The papers of Robert Crosson, Hollywood actor and contemporary Los Angeles poet, contain manuscript and typescript drafts for Crosson's published collected works, especially GEOGRAPHIES (1981), ABANDONED LATITUDES: NEW WRITINGS BY 3 LOS ANGELES POETS (1983), CALLIOPE (1988), and THE BLUE SOPRANO (1994); individual poems published in small literary magazines; and unpublished poetry and prose, including his novel "Round-Trip to Midland." Of particular interest are Crosson's daybooks which record his daily activities, thoughts and writings for over four decades. Also included are video and audio recordings, photographs of Crosson, and collages. The papers are arranged in eight series: 1) MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS, 2) CORRESPONDENCE, 3) WRITINGS BY CROSSON, 4) DAYBOOKS, 5) ARTWORKS BY CROSSON, 6) CASSETTE RECORDINGS, 7) REEL-TO-REEL AUDIO RECORDINGS, and 8) ORIGINALS OF PRESERVATION PHOTOCOPIES.

Born in 1929, in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, Crosson moved with his family to Pomona, California, in 1944. He graduated from Pomona High School in 1948, attended Mt. San Antonio College and graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, where he obtained a bachelor's degree in English and theatre arts in 1951.

21.2 Linear feet (45 archives boxes, 1 card file box and 3 oversize folders)

Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.