David W. Holroyd Papers

Holroyd began his investigation and compilation of materials regarding the King-Coit School and Children's Theatre in the fall of 1970 under the supervision of Dr. Jed Davis at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas. The material compiled was for an independent children's theatre study with Davis.

For the project, Holroyd began a correspondence with Dorothy Coit, the co-founder of the theatre, who provided most of the information and original ephemera in Holroyd's papers. Holroyd also solicited information from Elizabeth Coit, Dorothy's sister, the actress Jane Wyatt and her mother, theatre critic Euphemia Van Rensselar Wyatt, Ellen Rodman and others. Holroyd's correspondence was utilized by Rodman when she was writing her doctoral dissertation on this theatre.

Holroyd took multiple photographs of The King-Coit Children's Theatre exhibition that was displayed at the Vincent Astor Gallery in The New York Public Library on May 1, 1979. An audiotape of the music from The Golden Cage that was performed at this reception is also part of this collection.

History of the King-Coit School and Children's Theatre

In 1923, Edith King and Dorothy Coit, two teachers from Boston, decided to start children's theatre and school in New York City. It existed until 1958. Students attending the school and participating in the performances ranged from 3 to 15 years of age. The school annually performed and produced a show for the public. During the multi-month preparation process, King and Coit integrated all of the arts into the play development process. The students studied art, music, dancing, history, mythology and the customs of the period and culture of the play.

Broadway critics of the time praised the productions. Famous alumni include Jane Wyatt, Tanaquil LeClercq, Jacques D'Amboise, Ann Baxter and Madeleine L'Engle.