Cecil B. DeMille collection, 1891-1975

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Summary

Creators:
DeMille, Cecil B. (Cecil Blount), 1881-1959
Abstract:
This collection chiefly consists of scripts, awards, scrapbooks, and a small group of papers of American film director and producer Cecil B. DeMille (1881-1959).
Extent:
20.79 Linear Feet 11 boxes
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[Box/folder no. or item name], Cecil B. DeMille collection, Collection no. 2365, Cinematic Arts Library, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection chiefly consists of scripts, awards, scrapbooks, and a small group of papers of American film director and producer Cecil B. DeMille (1881-1959). In addition, there is a set of reviews and a program for the play "The Lost Paradise" (1891) written by DeMille's father Henry C. DeMille.

Personal materials include a notebook with a 1920 appraisal of DeMille's personal property in his study at the Famous Players-Lasky Studio; a photograph album of the Vermejo Club ranch, DeMille's estate in New Mexico; genealogical notes; and some miscellaneous items.

DeMille's film work is represented by more than 80 shooting scripts, often with handwritten notes, as well as some film musical scores; 17 stereopticon cards with stills from "Fool's Paradise" (1921); a handbook for "Samson and Delilah" (1948); scrapbooks of photographs and clippings related to the French release of "The Crusades" (1935), the world premiere of "Union Pacific" (1939) in Omaha, Nebraska, and the Italian publicity campaign for "The Greatest Show on Earth" (1953); and printed materials and 6 stills for "The Ten Commandments" (1956).

There are approximately 80 awards and certificates for DeMille, as well as one for his wife, Constance DeMille, from a variety of organizations related to his movie career and philanthropy.

Biographical / historical:

Cecil B. DeMille (1881-1959) was an American film producer and director. He was a pioneer filmmaker in Hollywood making both silent and sound films including "Samson and Delilah" (1949), "The Greatest Show on Earth" (1953), "The Ten Commandments" (1956). "The Greatest Show on Earth" won the Academy Award for best motion picture.

Acquisition information:
Received from various sources. Part of the collection was received as a gift, circa 1970. The awards were the gift of Cecilia Presley in 1997.
Processing information:

A portion of this collection was previously cataloged as Collection #99 and Collection #2099.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Advance notice required for access.

Terms of access:

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Cinematic Arts Library at ctlibarc@usc.edu. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Cinematic Arts Library 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.

Finding aid description and metadata are licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.

Preferred citation:

[Box/folder no. or item name], Cecil B. DeMille collection, Collection no. 2365, Cinematic Arts Library, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.

Location of this collection:
Cinematic Arts Library
Doheny Memorial Library, Room G4
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0185, US
Contact:
(213) 740-8383
ctlibarc@usc.edu
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