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Abstract: The collection consists primarily of research material gathered for an unpublished biography of the actress Gertrude Michael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consists primarily of research material gathered for an unpublished biography of the actress Gertrude Michael (1911-1964).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
folder 1
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
1981--1993
Record ID: 71301400
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
folder 46
Strode Publishers
1980--1983
Record ID: 71305603
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]