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Title: Arthur Heinemann Collection
Dates: 1956-1987
Collection Number: WGF-MS-083
Creator/Collector:
Extent: .5 linear feet
Repository:
Writers Guild Foundation Archive
Los Angeles, California 90048
Abstract: The bulk of the Arthur Heinemann collection consists of scripts from television shows and TV Movies on which he worked, such
as Star Trek, Little House on the Prairie, The Father Clements Story, and United States Steel Hour. Also included are several
unproduced teleplays and television episodes written by Heinemann such as Sugar and Snow and a Nat King Cole biopic.
Language of Material: English
Available by appointment only.
The responsibility to secure copyright and publication permission rests with the researcher.
[Identification of item]. Arthur Heinemann Collection. Collection Number: WGF-MS-083. Writers Guild Foundation Archive
Donated by Anne Heinemann on 2/22/2006 and Kathy Altieri 7/7/2018
Biography/Administrative History
Arthur Heinemann was an Emmy-winning television writer best known for his work on Little House on the Prairie and The Father
Clements Story. Heinemann was born on June 17, 1910 in Veladena, Mexico, where his parents were based. After graduating from
Princeton, Heinemann became a freelance writer, having many short stories published in magazines like Boys’ Life, Colliers
and McCall’s. During this time he also worked in the story departments of Paramount and CBS-TV. Heinemann worked with the
Theatre Guild as a story editor and producer on United States Steel Hour. He wrote episodes for many other TV series such
as “Star Trek”, “Bonanza” and “Little House on the Prairie” as well as writing award-winning television movies. He won WGA
and Emmy Awards for the ABC Afterschool Special “The Woman Who Willed a Miracle,” and was nominated a daytime Emmy for “Backwards:
Riddle of Dyslexia” and a WGA Award for “Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry.”
Heinemann died on September 22, 1987 in Santa Monica, CA and is survived by a daughter, and two sons.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Collection is organized into three series.
Series I: Produced Television Scripts 1956-1985, is comprised of produced episodic television scripts from shows including
Bonanza, CBS Schoolbreak Special, Freestyle! Kraft Television Theatre, Life and Times of Grizzly Adams, Little House on the
Prairie, Lucas Tanner, Rafferty, Star Trek, The Virginian, Suspense, and United States Steel Hour. Additionally included are
produced television movies such as Father Clements Story, Woman Who Willed a Miracle, and Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry.
Series II: Unproduced Television Shows and Television Movies, 1975-1987, include TV episodes and movies that were were never
made, such as a Nat King Cole biopic (1984) and the Dr. Allison K. Walker story (1987) which both include audiocassette tapes
and transcripts of interviews with family members.
Series III: Short Stories and Miscellaneous 1936-1941, consists of clippings and magazines with Heinemann’s short stories
from his freelance career, an unpublished book of short stories, and awards memorabilia.
Made-for-TV Movies
Teleplays
Television writers