Guide to the McHugh Family Papers, 1909-1930 CTC.2001.01
- Repository
- ULS Archives & Special Collections
- Title
- McHugh Family Papers
- Creator
- McHugh family
- Collection Number
- CTC.2001.01
- Extent
- 1 Linear Feet (1 box)
- Date
- 1909-1930
- Abstract
- The McHugh family were well-known performers in Pittsburgh theater in the early years of the twentieth century, and several family members went on to achieve great success elsewhere. This collection contains scrapbook, memoirs, and diaries from members of the McHugh family.
- Language
- English .
- Publisher
- ULS Archives & Special Collections
- Address
- University of Pittsburgh Library System
Archives & Special Collections
Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist
URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Biography
The McHugh family were well-known performers in Pittsburgh theater in the early years of the twentieth century, and several family members went on to achieve great success elsewhere. Originally from the Connellsville, Pennsylvania area, family patriarch Aristide "Cutie" McHugh (who went by the stage name Edward A. McHugh) moved his family to Homestead, Pennsylvania just outside of Pittsburgh in 1897.
Cutie was best known for his comedic roles, especially the role of the tramp in the popular melodrama Human Hearts. Beginning in 1896, he regularly performed in this role for seventeen years in touring productions. Shortly after moving to Homestead, the elder McHugh enlisted the rest of his family into show business, finding parts for his wife and children in the cast of Human Hearts. During the many periods when the family could not find theater work, the older sons and sometimes Cutie worked in the steel mills.
In 1910, some of the family joined the popular Harry Davis Stock Company in Pittsburgh. Ed McHugh, one of the older sons, became a stage manager with the company. Other family members joined travelling stock companies and toured the West and Midwest.
In 1921 Ed got a job stage managing on Broadway and continued working there for the remainder of his career. During this time he worked on productions with Ethel Barrymore, Eva LeGallienne, Spencer Tracy, Humphrey Bogart, and many others. Meanwhile, in the 1930's, younger brother Frank McHugh signed a film contract and worked steadily in Hollywood, appearing in many films and, later, television programs. He made several films with James Cagney, and also starred with Errol Fynn, Olivia deHaviland, and Humphrey Bogart, to name a few. Shortly after beginning his film career, Frank moved his parents to Los Angeles. Several of the other siblings remained active in the theater, and almost the whole family were active participants in the USO tours and programs during World War II.
Scope and Content Notes
Materials in the McHugh family collection chiefly represent Frank McHugh's early theater days. Frank McHugh's scrapbook contains clippings and programs from McHugh family performances from 1917-1920. Also in the collection are twenty-two daily planners that belonged to Frank. These date from 1909-1930, and document Frank's travels around the country with his family and with touring companies. The earliest of these are particularly interesting because Frank would have been only eleven years old at the time of their writing. Of chief interest in the collection are Ed McHugh's memoirs, which were discovered then researched, edited and published by family members. The memoirs, given the title Human Hearts: Episodes in the Life of the McHugh Theatrical Family, chronicle the entire family history and give a remarkable insight into theater life.
This collection would be of great value to any researcher interested in vaudeville and Western Pennsylvania theater history.
Access Restrictions
No restrictions.
Acquisition Information
These records were a gift of Patricia McHugh in 2001.
Previous Citation
McHugh Family Papers, 1909-1930, CTC.2001.01, Curtis Theatre Collection, Special Collections Department, University of Pittsburgh
McHugh Family Papers, 1909-1930, CTC.30, Curtis Theatre Collection, Special Collections Department, University of Pittsburgh
Preferred Citation
McHugh Family Papers, 1909-1930, CTC.2001.01, Curtis Theatre Collection, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Cheryl Greer in 2001. Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Andy Newman in November 2004. Information about the collection title and the controlled access terms was extracted from the MARC record in the University of Pittsburgh catalog Voyager ID number: 4640476.
Copyright
Permission for publication is given on behalf of the University of Pittsburgh as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Subjects
- McHugh, Edward A., Jr.
- McHugh, Edward A.
- McHugh, Frank
- McHugh family
- Theatrical companies -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
- Performing arts -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
- Theater -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
- Entertainers -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
- Theater
- Vaudeville -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh