Irish writer Padraic Colum (1881-1972) published over fifty books of poetry, fiction, drama, nonfiction, children's literature, and folklore during his lifetime. Colum developed close relationships with other members of the Irish Literary Renaissance, including W. B. Yeats, Lady Gregory, George Russell [AE], James Stephens, and James Joyce. Colum was an original signer of the charter for the Abbey Theatre and wrote several of the Abbey Theatre's earliest plays, but he is primarily remembered for his poetry.
"Kornfeld" in this collection may refer to Lawrence Kornfeld (b. 1930), a theatrical figure at The Living Theatre from 1957-1961.
"Colum, Padraic, 1881-1972." Literature Online. http://lion.chadwyck.com (accessed February 6, 2007).
"Lawrence Kornfeld (American theatrical director, 1930-)." Biography Resource Center. http://galenet.galegroup.com (accessed February 8, 2007.)
The collection contains an undated letter from Padraic Colum addressed to "Kornfeld" which is laid in the playscript of Colum's "Timbuktu." "Kornfeld" may refer to Lawrence Kornfeld (b. 1930) a theatrical figure at The Living Theatre from 1957-1961. On the first page of the playscript, there is an autographed inscription "This was given to The Living Theatre by Padraic Colum in 1959/ Julian Beck/ NYC/ Feb 1985." The play is subtitled "A Comedy in Three Acts."