Zoe Akins Papers

Collection

Identifier: A0015

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of undated love letters written by William Marion Reedy to Zoe Akins. Also includes an undated play titled "The Wandering Fairies—A Shakespearian Masque for Children" by Zoe Akins, and a typed copy of "The Learned Lady," by Zoe Akins, 1911, from which Act I and portions of Act II are missing. Collection also includes a newspaper article from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch describing the letters.

Dates

1911; 1958

Creator

Akins, Zoë, 1886-1958 (Author, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

For permission to publish, quote from, or reproduce material in this collection, please contact the Archives Reference Desk at archives@mohistory.org. Copyright restrictions may apply. The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming to the laws of copyright.

Biographical Sketch

Zoe Akins was born in Humansville, Missouri, and moved to St. Louis where her father was postmaster and also a leader in the Republican party. She attended Hosmer Hall and then spent two years at Monticello Seminary in Godfrey, Illinois. At the age of 17, she played with the Odeon Stock Company of St. Louis. She then began writing articles for the St. Louis–based Mirror. Later she left for New York where she became a well-known playwright. Her best-known plays are "The Greeks Had a Word for It," "The Furies," and "The Old Maid," for which she won the Pulitzer Prize in 1935. In 1932, she married Hugo Rumbold, a British artist and army captain. In her last years she wrote for motion pictures. She died October 29, 1958.

Extent

0.06 Cubic Feet ( (2 folders))

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

The collection is arranged chronologically.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

There are no physical or technical restrictions.

Donor Information

The two letters from William Marion Reedy were donated by Mrs. Zoe Akins Rumbold on April 4, 1951, with a stipulation that they remain sealed until after her death. "The Wandering Fairies" manuscript was donated by Mrs. George B. Wislocki on June 25, 1957 (accession no. 57-0074). "The Learned Lady" manuscript was transferred to the Archives from the Missouri Historical Society Library on May 14, 1991 (accession no. 91-0023).