| Description | 20 folders of the general correspondence of the playwright, George Shiels, listed as 1A-D and arranged by year, c1910-1957. The collection includes Christmas cards, cast lists for plays and correspondence. For example:
A letter from Norman Graham, stating 'Just to comfort all of us Mrs. Patrick Campbell opened to poor business in the Opera House last evening', 19 November 1918.
A letter from Norman Graham regarding Shiels' play 'The Planet' to be produced, with Mrs Waddell as 'Florrie Forde', no date.
A letter from Eithne Ni Pheadair, thanking Shiels for his appreciation of her 'bit for the Eire that...will one day rise, like the phoenix, from the ashes of humiliation', 18 August 1922.
A letter from Tom McCreevy, describing the first night of a play, 'Mr. Yeats and his wife behind me laughing all the time, and Mr. and Mrs. Jack Yeats - lovely people', 4 October 1922.
A letter from Lennox Robinson, mentioning that Lady Gregory suggested bringing the play 'Bed mates' up to date by cutting out the English man and leaving the Eternal Irish Triangle - Ulster, Free State, Sinn Féin', 8 October 1922.
A letter from Mary Masterson, stating, 'I see you are still full of mischief and fun', 24 September 1923.
A letter from Lady Gregory, Coole Park, praising Shiels' play, 'The Retrievers', 27 January 1924.
Letters from Mabel O'Brien commenting on Shiels' plays 'First Aid' and 'The Retrievers' and expressing sympathy on death of Shiels' mother, 1924-1931.
A letter from Florence Woods on how good Sara Allgood was in Shiels' play 'The Retrievers', 14 May 1924.
A letter from Sara Allgood, asking about the possibility of getting a part in Shiels' new play, 11 October 1925.
A letter from Sara Allgood, Royalty Theatre, London, stating 'I thank almighty God for the gift he has given me, to use for the honour and glory of our dear country', 17 November 1925.
A letter from Sara Allgood concerning the success of 'Playboy' [of the Western World] and stating 'I don't quite understand Lady G[regory]'s attitude, she certainly put her hand down most decidedly when I wired her permission for the English rights', 28 October 1925.
A letter from Sara Allgood encouraging Shiels to write parts for her in the Abbey Theatre and stating, 'My heart is in the Abbey', 1 November 1925.
A letter from Sara Allgood sympathising on the death of Shiels' mother, 12 January 1926.
A telegram from Sara Allgood, 11 April 1931.
A letter from Sara Allgood, California, 28 January 1949.
A letter from Brigid O'Brien to George Shiels, regarding Shiels' nom-de-plume, 'I shall be keeping an eye out for plays with a very foney name to their author. But there must be something very disgraceful about the play, if you daren't own to its authorship. Anyhow I'm glad it's making money', 15 November 1930.
A letter from Brigid O'Brien, 'Whatever your mood I'll try to meet it and give you all I can... try not to think of me as one who, so help me, God, will never let you down nor fail you', 20 September 1931.
A letter from Brigid O'Brien, 'I met Miss Lily Yeats in the street the other day who told me how Willy B. had been terrified by the microphone and the lack of audience so that he had to drag in Sally Allgood to listen to him', 18 September 1931.
A letter from Brigid O'Brien referring to their 'queer friendship...Your letters, up till now, I have always burnt. But I would like your permission to keep some of them in a safe place', 1 November 1931.
A letter from Lady Gregory to Shiels containing an account of Shiels' play, 'Professor Tim' at the Abbey Theatre, 28 December 1925.
A letter from Ellen O'Brien, cousin of Edith Somerville, telling Shiels to call her 'aunt', she also writes about Irish history, 27 December 1931.
Letters from Amanda McKitterick Ros making arrangements for Shiels to dramatise her work, 1937-1938.
A letter from Teresa Deevy stating that she was glad Shiels liked her work, 1 March 1948.
Receipts sent to Shiels' sister following his death in 1950, 1950s.
A letter from Nana Nagle in which she agreed to take the part of 'Peggy' in Shiels' play 'Moodie in Manitoba', 1 March 1929.
Letters to Nano Nagle from Mr Coughlan asking her to work with him and thanking her for agreeing to do so, 13 and 20 September 1929 and sending her expenses, 29 July 1929.
A letter from the University Women's Club, Belfast to Mr Coughlan asking to meet George Shiels 'but I suppose that is impossible as he is such a recluse', 8 February 1929.
A letter from Mr Coughlan to Miss Milne of the University Women's Club, Belfast, sending her George Shiels' address, 5 April 1929.
A letter from Mr Coughlan to Diana Pagden offering her the part of 'Peg' in Shiels' play, 'Professor Tim', 13 March 1930.
A letter from Mr Coughlan to Diana Pagden regretting that she cannot play the part of 'Peg', 20 March 1930.
Two folders of photographs which include, for example:
A signed photograph of Lady Gregory to George Shiels, December 1926.
A photograph of Brigid O'Brien, no date.
A photograph of Maria O'Brien, no date.
Cast photographs from productions of George Shiels' plays, including Sara Allgood and Maria O'Neill, 1920s.
Shiels' pocket notebook, which contains various unidentified photographs of women, including several of a woman working on a sculpture, no date, c1930s.
A typescript of 'Irene Iddesleigh', the novel by Amanda McKitterick Ros, published in London in 1897 and arranged by George Shiels and Denis Johnston,1943. |
|---|