George Schaefer papers, 1951-1991

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Summary

Creators:
Schaefer, George
Abstract:
George Schaefer (1920-1991) was a producer and director for television, film, and theatre productions. The collection consists of correspondence, production files, and scrapbooks related to Schaefer's career, particularly his work with television's Hallmark Hall of Fame.
Extent:
46.6 Linear Feet (56 boxes, 23 oversize flat boxes, 1 map folder, and 1 shoe box)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], George Schaefer Papers (Collection 588). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection consists of George Schaefer's correspondence and production files related to over eighty television, theatre, and film projects. Files include production materials, clippings, publicity kits, scripts, and business correspondence, including correspondence originating from Compass Productions and Foote, Cone, and Belding. The bulk of material relates to Schaefer's directorial and production responsibilities for approximately 40 Hallmark Hall of Fame television productions. The files also include scrapbooks of publicity materials and clippings, posters, a portion of his many awards and honors, and small amount of teaching material from Schaefer's tenure as Department Chair and Associate Dean of the UCLA School of Theatre, Film and Television.

Biographical / historical:

George Schaefer (1920-1997) earned his B.A. from Lafayette College before attending Yale Drama School for one year. He enlisted in the army during World War II, where he directed over fifty plays for the Central Pacific Base Command. Following the war, he headed to New York to continue his work in the theatre. In 1953 he began his collaboration with Hallmark Hall of Fame television productions, directing a live televised stage performance of Hamlet. Schaefer eventually produced and/or directed 57 Hallmark productions, while he continued his work in theatre, feature films, and other television movies. His career spanned over 60 years, during which time he received many accolades. In 1985, he became the chair of the UCLA School of Theatre, Film, and Television. Two years later, he became Associate Dean. Schaefer died following a long illness in 1991.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Mildred Schaefer, 1999.
Processing information:

The collection was initially sorted and selected by George Schaefer circa 1990, before the boxes were placed into storage in Santa Monica. Sybil Trubin, a business associate at George Schaefer Productions, also sorted through the material before and after its transfer to UCLA, Shared Processing Facility, in 1999. Processed by Andrea Eitsert, with assistance from Laurel McPhee in the Center for Primary Research and Training (CFPRT), Winter 2005.

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Arrangement:

Arranged in the following series:

  1. Awards and honors, 1962-1982 (5 boxes).
  2. Feature films, 1951-1981 (5 boxes), subseries A-B as follows:
    1. Production files, 1951-1981.
    2. Scrapbook, 1968-1969.
  3. Hallmark Hall of Fame, 1953-1982 (48 boxes), subseries A-D as follows:
    1. Foote, Cone, and Belding correspondence, 1959-1982.
    2. Hallmark files, 1957-1982.
    3. Production files, 1953-1982.
    4. Scrapbooks, 1959-1969.
  4. Miscellaneous, 1957-1991 (3 boxes), subseries A-C as follows:
    1. Compass Productions, 1957-1973.
    2. Production materials, 1961-1976.
    3. UCLA, 1970-1991.
  5. Television, 1959-1989 (11 boxes), subseries A-B as follows:
    1. Production files, 1959-1989.
    2. Scrapbook, 1966-1968.
  6. Theatre, 1961-1987 (4 boxes), subseries A-B as follows:
    1. Production files, 1961-1987.
    2. Scrapbook, 1961-1963.

Physical / technical requirements:

PORTIONS OF THIS COLLECTION HAVE BEEN DIGITIZED. See the Online Items Available note for the link to the digitized materials.

Physical location:
Stored off-site. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.

Terms of access:

Property rights to the physical objects belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. All other rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], George Schaefer Papers (Collection 588). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

Location of this collection:
A1713 Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575, US
Contact:
(310) 825-4988
AskLSC@library.ucla.edu
Website