William D. Eppes collection

Catalogued by Almendarez, Val
Margaret Herrick Library. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
333 S La Cienega Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Published January 2023


Descriptive Summary

Abstract: The collection consists primarily of research material gathered for an unpublished biography of the actress Gertrude Michael (1911-1964). Included are Eppes's manuscripts for "Gertrude Michael: A Star of the Golden Age of Hollywood" and "Gertrude Michael Album." There is also information about actress Isabel Jewell's life and career, possibly gathered for another project.
Collector: Eppes, William D.
Dates: 1931-1993
Dates: 1977-1993
Collection number: 189
Collection Size: 1.7 linear ft. of papers
Repository: Margaret Herrick Library. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Languages: Languages represented in the collection: English

Access

Available by appointment only.

Publication Rights

Property rights to the physical object belong to the Margaret Herrick Library. Researchers are responsible for obtaining all necessary rights, licenses, or permissions from the appropriate companies or individuals before quoting from or publishing materials obtained from the library.

Preferred Citation

William D. Eppes collection, Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Acquisition Information

Gift of William D. Eppes, 1994

Collection Scope and Content Summary

The William D. Eppes collection spans the years 1931-1993 (bulk 1977-1993) and encompasses 1.7 linear feet. The collection consists primarily of research material gathered for an unpublished biography of the actress Gertrude Michael (1911-1964). There is information about Michael's career and family, as well as Eppes's completed manuscripts for "Gertrude Michael: A Star of the Golden Age of Hollywood" and "Gertrude Michael Album." There is a small amount of correspondence with some of Michael's colleagues, most notably John Lodge and Erik Rhodes. There is also information about actress Isabel Jewell's life and career, possibly gathered for another project.

Biography

William D. Eppes is a New York-based researcher and biographer with an interest in theatrical history. He has been a member of the research and reference committee of the Theatre Historical Society of America.

Arrangement of the Collection

1. Subject files

Indexing terms

Eppes, William D.
Biographers
Collectors
Researchers


 

Manuscripts

 

Subject files

folder 1

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences 1981--1993

Record ID: 71301400

Scope and Content Note

folder 2

Archives 1980--1986

Record ID: 71305559

Scope and Content Note

correspondence with various libraries seeking information on Gertrude Michael
folder 3

Astoria Studios 1982--1984

Record ID: 71305560

Scope and Content Note

folder 4

Background material Circa 1930--1985

Record ID: 71305561

Scope and Content Note

clippings; handwritten notes
folder 5

Book

Record ID: 71305562

Scope and Content Note

typed manuscript of "Gertrude Michael: A Star of the Golden Age of Hollywood, and Friends," pp. 64-234
folder 6

Book 1985--1985

Record ID: 71305563

Scope and Content Note

photocopy of complete manuscript of "Gertrude Michael: A Star of the Golden Age of Hollywood," copyright 1985, 234 pages
folder 7

Book--bibliography

Record ID: 71305564

Scope and Content Note

folder 8

Book--changed pages

Record ID: 71305565

Scope and Content Note

miscellaneous changed pages [some heavily annotated]
folder 9

Cain, Paul

Record ID: 71305566

Scope and Content Note

photocopy of title page of "Fast One"; photocopy of short story "Death Song"
folder 10

Cape Playhouse 1937--1983

Record ID: 71305567

Scope and Content Note

correspondence; clippings related to Gertrude Michael's appearance in a play
folder 11

Chateau Marmont 1977--1993

Record ID: 71305568

Scope and Content Note

research clippings; correspondence
folder 12

Cincinnati 1981--1982

Record ID: 71305569

Scope and Content Note

research; correspondence
folder 13

Clark, Edward H 1947--1992

Record ID: 71305570

Scope and Content Note

clippings; photograph; correspondence; copy of oral history interview with Mr. Clark done by the Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument Oral History Project, 1977
folder 14

Copyright Office 1984--1985

Record ID: 71305571

Scope and Content Note

folder 15

Correspondence 1979--1986

Record ID: 71305572

Scope and Content Note

letters from Jean Dalrymple, February 14, 1981, February 28, 1981, and August 27, 1981; copy of a letter from Dick Moore, February 25, 1981; copy of a letter from Lew Ayres, April 10, 1981; handwritten note by Bob Cummings, April 1981; handwritten note from Pauline Kael, December 1, 1982; handwritten letter from June Wilkinson, August, 1983; page from "Vanity Fair" autographed by Glenda Jackson, April 1, 1985
folder 16

Correspondence 1987--1993

Record ID: 71305573

Scope and Content Note

folder 17

Family 1938--1981

Record ID: 71305574

Scope and Content Note

research on the Michael family; photocopies of correspondence
folder 18

Filmography

Record ID: 71305575

Scope and Content Note

notes on, and copies of reviews of, Gertrude Michael's films
folder 19

Froman, Jane 1982--1982

Record ID: 71305576

Scope and Content Note

folder 20

Gertrude Michael Album

Record ID: 71305577

Scope and Content Note

approximately 53-page manuscript with photocopies of illustrations
folder 21

Gertrude Michael Album--drafts

Record ID: 71305578

Scope and Content Note

folder 22

Hollywood 1981--1983

Record ID: 71305579

Scope and Content Note

"map of movie stars homes," 1981; alphabetical breakdown of the Hollywood Walk of Fame
folder 23

Holmquist, Steve 1983--1985

Record ID: 71305580

Scope and Content Note

information on Isabel Jewell
folder 24

Jewell, Isabel 1982--1993

Record ID: 71305581

Scope and Content Note

copy of her death certificate; correspondence
folder 25

Jewell, Isabel--research 1926--1985

Record ID: 71305582

Scope and Content Note

clippings; notes
folder 26

Lobero Theatre 1981--1981

Record ID: 71305583

Scope and Content Note

correspondence regarding Ms. Michael's stage work
folder 27

Lodge, John Davis 1981--1994

Record ID: 71305584

Scope and Content Note

extensive correspondence with Mr. Lodge
folder 28

Mamoulian, Rouben 1945--1987

Record ID: 71305585

Scope and Content Note

research material
folder 29

Michael, Arnold 1958--1985

Record ID: 71305586

Scope and Content Note

correspondence; notes; clippings
folder 30

Michael, Gertrude--biographical material 1934--1990

Record ID: 71305587

Scope and Content Note

clippings; notes
folder 31

Michael, Gertrude--death 1965--1965

Record ID: 71305588

Scope and Content Note

copy of Ms. Michael's death certificate
folder 32

Michael, Gertrude--education 1981--1982

Record ID: 71305589

Scope and Content Note

correspondence with various colleges
folder 33

Michael, Gertrude--stage 1931--1960

Record ID: 71305590

Scope and Content Note

photocopies of playbills and reviews
folder 34

Miscellaneous 1981--1993

Record ID: 71305591

Scope and Content Note

first day cover of five British film stars, October 8, 1985
folder 35

Notes

Record ID: 71305592

Scope and Content Note

index cards with notes on films, directors, and sources
folder 36

Notes

Record ID: 71305593

Scope and Content Note

index cards and photocopies with notes on subjects
folder 37

Photographs 1981--1984

Record ID: 71305594

Scope and Content Note

correspondence regarding photographs to be used in the book; 4 -- 8x10 photographs; 2 -- 8½x11 photographs; 2 -- 5x7 photographs; 1 -- 5x7 (color) photograph
folder 38

Photographs--family

Record ID: 71305595

Scope and Content Note

photocopies of photographs of Gertrude Michael's family
folder 39

Photographs--photocopies

Record ID: 71305596

Scope and Content Note

copies of photographs with Gertrude Michael
folder 40

Publisher 1981--1984

Record ID: 71305597

Scope and Content Note

correspondence with various publishing houses
folder 41

Rhodes, Erik 1981--1994

Record ID: 71305598

Scope and Content Note

clippings and research material; handwritten correspondence from Mr. Rhodes; draft of a 16-page article on Mr. Rhodes; article by Mr. Rhodes about his dog
folder 42

Rolodex

Record ID: 71305599

Scope and Content Note

index cards with contacts
folder 43

Scott, Vern M. 1981--1994

Record ID: 71305600

Scope and Content Note

correspondence regarding Talladega and Gertrude Michael's early life
folder 44

Sills, Milton 1986--1987

Record ID: 71305601

Scope and Content Note

research material; correspondence with Mr. Sills daughter
folder 45

Stage--research 1981--1993

Record ID: 71305602

Scope and Content Note

folder 46

Strode Publishers 1980--1983

Record ID: 71305603

Scope and Content Note

folder 47

Talladega 1982--1986

Record ID: 71305604

Scope and Content Note

correspondence
folder 48

Talladega--research 1954--1985

Record ID: 71305605

Scope and Content Note

clippings
folder 49

Television 1965--1981

Record ID: 71305606

Scope and Content Note

research and correspondence regarding Gertrude Michael's television career
folder 50

Books 1978--1980

Record ID: 71305607

Scope and Content Note

"Fast One" by Paul Cain [hardback and paperback]; "Swanson on Swanson" by Gloria Swanson [annotation by Erik Rhodes]