Paul Rotha letters, 1930-1953

Summary Information

At a Glance

Arrangement

Arrangement

Arranged in chronological order.

• Series I: Cataloged Correspondence
• Subseries I.1: 1930
• Subseries I.2: 1932-1934
• Subseries I.3: 1937
• Subseries I.4: 1938-1939
• Subseries I.5: 1953

Description

Summary

A series of letters from Rotha to his wife, containing personal and professional observations during his early career in England and in New York. Also, one letter from Rotha to Peter Hunt.

• Series I: Cataloged Correspondence

  The series is arranged in chronological order.

Using the Collection

Rare Book and Manuscript Library

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 on-site.

This collection has no restrictions.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

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); Paul Rotha letters; 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--736556. Method of acquisition--Purchase; Date of acquisition--07/--/79. Accession number--M-79-07.

Purchase: 736556 (July 1979).

Gift of Winifred A. Mysers, 1980.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Processing Information

Cataloged by Henry Rowen, September 1979 and July 1980. Cataloged Christina Hilton Fenn 09/--/89.

Revision Description

2010-02-24 Legacy finding aid created from Pro Cite.

2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.

Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches at Columbia University through the Archival Collections Portal and through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, as well as ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

All links open new windows.

Subject

History / Biographical Note

Biographical / Historical

Film director, producer, author of works on the history of films, journalist, pioneer in documentary films.

Paul Rotha was born Paul Treeve Fawcett Thompson in Wealdstone, England on June 3 1907. He took the name Paul Rotha in 1926 while in art school on the advice of a teacher. He authored several important books on film history and theory including The Film Till Now (1930), Documentary Film (1936), Movie Parade (1936), and Documentary Diary: An Informal History of the British Documentary Film, 1928-1939 (1973). He was a major pioneer figure in the British documentary film movement. A producer, writer and director, his films include Contact (1932), Shipyard (1934), The World is Rich (1947), Cradle of Genius (1958), and The Life of Adolf Hitler (1960-1962). Rotha died on March 7, 1984.