Finding aid for the Helen and George Ford papers 2209
Diann Benti
USC Libraries Cinematic Arts Library
2021 December
Doheny Memorial Library G4
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, California 90089-0185
ctlibarc@usc.edu
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Cinematic Arts Library
Title: Helen and George Ford papers
Creator:
Ford, George D.
Creator:
Ford, Helen, 1894-1982
Identifier/Call Number: 2209
Identifier/Call Number: 613
Physical Description:
3.75 Linear Feet
4 boxes + 1 oversize folder
Date (inclusive): 1812-1982
Abstract: This collection contains the papers of American stage and film actress Helen Ford (1894-1982) and her husband, theatrical
manager George Ford (1879-1974), with the bulk dating from the 1920s to 1950s. Materials include press clippings, playbills,
photographs, and scrapbooks chiefly reflecting Helen Ford's stage acting career, as well as play scripts written by George
Ford and others, two manuscripts by George Ford, and copies of his book "These Were Actors."
Language of Material:
English
.
Conditions Governing Access
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.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Provenance unknown.
Biographical note on Helen Ford
Helen Ford (1894-1982) began acting as a child in New York. She acted in films in the 1920s before returning to the stage
in the late 1920s and 1930s. She appeared in small roles in movies and televisions from the late 1940s into the 1970s. She
was married to theatrical manager George Ford (1879-1974).
Biographical note on George Ford
George Ford (1879-1974) managed theater companies and concert tours from the early 1900s to the 1960s. He wrote a book, "These
Were Actors," on the history of English acting families. He was married to actress Helen Ford (1894-1982).
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder no. or item name], Helen and George Ford papers, Collection no. 2209, Cinematic Arts Library, USC Libraries, University
of Southern California.
Scope and Contents
This collection contains the papers of American stage and film actress Helen Ford (1894-1982) and her husband, theatrical
manager George Ford (1879-1974), with the bulk dating from the 1920s to 1950s. Materials include press clippings, playbills,
photographs, and scrapbooks chiefly reflecting Helen Ford's stage acting career, as well as play scripts written by George
Ford and others, two manuscripts by George Ford, and copies of his book "These Were Actors" (Library Publishers, 1955). Other
items include a printing plate for Helen Ford, an 1812 London playbill, and a theater account book for the 1921-1922 season.
Conditions Governing Use
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.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Actors -- United States -- 20th century -- Archival resources
Theater -- United States -- 20th century -- Archival resources
Photographs
Clippings
Plays (performing arts compositions)
Scrapbooks
Ford, George D. -- Archives
Ford, Helen, 1894-1982 -- Archives
Box 1, Folder 2-9
Helen Ford play clippings
Scope and Contents
Includes clippings for the plays Champagne, Sec; The Chimes of Normandy; A Church Mouse; Coquette; Dearest Enemy; The Patsy;
Tonight or Never; and some miscellaneous plays.
Box 3, Folder 1
Helen Ford publicity and miscellaneous
Box 1, Folder 11-12
Helen Ford publicity photographs
Box 1, Folder 13
Helen Ford miscellaneous photographs
Box 1, Folder 14
Play photographs, identified
Box 1, Folder 15
Play photographs, unidentified
Box 1, Folder 17
Miscellaneous photographs
Box 4, Folder 1-2
Oversize Helen Ford photographs
Box 3, Folder 2
Theater account book, 1921-22 season
1921-1922
Box 3, Folder 10
Die Fledermaus (Lyrics by Robert A. Simon)
Box 3, Folder 11
The Love Apple (by Robert Nathan and Siegfried Herzig)
Box 3, Folder 12
Peggy Ann (by Herbert Fields)
Box 3, Folder 13
Southern Comfort (by Katherine and Dale Eunson
Box 3, Folder 14
Unidentified play with lead character John Middleton
Box 3, Folder 15
A Fallen Star (ballet by George Ford)
Box 3, Folder 18
Helen Ford scrapbook
ca. 1920s
Box 4
Helen Ford scrapbook
circa 1910s-1940s
Oversize-folder 1
Loose scrapbook pages (miscellaneous)
Box 3, Folder 19
Miscellaneous printed items
Scope and Contents
Contains signed copy of "My Memoirs" booklet by Dr. George D. Haage, a brochure for Lakewood summer theatre colony, a program
for the Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers Ninth Annual Benefit (1953), and a framed playbill for "The Lord
of the Manor" at the Theatre Royal, Covent-Garden, November 2, 1812.
Box 3, Folder 20
Helen Ford printing plate
Box 3, Folder 21, Box 2
These Were Actors: The Story of the Chapmans and the Drakes (by George D. Ford)
1955
Scope and Contents
Box 3 contains one copy of the book and Box 2 contains six duplicate copies.
