The Bill Batty papers spans the years 1928-1989 and encompasses 7 linear feet. The collection contains clippings, correspondence in response to Batty's fan letter inquiries, and two scrapbooks. Photographs and slides document Batty's trips to Hollywood between 1948 and 1989. Included are candid on-set photographs and autographed photographs.

William R. Batty was a film fan and theater enthusiast in Middletown, Connecticut, who made a living in the marine hardware business. His friendship with actress Sue Carol, to whom he first wrote in 1927, spurred in a life-long interest in Hollywood personalities. In 1948, Batty was a guest at the Hollywood home of Carol and her husband, Alan Ladd. Over the next forty years, Batty made more than two dozen excursions to Los Angeles to mingle with Carol and other actors. He often met Hollywood actors during the summer season at the Norwich and Ivoryton playhouses in Connecticut and would later seek them out in California, along with studio publicists, such as Frank Neill at 20th Century-Fox. Batty's writings about the trips appeared in local Connecticut newspapers.

4 linear feet of papers. 3 linear feet of photographs.

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.

Available by appointment only.