Richard Barthelmess

The Richard Barthelmess scrapbooks span the years 1916–1936 and encompass 11.25 linear feet. The collection consists of scrapbooks compiled by his mother, actress Caroline Harris Barthelmess. The 50 volumes contain biographical information, clippings, and reviews for more than 50 films that featured Barthelmess. The first three focus on numerous titles; most of the remaining scrapbooks cover a single film each. Three scrapbooks document his work in The Patent Leather Kid. The scrapbooks thoroughly document 40 films released by First National. One scrapbook contains clippings for the stage play The Postman Always Rings Twice. There is no material on the four films he was featured in after 1936. Other items of interest include a program for the New York opening of Broken Blossoms and a souvenir booklet for Way Down East. Before they were gifted to the Library in 1962, the scrapbooks had been on indefinite loan from Barthelmess since March 3, 1939, placing them among the first entries in the Library's Special Collections.

Gift of Richard Barthelmess, 1962.