Restrictions to Access

No restrictions. Open for research.

Copyright Notice

Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], in the Ann Preston Bridgers papers #4105, Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Acquisitions Information

Received from Elizabeth Daniels Squire (Mrs. C.B.) of Weaverville, N.C., in September 1976 and January 1982.

Sensitive Materials Statement

Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, the North Carolina Public Records Act (N.C.G.S. § 132 1 et seq.), and Article 7 of the North Carolina State Personnel Act (Privacy of State Employee Personnel Records, N.C.G.S. § 126-22 et seq.). Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill assumes no responsibility.

Processed by: Gina Overcash, September 1987

Encoded by: ByteManagers Inc., 2008

The following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.

Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.

• Abbott, George, 1887-1995.
• Abbott, George, 1887-1995. Coquette.
• American drama--20th century--Women authors.
• Bridgers, Ann Preston.
• Bridgers, Ann Preston. This beautiful structure.
• Calhoun, John C. (John Caldwell), 1782-1850.
• Daniels, Jonathan, 1902-1981.
• Dramatists, American--New York (State)--New York--20th century.
• Theater--Law and legislation--United States.
• Women dramatists, American--North Carolina--20th century.

• JONATHAN DANIELS PAPERS (#3466).

Ann Preston Bridgers (1 May 1891-3 May 1967), teacher and actress, was born in Raleigh, N.C.. During most of her childhood, she lived in Adrian, Ga., with her parents, Annie Preston Cain of Hillsborough, N.C., and Robert Rufus Bridgers, Jr., of Wilmington, N.C.. She had two sisters, Elizabeth Bridgers Daniels (Mrs. Jonathan) and Emily Norfleet Bridgers; and one brother, Robert Rufus Bridgers, Jr. Bridgers attended Mary Baldwin Seminary in Staunton, Va., and then Smith College in Northampton, Mass., where she received a B.A. degree in 1915.

After her graduation from Smith, she studied with the Henry Jewett Players of Boston, where she played a few minor roles. Returning to Raleigh, she taught in the public schools and served with the Selective Service Bureau. She went overseas in 1919 with the Smith College Unit of the YMcirca Returning to Raleigh, she opened a gift shop and became president of the Raleigh Community Players.

In 1923, she sold her gift shop, moved to New York, and enrolled in drama school. There, according to a New York Times article entitled "And Who is Ann Preston Bridgers?" "she trifled with fencing, costuming, designing, carpentry, diction, dancing and even acting, the latter a purely academic interest inspired by a desire to familiarize herself with the fundamentals of the theatre per se."

For several years after 1923, she enjoyed considerable success in the theater, beginning as understudy for Lynn Fontanne in Dulcy. Her first major role was as Mrs. Bercovitch in Fall Guy; she also portrayed two offstage voices, one Irish and one Jewish. Her next role was as the original Katie, the cigarette girl, in Broadway. By this time she had begun writing a play, Norma, which when submitted to George Abbott impressed him so favorably that he agreed to collaborate with her. Together they produced the hit show Coquette, in which Bridgers played a supporting role to Helen Hayes, the star, both on Broadway and on the road. For Coquette, Ann Bridgers received the Theatre Club's award for "the most pleasing play of 1927-28."

Forsaking Broadway, Bridgers traveled extensively in Europe for a few years and, in 1933, moved permanently to Raleigh, where she became active in the Civic Music Association. She was also a member of the board of the Literary and Historical Association, an editor of the Survey of Federal Records, an occasional contributor to the Raleigh Times and News and Observer, and an early moving spirit in the formation of the Raleigh Little Theatre.

An ardent Christian Scientist, Bridgers died in Raleigh after a long illness and was buried in Oakdale Cemetery, Wilmington.

SOURCE: Dictionary of North Carolina Biography, vol. 1, p. 222.

Correspondence, writings, newspaper and magazine clippings, photographs, and other materials of Ann Preston Bridgers (1891-1967), North Carolina actress and writer. Most of the collection consists of drafts and other materials relating to plays, novels, and short stories written by Bridgers. There is a large body of material relating to John C. Calhoun, apparently collected by Bridgers as background for her play, "This Beautiful Structure." The remainder of the collection consists of letters from family members and friends, including letters from George Abbott, with whom Bridgers collaborated on the play "Coquette," and letters from her brother- in-law, Jonathan Daniels; business correspondence and other material relating to a controversy over the rights to "Coquette"; and photographs.

• P-4105/1-23