HISTORY NEBRASKA MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID
RG1216.AM: Robert Taylor, 1911-1969
Papers: 1929 – ca. 1934, 1987
Filley and Beatrice, Gage County, Nebraska and Hollywood, California: Actor
Size: Nine items
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Movie star Robert Taylor was born Spangler Arlington Brugh on August 6, 1911. Known as Arlington or Arly during his youth, he graduated from Beatrice High School (Beatrice, Neb.) and then attended Doane College (Crete, Neb.) for two years. While attending Doane, he appeared in many college plays and along with fellow students Russ Gibson and Gerhart Wiebe formed “The Harmony Boys,” a musical trio in which Taylor played the cello and sang.
Transferring to Pomona College in California in 1931, Taylor graduated from there in 1933, majoring in psychology and drama. While appearing in a play at Pomona, Taylor was discovered by a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer casting director. He was signed to a seven-year contract at $35.00 per week. He made his screen debut in 1934 in Handy Andy, a Will Rogers film. The following year he was featured in Magnificent Obsession, and the role that made him a star. In 1937 Greta Garbo chose Taylor as her leading man in Camille. During his thirty-four year film career, Taylor made seventy-four films, appearing with such leading ladies as Joan Crawford, Maureen O’Sullivan, Katherine Hepburn, and Vivien Leigh. He died in 1969 after a long battle with cancer.
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
This collection consists of memorabilia relating to Hollywood film star Robert Taylor, 1929 – ca. 1934 and 1987. Much of the material pertains to his student days at Doane College, where he was known as Arlington Brugh. Included are newspaper clippings, Doane College theater programs and yearbook pages, and a letter from Arlington Brugh to fellow student Kathryn Bender. All of the material in this collection is in photocopy form.
Acc. 1992.071
INVENTORY
Newspaper clippings, theater programs, letter, 1929-ca. 1934 and 1987 (photocopies)
Subject headings:
Actors
Brugh, Spangler Arlington
see
Taylor, Robert, 1911-1969
Doane College (Crete, Neb.)
AIP/ksa 09-1992
Revised TMM 05-02-2007
