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Morse (Carlton E.) papers
PA Mss 166
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Title: Carlton E. Morse papers
Identifier/Call Number: PA Mss 166
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections
Physical Description:
15 Linear Feet;
(16 boxes: 13 record boxes, 2 document boxes, 1 flat box)
Creator:
Morse, Carlton E. (1901-1993)
Date (inclusive): 1930-1987
Date (bulk): 1930-1957
Abstract: The Carlton E. Morse Papers of the American Radio Archives (ARA) consists of 16 boxes of scripts for radio and television
series, as well as memorabilia on Morse's career and production documents.
Physical Location: Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library.
The collection is open for research.
Property rights to the collection and physical objects belong to the Regents of the University of California acting through
the Department of Special Research Collections at the UCSB Library. All applicable literary rights, including copyright to
the collection and physical objects, are protected under Chapter 17 of the U.S. Copyright Code and are retained by the creator
and the copyright owner, heir(s), or assigns.
All requests to reproduce, quote from, or otherwise reuse collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Department
of Special Research Collections at UCSB at special@ucsb.edu. Consent is given on behalf of the Regents of the University of
California acting through the Department of Special Research Collections at UCSB as the owner of the physical items and is
not intended to include or imply permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright
owner, heir(s), or assigns. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the
copyright owner or their assigns for permission to publish where the UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
[Identification of Item], Carlton E. Morse Papers, PA Mss 166. Department of Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara
Library, University of California, Santa Barbara
This collection forms part of the American Radio Archives (ARA), which documents the early history of broadcasting, with an
emphasis on California. The ARA was formerly housed at the Thousand Oaks Public Library and was owned and administered by
the Thousand Oaks Library Foundation. It was transferred to the UCSB Library in 2021.
Carlton E. Morse was born in Jennings, Louisiana on June 4, 1901, but he and his family relocated to a fruit ranch in Talent,
Oregon in 1906. When Morse turned 16 he moved to Sacramento where he finished high school and then attended the University
of California from 1919-1922, but never graduated.
From 1922-1928, Morse was a journalist for many newspaper forums including the
Sacramento Union, the
San Francisco Illustrated Daily Herald,
The Seattle Times,
Vancouver Columbian,
Portland Oregonian and the
San Francisco Bulletin. After his career writing for various newspapers, Morse brought scripts to an interview with NBC and was ultimately hired
and began his radio script writing career, scripting
House of Myths. He continued to write mystery scripts for shows like
The Witch of Endor,
The City of the Dead,
Captain Post: Crime Specialist,
The Game Called Murder and
Dead Men Prowl. In 1932 Morse encountered his magnum opus in the success of his show
One Man's Family and followed that up with another successful show,
I Love a Mystery in 1939.
As the "Golden Age of Radio" came to an end Morse transitioned to writing television scripts where he brought
One Man's Family to the television screen and transitioned his radio show
Slice of Life to television with a new title,
Mixed Doubles.
Morse had lived in Sacramento, California until his death on May 24, 1993.
The Carlton E. Morse Papers consists of 16 boxes or 15 linear feet of material pertaining to Morse's career as a script writer.
A majority of the collection consists of scripts for radio shows;
One Man's Family,
I Love a Mystery,
Slice of Life,
Family Skeleton,
Adventures by Morse,
All Good Things Begin at Home,
Barbary Coast Nights,
Capt. Post: Crime Specialist,
China Town Squad,
His Honor the Barber,
I Love Adventure,
Mixed Doubles, and
Timothy John. Included with the scripts are notes, outlines, newspaper clippings, correspondence and promotional material pertaining to
these shows. There also includes some personal correspondence and family photographs. Artifacts in this collection include
awards for the show
One Man's Family and personal distinguished accomplishments. There are also three 12" discs that have recordings of two episodes of
One Man's Family and an interview with Carlton Morse.
The materials in this collection are arranged into four series by type. Series 1: Radio Scripts; Series 2: Television Script;
Series 3: Other Material; Series 4: Sound Recordings.
Forms part of the American Radio Archives (ARA).
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Radio writers -- California -- 20th century -- Archives
Television writers -- California -- 20th century -- Archives
Radio scripts
Screenplays
Personal correspondence
Morse, Carlton E. (1901-1993) -- Archives