferred Citation

[Item title, item date], Cornelia Otis Skinner Papers, D.205, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester