Arrangement note
Biographical/Historical note
Scope and Contents note
Conditions Governing Access note
Conditions Governing Use note
Preferred Citation note
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
Separated Materials note
Title: John Copeland Babylon 5 Collection
Identifier/Call Number: 2006.018.r
Contributing Institution:
Frank Mt. Pleasant Library of Special Collections and Archives, Leatherby Libraries
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
59.5 Linear feet
(31 folder boxes, 19 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1993-1999
Language of Materials note: The materials in this collection are in English.
Location note: Leatherby Libraries
Abstract: This collection contains a various assortment of action figures, books, set-related ephemera, awards won by the show, glassware,
concept art, production stills, pictures, photos, statues, trading cards, two video games, all related to Babylon 5, including
the entire series on VHS. In addition to the Babylon 5 collection, the series Crusader and Wild West are contained on VHS.
Arrangement note
This collection is arranged by material type.
Biographical/Historical note
Babylon 5 is an American science fiction television series created by J. Michael Straczynski and produced by John Copeland.
The show centers on the Babylon 5 space station: a focal point for politics, diplomacy, and conflict during the years 2257–2262.
The five seasons of the series each correspond to one fictional sequential year in that time frame. The pilot film premiered
on February 22, 1993. The regular series aired from January 26, 1994 and ran for five full seasons. The show spawned six television
films and a spin-off series called Crusade, which aired in 1999 and ran for thirteen episodes. This award winning series broke
new ground in television as the first program to create all of the visual effects using computer animation.
Information found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylon_5
Crusade is a spin-off TV series, from the creators of Babylon 5. Its plot is set in 2267, five years after the events of Babylon
5, and just after the made-for-TV-movie, A Call to Arms. These episodes center around a race called the Drakh, who have released
a nanovirus plague on Earth. If this plague is not stopped, it will destroy all life on the planet within five years. To that
end, the destroyer Excalibur has been sent out to look for anything that could help find a cure. Like Babylon 5, Crusade was
intended to have a five-year story arc, however, conflicts arose between the producers and executives at TNT and production
was cancelled before the first episode was broadcast.
Information found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crusade_%28TV_series%29
The Wild West was a ten-part series of some 3500 photos, sketches, and paintings of myths of the American West between the
end of the Civil War to 1900. Includes first-person narratives, anecdotes, newspaper accounts, journals, and letters covering
Buffalo Bill Cody, Calamity Jane, Wild Bill Hickok, Bat Masterson, Wyatt Earp, Geronimo, Sitting Bull, Annie Oakley, Billy
the Kid, and George Custer. John Copeland was producer on two of these episodes entitled: " Cowboys" and "The Chroniclers".
Information found at http://www.fandango.com/thewildwest%5Btvdocumentaryseries%5D_v54594/summary
John Copeland has produced over 220 hours of Prime Time television programming. Many of these productions were not only award
winners, but also brought innovations to film and television production, including the first television series to combine
state of the art 3D computer generated character animation with live action and visual effects. John Copeland has been declared
as “the producer’s producer” because few in the industry can boast his comprehensive knowledge of the entire production spectrum.
From traditional filmmaking techniques to the evolving landscape of new technologies, many of which Copeland helped pioneer,
few have contributed as much in terms of shepherding quality entertainment to the small screen.
Information found at http://www.evergreenfilms.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=94&Itemid=59
Scope and Contents note
This collection was donated by Chapman alumni John Copeland, who produced the tv series Babylon 5, its' spinoff Crusade and
the miniseries Wild West. The collection primarily contains Babylon 5 concept art, sketches, scripts, merchandise, and various
ephemera and memorobilia related to the show, including the entire series on VHS. Aside from the Babylon 5 materials, the
collection includes the Crusade and Wild West series on VHS, and a few concept cketches for the Crusade series.
Conditions Governing Access note
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use note
There are no restrictions on the use of this material.
Preferred Citation note
[identify item], John Copeland Babylon 5 Collection (2006.18.r), Frank Mt. Pleasant Library of Special Collections and Archives,
Chapman University, CA.
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
This collection is a gift of Chapman alumni John Copeland.
Separated Materials note
The 1997 Hugo award for Babylon 5 series episode "Severed Dreama" was de-accessioned on 4/27/2011. John Copeland requested
that his Hugo award be returned to him. This Hugo award was presented at the Lone Star convention Aug. 28-Sept. 1, 1997.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Copeland, John, '73, 1950-
Babylon 5 (Television program)
Babylon Five (Television program)
Science fiction television programs.
Television programs -- United States.