Manuscript Collection MS COLL 00116 (Downsview Offsite) - George Keppie Papers

Identity area

Reference code

CA OTUTF MS COLL 00116 (Downsview Offsite)

Title

George Keppie Papers

Date(s)

  • 1918-1959 (Creation)

Level of description

Manuscript Collection

Extent and medium

8 boxes and items

Context area

Name of creator

(1889-1963)

Biographical history

George Keppie was born in Australia, but much of his success as a theatre manager was in Toronto. He first came to Toronto in 1921 after managing stock companies in the U.S. for several years. With an acting troupe headed by matinee idol Vaughan Glaser, he moved into the abandoned Loew's Uptown and converted it into a highly successful repertory theatre. In 1938, he became manager of the Empire Theatre, where he presented a group of young actors and actresses, including Jane Mallett, in small roles in a different play each week. He worked there until a heart condition forced him to to retire. He died in 1963.

Archival history

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

The collection consists of correspondence and accounts relating to Keppie's work as manager of several American Theatres and the Uptown Theatre, Toronto (Vaughan Glaser Players) and the Empire Theatre (Theatre Guild of Canada). It also contains photographs and mimeographed and typed playscripts, including two by John Coulter and one by Wilson MacDonald.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Material may be requested in person at the Fisher Library Reference Desk, or in advance using our online stack retrieval request form: https://fisher.library.utoronto.ca/stack-retrieval-request. Please note that this material requires 2 business days to retrieve.

Conditions governing reproduction

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

Language and script notes

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Uploaded finding aid

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

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Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

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Description control area

Description identifier

CA OTUTF MS COLL00116

Institution identifier

Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, University of Toronto

Rules and/or conventions used

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

Script(s)

Sources

Accession area

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