The Howard Hughes collection spans the years 1927-1957 and encompasses 10 linear feet. The collection contains publicity material, such as press releases, advertising and publicity clippings, pressbooks, and photographs. The bulk of the material relates to THE OUTLAW (1943), for which there are also drawings, MAD WEDNESDAY (1950), and VENDETTA (1950). The photograph series consists of 11,165 photographic prints, negatives, proof sheets, frame enlargements, and color transparencies. There are scene, portrait, advertising, publicity, off-camera and candid, openings and exploitation, set reference, production design drawing, location reference, wardrobe reference, costume design drawing, poster art, and special effects photographs for films from 1927 to 1957. The largest file pertains to THE OUTLAW and consists of 3,535 items. There are considerable photographs of Jane Russell in the early 1940s. Note that while the majority of the collection is related to the two films produced by Hughes Productions, the collection also contains material on the eight Howard Hughes films purchased by Universal in the 1970s.

Howard Hughes was an American producer and director active as a producer in Hollywood from 1925 to 1932 and from 1939 to 1955. In 1925 he formed the Caddo Company for which he produced nine features. Hughes owned RKO from 1948 to 1955. Hughes Productions, established around 1942, produced only two films, THE OUTLAW (1943) and VENDETTA (1950). Universal acquired eight Howard Hughes films from the Summa Corporation, a company owned by Hughes, circa 1974.

2 linear feet of papers. 8 linear feet of photographs.

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