Blanche Kendall McKey papers
Collection
Identifier: MS 0626
Scope and Contents
The Blanche Kendall McKey papers (1892-1971) illustrate the personal and professional life of this actress, playwright, and drama teacher. The collection contains material about McKey (1879-1973) and her sisters, correspondence, and articles on various actors and actresses she was associated with and the theaters and theater companies she worked with. Also present are news clippings on the history of theater during her career, scripts of plays that McKey wrote, plays written by others that she acted in, theater playbills and magazines with articles on the theater, and University of Utah Founders Day programs and booklets. The collection holds books written by or about people McKey knew and a book of poetry written by her. There is also a book of photo cards on two actors and a souvenir album of the play Ben Hur.
Dates
- 1892-1971
Creator
- McKey, Blanche Kendall, 1879-1973 (Person)
Language of Materials
Collection materials are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.
Conditions Governing Use
The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.
Biographical Sketch
Blanche Kendall Thomas McKey was born on 30 June 1879 in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Richard Kendall Thomas, a pioneer merchant, and Caroline Stockdale Thomas. The Thomas children grew up acting on a stage their father built, with Blanche's sister, Kate, writing plays for them. Blanche graduated from the University of Utah in 1900 with a normal certificate, and in the following year, left for New York with her older sister Kate. There, Blanche took private acting lessons. A few months later, she auditioned for Klaw and Erlanger, a prestigious New York agency, and was placed under contract. She worked for various other companies before her marriage to William Richard McKey in 1907. Blanche taught drama at Weber State after her husband's death from 1918-1923. She then attended the University of Utah and received her degree in 1924. She received her M.A. degree four years later. Blanche Kendall Thomas McKey died in 1973.
Extent
1.5 Linear Feet
Abstract
The Blanche Kendall McKey papers (1892-1971) illustrate the personal and professional life of this actress, playwright, and drama teacher.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Eily McKey Pierson in 1990.
Separated Materials
Photographs were transferred to the Multimedia Division of Special Collections (P0360).
Processing Information
Processed by Jane Brinkerhoff and Janet Smoak in 1992.
Creator
- McKey, Blanche Kendall, 1879-1973 (Person)
- Title
- Inventory of the Blanche Kendall McKey papers, 1892-1971
- Author
- Finding aid created by Jane Brinkerhoff and Janet Smoak
- Date
- © 1992 (last modified: 2019)
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid encoded in English in Latin script.
Repository Details
Part of the J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections Repository
Contact:
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863
special@library.utah.edu
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863
special@library.utah.edu