MS 741 - Gish Film Theater Collection: Lillian Gish Papers
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Title | MS 741 - Gish Film Theater Collection: Lillian Gish Papers |
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Introduction | Lillian Diana Gish was born in 1893 in Springfield, Ohio to Mary Robinson McConnell Gish and James Gish. The family soon moved to Dayton where her sister Dorothy was born in 1898. Never one to stay long in one place, largely because of failed business ventures, James Gish moved the family to Baltimore where he became a partner in a candy business. He then left for New York City and Mrs. Gish soon followed with her two daughters. Soon after his family's arrival, James abandoned them. Although Lillian remembers occasional visits by her father, he never was able to provide financial support. Mrs. Gish kept her two daughters from starving by taking in boarders and working at various jobs. Some of her boarders were actresses and through their influence, Mrs. Gish was hired by the Proctor Stock Co, a traveling theatrical group based in New York City. Whenever young children were needed in the plays, Lillian and Dorothy would work. Thus at the age of five, Lillian began acting and had her stage debut in Risingsun, Ohio. Lillian, Dorothy, and Mrs. Gish worked for several years for this Company, many times each acting in different plays and traveling separate from one another. Lillian would be watched over by other actresses while away from her mother. In 1910, while all were back in New York City, Lillian saw a former childhood friend, Gladys Smith, now an actress named Mary Pickford. Gladys introduced both Dorothy and Lillian to D. W. Griffith and that same day he gave them a screen test and hired them for the silent films he was directing and producing. Their first film was An Unseen Enemy (1912). Some of the more famous films in which Lillian starred and Griffith directed include Birth of a Nation (1915), Way Down East (1920), and Orphans of the Storm (1922). After this last film, Griffith told Lillian he could not pay her what she was worth and that she should go out on her own. With much of her own money, Lillian made two successful movies in Italy, The White Sister and Romola. She continued acting and made a very easy transition from silent movies to the "talkies" in 1930 with One Romantic Night. She soon signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer which called for her to do six pictures in two years and she would be paid one million dollars. She also returned to the stage in 1930 starring in Uncle Vanya on Broadway. She continued on the stage playing Ophelia to John Gielgud's Hamlet in 1936 and in 1941 she began a record-breaking 66-week run in Life With Father. As Miss Gish (she most often was referred to as Miss Gish reflecting the great respect given to her by critics, directors, producers and fans) grew older, roles became more difficult to obtain, especially in the films. But she did act in the occasional and successful film, such as The Comedians, Night of the Hunter, and The Unforgiven. She also starred in television productions such as Arsenic and Old Lace with Helen Hayes, and The Trip to Bountiful with Bowling Green State University alumna Eva Marie Saint. Commenting on Miss Gish's last screen performance in the 1987, Whales of August, Vincent Canby wrote in the New York Times, "There's not a gesture or a line-reading that doesn't reflect her nearly three-quarters of a century in front of a camera. Scenes are not purloined when she's on screen." Miss Gish died on February 27, 1993. In 1976, a classroom in 105 Hanna Hall was converted into a theater at Bowling Green State University, and dedicated to Dorothy and Lillian Gish. This undertaking was largely spearheaded by English Professor, Ralph H. Wolfe, whose vision included a theater with state of the art projection capabilities and an exhibit area in which memorabilia from both sisters could be displayed. Out of respect for his diligence in honoring the Gish Sisters, Lillian supported the effort wholeheartedly. She donated documents and memorabilia to Bowling Green State University, which are housed at the Center for Archival Collections to form the nucleus of the Gish Film Theater Collection. After her initial visit to campus in 1976 for the theater dedication and to receive an honorary doctoral degree, Lillian returned to campus several more times in the 1980's providing financial support for the theater and the creation of a scholarship in both sisters' names to annually recognize an outstanding film studies student. The Lillian Gish Papers are the most extensive part of the Gish Film Theater Collection. The collection includes correspondence, books, articles, newsclippings, photographs, scrapbooks, awards and honors, videos, artwork, dress and costume pieces and various artifacts. Many of the textile and three-dimensional objects are stored at the Center for Archival Collections Preservation Lab (two lists of these items appear as attachments at the end of this page). These documents and artifacts shed light on Lillian's film and stage career, her relationship with her family, fans, and Bowling Green State University. Also housed within the Collection is Lillian Gish correspondence and mementoes from the estate of her financial adviser and friend Wilhelmina Pilger.The Lillian Gish Papers date from the 1910s to 1997. |
Inventory | Lillian Gish Papers: Box 1 Folders
Lillian Gish Papers: Box 2 Folder
Lillian Gish Papers: Box 3 Folder
Lillian Gish Papers: Box 4 Folder
Lillian Gish Papers: Box 5 Folder
Lillian Gish Papers: Box 5A Folders
Lillian Gish Papers: Box 6 Folders (events 1993- )
Lillian Gish Papers: Box 7
Lillian Gish Papers: Box 8 Folders
Lillian Gish Papers (Wilhelmina Pilger Collection): Box 9 Folders
Lillian Gish Papers (Wilhelmina Pilger Collection): Box 10 Folder
Lillian Gish Papers (Wilhelmina Pilger Collection) Box 11 Items
Lillian Gish Papers: Scrapbooks Scrapbooks
Lillian Gish Papers: Oversize Box 1-Bound Volumes Books
Lillian Gish Papers: Oversize Box 2 with supplemental Box 2A and 2B Photographs--Family
1. Photo of Lillian's photo table at Gish Film Theater, miniature painting of Dorothy and Lillian c. 1918, 3 photos of the Gish sisters as children, c. 1901 2. 2 Photos of Dorothy Gish, c. 1901, c. 1930 3. 6 Photos of Mary Gish, Mary Gish with baby, Mary Gish with her dog, 2 photos of Mary Gish with Lillian, Mary with Lillian and Dorothy, and a miniature painting of Mary Gish, c. 1890-1930 4. Photo of Mary and James Gish, c. 1890 5. Photo of Elizabeth "Lillie" Ellen Robinson McConnell and Henry Clay McConnell (Lillian's maternal grandparents), c. 1860 and copy photo of Elizabeth 6. Photo of Emily McConnell (aunt) and a photo of Frank Cleaver (uncle), c. 1890 7. 2 framed original photos of Emily Merrill (cousin), c. 1980 8. 4 framed original photos of Gish pets, c. 1920-1940 Lillian Gish Papers: Box 2B Family photos and miniarture portraits originally displayed by Lillian Gish in frames on a small table 1. Framed copy photo of Lillian and Dorothy Gish and a copy of a painting of them on ivory 2. 4 framed copy photos of Dorothy Gish 3. 4 framed copy photos of Mary Gish and a copy of a painting of her on ivory 4. 2 framed copy photos of Mary and Lillian Gish 5. Framed copy photo of Mary and James Gish 6. Framed copy photo of Elizabeth and Henry McConnell 7. Framed copy photo of Emily McConnell 8. Framed copy photo of D.W. Griffith 9. Framed photos, unidentified Lillian Gish Papers: Oversize Box 3 Photographs--Friends and Colleagues
Lillian Gish Papers: Oversize Box 4 Honors and Awards on paper--framed
Lillian Gish Papers: Oversize Box 5 Honors and Awards--plaques
Trophies 1. Ohio Women Hall of Fame, August 26, 1980 2. Golden Chair, In Honor of Lillian Gish, Central City's Own First Lady of the Theater and Beloved "Camille," May 13, 1969 Lillian Gish Papers: Oversize Box 7 Artwork on Paper (many from fans)
Lillian Gish Papers: Oversize Box 8 Photographs, broadsides, etc.
Lillian Gish Papers: Oversized Box 9 Framed photographs and artwork
Lillian Gish Papers: Oversized Box 10 Framed photographs and artwork 1. Laura Gilpin photo of Lillian Gish as Camille, Central City, Colorado, 1932 Lillian Gish Papers: Oversized Box 11 Framed photographs and artwork 1. Nell Dorr photo of Lillian Gish, c. 1919 2. Nell Dorr photo of Dorothy Gish, c. 1919 Lillian Gish Papers: Oversized Box 12 Framed photographs and artwork 1. Theatre at Sea broadside, April 17 to May 3, 1975 2. Original artwork for Theatre at Sea broadside, signed by the performers, 1975 3. Copy print of Hirshfeld drawing of cast of Uncle Vanya, 1973 Lillian Gish Papers: Oversized Items Items (located after Oversized Boxes)
Poster, Sweet Liberty, 1986, mounted Poster, The Thames Live Cinema Festival, 4 Classic Silent Films, Radio City Music Hall, c. 1980, mounted, signed by Lillian Gish Framed Lobby Cards from Gish Film Theater 1. The Ghost in the Garrett, Dorothy Gish, 1920 2. Battling Jane, Dorothy Gish, 1919 3. Peppy Polly, Dorothy Gish, 1919 4. Boots, Dorothy Gish, 1919 5. Centennial Summer, Dorothy Gish, 1946 6. A Romance of Happy Valley, Lillian Gish, 1919, signed 7. La Boheme, Lillian Gish, 1926 8. The Night of the Hunter, Lillian Gish, 1955 Framed certificate presented to Lillian Gish, The Legacy of Women in Film and Television, June 12, 1992 Framed poster from the Ohio Theater for a showing of Orphans of the Storm, signed and inscribed by Lillian Gish, March 17, 1984 |