| Dates: | 1912-1987, bulk dates: 1957-1978 |
| Size: | 5 linear feet in 8 boxes |
| Repository: | Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections, 400 S. State Street, Chicago, IL 60605 |
| Collection Number: | spe-ctc-gta-gfp |
| Immediate Source of Acquisition: | Donated by Marjorie (Sawyer Goodman) Hopkins and Robert and Marjorie (Goodman) Graff in 1975, 1976, 1982, 1983, 1986 and 1987. |
| Conditions Governing Access: | Materials are open without restrictions. |
| Conditions Governing Use: | Please consult staff to determine ability to reuse materials from collection. |
| Preferred Citation: | When quoting material from this collection the preferred citation is: Goodman Theatre Archive, Goodman Family Papers, [Box #, Folder #], Special Collections, Chicago Public Library |
| Finding Aid Author: | Original author unknown. Updated in 2023 by Michelle McCoy. Ingested into ArchivesSpace by Michelle McCoy, 2023. |
Abstract
The Goodman Family Papers document the family’s ongoing support and involvement with the Goodman Theater after it was established as a memorial to the late playwright Kenneth Sawyer Goodman by his parents in 1922. The papers include correspondence, memos, meeting materials and scrapbooks related to operations of the Goodman Theatre and the School of Drama of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Biographical/Historical
The Goodman Theatre was established in July 1922 as a memorial to the late playwright Kenneth Sawyer Goodman by his parents William and Erna Goodman. The Goodmans donated $250,000 to the Art Institute of Chicago, which built the theater on its northeast corner, at Monroe and Columbus. The Goodman, which originally included a professional company and drama school, officially opened on October 20, 1925, with three plays by Goodman performed at the dedication ceremony.
Goodman family support and involvement with the Goodman Theatre continued after the initial gift to the Art Institute of Chicago. The Goodman Family Papers document the activities of two generations of Goodman Family members: Marjorie Hopkins, the widow of Kenneth Sawyer Goodman, and their daughter and son-in-law, Marjorie and Robert D. Graff. Robert Graff was elected to the Committee on the Goodman Theatre and the School of Drama at the Art Institute of Chicago in 1961 and acted as the Goodman family’s representative. His files include correspondence with Artistic Director John Reich.
Scope and Contents
The Goodman Family Papers document the family’s ongoing support and involvement with the Goodman Theater after it was established as a memorial to the late playwright Kenneth Sawyer Goodman by his parents in 1922. The papers include correspondence, memos, meeting materials and scrapbooks related to operations of the Goodman Theatre and the School of Drama of the Art Institute of Chicago. The papers reflect the activities of two generations of family members: Marjorie Hopkins, the widow of Kenneth Sawyer Goodman, and their daughter and son-in-law, Marjorie and Robert D. Graff.
Arrangement
The Goodman Family Papers are arranged into 2 series:
- Series 1. Robert and Marjorie Graff Papers, 1912-1987, undated
- Series 2: Marjorie Hopkins Papers, 1923-1966, undated
Subject Headings
- Goodman Theatre (Chicago, Ill.)
- Goodman, Kenneth Sawyer, 1883-1918
- Goodman Theatre (Chicago, Ill.)
- Reich, John
- Theater -- Illinois -- Chicago -- 20th century -- Sources
- Theater -- History -- Sources
- Theater production and direction
- Theater programs -- Illinois -- Chicago
Related Materials
- Goodman Theatre Archive. Administration Files
- Goodman Theatre Archive, Goodman School of Drama
- Goodman Theatre Archive, Goodman/Art Institute of Chicago
- Goodman Theatre Archive. Producing and Artistic Director’s Files
- Goodman Theatre Archive. Production History Files
- Goodman Theatre Archives. Tom Creamer Papers
- Goodman Theatre Archives. John Reich Papers
Collection Inventory
Series 1: Robert and Marjorie Graff Papers, 1912-1987, undated
Arrangement
Series 1 is arranged into 2 subseries:
- Subseries A: Kenneth Sawyer Goodman, 1912-1921, undated
- Subseries B: Kenneth Sawyer Goodman Memorial Theatre, 1925-1987
Subseries A: Kenneth Sawyer Goodman, 1912-1921, undated
Scope and Contents
Series 1 contains memorabilia collected by the family and documents productions of Kenneth Sawyer Goodman’s plays.
Arrangement
Subseries A is arranged chronologically with undated items arranged alphabetically at the end.
| Box 1 | Folder 9 | News clippings, 1912-1919 |
| Box 1 | Folder 6 | Dregs, by Ben Hecht and The Hero of the Santa Maria by Kenneth Sawyer Goodman and Ben Hecht at the Players Workshop, announcement, 1916 September 25-30 |
| Box 1 | Folder 2 | Three Plays by KSG [Kenneth Sawyer Goodman] at the Arts Club of Chicago, invitation, 1919 May 28 |
| Box 1 | Folder 3 | Two One-Act Plays (including Back of the Yards by Kenneth Sawyer Goodman), at the Carnegie Institute of Technology, program, 1919 November 7 |
| Box 1 | Folder 4 | Dust of the Road by Kenneth Sawyer Goodman at the Carnegie Institute of Technology, program, 1919 December 19 |
| Box 1 | Folder 1 | Three One-Act Plays (including Barbara by Kenneth Sawyer Goodman) at the Anna Morgan Studios, program, 1921 February 21 |
| Box 1 | Folder 5 | Chicago Theatre Society at the Fine Arts Club of Chicago, holiday season announcement, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 7 | Ten Minutes by Oren Taft, Brown by William Saphier and Maxwell Bodenheim and The Wonder Hat by Ben Hecht and Kenneth Sawyer Goodman at the Players Workshop, announcement, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 10 | War Memorial Room (bed endowed in the name of Lieutenant Kenneth Sawyer Goodman), dedication program, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 8 | Westchester County Little Theatre Tournament (including The Game of Chess by Kenneth Sawyer Goodman), program, [no year] April 23-27 |
Series 1: Robert and Marjorie Graff Papers, 1912-1987, undated
Subseries B. Kenneth Sawyer Goodman Memorial Theatre, 1925-1987
Scope and Contents
Subseries B contains a small amount of material that documents the early production history of Goodman Theatre (1925-1931), along with more substantial materials that document the family’s support and involvement in the theater from the late 1950s through the late 1970s. Much of this later material stems from Robert Graff’s activity as a member of the Committee on the Goodman Theatre and the School of Drama at the Art Institute of Chicago. Mr. Graff was elected a member of the committee in October 1961, and acted as the Goodman family’s representative. The records include minutes, memos, correspondence and notes. Among the topics represented are the relationship between the Goodman Theatre and the Art Institute, and the relationship between the professional theater and the Theatre School.
Arrangement
Subseries B is arranged chronologically. The date ranges reflect the theater season.
| Box 1 | Folder 11 | Articles and reports, The Seater, circa 1925 |
| Box 1 | Folder 12 | Articles and reports - by Mary Bell Sloan, Tri-Color Magazine, 1926 May |
| Box 1 | Folder 13 | Articles and reports - Goodman-Chicago's Civic Repertory Theatre by Isabel Garvey, Bell Telephone News, 1928 March |
| Box 1 | Folder 14 | Articles and reports - Three Years of the Goodman Theatre by Thomas Wood Stevens, Bulletin of the Art Institute of Chicago, 1928 October |
| Box 1 | Folder 15 | Articles and reports - “Notes on the History of the Kenneth Sawyer Goodman Memorial Theater,” (typescript), undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 16 | Programs (season), 1925-1926 |
| Box 1 | Folder 17 | Programs (season), 1926-1927 |
| Box 1 | Folder 18 | Programs (season), 1927-1928 |
| Box 1 | Folder 19 | Programs (season), 1929-1930 |
| Box 1 | Folder 20 | A Frank Statement on the Past and Present Situation of the Goodman Theatre by John Reich, 1957-1958 |
| Box 1 | Folder 28 | Correspondence, from John Reich (some letters in German), 1957-1965 |
| Box 1 | Folder 21 | Correspondence, 1958-1959 |
| Box 1 | Folder 22 | Report on the Goodman Memorial Theatre, 1959-1960 |
| Box 1 | Folder 23 | Correspondence and reports, 1960-1961 |
| Box 1 | Folder 24 | Correspondence, minutes and reports, Committee on the Goodman Theatre and the School of Drama of the Art Institute of Chicago, 1960-1961 |
| Box 1 | Folders 25-27 | Correspondence, minutes and reports, Committee on the Goodman Theatre and the School of Drama of the Art Institute of Chicago, 1961-1962 |
| Box 2 | Folder 1 | Correspondence, 1963 May 29 |
| Box 2 | Folders 2-3 | Correspondence, minutes and reports, Committee on the Goodman Theatre and the School of Drama of the Art Institute of Chicago, 1962-1963 |
| Box 2 | Folders 4 -7 | Correspondence, minutes and reports, Committee on the Goodman Theatre and School of Drama of the Art Institute of Chicago, 1963-1964 |
| Box 2 | Folders 8-10 | Correspondence, minutes and reports, Committee on the Goodman Theatre and the School of Drama of the Art Institute of Chicago, 1964-1965 |
| Box 2 | Folders 11-12 | Correspondence, minutes and reports, Committee on the Goodman Theatre and the School of Drama of the Art Institute of Chicago, 1965-1966 |
| Box 2 | Folder 10a | News clippings and reviews, 1965-1966 |
| Box 2 | Folder 13 | Goodman Memorial Theatre Community Service Study by Leo J. Shapiro and Herbert Taylor, 1966-1967 |
| Box 2 | Folder 14 | Correspondence, minutes and reports, Committee on the Goodman Theatre and the School of Drama of the Art Institute of Chicago, 1966-1967 |
| Box 3 | Folder 1 | Kenneth Dewey (Associate Producer) working files, The Misanthrope, 1966-1967 |
| Box 3 | Folder 2 | Correspondence, minutes and reports, Committee on the Goodman Theatre and the School of Drama of the Art Institute of Chicago, 1967-1968 |
| Box 3 | Folder 3 | Correspondence, minutes and reports, Committee on the Goodman Theatre and the School of Drama of the Art Institute of Chicago, 1968-1969 |
| Box 3 | Folder 4 | News clippings and reviews, 1969-1970 |
| Box 3 | Folders 5-6 | Correspondence, minutes and reports, Committee on the Goodman Theatre and the School of Drama, of the Art Institute of Chicago, 1969-1970 |
| Box 3 | Folder 7 | Correspondence, minutes and reports, Committee on the Goodman Theatre and the School of Drama, of the Art Institute of Chicago, 1970-1971 |
| Box 4 | Folder 1 | Correspondence, minutes and reports, Committee on the Goodman Theatre and the School of Drama of the Art Institute of Chicago, 1971-1972 |
| Box 4 | Folder 2 | Report on the Schools of the Art Institute of Chicago prepared by the School of Art and the Goodman School of Drama for the North Central Association, 1971-1972 |
| Box 4 | Folders 3-4 | Correspondence, minutes and reports, Committee on the Goodman Theatre and the School of Drama of the Art Institute of Chicago, 1972-1973 |
| Box 4 | Folder 5 | Correspondence, minutes and reports, Committee on the Goodman Theatre and the School of Drama of the Art Institute of Chicago, 1973-1974 |
| Box 4 | Folders 6-7 | Correspondence, minutes and reports, Committee on the Goodman Theatre and the School of Drama of the Art Institute of Chicago, 1974-1975 |
| Box 4 | Folder 8 | Correspondence, minutes and reports, Committee on the Goodman Theatre and the School of Drama of the Art Institute of Chicago, 1975-1976 |
| Box 4 | Folder 9 | Correspondence, minutes and reports, Committee on the Goodman Theatre and the School of Drama of the Art Institute of Chicago, 1976-1977 |
| Box 4 | Folder 10 | Correspondence, minutes and reports, Committee on the Goodman Theatre and the School of Drama of the Art Institute of Chicago, 1977-1978 |
| Box 4 | Folder 11 | Program for Without and Within by Kenneth Dewey, Action Theatre, 1965 June 8 |
| Box 4 | Folder 12 | Action Theatre: The Happenings of Ken Dewey, by Barbara Moore, New York: Franklin Furnace, 1987 |
Series 2: Marjorie Hopkins Papers, 1923-1966, undated
Scope and Contents
Series 2 contains correspondence, memos and meeting minutes that document Marjorie Hopkins’s support for the Goodman Theatre's activities, as well as scrapbooks with news clippings, reviews and other assorted memorabilia.
Arrangement
Series 2 is arranged chronologically.
| Box 5 | Folder 1 | Correspondence, incoming, A-G, 1953-1965, undated |
| Box 5 | Folder 2 | Correspondence, incoming, H-L, 1951-1966, undated |
| Box 5 | Folder 3 | Correspondence, incoming, M-Z, 1923-1966, undated |
| Box 5 | Folder 4 | Correspondence, outgoing, 1960-1963 |
| Box 5 | Folder 5 | Correspondence, Goodman Theatre production of Kenneth Sawyer Goodman plays, 1958 December |
| Box 5 | Folder 7 | Art Institute of Chicago, by-laws, 1959 |
| Box 5 | Folder 6 | Art Institute of Chicago, strike, 1965 |
| Box 5 | Folder 8 | Memos and reports, Goodman Theatre, 1957-1958 |
| Box 5 | Folder 9 | News clippings and reports, Goodman Theatre, 1958-1959 |
| Box 5 | Folder 10 | Minutes, Committee on the Goodman Theatre and School of Theatre Arts, 1958 September 10-1966 December 5 |
| Box 6 | Folder 1 | Scrapbook, 1959-1960 |
| Box 6 | Folders 2-3 | Scrapbook, 1960-1961 |
| Box 6 | Folders 4-5 | Scrapbook, 1961-1962 |
| Box 7 | Folders 1-2 | Scrapbook, 1962-1963 |
| Box 7 | Folder 3 | Scrapbook, 1963-1964 |
| Box 7 | Folder 4 | Scrapbook, 1964 |
| Box 7 | Folder 5 | Scrapbook, 1964-1965 |
| Box 8 | Scrapbook, 1966-1969 |
