Walter Farley Papers, 1933-1993, bulk 1935-1970
Summary Information
Abstract
At a Glance
- Call No.:
- MS#0411
- Bib ID:
- 4078749 View CLIO record
- Creator(s):
- Farley, Walter, 1915-1989
- Repository:
- Rare Book and Manuscript Library
- Physical Description:
- 21 linear feet (49 document boxes 1 flat box)
- Language(s):
- English .
- Access:
- You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.
-
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.
Description
Summary
The Walter Farley Papers mainly consist of research, notes, manuscripts and drafts of Farley's numerous books and short stories, both published and unpublished, speeches, photographs, press clippings, biographical information, and correspondence. The correspondence predominately encompasses fan letters but also contains letters from Farley's publisher, Random House, literary agents, foreign publishers, friends, horse trainers, and other professionals involved in the literary, arts, and equine fields. There are a few letters written to Rosemary Farley conveying condolences after Walter Farley's death. Also included in the collection are memorabilia, illustrations, photographs, advertisements, posters for Walter Farley's books, and The Black Stallion films, and scripts for the television series The Adventures of the Black Stallion. Information about horses and other animals owed by Farley are also in the collection.
-
This series contains drafts and other documents relating to Farley's books.
-
Series II: The Black Stallion Movie, 1956-1983
This series concerns the movie adaptation of The Black Stallion. Materials relate to all aspects of the film and include drafts of the screenplay; research files; information on horses starring in the movie including Cass Ole, the horse that played the Black Stallion, and correspondence with his trainers; correspondence with director Carroll Ballard, the film's producers, and the actors; fan letters; movie stills; files on merchandising and advertising; and newspaper clippings and articles.
-
This series contains a wide variety of materials and relates to both Farley's career and his personal life. There is a large amount of correspondence between Farley and publishers, fans, and friends. There are also research notes, contract information, occasional pages from drafts, files on racehorses, publicity materials, among others. Some files include photographs.
-
Series IV: Contests, 1941-1988
This series relates to contests (usually essay or writing contests) held by Farley, which sometimes offered horses as prizes. Files include correspondence with winners, photographs, contest rules, and clippings.
-
Series V: Photographs and Negatives, 1955-1969
This series contains photographs and negatives of Walter Farley, horses, and dogs. More photographs can also be found throughout the collection and have been identified in the contents list.
Arrangement
This collection has been arranged into five series.
- Series I: Writings, 1935-1991
- Series II: The Black Stallion Movie, 1956-1983
- Series III: General, 1993
- Series IV: Contests, 1941-1988
- Series V: Photographs and Negatives, 1955-1969
Using the Collection
Restrictions on Access
You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.
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.
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction
Reproductions 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); Walter Farley Papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.
Accruals
Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Source of acquisition--Farley, Walter. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--1968. Accession number--M-68.
About the Finding Aid / Processing Information
Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Processing Information
Cataloged Christina Hilton Fenn 06/--/89.
Papers processed Boni Joi Koeliker, Pratt Institute, 2013 Clare O'Dowd, Pratt Institute, 2012 2012.
Finding aid written Boni Joi Koeliker, Pratt Institute, 2013 July 2012.
Revision Description
2014-01-21 xml document instance created by Carolyn Smith
2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.
Biographical / Historical
Walter Farley was born in 1915 in Syracuse, New York and raised in New York City. While he was still in high school he began to write The Black Stallion and during his college years at Columbia University, one of his teachers, Mable R. Robinson, worked with him and encouraged him to submit the manuscript to Random House. Random House published the book in 1941 and twenty more in The Black Stallion series, as well as thirteen other children's books. Walter Farley's books have been translated into twenty different languages including French, Italian, German, Danish, Japanese, Swedish, Russian, and Arabic.
In 1979 The Black Stallion was made into a movie directed by Carroll Ballard and produced by Francis Ford Coppola. The movie was nominated for two Academy Awards and was followed by a sequel The Black Stallion Returns. In addition to his books for young readers he published, How to Stay Out of Trouble with Your Horse: Some Basic Safety Rules to Help You Enjoy Riding, in 1981 with Doubleday, his only non-Random House publication.
Walter Farley had four children with his wife Rosemary: Pam, Alice, Steve, and Tim. The Farley's maintained a farm in the Pennsylvania Dutch country near Earlville, Pennsylvania, and a beach home in Venice, Florida. Throughout his career Walter Farley enjoyed travelling to schools, horse shows, festivals, and libraries, giving lectures to inspire readers and horse lovers alike. In 1989 his local library in Venice, Florida, designated its children's wing the Walter Farley Literary Landmark. A permanent exhibit of Black Stallion memorabilia is on display there. His last book The Young Black Stallion, which he wrote with his son Steve, was published shortly after his death in 1989.
In 2004, Disney made a movie version of The Young Black Stallion, which is considered a prequel to the first book.
Subject Headings
The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches for other collections at Columbia University, through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, and through ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.
All links open new windows.