Edith Head papers, 1911-1981, bulk 1950s-1970s

Summary

Creators:

Head, Edith

Extent:

16 linear feet of papers. 2 linear feet of photographs.

Language:

English

Background

Scope and content:

The Edith Head papers span the years 1911-1981 (bulk 1950s-1970s) and encompass 18 linear feet. The collection contains costume design drawings; general files, including clippings, programs, material related to fashion shows and tours, studio biographies, articles written by Head, and material related to books authored by Head; contracts with Paramount (1932-1965), Universal (1965-1968), and the William Morris Agency (1961-1968); personal correspondence, primarily non-film related; six scrapbooks; awards, including 24 Academy Award nomination certificates and all of Head's Oscar statuettes; tape recordings; and photographs. Of particular interest are a small number of costume design drawings collected by Head from such designers as Travis Banton, Cecil Beaton, Howard Greer, Harold Grieve, Rene Hubert, and Robert Kalloch. The photograph series consists primarily of biography and subject photographs.

Biographical / historical:

Edith Head was an American costume designer active in film from 1932 to 1982. She was the head designer at Paramount for many years. She married production designer Wiard Ihnen in 1940. Head was nominated by the Academy 35 times in the costume design category. She received Academy Awards for her work on THE HEIRESS (1949), ALL ABOUT EVE (1950), SAMSON AND DELILAH (1949), A PLACE IN THE SUN (1951), ROMAN HOLIDAY (1953), SABRINA (1954), THE FACTS OF LIFE (1960), and THE STING (1973). She authored two books, "The Dress Doctor" and "How to Dress for Success."

Arrangement:

Arranged in the following series: 1. Production files; 2. Television files; 3. Correspondence; 4. Subject files, subseries A-H as follows: A. General; B. Awards; C. Books; D. Contract files; E. Drawings; F. Manuscripts; G. Newspaper and magazine clippings (regarding Edith Head); H. Tape recordings; 5. Oversize; 6. Scrapbooks; 7. Photographs

Rules or conventions:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:

Costume designers

Names:

Head, Edith , 1897-1981--Archives

Location of this collection:

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Margaret Herrick Library

333 S. La Cienega Blvd

Beverly Hills, CA 90211, US

Contact:

(310) 247-3036 extension 2226

specialcollections@oscars.org

Website