By Mary A. Sego
Title: Newton Booth Tarkington collection, 1921-1946
Primary Creator: Tarkington, Newton Booth (1870-1946)
Extent: 1.0 Folders. More info below.
Subjects: Purdue University--Alumni and alumnae
Languages: English
Booth Tarkington was a Purdue student, from the fall of 1890 - the spring of 1891. He then attended Princeton, where he graduated.
At Purdue he became a member of Sigma Chi fraternity. He was regarded more as a talented artist than as a writer in his college days at Purdue and contributed drawings both to the Purdue Exponent and the Debris. In later years, Mr. Tarkington visited the campus several times.
Tarkington was one of the most prolific writers of his generation. Often he worked from 6 a.m. until evening. Besides his novels he wrote many plays. Twice he won the Pulitzer prize for literature with his novels "The Magnificent Ambersons" and "Alice Adams."
Among his best known works were "Seventeen," "The Gentleman from Indiana," "Penrod," and "Monsier Beaucaire." His play "The Man From Home" was a Broadway success. Many of his books were made into movies, and Tarkington who earned almost nothing in the first five years of his career, became rich.
In May, 1940, Purdue officially recognized his greatness by awarding him the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters. He was too ill to come to the campus for the award, so the diploma was presented to him at his Indianapolis home by Dr. Edward C. Elliott, then president of the Purdue, who was accompanied by the Purdue trustees and a delegation of faculty members and alumni.
Repository: Purdue University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections
Alternate Extent Statement: 1 folder
Access Restrictions: Collection is open for research.
Preferred Citation: MSA 223, Newton Booth Tarkington collection, Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries
Card with sports figures and "May" on it.
Excerpts from the book, My Maiden Effort, by Gelett Burgess, which includes some of the first writings of Booth Tarkington.
"Booth Tarkington's Death Widely Mourned; Beloved Writer Was Hoosier Born," May 20, 1946, p.1.
"Tarkington Rites Brief and Simple," Lafayette Journal and Courier," May, 1946.
"Booth Tarkington," Lafayette Journal and Courier,"May, 1946.
"Booth Tarkington Once Purdue Man," no publication information is available.
