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

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Summary

Title:
Edith Head papers
Dates:
1911-1981, bulk 1950s-1970s
Creators:
Head, Edith
Extent:
16 linear feet of papers. 2 linear feet of photographs.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Edith Head papers, Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

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

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Special Collections
Date Prepared:
© 2013
Date Encoded:
Machine-readable finding aid derived from Inmagic. Date of source: June 25, 2013

Access and use

Restrictions:

Available by appointment only.

Terms of access:

Property rights to the physical object belong to the Margaret Herrick Library. Researchers are responsible for obtaining all necessary rights, licenses, or permissions from the appropriate companies or individuals before quoting from or publishing materials obtained from the library.

Preferred citation:

Edith Head papers, Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Location of this collection:
333 S. La Cienega Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA 90211, US
Contact:
(310) 247-3036 extension 2226
specialcollections@oscars.org
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