Finding aid for the Billie Burke papers 2114
Diann Benti
USC Libraries Cinematic Arts Library
2010
Doheny Memorial Library G4
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, California 90089-0185
ctlibarc@usc.edu
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Cinematic Arts Library
Title: Billie Burke papers
Creator:
Burke, Billie, 1885-1970
Identifier/Call Number: 2114
Physical Description:
6 Linear Feet
6 boxes
Date (inclusive): 1907-1955
Abstract: This collection contains the papers of American actress Billie Burke (1885-1970) including 50 radio scripts, 3 television
scripts, lobby cards for three films (1917-1919), press clippings, three scrapbooks, and photographs including personal photographs
and 240 production stills from films.
Language of Material:
English.
Conditions Governing Access
Advance notice required for access.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Patricia Stephenson, June 1974.
Biographical / Historical
Billie Burke (1885-1970) was an American actress known for her theater work on Broadway, in radio, and in films. She was nominated
for a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for her performance in Merrily We Live (1938) and performed as Glinda the Good
Witch of the North in the film The Wizard of Oz (1939). She was married to Broadway producer Florenz Ziegfield Jr. and they
had one daughter: Patricia Ziegfeld Stephenson (1916-2008).
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder no. or item name], Billie Burke papers, Collection no. 2114, Cinematic Arts Library, USC Libraries, University
of Southern California.
Processing Information
Some processing by USC students in 2019 as part of the "Piloting a Shared Practice for Accessible Archival Descriptions" Dean's
Challenge Grant. Additional description by Diann Benti in 2021.
Scope and Contents
This collection contains the papers of American actress Billie Burke (1885-1970) including 50 radio scripts, 3 television
scripts, lobby cards for three films (1917-1919), press clippings, three scrapbooks, and photographs including personal photographs
and 240 production stills from films. Among the photographs are four studio photographs of director Dorothy Arzner (Box 1,
Folder 5). There is also a box of photocopied newspaper clippings added to the collection by Library staff in 2008.
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.
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
Actors -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archival resources
Motion picture actors and actresses -- United States -- Archival resources
Motion pictures -- Archival resources
Radio -- Archival resources
Clippings
Film stills
Lobby cards
Photographs
Scrapbooks
Burke, Billie, 1885-1970 -- Archives
Arzner, Dorothy, 1900-1979 -- Photographs
Box 1, Folder 2
Arms and the Girl (6 cards)
1917
Box 1, Folder 2
Good Gracious Annabelle (4 cards)
1919
Box 1, Folder 2
The Misleading Widow (3 cards)
1919
Film stills and clippings
Box 2, Folder 7
Arms and the Girl
1917
Scope and Contents
Film Clippings
Box 2, Folder 8
Away Goes Prudence
1920
Scope and Contents
Film Clippings/photos
Box 2, Folder 9
Dinner at Eight
1933
Scope and Contents
Film Clippings/photos
Box 2, Folder 10
Eternally Yours
1939
Scope and Contents
Film Photo
Box 2, Folder 11
Eve's Daughter
1918
Scope and Contents
Film Clippings
Box 2, Folder 12
The Frisky Mrs. Johnson
1920
Scope and Contents
Film Clippings
Box 2, Folder 13
Gloria's Romance (Serial)
1916
Scope and Contents
Film Clippings/photos
Box 2, Folder 14
Good Gracious Annabelle
1919
Scope and Contents
Film Clippings/photos
Box 2, Folder 15
In Pursuit of Polly
1918
Scope and Contents
Film Clippings/photos
Box 2, Folder 16
The Land of Promise
1917
Scope and Contents
Film Clippings
Box 2, Folder 17
Let's Get a Divorce
1918
Scope and Contents
Film Clippings
Box 2, Folder 18
Make-Believe Wife
1918
Scope and Contents
Film Clippings
Box 2, Folder 19
Merrily We Live
1938
Scope and Contents
Film Photo
Box 2, Folder 20
The Misleading Widow
1919
Scope and Contents
Film Clippings/photos
Box 2, Folder 21
Navy Blue and Gold
1937
Scope and Contents
Film Photo
Box 2, Folder 22
Peggy
1916
Scope and Contents
Film Clippings/photos
Box 2, Folder 23
Sadie Love
1919
Scope and Contents
Film Clippings/photos
Box 2, Folder 24
She Couldn't Take It
1935
Scope and Contents
Film Photo
Box 3, Folder 1
Wanted - A Husband
1919
Scope and Contents
Film Clippings/photos
Box 3, Folder 2
The Wizard of Oz
1936
Scope and Contents
Film Photo
Box 3, Folder 3
The Young In Heart
1938
Scope and Contents
Film Photo
Box 3, Folder 4
Film Photos
Scope and Contents
Unidentified
Caesar's Wife play clippings
1919
Scope and Contents
Play Clippings
Box 3, Folder 6
The Bob Hope Show
1953
Scope and Contents
5 scripts
Box 3, Folder 7
The Chase and Sarborn Program (The Charlie McCarthy Show)
1947-02-16
Scope and Contents
2 scripts
Box 3, Folder 8
The Eddie Carter Show (1 of 2)
1948
Scope and Contents
6 scripts
Box 3, Folder 9
The Eddie Carter Show (2 of 2)
1948
Scope and Contents
4 scripts
Box 3, Folder 10
Fashions in Rations
1943-12-11
Scope and Contents
1 script
Box 3, Folder 11
The Gay Mrs. Featherstore
1945
Scope and Contents
10 scripts
Box 3, Folder 12
The Gay Mrs. Featherstore
1945
Scope and Contents
10 scripts
Box 4, Folder 1
The Martin And Lewis Show
1949-08-23
Scope and Contents
3 scripts
Box 4, Folder 2
The Pepsodent Show (Starring Bob Hope)
1938-10-23
Scope and Contents
1 script
Box 4, Folder 3
Rudy Vallee Presents "The Drere Show"
1945
Scope and Contents
6 scripts
Box 4, Folder 4
Salute to WOR (The Mutual Broadcasting System)
1947-02-22
Scope and Contents
1 script
Box 4, Folder 5
This Is Show Business
Scope and Contents
1 script
Box 4, Folder 6
The Best of Broadway (Arsenic And Old Lace)
1955-01-05
Scope and Contents
1 script
Box 4, Folder 7
The Eddie Cantor Comedy Theatre
Scope and Contents
1 script
Box 4, Folder 8
Texaco Star Theatre
1949-09-27
Scope and Contents
1 script
Box 2, Folder 2
Photographs from press clippings
Box 1, Folder 3
5 pieces: "Only Yesterday"; "Young in Heart"; "Love is to Trust"; "Blue Bonnet"; "Penseroso"
Box 1, Folder 5
Oversize Photographs
Scope and Contents
Includes oversized images of Burke and 4 studio photographs of director Dorothy Arzner.
Box 5
Billie Burke Press Clippings
1908-1909
Scope and Contents
Scrapbook containing press clippings, programs, correspondence, and ephemera from 1908-1909.
Box 1, Folder 6
Scrapbook of magazines photographs
circa 1908
Box 5
Scrapbook of theater programs from New York and Los Angeles
1930-1940
Box 6
Photocopied research material
Scope and Contents
Photocopied documents related to Billie Burke that were added to the collection by Library staff in July 2008. Documents include
Los Angeles Times articles and articles from other digtized newspapers.
