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Robert Campbell Collection
C35  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Descriptive Summary
  • Access
  • Publication Rights
  • Preferred Citation
  • Acquisition Information
  • Biography/Administrative History
  • Scope and Content of Collection
  • Indexing Terms
  • Additional collection guides

  • Descriptive Summary

    Title: Robert Campbell Collection
    Dates: circa 1960-2003
    Collection Number: C35
    Creator/Collector: Campbell, Robert Wright, 1927-2000
    Extent: 8 archival boxes and 2 folders
    Repository: Harrison Memorial Library
    Carmel-by-the-Sea, California 93921
    Abstract: This collection contains manuscripts and poetry from author Robert Campbell (1927-2000), also known as R. Wright Campbell, along with photographs of Campbell near the end of his life, newspaper articles about his activities (1997-2000), and obituaries and memorials (2000-2003). Campbell wrote 27 novels, 14 movie scripts and 4 stage plays, and was a scriptwriter for 10 television series. He also is credited with coining the term “La-La Land” for Southern California.
    Language of Material: English

    Access

    Materials are open for research.

    Publication Rights

    The Henry Meade Local History Room, Harrison Memorial Library does not hold copyright to these items. Permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder by the user.

    Preferred Citation

    Robert Campbell Collection. Harrison Memorial Library

    Acquisition Information

    Some materials donated by Laura Newmark.

    Biography/Administrative History

    Robert Campbell was born June 9, 1927, in Newark New Jersey. He studied at the Pratt institute in Brooklyn, New York, where he earned a certificate in illustration in 1947. Campbell worked as a freelance artist and served in the Army during the Korean War, after which he began writing film scripts in Hollywood. Campbell was the author of 27 novels, 19 of them mysteries; 14 movie scripts; and four stage plays; and a scriptwriter for 10 television series, including “Maverick” and “Marcus Welby, M.D.” His writing career was a roller coaster of early success and long periods of doldrums. In 1957 his screenplay for “The Man With a Thousand Faces” was nominated for an Academy Award and his novel “The Spy Who Sat and Waited” was nominated for a National Book Award in 1976. Many of his screenplays were written for Roger Corman, including Corman’s first film as a director, “Five Guns West” in 1955. He also published under the name “R. Wright Campbell. Campbell is credited with coining the term “La-La Land” for Southern California, with the sale of the first “Whistler detective novel, “In La-la Land We Trust,” also published in 1986. He moved to Carmel in the 1970’s and lived there until his death on September 21, 2000.

    Scope and Content of Collection

    Manuscripts and poetry. 1 folder of photographs, and one of clippings and pamphlets.

    Indexing Terms

    Campbell, Robert Wright, 1927-2000
    Carmel, Calif.
    Author

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