The Jessica Klein Collection, 1981-2006, consists of scripts and other material related to Klein's career as a TV writer and producer. The collection includes scripts and correspondence related to Beverly Hills, 90210, Capitol, and Truth or Consequences and also includes scripts, research, correspondence, and contracts for unrealized projects. Much of the work was co-written with her husband at the time, Steve Wasserman.

Born March 14, 1956 in New York City, Jessica Klein graduated from Harvard University with a degree in psychology and social relations. She began her entertainment career working on Children's Television Workshop productions such as Sesame Street, 3-2-1 Contact and The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. Klein began her writing career in daytime television, serving as Head Writer on soap opera As the World Turns during the 1984-1985 season, which garnered the staff a Daytime Emmy nomination. She was a writer on Capitol during the 1986-1987 season and worked on the revival of the game show Truth or Consequences in 1987. During this period and for much of her career, she worked with her husband at the time, Steve Wasserman (1952-1998). Moving into primetime, the pair wrote on Mancuso FBI, Northern Exposure and Gabriel's Fire. From 1991 to 1997, Klein and Wasserman served as writers and then executive producers on Beverly Hills 90210. They were in development on a pilot at MTV, Youth in Revolt, at the time of Wasserman’s death in 1998 from a sailing accident. Klein went on to co-create Saturday morning teen series Just Deal with Thomas Lynch and worked as producer and writer with Lynch on another teen series, Scout’s Safari. The latter series earned her a 2004 Daytime Emmy nomination. In 2013, she served as head writer on the final year of soap opera One Life to Live. Klein served on the WGA Board of Directors from 1996-1997. She passed away on July 13, 2022.

7 linear ft., 7 boxes

The responsibility to secure copyright and publication permission rests with the patron.

This collection contains unprocessed material with access restrictions. The majority of the collection is stored offsite. One week advance notice is required for retrieval.