Title: Maxwell Anderson Papers, 1923-1959, 1983-1984, undated
Predominant Dates:undated
ID: OGLMC/0050
Creator: Anderson, Maxwell (1888-1959)
Extent: 3.0 Linear Feet
Date Acquired: 00/00/1956
Languages: English [eng]
The Maxwell Anderson Papers have been divided into seven series:
Series 1: Manuscripts
Series 2: Production Copies
Series 3: Photographs
Series 4: University of North Dakota
Series 5: Maxwell Anderson Theatre and Design Conference, UND, October 14-16, 1983
Series 6: Miscellaneous
Additions to the collection were received from Laurel Reuter, North Dakota Museum of Art, Grand Forks, North Dakota; the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, University of Texas; Dan Rylance, Department of Special Collections; J. F. S. Smeall, English Department, UND; and George Starcher, former President of UND, between February 1984 and April 1985 (85-1397 through 85-1400).
Material was also received from Allen Anderson in March 1984 ( 84-1287); Larry Hill, Department of Speech and Theater, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, North Carolina, on August 1, 1989 (89-1669); Judith Leroux, Atlantic Beach, Florida, on April 6, 2006 (2006-2820); transferred from the Law School Records (UA# 108) in June 2006 (2006-2827) and from Larry Hill, Bloomington, Minnesota, in February 2018 (2018-3376).
Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.
Acquisition Source: Maxwell and Gilda Anderson, Stamford, Connecticut
Acquisition Method: Donation; material was received throughout 1956 and 1958
Preferred Citation: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.
Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid migrated to Archon in March 2013.
White Desert was written and produced by Maxwell Anderson in 1923. The play opened at the Stamford Theater in Stamford, Connecticut on Friday, October 12, 1923 and after two performances moved to New York City. It was only seen by a total of 328 Broadway theatergoers before closing.
This manuscript was reassembled by Allan Anderson, Maxwell Anderson's son, in 1984 from several incomplete versions. Allen Anderson noted why he reassembled the play. “First, because of the author's emphasis on the vital importance of verse in drama; second, because of the strong defense of the sexual equality of women which is basic in the character of the heroine and which runs headlong into the hero's extremely distorted view of sexual desire.”