The papers of Howard Richardson document the playwright's life and career. It consists of thirteen linear feet of manuscripts dating from 1923 to 1987. Given to the University of Iowa over a period of years, the collection is arranged in two sections. The first grouping was given the Libraries by Howard Richardson and his mother, Mrs. Frank Howard Richardson in the years 1973-1975. This section includes correspondence and personal materials relating to his youth and early career, such as schoolwork, family letters, photographs, and college papers. Manuscripts of plays, playbills, and clippings document his early literary efforts. The second grouping titled "1988 Addendum" was given to the University of Iowa Libraries as part of Richardson's estate, in 1987. It is made up of subject files arranged chronologically within an alphabetical sequence. These files contain more correspondence, dating from 1939 to 1987, and includes legal papers dealing with Richardson's estate. This section contains lectures, reading lists, income tax returns, and videotapes as well as manuscripts of plays, playbills, photographs, and set designs. His play, "Dark of the Moon" is well documented in both parts of the collection with photographs of productions, music, clippings, manuscripts. The date appended to each file is the date of first performace of the play.