Oral history interview with Paul Myers, 2000

Biographical Note

Paul Myers was born on March 5, 1917 in New York City. He was educated at the Trinity School, received a B.F.A. from New York University in 1938, and an M.L.S. from Pratt Institute in 1960. A lifelong pacifist, Myers was a conscientious objector during World War II and worked as a wartime orderly at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center instead. Myers was an active member of the Fellowship of Reconciliation. He went on to join the New York congregation of the Religious Society of Friends. In 1945, Myers began his career at the New York Public Library. In 1967, he succeeded George Freedley as curator of the NYPL Theatre Collection. Myers also worked as a theater critic and served on the nominating committee of the Tony Awards. Myers died on February 20, 2004

Scope and Contents

Paul Myers begins this interview by discussing his early years, including his family dynamics, the divorce of his parents, his Jewish heritage, and his attraction to New York City. He chronicles his education at Trinity School, New York University, and the Pratt Institute. He shares his employment history, including a position at the Cooper Union museum, work as a tutor for German refugees, his position as an orderly during World War II, and his eventual success as curator of the New York Public Library Theatre Collection. Throughout the interview, Myers recalls the ways in which his life has revolved around the theatre. Myers discusses his religious path as well, including his experience at his grandfather's synagogue, Methodist Sunday school, involvement with a Unitarian Universalist congregation, and his involvement with the Religious Society of Friends. Myers elaborates on his decision to declare himself a conscientious objector during World War II. He addresses the personal significance of his time working as an orderly, discussing his roles and the most interesting patients he encountered, including New York Times theatre critic Brooks Atkinson. Myers explains how the idea for his book, a critical bibliography of theatre entitled A Guide to Theater Reading, arose and how it led to his career at the New York Public Library. Myers recalls his undergraduate days at NYU, describing the campus political climate. He discusses his time on tour with the James Hendrickson-Claire Bruce Shakespearean Repertory Company, his relationship with George Freedley and the Theatre Library Association, his time writing as a theatre critic, his NYU classmate Betty Comden and her success, his experience on the nominating committee for the Tony Awards, and the growing elitism of the theatre world. He gives brief descriptions of his relationship with his brother, daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter and his marriage to Elizabeth Burke

Subjects

• Interviews.
• Librarians--Interviews.
• Michaels, Sheila, 1939-2017, interviewer.
• Myers, Paul--Interviews.
• New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. Billy Rose Theater Division.
• New York University
• Oral histories.
• Pacifism.
• Peace movements--United States--History--20th century.
• Theater--United States--History--20th century.
• World War, 1939-1945--Draft resisters.