Finding Aid for the Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll papers 2200
Sarah Jardini for History Associates Incorporated
USC Libraries Cinematic Arts Library
March 2022
Doheny Memorial Library G4
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, California 90089-0185
ctlibarc@usc.edu
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Cinematic Arts Library
Title: Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll papers
Creator:
Correll, Charles J., 1890-1972
Creator:
Gosden, Freeman F., 1899-1982
Identifier/Call Number: 2200
Physical Description:
26.6 Linear Feet
21 boxes
Date (inclusive): 1926-1955
Abstract: This collection contains the papers of Freeman Gosden (1899-1982) and Charles Correll (1890-1972), the creators of radio,
television, and film blackface sitcom characters Amos 'n' Andy.
Language of Material:
English.
This collection contains papers of Freeman Gosden (1899-1982) and Charles Correll (1890-1972), the creators of radio, television,
and film blackface sitcom characters Amos 'n' Andy. The collection includes 50 volumes of scripts for the half-hour
Amos 'n' Andy radio program (1943-1955); 3 volumes of scripts for the
Sam 'n' Henry radio program (1926-1927); and approximately 15 scrapbooks containing clippings, photographs, publicity, and cartoons related
to the
Amos 'n' Andy radio show. Also includes synopses of scripts, lists of story titles, correspondence and miscellaneous scripts for other
radio shows on which Gosden and Correll appeared, including Bob Hope's
Pepsodent Show (1947) and
The Jack Benny Program (1949). In addition, there are plaques, awards, and reviews of the
Amos 'n' Andy television show (1951).
Freeman Gosden (1899-1982), and Charles Correll (1890-1972) were American radio comedians and actors. They began their career
with the 1925 program
Life of the Party where they told jokes, sang, and played music. The duo then created the radio program
Sam 'n' Henry, which is considered by some historians to have been the first situation comedy. In 1928, Gosden and Correll broadcast their
radio program
Amos 'n' Andy, and followed with a feature film,
Check and Double Check, in 1930. The radio program expanded into a television show. Gosden and Correll faced criticism throughout the TV show's
run for their portrayals of black characters through racial stereotypes, which led to its cancellation in 1953, while the
radio program continued until 1960.
Advance notice required for access.
Rights Statement for Archival Description
Finding aid description and metadata are licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.
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.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift, November 29, 1962.
[Box/folder no. or item name], Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll papers, Collection no. 2200, Cinematic Arts Library, USC
Libraries, University of Southern California.
Collection is unprocessed.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Blackface entertainers
Minstrel shows
Radio programs -- Archival resources
Radio scripts
Television comedies -- Archival resources
Amos 'n' Andy (Radio program)
Correll, Charles J., 1890-1972 -- Achives
Gosden, Freeman F., 1899-1982 -- Archives
Box 1, Box 2, Box 3, Box 4, Box 5, Box 6, Box 7, Box 8, Box 9, Box 10, Box 11, Box 12, Box 13, Box 14, Box 15, Box 16, Box 17, Box 18, Box 19, Box 20, Box 21
Unprocessed materials