Spencer (Ray) papers, 1937-1984, bulk circa 1930s-1960s

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Summary

Title:
Ray Spencer papers
Dates:
1937-1984, bulk circa 1930s-1960s
Creators:
Spencer, Ray
Abstract:
Ray Spencer was a screenwriter and produced the West Coast production of the controversial play of, Deep are the Roots, in Los Angeles and San Francisco, CA (ca. 1947-1948). The bulk of the collection consists of materials related to the play. Additionally, there is a small amount of script material, correspondence, contractual agreements, and a small number of story synopses and newsletters associated with Paramount Pictures. In addition, there are a small number of letters and reader reports related to his wife, Helen Spencer.
Extent:
3.4 Linear Feet (6 boxes and 1 flat box)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Ray Spencer Papers (Collection PASC 296). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection consists of materials related to the career of writer and producer Ray Spencer. The bulk of the collection is comprised of files related to the West Coast production of the controversial play, Deep Are the Roots, produced by Spencer, ca. 1947-1948. Also included is small amount of script material and reader reports (not identified with a studio), believed to be written by Spencer; a small collection of correspondence and contracts for projects in which it appears Spencer was involved, and a research file about Plaintiffs Against the Blacklist. There are also a small number of items related to Paramount Studios such as a script for Your Son is My Brother, script synopses, reader reports, and newsletters titled New York Bulletin Stories. In addition, there are a small amount of letters and readers reports written by Ray Spencer's wife, Helen Spencer. Notably absent from the collection are materials related to films Bonnie Lassie, Star Bright, Boogie Woogie, and Crackup, for which Spencer is credited.

Biographical / historical:

There is very little biographical information available about Ray Spencer. Much of the following information was compiled from the collection. Ray Spencer may also be known as R. Edward Spencer and may have written under the pseudonym of Bill Owen or Robert Owen. He was married to Helen Spencer with whom he had one child, Greg. He was a graduate of the 1947 workshop at Yale, executive director of Meet the People, and a theatrical designer and screenwriter. He worked as a member of the reading staff at Paramount Pictures in ca. early-1940s. In 1947, he obtained the West Coast production rights for the play Deep Are the Roots, written by Arnold d'Usseau and James Gow. He produced the play in both Los Angeles and San Francisco in ca. 1947-1948. In the early 1950s, Spencer and his family moved to Mexico where he continued to write. It is uncertain when he returned to the United States. His motion picture credits include Bonnie Lassie, Star Bright, Boogie Woogie, and Crackup.

Processing information:

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Arrangement:

Arranged in the following series:

  1. Contracts
  2. Correspondence File
  3. Deep Are the Roots
  4. Paramount Pictures
  5. Writings by Ray Spencer
  6. Helen Spencer
  7. Plaintiffs vs. Blacklist
  8. Miscellaneous Files

Physical location:
Stored off-site. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Loren Spector and Julie Graham; machine-readable finding aid created by Julie Graham.
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2022-08-05 14:11:28 -0700 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.

Terms of access:

Property rights to the physical objects belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. All other 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], Ray Spencer Papers (Collection PASC 296). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

Location of this collection:
A1713 Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575, US
Contact:
(310) 825-4988
AskLSC@library.ucla.edu
Website