Edward Ward papers,
1891-1961
Finding aid prepared by UCLA Library Special Collections staff. Reprocessed in 2015 by Lori Dedeyan; machine- readable finding
aid created by Caroline Cube.
UCLA Library Special Collections
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1575
(310) 825-4988
spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
©2011 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Title: Edward Ward papers
Collection number: PASC-M 16
Contributing Institution:
UCLA Library Special Collections
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
8.0 linear ft.
(5 flat boxes and 6 oversize flat boxes)
Date (bulk): Bulk, 1925-1955
Date (inclusive): 1891-1961
Abstract: This collection contains the manuscript scores of film composer Edward Ward. A large part of the collection consists of conductor's
scores, vocal scores, lyrics, lead sheets and sketches for various films that Ward was involved in. Also included and of possible
interest are Ward's contracts and royalty agreements with film studios, such as Universal, MGM, Warner Bros., and Allied Artists,
and music publishers; cue sheets; and various legal documents. Personal materials include photographs, fan mail, and correspondence.
Physical Location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library Special
Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Language of Materials: Materials are in English.
Creator:
Ward, Edward, 1896-1971
Restrictions on Access
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Library Special
Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library Special Collections. Literary rights, including copyright,
are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright
and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Edward Ward Papers (Collection PASC-M 16). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research
Library, UCLA.
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Gift of Alvin G. Manuel.
Biography
Edward Ward (born April 3, 1896) was a composer and songwriter who worked for various Hollywood film studios in the 1930s
and 1940s. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, he attended the Beethoven Conservatory in his hometown. Ward worked in the music department
at MGM from 1935 to 1940, United Artists from 1940 to 1943, and Universal from 1943 to 1945. Throughout his career, he was
nominated for seven Academy Awards, the last of which was for his best- known work, The Phantom of the Opera (1943). Other
films include South of Pago Pago (1930), Mannequin (1937), The Women (1939), Tanks A Million (1941), and Cheers for Miss Bishop
(1941). He also worked in the MGM music department on films such as Camille (1936) and The Good Earth (1937), and with RKO
Radio Pictures for It's A Wonderful Life (1946). Ward also conducted for the stage; he was involved with the Broadway production
of "The Red Mill" during its entire run from October 1945 to January 1947, and for the London revue "Clowns in Clover". Later
in his career, he served as a film executive. He died on September 26, 1971 in Hollywood, California.
Scope and Content
Collection consists of conductor's scores, vocal scores, lead sheets, in manuscripts or manuscript facsimiles, for films that
Ward worked on, as well as musical sketches, printed sheet music, production notes, cue sheets, correspondence, and photographs.
Also included are contracts and royalty agreements with motion picture studios, such as Universal, MGM, Allied Artists, and
Warner Brothers, and music publishers, as well as legal documentation relating to various court cases and the incorporation
of Ward's own production agency.
Organization and Arrangement
Arranged in the following series:
- Series 1. Film Music
- Series 2. Legal and personal materials.
UCLA Catalog Record ID
Subjects and Indexing Terms
American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada. Professional Musicians, Local 47 (Los Angeles, Calif.).
American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.
Film composers--California--Los Angeles--Archives.
Film composers--United States--Archives.
Series 1. Film music.
Bulk, 1925-1954.
1891-1954.
Scope and Content
This series contains manuscript scores for films that Ward worked on for various studios. They include vocal scores, conductor's
scores, lead sheets, and sketches. Also included are scripts for films, as well as songbooks and works by other composers,
which were used by Ward for research or to build upon.
Box 5, Folder 1
Broadway Serenade (parts).
1939.
Box 5, Folder 2
Cheers For Miss Bishop (vocal scores and lead sheets).
circa 1941.
Box 5, Folders 3-4
The Climax (conductor's scores).
1944.
Box 5, Folder 5
Cobra Woman (conductor's scores).
1943.
Box 5, Folder 6
The Good Earth (conductor's score).
1936.
Box 5, Folder 7
Her Primitive Man (conductor's scores).
1944.
Box 6, Folders 1-9
It Never Rains in Hollywood (vocal scores, lead sheets, sketches, and scripts).
undated.
Scope and Content
Includes: Datin' With the Promised Land; Dream Girl; I'd Even Shine His Shoes; It Never Rains in Hollywood; The One Spot;
Take Hold of My Hand; and There's a Runner in My Stocking.
Box 5, Folder 8
Kit Carson (lead sheets and vocal scores).
circa 1940.
Box 5, Folder 9
Maytime (vocal scores).
1936.
Box 5, Folder 10
Men of Texas (conductor's scores).
1942.
Box 7, Folders 8-9
My Son! My Son! (conductor's score, parts and sketches).
circa 1940.
Box 5, Folder 11
The Merry Widow (sketches).
1934.
Box 5, Folder 12
Naughty Marietta (conductor's scores).
circa 1935.
Box 5, Folder 13
The Phantom of the Opera (vocal scores).
1943.
Box 7, Folders 1-9
South of Pago Pago (conductor's scores, full scores and sketches).
circa 1940.
Scope and Content
Includes: After the Toast, The Altar, Bottle of Rum, Carry You Away, The Clock, Coo Coo's Death, Carry You Away, and Ulili
(Drum) Routine.
Boxes 1-4
The Singing Bandit (conductor's scores, vocal scores and lead sheets).
undated.
Scope and Content
Includes: Bells of Monterey; Dance- Mexico; Gold; Heart Strings; I Can't Stop; Just One Love; Love is Whispering; More and
More; Opening- Act I (Fiesta); Ride Caballeros; Susanna Entrance; and Sacramento Packet.
Box 5, Folder 14
These Glamour Girls (conductor's scores).
1939.
Box 10, Folder 1
Songs: Cubana (vocal scores).
undated.
Box 10, Folder 2
Songs: Hold On To Love (vocal scores).
undated.
Box 10, Folder 3
Songs: I'll Be There With You (vocal scores).
undated.
Box 10, Folder 4
Songs: Song of Steel (vocal scores).
undated.
Box 10, Folder 5
Songs written with Rex Ford (sketches, lyrics sheets, scores and contracts).
1953-1954.
Scope and Content
Includes: Sam the Softshoe Man, Where Were You, and others.
Box 10, Folder 6
Song sketches.
undated.
Scope and Content
Includes: Breakin' Up a Rhythm; Goodnight, Sweet Princess; Hum Sumpin' (Hum Something); Kill That Cat!; My Estate; Happy Landings;
Pinky Poo; Remember Me?; Totem Pole Headache; When I'm With You; Why Tomorrow?; With You; and other untitled manuscripts.
Box 10, Folder 7
Published numbers.
1925-1942.
Scope and Content
Includes songs from Broadway Serenade (1939), Fiesta (1942), Kit Carson (1940), Shopworn Angel (1938), and The Women (1939).
Box 10, Folder 8
Script: Forty- Five Minutes from Broadway.
1940s.
Box 10, Folder 9
Script: Sound Your 'A'.
undated.
Box 10, Folder 10
Script: The Wayward Bride.
1949.
Box 10, Folder 11
Unlabeled cue sheet.
undated.
Box 11
Research: published music by other composers.
1891-1940s.
Scope and Content
Includes songbooks of Brazilian, Hungarian, Latin American, Mexican, and Polish popular songs, as well as individual works
(largely compositions for violin and piano). Also includes a book: Frank Skinner's New Method for Orchestra Scoring.
Series 2. Legal and personal materials.
1925-1961.
Scope and Content
This series contains Ward's personal and professional documents. Professional documents include composition inventories, cue
sheets for films, and contracts with film studios, production agencies, and music publishers. Motion picture agreements include
Universal Pictures, MGM, Warner Brothers, Hal Roach Studios, RKO Radio Pictures, Allied Artists Productions, Richard A. Rowland
Productions, and Edward Small Productions. The legal documents pertain to court cases for both personal and professional matters,
and are from his dossier at his lawyer Thomas Morris's office. Included are the details of his royalty agreements with various
publishers, as well as suits involving various entities, such as the American Society of Composers and Publishers (ASCAP).
Personal materials include photographs, fan mail, music written for Ward, notes on a biography, and an painting on board.
Box 8, Folder 1
Composition list and cue sheets.
1942-1945.
Box 8, Folder 2
Motion Picture Agreements.
1929-1949.
Box 8, Folder 3
Music Publishers' Contracts.
1925-1941.
Box 8, Folders 4-9
Legal documents for personal and professional court cases.
1939-1954.
Box 8, Folder 10
Ward Agency documents.
1946.
Box 8, Folder 11
Mounted score: "Dedicated to Edward on His 450th Anniversary".
1936 April 3.
Box 8, Folder 12
Mounted score: "You're A Horse's Nether Extremity".
undated.
Box 8, Folder 13
Painting: "Rehearsal" by Blewitt.
1946 May 14.
Box 9, Folder 1
Proposal for MGM Orchestra World Tour.
undated.
Box 9, Folder 2
ASCAP mailer.
1958 January.
Box 9, Folder 3
Boxoffice award for Best Picture of the Month- Boys Town.
1938 September.
Box 9, Folder 4
Notes on the Life of Edward Ward.
undated.
Box 9, Folders 5-6
Fan mail and song title requests for "Phantom of the Opera".
1943-1944.
Box 9, Folder 7
Photographs.
1930s-1940s.
Scope and Content
Includes photographs of Ward with Irene Bordoni and others. Also includes signed headshots addressed to Ward from Buster Crabb,
Nelson Eddie, Frank Faye, Jack LaRue, Ted Lewis, Charles Collins and Dorothy Stone.
Box 9, Folder 8
Issues of Los Angeles Examiner about The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich.
1961 April.
