Collection Guide
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DeMille (Cecil B.) collection
2365
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Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Cinematic Arts Library
Title: Cecil B. DeMille collection
Creator:
DeMille, Cecil B. (Cecil Blount), 1881-1959
Identifier/Call Number: 2365
Physical Description:
20.79 Linear Feet
11 boxes
Date (inclusive): 1891-1975
Abstract: This collection chiefly consists of scripts, awards, scrapbooks, and a small group of papers of American film director and
producer Cecil B. DeMille (1881-1959).
Language of Material:
English.
Advance notice required for access.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Received from various sources. Part of the collection was received as a gift, circa 1970. The awards were the gift of Cecilia
Presley in 1997.
Cecil B. DeMille (1881-1959) was an American film producer and director. He was a pioneer filmmaker in Hollywood making both
silent and sound films including "Samson and Delilah" (1949), "The Greatest Show on Earth" (1953), "The Ten Commandments"
(1956). "The Greatest Show on Earth" won the Academy Award for best motion picture.
[Box/folder no. or item name], Cecil B. DeMille collection, Collection no. 2365, Cinematic Arts Library, USC Libraries, University
of Southern California.
A portion of this collection was previously cataloged as Collection #99 and Collection #2099.
This collection chiefly consists of scripts, awards, scrapbooks, and a small group of papers of American film director and
producer Cecil B. DeMille (1881-1959). In addition, there is a set of reviews and a program for the play "The Lost Paradise"
(1891) written by DeMille's father Henry C. DeMille.
Personal materials include a notebook with a 1920 appraisal of DeMille's personal property in his study at the Famous Players-Lasky
Studio; a photograph album of the Vermejo Club ranch, DeMille's estate in New Mexico; genealogical notes; and some miscellaneous
items.
DeMille's film work is represented by more than 80 shooting scripts, often with handwritten notes, as well as some film musical
scores; 17 stereopticon cards with stills from "Fool's Paradise" (1921); a handbook for "Samson and Delilah" (1948); scrapbooks
of photographs and clippings related to the French release of "The Crusades" (1935), the world premiere of "Union Pacific"
(1939) in Omaha, Nebraska, and the Italian publicity campaign for "The Greatest Show on Earth" (1953); and printed materials
and 6 stills for "The Ten Commandments" (1956).
There are approximately 80 awards and certificates for DeMille, as well as one for his wife, Constance DeMille, from a variety
of organizations related to his movie career and philanthropy.
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.
Rights Statement for Archival Description
Finding aid description and metadata are licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Motion pictures -- Archival resources
Motion picture producers and directors -- Archival resources
Ranches -- New Mexico -- Photographs
Motion pictures -- Production and direction -- Archival resources
Photographs
Scrapbooks
DeMille, Cecil B. (Cecil Blount), 1881-1959 -- Archives