Arthur O'Connell Papers, 1936-1981

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Summary

Creators:
O'Connell, Arthur, 1908-1981
Abstract:
This collections contains the records of the film career of Arthur J. O'Connell (1908-1981), a major charactor actor in Hollywood from the 1940s through the 1970s.
Extent:
53.0 Boxes
Language:
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Series number, Box and Folder number, Arthur O'Connell Papers, 044, Department of Archives and Special Collections, William H. Hannon Library, Loyola Marymount University.

Background

Scope and content:

The Arthur J. O'Connell collection includes records Arthur O'Connell amassed between 1929 and his death in May of 1981. The source of this material is unknown, although it probably came from him. The exact date this material was donated is also unknown, but based on other records, 1972 is the most plausible date. The records include: photographs, scripts, plaques, correspondence, contracts, financial records, programs, playbills, periodicals, memoranda, agendas and articles. This collection focuses on O'Connell's acting career, and O'Connell's parts in movies, television and theatre are well-documented by the scripts and photographs in the collection. Other topics include: the American National Theatre and Assembly, which O'Connell was President of the Southern California Chapter in 1965 and 1966; O'Connell's work with the USO providing entertainment for troops during the Vietnam war; some personal and professional friendships; and theatre and movie playbills collected by O'Connell from 1936-1969.

An attempt was made to maintain original order wherever feasible. This original order involved the numbering of documents, and documents were filed in ascending numerical order, although this sometimes resulted in material that was not included in this organization. These unnumbered documents were placed at the end of a series.

Biographical / historical:

A native New Yorker, Arthur O'Connell (1908-1981) acted on both the stage, including the Mercury Theater of Orson Welles, and the screen. In the latter venue, he became a capable and well-known character actor and earned two Academy Award nominations, one for "Picnic" (1956), the other for "Anatomy of a Murder" (1959), nominations documented the materials in this collection (see Series 1).

Acquisition information:
Gift of Arthur O'Connell , probably 1972. Accession number: 1995.8.
Processing information:

Kathryn Jigursky, at unknown date, processed the Arthur O'Connell Papers. In 2014, Alvaro González finished processing them. He and Clay Stalls created the EAD collection guide that same year.

Arrangement:

The Arthur O'Connell Papers are arranged in nine series:
Series One: Correspondence
Series Two: Contracts and Legal Documents
Series Three: Financial Records
Series Four: American National Theatre and Academy
Series Five: Scripts
Series Six: Programs and Playbills
Series Seven: Photographs
Series Eight: Periodicals
Series Nine: Plaques, Awards, and Scrapbooks

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open to research under the terms of use of the Department of Archives and Special Collections.

Terms of access:

Materials in the Department of Archives and Special Collections may be subject to copyright. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, Loyola Marymount University does not claim ownership of the copyright of any materials in its collections. The user or publisher must secure permission to publish from the copyright owner. Loyola Marymount University does not assume any responsibility for infringement of copyright or of publication rights held by the original author or artists or his/her heirs, assigns, or executors.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Series number, Box and Folder number, Arthur O'Connell Papers, 044, Department of Archives and Special Collections, William H. Hannon Library, Loyola Marymount University.

Location of this collection:
1 LMU Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90045-2659, US
Contact:
(310) 338-5710
Special.Collections@lmu.edu
Website