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Finding Aid to the Samson DeBrier Papers, 1948-1995
Coll2014.005
Coll2014.005
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Table of contents
Title: Samson DeBrier papers
Identifier/Call Number: Coll2014.005
Contributing Institution:
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
1.2 linear feet.
1 archive box + 1 archive carton.
Date (inclusive): 1948-1995
Abstract: Correspondence, notes, photographs, clippings, biographical material, and other personal papers, 1948-1995, from actor, artist,
and raconteur Samson DeBrier. After working as an actor in the 1910s and 1920s, most notably in the film
Salome, the eccentric DeBrier remained in Hollywood and literati circles throughout his life and was known for hosting salons with
creative locals in his Hollywood home. The bulk of the collection is correspondence sent to de Brier from 1954 to 1995.
creator:
DeBrier, Samson, -1995
Samson DeBrier was born on March 18, 1909 and grew up in New Jersey. He moved to Hollywood, where he worked as a silent film
actor, most notably in Alla Nazimova's
Salome (1923). During this time, he also lived in Paris and fell in with the literati circles after befriending Andre Gide. Being
independently wealthy from a real estate investment, DeBrier eventually settled in a Hollywood bungalow in the 1950s where
he remained for the rest of his life. He was known for hosting art salons at his home, attracting the likes of Jack Nicholson,
Anais Nin, Steve McQueen, Paul Mazursky, and Dorothy Parker, among others. In 1954, both DeBrier and his Hollywood bungalow
were featured in Kenneth Anger's
Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome. Samson DeBrier died on April 1, 1995.
The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the ONE Archivist. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives at USC Libraries 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.
The correspondence files in this collection were donated by Jean Ferro, September 13, 2006. The photograph file was donated
by Kenneth Anger, May 10, 1995. Donor and date of the remaining papers are unknown.
[Box/folder #, or item name] Samson DeBrier Papers, Coll2014-005, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University
of Southern California.
Collection processed by Loni Shibuyama with assistance from Sean Wejebe, February 2014.
The collection comprises correspondence, notes, photographs, clippings, biographical material, and other personal papers,
1948-1995, of actor and artist Samson DeBrier. The bulk of the collection is correspondence, mostly Christmas cards, sent
to DeBrier from 1954 to 1995. Also included is one biographical file of photocopied articles and photographs documenting de
Brier throughout his life.
Correspondence is listed first. The remaining folders are arranged alphabetically.
Separated to the ONE periodicals collection:
Spartacus Magazine, No. 5 (November 1982).
Allan R. Ellenberger collection on Ramon Novarro, Coll2008-050, ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives, Los Angeles, California.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Correspondence
Gay actors
Gay artists