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George S. Pelton Papers: Finding
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mssHM 50981-51034
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Table of contents
Title: George S. Pelton Papers
Dates (inclusive): 1905-1914
Bulk dates: 1912-1914
Collection Number: mssHM 50981-51034
Creator:
Pelton, George S.
Extent:
54 items in 3 boxes
Repository:
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
Manuscripts Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2129
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract: This collection contains papers of investor George Pelton concerning Pelton's agreement and disputes in the early 1900s with
novelist Jack London concerning the film rights of London's novel
The Sea Wolf (1904), and with director Cecil B. DeMille concerning various productions of plays.
Language: English.
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader
Services.
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material,
nor does it charge fees for such activities.
The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the
researcher.
[Identification of item]. George S. Pelton Papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Purchased from Dawson's Book Shop, May 23, 1985.
George S. Pelton (active 1905-1915) was a businessman and investor who entered into agreements with Jack London and Joseph
J. Noel regarding the dramatic rights to
The Sea Wolf.
He also invested with Cecil B. DeMille in various productions of plays.
Scope and Content Note
This collection contains papers concerning George S. Pelton's agreement and disputes with Jack London concerning the film
rights of his novel, The Sea Wolf (1904), and with Cecil B. DeMille concerning various productions of plays
and Pelton's efforts to recover money advanced for plays that were never produced.
Persons represented by 5 or more pieces:
- DeMille, Cecil Blount: 4 letters (1912-1913), HM 50983-50986; 2 documents (1912), HM 50987.
- London, Jack: 2 manuscripts (ca. 1912 and ca. 1913), HM 50991-50992; 4 letters (1905-1914), HM 50993-50996. 1 document (1906), HM 50997.
- Noel, Joseph J.: 4 manuscripts (1911-ca. 1914), HM 50999-51002; 3 letters (1914), HM 51003-51005; 2 documents (1908-1914), HM 51006-51007.
- Pelton, George S.: 21 letters and telegrams (1912-1914), HM 51009-51030; 4 documents (1911-1914), HM 51031-51033.
Some notable items include:
- Bradstreet Company. Private investigator's reports on the financial status of Jack London, 1913, September 27, and 1914, April 1. HM 50981-50982.
- London, Jack. The Judge: play; typescript, and carbon copy of early draft, (ca. 1912-ca. 1913), HM 50991-50992. Note: Although the play was ascribed to Jack London, he repudiated it in a letter to George S Pelton, March 27, 1914, listed below. London, Jack. Letter (1914, March 27) to George S Pelton accusing Pelton and Joseph J Noel of double-crossing him over the sale of the rights to The Sea Wolf, HM 50995.
- Noel, Joseph J. Letters (1914, April 3 and May 10) to George S Pelton discussing Jack London and the Sea Wolf rights disagreement, HM 51004-51005.
- Pelton, George S. Letters and telegrams (1914) to his lawyer, Fred W Heath, discussing a possible lawsuit against Cecil Blount DeMille over money advanced to produce plays, HM 51015-51019.
- Pelton, George S. Letter (1914, March 31) to Jack London responding to London's accusations concerning The Sea Wolf, HM 51021. Note: This letter is a carbon copy; its original is part of the Jack London Collection, JL 16417.
- Pelton, George S. Letters (1914) to Joseph J Noel discussing Jack London and the Sea Wolf disagreement, HM 51025-51029.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
Huntington Library's Online Catalog.
DeMille, Cecil B. (Cecil Blount), 1881-1959.
London, Jack, 1876-1916. Sea-wolf.
Noel, Joseph J.
Pelton, George S.
Copyright -- Motion pictures.
Motion picture plays.
Letters (correspondence) -- United States -- 20th century.
Plays -- United States -- 20th century.
DeMille, Cecil B. (Cecil Blount), 1881-1959.
London, Jack, 1876-1916.
Noel, Joseph J.
Arrangement
Arranged in the following order:
- Boxes 1-2: Manuscripts and correspondence, arranged alphabetically by author.
- Box 3: Xerox copies