Finding Aid for the Robert Lewis papers

Sub-series 5A: Manuscripts: Method or Madness: Lectures

Material organized by subject and then chronologically.

Box 34

Folder -- Contents

1. Method or Madness: Lectures: Business correspondence regarding lecture set-up, promotion and bills: April-May, 1957
2. Method or Madness: Lectures: Correspondence from attendees: March-April, 1957
3. Method or Madness: Lectures: Correspondence from attendees: May, 1957
4. Method or Madness: Lectures: Correspondence from attendees: June 1-5, 1957
5. Method or Madness: Lectures: Correspondence from attendees: June 1-10, 1957
6. Method or Madness: Lectures: Correspondence from attendees: June 11-30, 1957
7. Method or Madness: Lectures: Correspondence from attendees: July-December 1957, 1958 and 1972
8. Method or Madness: Lectures: Document: Method- or Madness?, Lewis' summary of his lectures, typed transcripts: June 3 and 4, 1957
9. Method or Madness: Lectures: Flyers and tickets (3): 1957
10. Method or Madness: Lectures: Lewis notebook with original (?) lecture notes, tabbed: 1957
11. Method or Madness: Lectures: Newspaper clippings: 1957
12. Method or Madness: Lectures: Photograph: [1957]
13. Method or Madness: Lectures: Promotion: Invitations lists, press release and Lewis notes: 1957
14. Method or Madness: Lectures: Transcripts (handwritten) of lecture #1 and part of lecture #2: [1957]

Sub-series 5A: Manuscripts: Method or Madness: Lectures

Box 35

Folder -- Contents

1. Method or Madness: Lectures: Transcription of original lecture tapes, titled Robert Lewis Lectures on Acting, annotated: [circa 1957]
2. Method or Madness: Lectures: Transcription of original lecture tapes, titled Robert Lewis Lectures on Acting: [circa 1957]

Sub-series 5B: Manuscripts: Method or Madness: Book

Box 36

Folder -- Contents

1. [Method or Madness]: Book: Background: Lewis notebook pages with handwritten and typed notes with titles and sample chapters for a book: It appears this text became part of Method or Madness: One page dated April 3, 1951
2. Method or Madness: Book: Background research: Article, "How Stanislavsky and Gordon Craig produced Hamlet" from Plays and Players [March, 1957] and "A Letter from Gordon Craig" from Educational Theatre Journal [October, 1958] and newspaper article [no date]
3. Method or Madness: Book: Book jackets, biography of Lewis and quote to appear on book jacket: [1958]
4. Method or Madness: Book: Business correspondence with publisher: 1957
5. Method or Madness: Book: Business correspondence including a copy of first lecture transcript for book preparation: 1958
6. Method or Madness: Book: Correspondence from readers and friends: 1958
7. Method or Madness: Book: Correspondence from readers and friends: 1959
8. Method or Madness: Book: Correspondence from readers and friends: [1960s]
9. Method or Madness: Book: Correspondence from readers and friends: [1970s-1980s]
10. Method or Madness: Book: Newspaper clippings and transcripts of book review: 1959-1960
11. Method or Madness: Book: Promotion: Flyers and mailings from publisher: [1958]
12. Method or Madness: Book: Promotion: List of people to be given copies: [1958]
13. Method or Madness: Book: Promotion: Quotes promoting the book: [circa 1958]
14. Method or Madness: Book: Publishing: Printed specimen pages of manuscript: July 23, 1958
15. Method or Madness: Book: Royalties and Copyright renewal application: [miscellaneous dates 1966-1986]

Sub-series 5B: Manuscripts: Method or Madness: Book

Box 37

Folder -- Contents

1. Method or Madness: Book: Manuscript, partial: Typed manuscript, Lewis biography, preface and pages 1-123 with illustration inserted, lightly annotated: [circa 1958]
2. Method or Madness: Book: Manuscript: Typed manuscript, lectures #1 through #8, lightly annotated: [circa 1958]
3. Method or Madness: Book: Manuscript: Typed manuscript, Preface and lectures #1 to #8, annotated with handwritten insertions: [circa 1958]

Sub-series 5C: Manuscripts: Method or Madness Part II: Lectures

Box 38

Folder -- Contents

1. Method or Madness Part II: Lectures: Promotion: Advertising, flyers, handouts and Lewis notes: 1990
2. Method or Madness Part II: Lectures: Lecture #1, handwritten on notebook paper: November 18, 1990
3. Method or Madness Part II: Lectures: Lecture #1, handwritten on notecards: November 18, 1990
4. Method or Madness Part II: Lectures: Lecture #2, handwritten on notebook paper: November 25, 1990
5. Method or Madness Part II: Lectures: Lecture #2, handwritten on notecards: November 25, 1990
6. Method or Madness Part II: Lectures: Lecture #3, handwritten on notebook paper: December 2, 1990
7. Method or Madness Part II: Lectures: Lecture #3, handwritten on notecards: December 2, 1990
8. Method or Madness Part II: Lectures: Lecture #4, handwritten on notebook paper: December 9, 1990
9. Method or Madness Part II: Lectures: Lecture #4, handwritten on notecards: December 9, 1990

Sub-series 5D: Manuscripts: Advice to the Players

Lewis' working files for the book included background research, proposals, correspondence, promotional material and royalty statements. Organized by subject and then chronologically. Research Note: Lewis wrote the manuscript under several working titles including, An Actor Transforms.

Box 39

Folder -- Contents

1. Advice to the Players: Background research including newspaper clippings and Lewis notes: [no dates]
2. Advice to the Players: Book jacket: [1980]
3. Advice to the Players: Book proposals: [no dates]
4. Advice to the Players: Business correspondence: 1972, 1975-1978
5. Advice to the Players: Business correspondence: 1979-1981
6. Advice to the Players: Business correspondence: 1988-1989 and [no dates]
7. Advice to the Players: Contracts: 1970 and 1989
8. Advice to the Players: Correspondence from readers and friends: 1980-1981
9. Advice to the Players: Periodical clippings and advertisements: 1980
10. Advice to the Players: Photographs of book signing: May, 1980
11. Advice to the Players: Promotion: Book party, planning and speaking engagements: Correspondence, flyers and lists: 1980
12. Advice to the Players: Promotion: Flyer and material from publisher: [1980]
13. Advice to the Players: Promotion: Quotes promoting the book: 1980 and [no dates]
14. Advice to the Players: Quotes by artists used at the beginning of each chapter in the book: [1980]
15. Advice to the Players: Royalty statements: 1980-1996

Sub-series 5D: Manuscripts: Advice to the Players

Boxes 40 and 41

Folder -- Contents

1. Advice to the Players: Manuscript pages: Lewis' original folder was marked "Orig. notes" and "Old pages," tabbed at front, typed and handwritten pages, heavily annotated: [circa 1978-1979]

Sub-series 5D: Manuscripts: Advice to the Players

Box 42

Folder -- Contents

1. Advice to the Players: Manuscript pages: Lewis folder marked "1st pages etc", miscellaneous typed pages, lightly annotated: [circa 1978-1979]
2. Advice to the Players: Manuscript, "#4, RLs (corrected)" written on the cover page: [circa 1979]

Sub-series 5D: Manuscripts: Advice to the Players

Box 43

Folder -- Contents

1. Advice to the Players: Manuscript, Untitled Book on the Craft of Acting with Advice to the Players handwritten on the cover page: [circa 1979]

Sub-series 5D: Manuscripts: Advice to the Players

Box 44

Folder -- Contents

1. Advice to the Players: Manuscript: Photocopied proof, annotated: July 20, 1979, Copyright 1980
2. Advice to the Players: Manuscript: Printed, unbound proof with bookjackets: [1980]

Sub-series 5E: Manuscripts: Slings and Arrows

Lewis' files included correspondence, contracts, promotional materials and royalty statements. Research note: Lewis used multiple working titles for his manuscript, including Somebody Caught Me Praying and My Death in Art.

Box 45

Folder -- Contents

1. Slings and Arrows: Alternate titles: [no date]
2. Slings and Arrows: Award: Books-Across-the-Sea of the English-Speaking Union of the United States designation of Slings and Arrows an "Ambassador of Honor": April 15, 1985
3. Slings and Arrows: Book jackets, note regarding copy and negative of Lewis portrait used on the book jacket: [circa 1984]
4. Slings and Arrows: Book synopsis: Typed synopsis of chapters 6, 7 and 8: [no date]
5. Slings and Arrows: Business correspondence: 1961, 1970-1979 Research note: Includes correspondence from Lillian Hellman
6. Slings and Arrows: Business correspondence: 1980-1982
7. Slings and Arrows: Business correspondence: 1983
8. Slings and Arrows: Business correspondence: 1984
9. Slings and Arrows: Business correspondence: 1985-1987
10. Slings and Arrows: Business correspondence, legal documents and newspaper clippings (much of it associated with the bankruptcy of Stein and Day Publishers): 1988-1991
11. Slings and Arrows: Business correspondence: 1993-1995
12. Slings and Arrows: Contract: September 15, 1983
13. Slings and Arrows: Correspondence from readers and friends: May-July, 1984
14. Slings and Arrows: Correspondence from readers and friends: August-December, 1984
15. Slings and Arrows: Correspondence from readers and friends: 1985-1986 and [no dates]
16. Slings and Arrows: Periodical clippings: 1984-1985
17. Slings and Arrows: Photographs: Negatives (4x5) of miscellaneous photographs from Lewis' collection, many used in Slings and Arrows: [circa 1984]
18. Slings and Arrows: Photographs (photocopies): Photographs with handwritten captions: [circa 1984]
19. Slings and Arrows: Promotion: Itinerary, flyers for presentations, photograph, promotional folder and Lewis' speaking notes: 1984-1985
20. Slings and Arrows: Promotion: List of people who received copies of the book (?): 1980-1981
21. Slings and Arrows: Royalty statements: [miscellaneous dates 1984-1993]

Sub-series 5E: Manuscripts: Slings and Arrows

Background research for specific chapters of Slings and Arrows. Files organized in book chapter order.

Box 46

Folder -- Contents

1. Slings and Arrows: Background research: Group Theatre: Newspaper clippings and Lewis' notes: [1970s-early 1980s]
2. Slings and Arrows: Background research: My Heart is in the Highlands: Lewis' notes: [1970s-early 1980s]
3. Slings and Arrows: Background research: Charlie Chaplin: Newspaper clippings and Lewis' notes: [1970s-early 1980s]
4. Slings and Arrows: Background research: Brigadoon: Lewis' notes: [1970s-early 1980s]
5. Slings and Arrows: Background research: The Sixties: Newspaper clippings and Lewis' notes: [1970s-early 1980s]
6. Slings and Arrows: Background research: The Yale School of Drama: Lewis' notes: [1970s-early 1980s]
7. Slings and Arrows: Background research: Finale, 1980s: Newspaper clippings and Lewis' notes: [1970s-early 1980s]
8. Slings and Arrows: Background research: Speaking of Critics: Newspaper clippings and Lewis' notes: [1970s-early 1980s]
9. Slings and Arrows: Background research: Personalities: Newspaper clippings and Lewis' notes relating to many of the famous people noted in Lewis' book: [1970s-early 1980s]
10. Slings and Arrows: Background research: Miscellaneous Lewis notes, often written on scraps of paper: [1970s-early 1980s]

Sub-series 5E: Manuscripts: Slings and Arrows

Box 47

Folder -- Contents

1. Slings and Arrows: Manuscript, partial: "Original chapters" written on folder, My Death in Art written on 1st chapter, typed and handwritten pages, heavily annotated: Folder 1 of 4: Many pages dated 1970
2. Slings and Arrows: Manuscript, partial: "Original chapters" written on folder, My Death in Art written on 1st chapter, typed and handwritten pages, heavily annotated: Folder 2 of 4: Many pages dated 1970
3. Slings and Arrows: Manuscript, partial: "Original chapters" written on folder, My Death in Art written on 1st chapter, typed and handwritten pages, heavily annotated: Folder 3 of 4: Many pages dated 1970
4. Slings and Arrows: Manuscript, partial: "Original chapters" written on folder, My Death in Art written on 1st chapter, typed and handwritten pages, heavily annotated: Folder 4 of 4: Many pages dated 1970

Sub-series 5E: Manuscripts: Slings and Arrows

Box 48

Folder -- Contents

1. Slings and Arrows: Manuscript: "My Death in Art longhand" and "Slings and Arrows" written on the cover page, manuscript both handwritten and typed, heavily annotated with notes and corrections inserted: Many correction pages dated 1980

Sub-series 5E: Manuscripts: Slings and Arrows

Box 49

Folder -- Contents

1. Slings and Arrows: Manuscript, partial: Typed manuscript, pages 1-100, "Early version" written on first page, lightly annotated: [early 1980s]
2. Slings and Arrows: Manuscript, partial: Typed manuscript (some pages mimeographed), pages 1-91, lightly annotated: [early 1980s]
3. Slings and Arrows: Manuscript, partial: Typed manuscript (some pages mimeographed), pages 1-92, lightly annotated: [early 1980s]

Sub-series 5E: Manuscripts: Slings and Arrows

This manuscript is printed on very acidic paper. Researchers should handle with care.

Box 50

Folder -- Contents

1. Slings and Arrows: Manuscript: Typed manuscript, titled Someone Caught Me Praying with handwritten table of contents and notes inserted, annotated: [early 1980s]

Sub-series 5E: Manuscripts: Slings and Arrows

Box 51

Folder -- Contents

1. Slings and Arrows: Manuscript: Printed manuscript (some pages mimeographed), Somebody Caught Me Praying crossed out and "Slings and Arrows" and "Bobby's copy, corrected" written on cover page, photographs inserted, lightly annotated: [early 1980s]

Sub-series 5E: Manuscripts: Slings and Arrows

Box 52

Folder -- Contents

1. Slings and Arrows: Manuscript: Printed proof (photocopied), "Master 1st Proofs" written on cover page, annotated, photographs not inserted: Copyright, 1984
2. Slings and Arrows: Manuscript: Printed proof (photocopied), photographs not inserted, index not included: Copyright, 1984
3. Slings and Arrows: Manuscript: Printed proof (photocopied) with subtitle A Theatrical Memoir crossed out and "Theater in My Life" handwritten in, photograph not inserted: Copyright, 1984
4. Slings and Arrows: Manuscript, partial: Printed (photocopied) proof of book index with accompanying letter, index annotated: March 14, 1984

Sub-series 5E: Manuscripts: Slings and Arrows

Box 53

Folder -- Contents

1. Slings and Arrows: Manuscript with accompanying letter: Typed proofs with photographs inserted, annotated; letter notes that this material is a "copyedited manuscript" and "first proofs": January 13, 1986 [sic?]

Sub-series 5E: Manuscripts: Slings and Arrows

Boxes 54 and 55

Folder -- Contents

1. Slings and Arrows: Manuscript pages: Miscellaneous typed and handwritten manuscript pages, largest sections chapters 10-23, heavily annotated: [early 1980s]

Sub-series 5F: Manuscripts: Unpublished book

Chapters by Robert Lewis written circa 1989 in preparation for a published memoir. Lewis titled these files "Snippets", but his notes include several potential titles for the book. Chapters are written as stand-alone sketches, often recounting Lewis' experiences with famous individuals. The chapters are handwritten and/or typed and many folders contain multiple revisions of the same chapter. Folders are organized alphabetically by Lewis' chapter titles.

Box 56

Folder -- Contents

1. Snippets: Correspondence: Ruth Cavin, St. Martin's Press Incorporated, to Robert Lewis regarding the possibilities of publishing book manuscript: August 1, 1994
2. Snippets: Tables of content, chapter title lists and title page
3. Snippets: Prologue
4. Snippets: Answering the Mail
5. Snippets: Black and White, Unite and Fight
6. Snippets: Bobby at Eighty?"
7. Snippets: California, Here I Go
8. Snippets: Christmas at Tallulah's
9. Snippets: Classroom Actors
10. Snippets: Conceptual Theatre
11. Snippets: Don't Call Us, We'll Call You
12. Snippets: Dr. Kinsey, Nice Man
13. Snippets: The Empress' New Clothes
14. Snippets: Favorite Ladies
15. Snippets: The Greatest Actor I ever Saw
16. Snippets: Gurney, Wasp
17. Snippets: Harold Clurman, Epicure
18. Snippets: Harold Clurman--Farewell
19. Snippets: How I Became an Apikoros
20. Snippets: How to be Quoted Correctly
21. Snippets: John Barrymore
22. Snippets: Keeping the Beat
23. Snippets: Lassie, the True Stanislavskian
24. Snippets: Lee Strasberg--Saint or Sinner?
25. Snippets: Marilyn
26. Snippets: Marlene--Glamorous Hausfrau
27. Snippets: Memorial: Morris Carnovsky
28. Snippets: Memorial: Ruth Nelson
29. Snippets: Memorial: Stella Adler
30. Snippets: Memorial Service
31. Snippets: Merry Christmas, Joan
32. Snippets: Mr. Godbolt
33. Snippets: My Favorite TV Show
34. Snippets: My Life in Dance
35. Snippets: Non-traditional Casting
36. Snippets: Number One
37. Snippets: Paul Green: A Sort of Memorial
38. Snippets: Stieglitz
39. Snippets: A Stroll with Billy
40. Snippets: Tallulah's Friend Estelle
41. Snippets: To Bobby at 80
42. Snippets: Tradition in the Theatre
43. Snippets: Twenty-one Skiddoo
44. Snippets: What Did You Say Your Name is?
45. Snippets: What was So Great About Her?
46. Snippets: Lewis notes

Sub-series 5G: Manuscripts: Articles, interviews and miscellaneous

Articles, book introductions, dissertations, reviews and scripts written by or contributed to by Lewis. Material organized chronologically.

Box 57

Folder -- Contents

1. Article: "Rose McClendon" from Negro Anthology made by Nancy Cunard 1931-1933 (3 photocopies): Copyright, 1934
2. Article: "Emotional Memory," reprinted from the Tulane Drama Review, volume 6, number 4, typed and handwritten transcripts of the article and accompanying correspondence: August 16, 1960, October-November, 1961 and June, 1962
3. Forward, book cover and book catalog: Forward and book cover for Creating a Role, by Constantin Stanislavsky, translated by Elizabeth Reynolds Hapgood, and Theatre Arts Books catalog including a listing for Creating a Role: [1961] and [no date]
4. Correspondence and notes relating to Lewis serving as a critic for the periodical, The New Leader: 1961
5. Articles: Typed transcripts and published articles written by Lewis for The New Leader, including "How to Succeed Without Really Trying," "The Quality of Imports," "A Satire on Satires," "How Far Off Broadway?" and "Style in Theatre": 1961-1962
6. Article: "Review of Directing the Play," typed transcript for the Saturday Review: [circa 1963] Research note: Do not handle original pages.. Use Research copy provided in folder.
7. Article: Untitled review of the book, A New Theatre by Tyrone Gutherie (typed transcript) for Educational Theatre Journal and accompanying correspondence: October-November, 1964
8. Article: Untitled article (typed transcript, two copies) regarding a performance by opera singer [Licia] Albanese at Carnegie Hall: February 9, 1965
9. Article or forward: Untitled typed article about, or forward to, a book by Christine Edwards possibly, The Stanislavsky Heritage, Its Contribution To The Russian And American Theatre: [circa 1965]
10. Critique: Manuscript critique of Story-Plays to Read and Dramatize by Gertrude Kerman Furman and accompanying correspondence: October, 1973
11. Forward: Forward (handwritten) for On Performing: A Handbook for Actors, Dancers, Singers on the Musical Stage by David Craig: July 15, 1986
12. Article: "Directors vs Actors" in Equity News, volume 73, number 8, published article and typed transcript: August/September, 1988
13. Interview: Oral history transcript: Interview with Bobby Lewis by Victoria Stevenson, regarding his friendship with Burgess Meredith: April 13, 1991
14. Script: Telling it Like it Was: A Living History of The Workers' Laboratory Theatre a documentary by Perry Bruskin documentary in which Lewis appeared with accompanying correspondence, legal documents and proposal: 1993
15. Article: "Charlie's Whole Shoe" typed transcript regarding Lewis' experience working with Charlie Chaplin: [no date]
16. Article: "Some Remarks on Form in Production," typed transcript: [no date]
17. Article or chapter: "Style" typed article or chapter regarding a psychic experience Lewis had: [no date]

Sub-series 5H: Manuscripts: Music

Music composed by Robert Lewis, although some pieces unsigned. The material is undated, but it appears to have been written when Lewis was a young man.

Box 58

Folder -- Contents

1. Sheet music: Handwritten in a composition book labeled Century's Music Writing Book: [no date]
2. Sheet music: Handwritten in a composition book, "Bob Lewis, 1663 Prospect Pl, Brooklyn, N.Y." written on front: [no date]
3. Sheet music: Handwritten: Folder 1 of 4: [no date]
4. Sheet music: Handwritten: Folder 2 of 4: [no date]
5. Sheet music: Handwritten: Folder 3 of 4: [no date]
6. Sheet music: Handwritten: Folder 4 of 4: [no date] Research note: Originals fragile. Use photocopies provided in folder.