Rose Franken papers, 1925-1982

Creator:

Franken, Rose, 1895-1988

Extent:

27 linear feet 64 boxes 6 flat boxes

Language:

English .

Scope and content:

Correspondence and manuscripts including drafts, typescripts, and proofs of Franken's short stories, novels, plays, and radio, film, and television scripts beginning with her first novel, PATTERN, published in 1925, through her latest volume, YOU'RE WELL OUT OF A HOSPITAL, published in 1966. Many of the manuscripts relate to her most famous characters, Claudia and David, who have become part of the contemporary cultural fabric. The collection also contains 18 volumes of clippings, approximately 200 recordings, and 501 mimeographed scripts relating to the "Claudia" series. Among the major correspondents are Faith Baldwin, Paul U. Kellogg, and Eleanor Roosevelt. Also includes an audio tape interview of Rose Franken (with typescript transcripts) conducted by her grandnephew, David Korr, in October 1977.

Biographical / historical:

Rose Franken (1895-1988) was an American novelist and playwright. She was contemporary of Edna Ferber and Fannie Hurst. Her first novel, Patten, was published in 1925. Franken's first play Another Language was produced in 1932 and later became a motion picture starring Helen Hayes.

Franken's fame grew with the "Claudia" stories, which appeared in magazines such as Redbook and Good Housekeeping. Women were fans of Franken's stories of domestic relations. In all, eight novels; a radio series; a television series; a play; and two popular movies staring Dorothy McGuire and Robert Young—Caludia (1943) and Claudia and David (1946)—grew out of the "Claudia" stories.

Franken married William Brown Meloney, also a writer, after the death of her first husband. She wrote screenplays for 20th Century Fox and Samuel Goldwyn. She lived to the age of 92.

Acquisition information:

Source of acquisition--Franken, Rose. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--1966. Accession number--M-66.

Gift of Rose Franken, 1966, 1980, and 1982

Processing information:

Cataloged Christina Hilton Fenn 06/--/89. Processed by the staff of the Rare Book & Manuscript Library; Revised by Mary Boone Bowling 22 April 1982; Revised by Bernard Crystal November 1988

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged into 10 series.

Accruals:

Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.

Physical / technical requirements:

Material base and configuration--Sound recordings

Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

This collection has no restrictions.

Box Cataloged Correspondence 1 is onsite.

Terms of access:

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Preferred citation:: Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Rose Franken papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Location of this collection:: Rare Book & Manuscript Library

RBML Home Page
6th Floor East Butler Library
535 West 114th Street
New York, NY 10027, USA
Before you visit:: Researchers interested in viewing materials in the RBML reading room must must book an appointment at least 7 days in advance. To make the most of your visit, be sure to request your desired materials before booking your appointment, as researchers are limited to 5 items per day.

Contact:: rbml@library.columbia.edu

Collection