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Finding Aid for the Ralph Nelson Papers, 1940-1983
875
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Title: Ralph Nelson Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1940-1983
Collection number: 875
Creator: Nelson, Ralph, 1916-
Extent:
116 boxes (58 linear ft.)
7 cartons (7 linear ft.)
25 oversize boxes
Abstract: Ralph Nelson (1916-1987) was an actor, director, producer, and playwright. He wrote the play
Mail call (winner of the 1943 John Golden prize and National Theatre awards), and won National Theatre awards for
Angels weep and
The wind is ninety. In 1956, he won a Emmy award for direction of
Requiem for a heavyweight (1956), and in 1964, the Golden Globes Humanitarian award for directing
Lilies of the field. The collection consists of television and motion picture shooting scripts, production files, films, tape recordings, phonograph
records, scrapbooks, prints, personal memorabilia, and related printed material of Ralph Nelson. Scripts include
Requiem for a heavyweight,
The director,
Father Goose, and
Lilies of the field.
Repository:
University of California, Los Angeles. Library.
Department of Special Collections.
Los Angeles, California 90095-1575
Physical location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library, Department
of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Nelson was born on August 12, 1916 in New York City; attended public school there; became an actor, director, producer, and
playwright; worked as an actor, 1933-41; directed for NBC-TV, 1948-49, and for CBS-TV, 1949-52; president of Rainbow Productions
in Los Angeles beginning in 1959; wrote the play
Mail call (winner of the 1943 John Golden prize and National Theatre awards); also won National Theatre awards for
Angels weep and
The wind is ninety; won 1956 Emmy award for direction of
Requiem for a heavyweight, and in 1964 the Golden Globes Humanitarian award for directing
Lilies of the field; also wrote screenplays for
The man in the funny suit,
The flight of the doves, and
The wrath of God; other films directed or produced by Nelson include
Father Goose,
Counterpoint, and
Charley; he died on December 21, 1987 in Santa Monica, California.
Collection consists of television and motion picture shooting scripts, production files, films, tape recordings, phonograph
records, scrapbooks, prints, personal memorabilia, and related printed material of Ralph Nelson, motion picture and television
writer and director. Scripts include
Requiem for a heavyweight,
The director,
Father Goose, and
Lilies of the field.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Nelson, Ralph, 1916- --Archives.
Screenwriters--United States--Archival resources.
Motion picture producers and directors--California, Southern--Archival resources.
Television producers and directors--California, Southern--Archival resources.
Film scripts.
Television plays.
Items Transferred to the Film and Television Archive, UCLA
- Flight of the Doves (16mm print - 3 reels).
- Charly (16mm print - 3 reels).
- “Requiem for a Heavyweight,” Playhouse 90 (16mm print - 3 reels).
- Soldier Blue (16mm print - 3 reels).
- The Man in the Funny Suit (16mm print - 1 reel).
- The Two Worlds of Charley Gordon (16mm print - 1 reel).
- Kinescope: Mama Kinescope of Mama and The Carpenter.
- “The Richest Man In Bogota” ( Du Pont Show Of The Week).
- The Outlaw's Reckoning.
- “The Brandenburg Gate” ( Motorola TV Hour).
- “The Trial of Captain Wirz” ( Climax).
- “This Happy Breed” ( Ford Star Jubilee) Reel no.2 only.
- “Hamlet” ( Du Pont Show Of The Week).
- Cinderella.
- Stock Footage: Bergen, Norway (Fjord shots and Bonfire), London (Piccadilly Circus and Scotland Yard), View from Stavangerfjord - seagulls, and Shots made in Stockholm and Copenhagen.
Items Cataloged
- A portfolio of Hirschfeld: impressions of the play of the week (Limited Edition). Hirschfeld, Al (07-AFH-4287). Available at Department of Special Collections, UCLA.
- Illustrations for The complete works of Shakespeare, edited by William Cullen Bryant. Philadelphia, c.1886. Illustrations by Felix Octavius Carr Darley, 1822-1888 (*** PR 2883 D249i). Available at Department of Special Collections, UCLA.
- Portfolio of William Blake's paintings for
Paradise Lost. New York,
Date: 1947(**NC 1115 B58p). Available at Department of Special Collections, UCLA.
Items Withdrawn by Ralph Nelson
- Mama series: “Along Came A Spider,” “T.R.'S New Home,” “He Jests at Scars” and Makeup test.
- Requiem for a Heavyweight and Man in a Funny Suit programs.
Items Sent to Music Library:
- Red Seal records by: Caruso, Tettrazini, Melba, Chaliapin, McCormack, etc. (78 rpm) Originals, at $3.00 each (65 total).
- One framed Lithograph by John Groth.
- Oil painting by Jack Smith for Fate is the Hunter.
- Lilies of the Field Script.
Taped Shows Not Received
- Justice.
-
The Richest Man in Bogota (DuPont Show of the Week),
Date: June 1962.
- The New March of Dimes Presents
What About Linda? (a one hour television film),
Date: January 1961.
- The Outlaw's Reckoning.
- The Brandenburg Gate (ABC), One Hour Show.
- The Trial of Captain Wirz.
- This Happy Breed.
- Hamlet.
- Phone Call for Matt Quade ( Climax).
- Mama Television Series: “Along Came a Spider”, “Penny Candy”, and “The Night the Animals Talked”. [See Box 78].
- T.R.'s New Home.