Special Collections Department
403 Parks Library
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2140
RS 13/23/52
Kathryn Eames (1908-2004)
Papers, 1941-1998, n.d.
Descriptive summary
| creator: | Eames, Kathryn (1908-2004) |
| title: | Papers |
| dates: | 1941-1998, n.d. |
| extent: | 6.26 linear feet (10 document boxes, 1 half-document box, and 1 oversized box) |
| collection number: | RS 13/23/52 |
| repository: | University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University. |
Administrative information
| access: | Open for research |
| publication rights: | Consult Head, Special Collections Department |
| preferred citation: | Kathryn Eames Papers, RS 13/23/52, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library. |
Biographical note
Kathryn Bridenstine was born July 25, 1908 in Kiowa, Kansas to Lorenzo and Katie Bridenstine. She grew-up in Hoisington, Kansas and as child started acting in local theatrical productions. Kathryn Eames attended the University of Arizona to study drama. For her role as as Lilliom in "The Typewriter," she was awarded the National Collegiate Players Award (1940). The prize included a summer workshop with Tamara Daykarhanova in White Plains, New York. Daykarhanova gave her a scholarship to continue study in the fall. She chose Kathryn Eames as her stage name, which was her mother's maiden name. Eames's first professional acting appearance was in the Broadway production of "Winged Victory". Eames followed this with performances in on-and-off Broadway plays such as "Lamp at Midnight" (1947-1948), "Beyond the Horizon"(1948), "Portrait of a Madonna"(1964), "In White America"(1968), and "Home Room" (1980), to name a few. Ms. Eames' also toured with productions of "The Cat and the Canary" (1949), "Anniversary Waltz" (1955), and "Mornings at Seven" (1981-1982). She also performed in many dinner theatre productions throughout her long career, some highlights being "The Impossible Years" (1971) with Robert Alda, "90 Day Mistress" (1973) with June Wilkinson, and "The Latest Mrs. Adams" (1977). Ms. Eames also performed in summer stock productions as well as Quaker Oats and Frigidaire shows in the early 1950's. Ms. Eames' had the distinction of being the only actress to play Groucho Marx' wife in the play "Time for Elizabeth" (1958-1964). The play was even broadcast on Bob Hope's Chrysler Show in 1964. Ms. Eames' was been the guest artist in the University of Mississippi's productions of "Exit the King" and "Ah! Wilderness" in 1972. In 1993, she came to Iowa State University as an artist in residence to talk about her long and active career. In 1995, Ms. Eames was inducted into the Plaza of Heroines in front of Carrie Chapman Catt Hall. She passed away on December 12, 2004. |
Collection description
The collection (1941-1998) contains documents relating to Ms. Eames' acting career including correspondence, scripts, memorabilia, photographs, manuscripts, and scrapbooks. The collection also contains biographical information. Of note there are several letters to her from Groucho Marx. |
Organization
The collection is arranged into six series: |
Description of series
| Series 1 | Correspondence |
1958-1985 |
| extent: | 5 folders |
|
| description: | This series consists of Mr. correspondence between Ms. Eames and directors, family, friends, book publishers and agents, and her co-star Groucho Marx. |
|
Container list
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
1 |
2 |
Directors (Commercial & Stage) |
1968-1969 |
1 |
3 |
Greeting Cards & Post Cards |
n.d. |
1 |
4 |
Groucho Marx |
1958-1971 |
1 |
5 |
Publishers/Agents about "Bloody but Unbowed" - book |
1979-1985 |
Description of series
| Series 2 | Scripts |
1958-1983 |
| extent: | 3 boxes |
|
| description: | Series contains scripts from Ms. Eames' stage performances as well as TV and radio scripts. Also contained in this series are scenes from plays that Ms. Eames used when auditioning. Ms. Eames often annotated her scripts. |
|
Container list
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
1 |
6 |
"Appledale" |
n.d. |
1 |
7 |
"Boys at Large" |
1961 |
1 |
8 |
"Changing Palettes" |
1983 |
1 |
9 |
"Coop" |
n.d. |
1 |
10 |
"Democracy & Esther" |
1992 |
1 |
11 |
"Eye of the Hurricane" |
n.d. |
1 |
12 |
"The Gift" |
n.d. |
1 |
13 |
"The Green Blackboard" |
n.d. |
1 |
14 |
"Home Room" |
1980 |
1 |
15 |
"Hothouse" |
1974 |
2 |
1 |
"A Hotline to Heaven" |
1979 |
2 |
2 |
"How was the Trip?" |
1970 |
2 |
3 |
"The Last Resort" |
1988 |
2 |
4 |
"The Latest Mrs. Adams" |
1977 |
2 |
5 |
"Mornings at Seven" |
1981-1982 |
2 |
6 |
"No Sex, Please, We're British" |
1979 |
2 |
7 |
"Portrait of a Madonna" |
1964 |
2 |
8 |
Scenes from Plays |
n.d. |
3 |
1 |
"Starlight" |
1985 |
3 |
2 |
"Time for Elizabeth" |
1958-1964 |
3 |
3 |
TV & Radio Commericals |
1967-1984 |
3 |
4 |
"The Uprooted" |
1962 |
3 |
5 |
"The Wish" |
n.d. |
3 |
6 |
"You Never Told Me" |
1962 |
Description of series
| Series 3 | Memorabilia |
1943-1998 |
| extent: | 5 boxes |
|
| description: | This series includes memoriabilia from Ms. Eames plays. Items in the series include playbills, cast photographs, greeting cards, newspaper reviews, tour diaries, posters, and contracts. |
|
Container list
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
3 |
7 |
"Anniversary Waltz" - posters |
1955 |
3 |
8 |
Artist in Residence, Iowa State University – show flyers, newspaper article from Iowa State Daily, some correspondence |
1993 |
3 |
9 |
"The Brothel" – newspaper reviews, press releases |
1972 |
3 |
10 |
Cape Playhouse – newspaper reviews and advertisements, playbills |
1967 |
3 |
11 |
"Changing Palettes" Tyson's Studio NY – playbill, correspondence with director |
1983 |
12 |
OVR |
"Changing Palettes" Tyson's Studio NY – poster |
1983 |
3 |
12 |
Contracts |
1947-1952 |
12 |
OVR |
Contracts |
1943-1979 |
3 |
13 |
"Coop" – show flyer |
n.d. |
3 |
14 |
"Critics' Choice" – notes, newspaper reviews, playbills |
1970 |
3 |
15 |
Tour Diary – "Critics' Choice" |
1970 |
3 |
16 |
"Democracy & Esther" (15 color photos) - playbills, newspaper reviews |
1992 |
3 |
17 |
Dream Log |
n.d. |
4 |
1 |
"Exit the King" (13 color photos) – notes, newspaper reviews, playbill |
1972 |
4 |
2 |
"Eyes Upon the Cross" West Side Presbyterian Church - playbills |
1970-1971 |
4 |
3 |
"The Girls in 509" Omaha, NE – copies of "Omaha: The City Magazine", newspaper reviews, dinner theatre information |
1976 |
12 |
OVR |
"The Girls in 509" Omaha, NE - poster |
1976 |
4 |
4 |
Hayloft Dinner Theater - "A Hotline to Heaven" & "The Patrick Pearse Motel" – newspaper reviews, greeting cards, directions |
1979 |
4 |
5 |
"Home Room" Tyson's Studio – playbill, greeting card, show flyers |
1980 |
4 |
6 |
"Hothouse" – playbill, newspaper reviews |
1974 |
4 |
7 |
"The Impossible Years" (12 3.5x3.5 color photos) – playbills, newspaper reviews |
1971 |
4 |
8 |
Tour Diaries – "The Impossible Years" |
1971 |
4 |
9 |
"In White America" – show flyers, correspondence with director |
1968 |
12 |
OVR |
"In White America" – poster |
1968 |
4 |
10 |
Induction into Plaza of Heroines, Carrie Chapman Catt Hall – biography, correspondence, program |
1995 |
4 |
11 |
"The Last Resport" – playbill, newspaper reviews, posters |
1988 |
4 |
12 |
"The Latest Mrs. Adams" Scottdale, AZ – playbills, newspaper reviews, greeting cards |
1977 |
4 |
13 |
"Levitation" Portland ME – playbill, newspaper reviews, correspondence with cast |
1986 |
12 |
OVR |
"A Loss of Roses" (1 14X24 poster) |
1961 |
4 |
14 |
"Marat/DeSade" (1 5x7 B&W photo) – newspaper reviews |
1967 |
5 |
1 |
"Mornings at Seven" - first part of tour – itinerary, playbills, newspaper reviews |
1981-1982 |
5 |
2 |
"Mornings at Seven" – second part of tour (1 of 2) -itinerary, playbills, newspaper reviews |
1982 |
5 |
3 |
"Mornings at Seven" – second part of tour (2 of 2) -itinerary, playbills, newspaper reviews |
1982 |
5 |
4 |
Tour Diary – "Mornings at Seven" |
1981-1982 |
5 |
5 |
"Move Over, Mrs. Markham" - playbill, newspaper reviews |
1976, 1981 |
5 |
6 |
"My Three Angels" - playbill, newspaper reviews, correspondence |
1974-1975 |
5 |
7 |
"Never too Late" Manassas, VA - playbill, newspaper reviews |
1973-1974 |
5 |
8 |
Nightclubs – posters, newspaper advertisements |
1975-1976 |
5 |
9 |
"90 Day Mistress" (2 8x10 B&W photos, 7 color photos (3 3x5, 4 3x3) - playbill, newspaper reviews |
1973 |
6 |
1 |
"No Sex, Please, We're British" Louisville KY & Denver CO - playbill, newspaper reviews, greeting cards |
1975 |
6 |
2 |
"Old Friends" (16 3x4 color photos, 7 color negatives) - playbill, newspaper reviews |
1982-1983 |
6 |
3 |
Quotes – from plays, books, magazines, etc |
n.d. |
6 |
4 |
Postcards – from talent agency |
n.d. |
6 |
5 |
Show Flyers |
n.d. |
6 |
6 |
"Starlight" (13 3x4 color photos, 3 color negatives) - playbills, newspaper reviews |
1985 |
6 |
7 |
Tap Dance Lessons (with Robert Andy) - notes |
1979 |
6 |
8 |
"Three Plays by Tennessee Williams" – Theatre of Riverside Church -playbill |
1964 |
6 |
9 |
"Ten Little Indians" Englewood, CO - playbills, newspaper reviews, notes |
1981 |
6 |
10 |
Tour Diary – "Ten Little Indians" |
1981 |
6 |
11 |
"Time for Elizabeth"- playbills |
1958-1960 |
6 |
12 |
"The Unforgettable Florida Theater" (Industrial Film)(1 3x4 color photo) - playbill |
1998 |
6 |
13 |
Vera Soloviova & Christine Edwards - flyer |
1969 |
Description of series
| Series 4 | Photographs |
1941-1993 |
| extent: | 5 boxes |
|
| description: | This series contains photographs from Ms. Eames' plays including official cast photos and casual photos as well as publicity stills and headshots. |
|
Container list
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
12 |
OVR |
Artist in Residence – Fisher Theatre (1 9.75X12 B&W photo) |
1993 |
6 |
14 |
Baby – Teenage Pictures (2 8x10, 3 4x6, 3 3x5, 1 3x4, 2 1x1 B&W photos, 1 8x10 color photo) |
n.d. |
6 |
15 |
"The Bad Seed" (2 8X10 B&W photos) |
1961 |
6 |
16 |
"Bell, Book, & Candle" (1 8X10 B&W photo) |
1955 |
6 |
17 |
"Beyond the Horizon" (3 8X10 B&W photos) |
1947 |
6 |
18 |
"The Big Heat" (3 8X10 B&W photos) |
1953 |
6 |
19 |
Budweiser Tour (1 8X10 B&W photo) |
1952 |
6 |
20 |
"The Cat & the Canary" (12 8X10 B&W photos) |
1949 |
6 |
21 |
"Changing Palettes" (6 3x4, 2 4x5 color photos) |
1982 |
6 |
22 |
Christine Edwards (1 8x10 B&W photo, 2 3x5 color photos) |
n.d., 1988 |
6 |
23 |
Clarence's photos of Kathryn (2 4x6 B&W) |
n.d. |
6 |
24 |
Clarence (2 8X10 B&W photos, 1 B&W negative) |
n.d. |
6 |
25 |
"Critics Choice" (1 8X10 B&W photo) |
1970 |
6 |
26 |
"Exit the King" & "Ah! Wilderness" Memphis TN (6 2x2, 3 3x3, 7 4x4 color photos) |
1972 |
6 |
27 |
Family (1 8X10 color photo) |
n.d. |
6 |
28 |
Friends (17 8X10 B&W photos) |
n.d. |
6 |
29 |
Frigidaire Show (2 8X10 B&W photos) |
1950 |
6 |
30 |
"Fumed Oak" (2 8X10 B&W photo) |
1952 |
7 |
1 |
"The Girls in 509" Omaha NE (15 3.5x3.5 color photos) |
1976 |
7 |
2 |
Hal Hackett (8 8X10 B&W photos) |
n.d. |
7 |
3 |
"Hayloft Dinner Theater, Manassas VA – "Patrick Pearse Motel", "A Hotline to Heaven", Halloween (6 3x5, 17 3x3 color photos) |
1979 |
7 |
4 |
Headshot – (1 8x10 B&W photo) |
1941 |
7 |
5 |
Headshots – Marcus Blechman (13 8X10 B&W photos |
1943 |
7 |
6 |
Headshots (2 8X10 B&W, 1 B&W negative) |
1952 |
7 |
7 |
Headshots – Marcus Blechman (10 8X10 B&W photos) |
1955 |
7 |
8 |
Headshots (4 8X10 B&W photos, 2 negatives) |
1957 |
7 |
9 |
Headshots (11 8X10 B&W photos) |
n.d. |
7 |
10 |
Headshots & Proofs – Herb Mufurd (6 8X10 B&W photos, 11 B&W negatives) |
1966 |
12 |
OVR |
Headshots & Proofs – Herb Mufurd (6 11X14 B&W photos, 6 negatives) |
|
12 |
OVR |
Headshots (4 11X14 B&W photos) |
1968 |
7 |
11 |
Headshots (7 8X10 B&W photos) |
1968 |
7 |
12 |
Headshots (4 8X10 B&W photos, 1 negative) |
n.d. |
7 |
13 |
Headshots & Proof (10 8X10 B&W photos, 3 negatives) |
1969 |
7 |
14 |
Headshots (4 8X10 B&W photos, 2 negatives) |
n.d. |
7 |
15 |
Headshots (2 8X10 B&W photos) |
n.d. |
7 |
16 |
Headshots (6 8X10 B&W photos, 4 B&W negatives) |
n.d. |
7 |
17 |
Headshots (4 8X10 B&W photos, 1 B&W negative) |
1977 |
7 |
18 |
Headshots and proofs (4 8X10 B&W photos) |
n.d. |
7 |
19 |
Headshots and Proof (5 8X10 B&W photos, 2 B&W negatives) |
1982 |
7 |
20 |
"Home Room" (1 8X10 B&W photo) |
1980 |
7 |
21 |
"A Hotline to Heaven" (3 8X10 B&W photos) |
1979 |
7 |
22 |
Ian Keith (1 3x3, 1 2,5x3,5, 1 3x4, 1 4x4, 3 8x10 B&W photos) |
n.d. |
12 |
OVR |
Ian Keith (2 9X12 B&W photos, 1 11X14 B&W photo) |
n.d. |
7 |
23 |
"The Impossible Years" (6 8X10 B&W photos) |
1971 |
7 |
24 |
"King of Hearts" (2 8X10 B&W photos) |
1955 |
7 |
25 |
"Lamp at Midnight" (2 8X10 B&W photos) |
1947-1948 |
7 |
26 |
"The Latest Mrs. Adams" (25 3.5x3.5 color photos) |
1977 |
7 |
27 |
"Levitation" (29 3x4 color photos) |
1986 |
7 |
28 |
"A Loss of Roses" (3 8X10 B&W photos) |
1961 |
7 |
29 |
"Madam Ada" (2 8x10 B&W photos) |
1946 |
7 |
30 |
"The Man Who Came to Dinner" (2 8x10 B&W photos) |
1950 |
7 |
31 |
"Marat/deSade" (1 8x10 B&W photo) |
1967 |
7 |
32 |
"Marriage-Go-Round" (3 8X10 B&W photos) |
1961 |
8 |
1 |
"Mornings at Seven" (32 3x4, 25 3.5x3.5 color photos, 11 color negatives) (1 of 2) |
1981 |
8 |
2 |
"Mornings at Seven" (23 3x4, 6 3x3 color photos, 13 color negatives) (2 of 2) |
1981 |
8 |
3 |
"Move Over, Mrs. Markham" (1 8x10, 20 2x4 B&W photos, 1 8x10, 15 3x3 color photos) |
1976 |
8 |
4 |
"Move Over, Mrs. Markham" (1 4x4, 7 3x3 color photos, 4 color negatives) |
1981 |
8 |
5 |
"My Three Angels" (1 8X10 B&W photo) |
1961 |
8 |
6 |
"No Sex, Please, We're British" (8 3x4, 2 4x4, 15 3x3 color photos, 5 8x10 B&W photos) |
1975 |
8 |
7 |
"Old Friends" (1 8X10 B&W photo) |
1982-1983 |
8 |
8 |
"The Patrick Pearse Motel" (4 8x10 B&W photos) |
1979 |
8 |
9 |
Photos from Photo book (7 8x10, 3 7x9 B&W photos) |
1967-1976 |
12 |
OVR |
Photos from Photo book (5 11X14 B&W photos, 4 12X11 B&W photo, 1 8X10 B&W photo) |
1967-1976 |
8 |
10 |
"Picnic" (2 8X10 B&W photos) |
1961 |
8 |
11 |
"Portrait of a Madonna" (2 3.5x3.5color photos) |
1964 |
8 |
12 |
Posed (4 8x10, 1 5x7 B&W photos) |
1946 |
8 |
13 |
Print Ads (4 3x4 color photos) |
n.d. |
8 |
14 |
Quaker Oats Show (9 8X10 B&W photos) |
1954 |
8 |
15 |
"Rain" (5 8X10 B&W photos) |
1961 |
8 |
16 |
Scrapbook 1 (2 8x10, 4 5x7, 2 4x6, 49 3x4, 1 2x5 B&W photos) (1 of 2) |
1943-1948 |
8 |
17 |
Scrapbook 1 (1 5x7, 1 4x6, 1 3x7, 1 2x6, 3 3x4, 3 3x5, 1 4x4, 9 2.5x2.5, 2 2x2 B&W photos) (2 of 2) |
1943-1948 |
12 |
OVR |
Scrapbook 1 (1 3.75X5.75 B&W photo) |
1948 |
8 |
18 |
Snapshots (2 5x7, 2 3x5,8 3x4, 4 2x3 B&W photos, 2 3x3 color photos) |
n.d. |
9 |
1 |
Snapshots (2 2.5x3.5, 5 3x4, 2 3x5, 48 2.5x2.5 B&W photos) |
1946 |
9 |
2 |
"Tender Trap" (1 8X10 B&W photo) |
1961 |
9 |
3 |
"Ten Little Indians" (33 3.5x3.5 color photos) |
1981 |
9 |
4 |
"Time for Elizabeth" (Play & TV) (15 8X10 B&W photos, 2 negatives) |
1958-1964 |
9 |
5 |
"Time for Elizabeth" – Chrysler Theatre (4 8X10 B&W photos, 2 negatives) |
1964 |
9 |
6 |
"Time for Ginger" (3 8X10 B&W photos) |
1955 |
9 |
7 |
"The Typewriter" (2 5x7 B&W photos) |
1941 |
Description of series
| Series 5 | Manuscripts |
1969-1988 |
| extent: | 2 boxes |
|
| description: | This series includes Ms. Eames' writings. The writings contain notes, proposals, and drafts of unpublished short stories, a guide to literary agents, and an unpublished book, "Bloody but Unbowed", including the copyright for the name "Bloody but Unbowed". |
|
Container list
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
9 |
8 |
"Bloody But Unbowed" Manuscript |
n.d. |
9 |
9 |
"Bloody But Unbowed" Complete Copy |
n.d. |
9 |
10 |
Book Proposals |
n.d. |
9 |
11 |
Copy of Manuscript |
n.d. |
9 |
12 |
Copyright |
1988 |
9 |
13 |
First Draft of Book |
n.d. |
9 |
14 |
Guide to Literary Agents/Notes |
1978 |
9 |
15 |
"Hooray for Health!" (Short Article) |
n.d. |
9 |
16 |
Notes & Articles for Book |
n.d. |
10 |
1 |
"The Party" (Short Story) |
1969 |
10 |
2 |
"A Ride on the Bus", "Big Tom" (Short Stories) |
1969 |
10 |
3 |
Short Story Ideas |
n.d. |
10 |
4 |
"A Time of Strangeness" Notes (Short Story) |
1969 |
Description of series
| Series 6 | Scrapbooks |
1943-1961 |
| extent: | 2 boxes |
|
| description: | This series consists of three scrapbooks containing information about plays in which Eames starred. The scrapbooks include, photographs, playbills, correspondence, and print ads for the various plays. |
|
Container list
Box |
Folder |
Title |
Dates |
10 |
5 |
Christine Edward's plays (13 8x10, 8 4x5 B&W photos) |
n.d. |
10 |
6 |
Scrapbook 1 |
1943-1948 |
10 |
7 |
Originals from Scrapbook 1 (1 of 2) |
1943-1948 |
10 |
8 |
Originals from Scrapbook 1(2 of 2) |
1943-1948 |
10 |
9 |
Scrapbook 2 |
1955-1961 |
11 |
1 |
Originals from Scrapbook 2 (1 of 2) |
1955-1961 |
11 |
2 |
Originals from Scrapbook 2 (2 of 2) (5 2x3, 1 3x3 B&W photos) |
1955-1961 |