Griffith (Edward H.) Papers, ca. 1910-1958

Printable guide [HTML]
Request items

Summary

Title:
Edward H. Griffith Papers
Dates:
ca. 1910-1958
Creators:
Griffith, Edward H., 1888-1975.
Abstract:
Director, writer, and producer Lt. Edward Hilaire Griffith was born Aug. 23, 1875, in Lynchburg, Va. Educated in England and Europe, Griffith started out as a newspaper reporter and a magazine writer. He became an actor/writer for the Edison Company in 1915. After Edison folded in 1917, Griffith remained busy at most of the major studios throughout the silent era. He soon began directing two-reelers, graduating to features in 1917. Griffith was a director of motion pictures for the War Department in World War I. He was also responsible for the first film version of Philip Barry's Holiday (1930), was both producer and director of several Paramount productions of the early 1940s, and directed The Sky's the Limit (1943) featuring Fred Astaire. Griffith died March 3, 1975, in South Laguna, Calif. Collection consists of letters including correspondence with a French company interested in showcasing his films in France, carb! on copies of letters, scripts and play scenarios written by or handled by Griffith mostly from 1915-1922; a scrapbook with 3 photographs and about 150 printed movie and play programs, some with manuscripts notes by Griffith; and 2 notebooks with manuscripts notes for film ideas.
Extent:
4 boxes (2 linear ft.)
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Edward H. Griffith Papers (Collection 446). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library.

Background

Scope and content:

Collection consists of letters including correspondence with a French company interested in showcasing his films in France, carbon copies of letters, scripts and play scenarios written by or handled by Griffith mostly from 1915-1922; a scrapbook with 3 photographs and about 150 printed movie and play programs, some with manuscripts notes by Griffith; and 2 notebooks with manuscripts notes for film ideas.

Biographical / historical:

Director, writer, and producer Lt. Edward Hilaire Griffith was born Aug. 23, 1875, in Lynchburg, Va. Educated in England and Europe, Griffith started out as a newspaper reporter and a magazine writer. He became an actor/writer for the Edison Company in 1915. After Edison folded in 1917, Griffith remained busy at most of the major studios throughout the silent era. He soon began directing two-reelers, graduating to features in 1917. Griffith was a director of motion pictures for the War Department in World War I. He was also responsible for the first film version of Philip Barry's Holiday (1930), was both producer and director of several Paramount productions of the early 1940s, and directed The Sky's the Limit (1943) featuring Fred Astaire. Griffith died March 3, 1975, in South Laguna, Calif.

Acquisition information:
Purchase, 1992.
Arrangement:

Arranged in the following series:

  1. Scripts
  2. Scripts by others
  3. Writings
  4. Personal
  5. Clippings
  6. 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.
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Processed by Piyapong Kong Phongpatanakhun; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé.
Date Prepared:
© 2006
Date Encoded:
Machine-readable finding aid derived from database containing container list structure and data, encoding added via MS Access and Notetab Pro; Date of source: October 2005; frontmatter gathered MARC Record. Supplementary encoding and revision supplied by Caroline Cubé.

Access and use

Restrictions:

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.

Terms of access:

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 H. Griffith Papers (Collection 446). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library.

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