Janet Leigh Collection

Michael Wurtz
Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections
University of the Pacific Library
3601 Pacific Ave.
Stockton, CA 95211
Phone: (209) 946-2404
Fax: (209) 946-2942
URL: http://library.pacific.edu/ha
© 2008
University of the Pacific. All rights reserved.

Janet Leigh Collection

Collection number: MSS 320

Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections

University of the Pacific Library

Stockton, California
Processed by/Additional Processing by:
Michael Wurtz/Mia Watts
Date Completed:
2009/2018
Encoded by:
Michael Wurtz/Mia Watts
© 2008 University of the Pacific. All rights reserved.

Descriptive Summary

Title: Janet Leigh collection
Dates: 1947-2004
Collection number: MSS 320
Collector: Leigh, Janet
Collection Size: 14.5 linear foot
Repository: University of the Pacific. Library. Holt-Atherton Dept. of Special Collections
Stockton, California 95211
Abstract: The majority of the collection is material that decorated Leigh's home. Including: photographs, movie posters, correspondence, advertisements and magazine covers, and recognitions and awards.
Physical location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the library's online catalog.
Languages: Languages represented in the collection: English

Access

Collection open for research.

Publication Rights

Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections 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 by the researcher.

Preferred Citation

Janet Leigh collection. MSS 320. Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library.

Biography / Administrative History

Jeanette Helen Morrison was born in Merced, California on July 6, 1927 and died Janet Leigh Brandt in Los Angeles on October 3, 2004. She started at the College of the Pacific in September of 1943 and studied music and psychology (music therapy), joined Alpha Theta Tau, and was involved in student government. She married a fellow student, Stanley Reames, in the fall of 1945. The Reameses left Pacific in the spring semester of 1946 and moved to Los Angeles - the same year that actress Norma Shearer discovered Jeanette. She soon signed a contract with MGM, changed her name to Janet Leigh, and debuted in The Romance of Rosy Ridge. She later married Tony Curtis (1951-1962) and Robert Brandt (1962-2004).
Leigh is most famous for the shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho. She was nominated for an Academy Award for best supporting actress and won the Golden Globe Award for best supporting actress in 1960. She also appears in dozens of other films including Touch of Evil, Manchurian Candidate , and Bye Bye Birdie.
Her daughter, Jamie Lee Curtis, attended the University of the Pacific briefly (fall semester 1976 and winter session 1977) before her film career took off.
Throughout the years Leigh focused her energy on helping numerous charitable causes, including SHARE, Inc. (women who raise funds for the "developmentally disabled, abused and neglected children as well as medical research for all forms of developmental disabilities") and the Motion Picture and Television Fund (assists those in the industry with limited means). Leigh received an honorary degree from the University of the Pacific in May of 2004.

Scope and Content of Collection

The majority of the collection are materials that decorated Leigh's home. Following her death in 2004, her heirs donated her materials to the University of the Pacific. Her Golden Globe award and items from the collection are on exhibit in the Holt-Atherton reading room. The remainder of her personal papers were donated by her heirs in 2013.
The Janet Leigh Collection consists of four series: photographs, movie posters, correspondence, advertisements and magazine covers, and recognitions and awards.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
University of the Pacific
Motion picture actors and actresses -- United States
Morrison, Jeanette Helen
Brandt, Janet Leigh
Reames, Jeanette

Related Material

"Leigh, Janet" and "Curtis, Jamie Lee" student folders in the University Archives
Awards and posters at the Janet Leigh Pacific Theatre on the University of the Pacific campus

 

Series 1: Biographical Information and Correspondence

 

Box 1: Biographical Information

 

Bio Information

 

"Vikings" Journal: May 14-July 31, 1952

 

"Vikings" Journal: August 1-October 20, 1957

 

Life magazine, June 25, 1951 (Leigh on cover)

 

• Two books owned by “Jeanette Reames” and “Jeanette Morrison” likely while at Pacific

 

Box 2: Correspondence and Related Materials

 

Birthday & Anniversary Correspondence: 1992

 

Interview of Lillian Sydney: May 13, 1996

 

Various Speeches

 

Janet Leigh & Robert Brandt Wedding Congratulations: Oct. 1962

 

FBI Case Information 1994 & 1997

 

Marilyn Monroe book by Zolotow. Signed by author to “Janet and Tony”

 

Shakespeare in London signed by Janet Leigh

 

Box 3: Correspondence 1950s-1990s

 

Correspondence: 1955-1994

 

Correspondence: 1970s-1990s

 

Recreation Committee: 1964

 

Peace Corps. Correspondence: 1964-1966

 

Lillian Sydney Correspondence: 1983-1998

 

"Not Dated Correspondence"

 

The Splendor of South Africasigned by many and other South Africa travel materials

 

Box #4: Ephemera Box [incl. Janet & Robert Brandt Wedding album, Cast book, letter from Bill Clinton] (Four items on exhibit in 2009 in Holt-Atherton Special Collections reading room: SHARE Inc. 1968, Golden Globe Award 1960, Academy Award nomination 1960, Walk of Fame plaque 1960)

 

Series 2: Manuscripts

 

Box 5: Pyscho: Behind the Scenes of the Classic Thriller

 

Psycho: Behind the Scenes of the Classic Thriller Handwritten Manuscript

 

Making "Psycho" Book Proposal: Janet Leigh & Christopher Nickens

 

Fan mail

 

"Media"

 

Various Interview with Co-stars

 

Christopher Nickens Correspondence

 

Box 6: Dream Factory

 

Dream Factory Handwritten Manuscript (2 Folders)

 

Box 7: House of Destiny

 

House of Destiny Handwritten Manuscripts (3 Folders)

 

Box 8: There Really Was a Hollywood

 

Book Jacket

 

Full Interview used in Epilogue

 

There Really Was a Hollywood Handwritten Manuscript (3 Folders)

 

Series 3: Videos/Movies [VHS Tapes]

 

Box 9: Published Films

 

Doctor and the Girl (1949)

 

A & E Biography: Janet Leigh (1996)

 

One Is a Lonely Number (1972)

 

Walking My Baby Back Home (1953)

 

The Romance of Rosy Ridge (1947)

 

Just This Once (1952)

 

Safari (1956)

 

Between the Lines (2002)

 

Kid Rodelo (1966)

 

Rogue Cop (1954)

 

Bye Bye Birdie Reunion (1986)

 

In My Sister's Shadow (1997)

 

Starman (1986)

 

Murder SheWrote (1987)

 

Box 10: Appearances

 

Box 11: Interviews

 

Series 4: Photographs [incl. Nick Castle, Tony Perkins, David Miller, Karl Malden, Tony Curtis, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kelly Curtis, Princess Elizabeth, Van Johnson, Gene Kelly, Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Dick Doane]

 

Box 12: Photographs 1950s-1990s

 

Photos from Life Magazine: 1949

 

Untitled Photos circa 1950s

 

Photos: 1940s-1950s

 

Professional Stills 1946-1970s

 

Janet Leigh UOP/Stockton Multiple Visits

 

Janet Leigh UOP/Stockton Homecoming: 1950 [“Janet Leigh and Eddie LeBaron Day” in Stockton, January 15, 1950 (includes: Marie Arbios Boyle, Reed Robbins, Lillian and Forest Garvin, Eddie LeBaron, Tully Knoles, DeMarcus Brown, Helen and Fredrick Morrison, the Fox California Theater, Alpha Theta Tau sorority, and photographers Bert Parry [Modern Screen Magazine] and Pardis-Windmiller.)

 

Janet Leigh & Tony Curtis: 1951

 

Trip to London/Paris/Germany; Benefit in England and Military bases in Germany: Dec. 1951

 

Janet Leigh Birthday: Jul. 1958

 

Key West: Feb. 1959

 

Photoshoot featuring children: ~1960

 

Photoshoot featuring children (black & white): ~1960

 

South America: Sept. 1961- Nov. 1961

 

Box 13

 

Janet Leigh & Robert Brandt Wedding: 1962

 

SHARE: 1960-1963

 

SHARE: 1965-1970

 

Paradise Island: 1969

 

Europe: 1970

 

SHARE: 1971-1982/Special Olympics: 1973-1974

 

"J&B Japan": Nov. 1974

 

Long Beach Grand Prix: Sept. 1975

 

Jamie Lee Curtis Wedding: Dec. 1984

 

"Wrap Party": ~Nov. 1990s

 

Merit of Acheivement Award-Italy: Jun. 1992

 

Paris, London, Scotland, Ireland, Belgium: April-May 1996

 

Family & Friends/Sun Valley Skiing: 1960-on

 

Janet Leigh Movie Stills/Celebrities 1950s & 1995

 

There Really Was a Hollywood Photos and Negatives

 

Misc. Photos

 

Oversize Box 1

 

Fontagne's Charity Fashion Show: 1961

 

2 Coloring Pages: 1953

 

Oversize Professional Headshots

 

Various Photos with Family: 1985-1997

 

Family and Friends 1960-on

 

Paris, Along Coast to Rome: 1955 (2 Folders)

 

South America: Sept. 1961-Nov.1961

 

Oversize Box 2

 

Edie Wasserman Birthday: Nov. 1957

 

Paper Awards & Diplomas/Scholarships: 1940-2004

 

Janet Leigh & Children

 

Argentina to Brazil; Buenos Aires/Rio de Janiero/Curitiba: 1964

 

Scrapbook-Newspaper Clippings: 1960s (2 Folders)

 

Oversize Box 3

 

Janet leigh & Tony Curtis The Vikings 1957 Photo

 

Palm Beach: 1961

 

Janet Leigh Movie Stills, Family, Celebrities: 1940s-1960s

 

Oversized Photos: 1948-1961

 

Box 17: Movie Posters & Magazine Covers [including sheet music & SHARE 1974-1984]