Dane Farnsworth Smith Papers
Collection
Identifier: MSS-415-BC
Scope and Content
The collection consists of manuscripts and collected research materials. It is perhaps the largest collection in existence of plays about the theatre in England written between 1737-1866. The collection includes Smith's manuscript, "Plays About the Theatre in England,1737-1866," typescripts of plays with holographic notes, microfilm of playscripts, a partial (unpublished) manuscript on the origins of "The Rehearsal" and extensive typed notes on early English drama and literature.
Dates
- 1917-1968
Creator
- Smith, Dane Farnsworth, 1895-1968 (Person)
Language of Materials
English.
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Copy Restrictions
Limited duplication of CSWR material is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws. Permission is required for publication or distribution.
Biography
Dane Farnsworth Smith was born in Mobile, Alabama in 1895. He received his B.A. from Vanderbilt University in 1917. During World War I he served as an artilleryman-interpreter in France and Luxembourg. Afterward he studied French literature at the University of Paris. He went on to study at Harvard University where he received his M.A. and Ph.D. in English literature. Dr. Smith joined the faculty at the University of New Mexico in 1934 and became a full Professor in 1949. He was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, The American Association of University Professors and the Modern Language Association.
His main interest was in the English theatre during the Restoration and the 18th Century and that was where he concentrated his research, collecting plays about the theatre from those periods. After retirement in 1960 he concentrated on writing the second volume of Plays About the Theatre in England covering 1737-1866 and emphasizing that the audience of that time was more interested in the theatrical and the artificialities of the playhouse than in genuine drama. The manuscript was near completion when Dr. Smith died on November 1, 1968. It was later shortened and edited by M. L. Lawhon and was published as Plays About the Theatre in England: 1737-1800.
His main interest was in the English theatre during the Restoration and the 18th Century and that was where he concentrated his research, collecting plays about the theatre from those periods. After retirement in 1960 he concentrated on writing the second volume of Plays About the Theatre in England covering 1737-1866 and emphasizing that the audience of that time was more interested in the theatrical and the artificialities of the playhouse than in genuine drama. The manuscript was near completion when Dr. Smith died on November 1, 1968. It was later shortened and edited by M. L. Lawhon and was published as Plays About the Theatre in England: 1737-1800.
Extent
6 boxes + 1 oversize folder
Relevant Secondary Sources
- Plays About the Theatre in England 1671-1737. Dane F. Smith. London and New York: Oxford University Press, 1936.
- Plays About the Theatre in England 1737-1800. Dane F. Smith and M. L. Lawhon. Lewisburg: Bucknell Univ. Press, 1979.
Creator
- Smith, Dane Farnsworth, 1895-1968 (Person)
- Title
- Finding aid of the Dane Farnsworth Smith Papers, 1917-1968
- Status
- Approved
- Author
- Processed by CSWR Staff
- Date
- ©2000
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is in English
Revision Statements
- June 28, 2004: PUBLIC "-//University of New Mexico::Center for Southwest Research//TEXT (US::NmU::MSS 415 BC::Dane Farnsworth Smith Papers)//EN" "nmu1mss415bc.sgml" converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (sy2003-10-15).
Repository Details
Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository
Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451