Northwestern University Stages Exhibit From Its Patricia Neal Collection

The Northwestern University Library is currently staging an exhibit from the Patricia Neal collection, the largest archive ever donated to the university by a celebrity alumna. On display are about 100 items from the collection including the actress’ unused ticket for the 1964 Academy Awards ceremony. Neal won the Oscar that year for her role in the movie Hud but was unable to attend the ceremony because she was living in England and was nine months pregnant.

Also on display are letters from Gary Cooper, Gene Kelly, Anne Bancroft, Kirk Douglass and Ronald Reagan. The Neal collection includes a large collection of personal papers, Hollywood memorabilia, fan mail, letters, and photographs. The collection was given to Northwestern by Neal’s daughters. Neal studied acting at Northwestern from 1943 to 1945.