Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Description
The Melvyn B. Helstien papers consist of slides, diapositives, pen & ink illustrations,
correspondence, articles, newsletters, manuscripts, bibliographic materials, journals,
photographs, slides, index cards, and essays produced and collected by Dr. Melvyn Helstien.
The materials are from Afghanistan, Africa, Argentina, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Bali,
Belgium, Borneo, Burma, Cambodia, Canada, Ceylon, China, Cuba, the former Czechoslovakia,
Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hungary, India, Indonesia,
Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Java, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Guinea, Norway, Pakistan,
Poland, Puerto Rico, Rumania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, the
United States, Venezuela, Vietnam, and Yugoslavia. Dr. Helstien, professor of theater arts,
was a leading force in UCLA's Department of Theater from 1948 until his death in 1990. The
focus of the collection is on international puppetry with strengths in Southeast Asian
puppets and puppets from India.
Background
Melvyn B. Helstien was born in Denver, Colorado on the 2nd of February 1920. He received
his BA from the University of Washington in 1947 and his MFA from the Yale School of Drama
in 1948. In 1962, Dr. Helstien earned his Ph.D in theater at the University of Minnesota. He
taught at UCLA in the Department of Theater Arts from 1963-1986. He served as the department
Vice-chairman from 1971-1973 and again in 1981 until 1985. During his thirty-eight year
career, he directed, produced, designed or performed in dozens of UCLA theatrical
productions; lectured, and wrote with a focus on puppetry. In 1976, Dr. Helstien curated the
exhibit Asian Puppets: Wall of the World, as well as writing chapters in its accompanying
catalog for the Museum of Cultural History. He was a member of the board of directors for
the Union Internationale des Marionnettes (UNIMA-USA). Dr. Helstien died on March 6,
1990.
Extent
12.5 linear feet (12 boxes) of
documents
Restrictions
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in
writing to the Registrar. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Fowler
Museum at UCLA as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply
permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.
Availability
Access to the archives collection is by appointment.