Francis Bosworth papers

Table of Contents

Summary Information

Scope and content note

Administrative Information

Related Materials

Controlled Access Headings

Collection Inventory

Summary Information

Repository

Historical Society of Pennsylvania

Creator

Bosworth, Francis, 1904-1983.

Title

Francis Bosworth papers

ID

2086

Date

1927-1969, undated

Extent

2.4 Linear feet ; 7 boxes

Author

Finding aid prepared by Phillip Foglia.

Language

English

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Scope and content note

Francis Bosworth (1904-1983) of Minnesota, later Philadelphia, was long involved with the theatre and the arts. He worked with the Federal Theatre Project, established under the Works Progress Administration in 1935. Bosworth acted as director of the Play Bureau which reviewed scripts offered by American authors. He remained associated with the Theatre Project until 1938. In Philadelphia, he also worked for the Friends Neighborhood Guild, a settlement house. Included are scripts of plays and Bosworth's personal copies of correspondence, memoranda, conference reports, manuals and other publications of the Federal Theatre Project. There are also letters and reports, 1940-1942, on the Community Arts Workshop, sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee; carbon copies of letters, 1943, to Everett McCarter who was stationed in Iceland, reporting stateside events and personal activities in New York City, and his opinions on the war; correspondence and progress reports, 1948-1951; Bosworth's own letters, 1955, sent while traveling in North Africa, Europe and the Middle East; and those on his ward, John Rybczyk.

John Rybczyk Bosworth (1934-2006) was a gifted artist, and he became Bosworth's ward after John's mother, Isabella (Slivak) Rybczyk, asked Bosworth to care for him (in his role with the guild). John had difficulties reading and writing, and he received remedial education through Temple University’s Reading Clinic Laboratory School. He improved greatly while at the school and became the editor-in-chief of the school’s newspaper, the "Reading Clinic Laboratory School Star," to which he contributed artwork and writings. In the late 1940s and 1950s, John’s art was featured at a Bucks County art festival, the Print Club, an art festival held by the Philadelphia Museum of Art in 1956, and apparently in France. At some point, John began using “Bosworth” as his last name, signing himself as John R. Bosworth. On August 14, 1954, he wed Melvina Cooper of Philadelphia.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

 Historical Society of Pennsylvania ; 2024.

Access restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Provenance

Gift of Francis Bosworth, 1976.

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Related Materials

Related materials

At the Historical Society of Pennsylvania:

Charlotte Angus artwork For the Work Projects Administration (Collection 3234)

Franklin Syres artwork For the Work Projects Administration (Collection 3375)

Work Projects Administration posters collection (Collection V99)

Works Progress Administration California Art Research Project reproductions (PG168)

Works Progress Administration costume plates (Collection 4303)

Works Progress Administration of Pennsylvania watercolors (Collection 3241)

At other institutions:

Federal Theatre Project Collection; Special Collections, Princeton University Library (TC015)

Miscellaneous Playscripts Collection; Special Collections, Princeton University Library (TC030)

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Controlled Access Headings

Corporate Name(s)

• Federal Theatre Project (U.S.).
• United States. Works Progress Administration of Pennsylvania.

Personal Name(s)

• Petrillo, James C. (James Caesar), 1892-1984.
• Rybczyk, John, 1934-2006.

Subject(s)

• American Friends Service Committee.
• Europe--Description and travel--20th century.
• Plays--20th century.
• Theater--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia--History--20th century.
• Theater--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia.
• Theaters--Costumes.
• Theaters--United States--History--20th century.
• Works Progress Administration.

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Collection Inventory