Clifford Odets papers, 1937-1964, bulk 1945-1963
Summary Information
Abstract
At a Glance
- Call No.:
- MS#1636
- Bib ID:
- 9746888 View CLIO record
- Creator(s):
- Odets, Clifford, 1906-1963
- Repository:
- Rare Book and Manuscript Library
- Physical Description:
- 6 linear feet (6 record containers)
- 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.
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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 collection primarily consists of original and copied plays and screenplays written or adapted by Clifford Odets. The earliest of these is his Waiting for Lefty from 1938. For some of the writings there are multiple copies as well as first, second, and third drafts. There are treatments by Walter Newman and research notebooks for The Way West. The Clifford Odets Papers also contains a small series of personal papers. These items are in the main from 1960-1963 and consist of clippings, ephemera, playbills, programs, and serials. There are a few pieces of correspondence including an anniversary announcement from Lee and Paula Strasberg, as well as from Milton Lipper to the Strasberg's following Odets' death in 1963.
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Series I: Plays and Screenplays, 1938-1963
Series I consists of original and copied plays and screenplays written or adapted by Clifford Odets. The works range in date from Waiting for Lefty from 1938 to the scripts he did for The Richard Boone Show in 1963. Present in this series are first, second, and third drafts as well as final versions of plays and screenplays.
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Series II: Personal Papers, 1937-1964
Series II contains a small section of Clifford Odets' personal papers. These materials are primarily from 1960-1963. Included here are an assortment of clippings, ephemera, playbills, programs, and serials. There are a few pieces of scattered correspondence, including an anniversary announcement from Lee and Paula Strasberg, as well as letters from Milton Lipper to the Strasberg's following Odets' death in 1963. A program for Golden Boy, signed by Sammy Davis is present is this series. Additionally there is a letter from Courtois-Doybel to Jean Renoir sent along with a program for the French production of Le Grande Couteau (The Big Knife) from 1961. There are appointment books from Virginia Rowe, Odets' secretary, from 1958 and 1962.
Arrangement
Material is arranged into 2 series. Materials arranged alphabetically.
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); Clifford Odets Papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.
Selected Related Material -- at Columbia
Margaret Brenman-Gibson Papers, Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University
Clifford Odets Papers, The Billy Rose Theatre Division, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
Clifford Odets Papers, Lilly Library, Indiana University
Accrual
No additions are expected
Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.
Ownership and Custodial History
The Clifford Odets Papers were the gift of William Gibson to the Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Columbia University in July of 2011. The materials originally came in as part of the Margaret Brenman-Gibson Papers MS#1635, but were separated because of provenance.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
2011.2012.M135: Source of acquisition--William Gibson. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--July 2011.
About the Finding Aid / Processing Information
Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Processing Information
Papers processed Adrien Hilton 10/23/2012.
Finding Aid written Adrien Hilton 10/23/2012.
Revision Description
2012-10-24 xml document instance created by Adrien Hilton
2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.
Biographical Note
Clifford Odets was an important American playwright. He was born in 1906 in Philadelphia to Russian and Romanian immigrants. Odets struck out on his own, dropping out of high school, to pursue a career in acting. He was a founding member of the Group Theatre in New York that utilized a new technique in acting based on the ideas of Constantin Stanislavski. The Group Theatre was further developed by director Lee Strasberg. Odets was married twice, both to actresses: Luise Rainer and Bette Grayson. With Grayson, he had two children, Nora and Walt. Odets wrote plays and screenplays, perhaps, best known for his Waiting for Lefty, Awake and Sing, and Golden Boy. In 1952, Odets was called before the House Un-American Activities Committee. He had belonged to the CPUSA for less than a year between 1934-1935. In his final years, Odets worked with NBC's The Richard Boone Show. Odets died of colon cancer at the age of 57.
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.
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