Finding Aid for the Dorothy Arzner Papers PASC.0175
Finding aid prepared by UCLA Library Special Collections staff; machine-readable finding aid created by D. MacGill/
UCLA Library Special Collections
Online finding aid last updated on 2020 August 28.
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
Business Number: 310-825-4988
Fax Number: 310-206-1864
spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
Contributing Institution:
UCLA Library Special Collections
Title: Dorothy Arzner papers
Creator:
Arzner, Dorothy, 1900-1979
Identifier/Call Number: PASC.0175
Physical Description:
3.5 Linear Feet
(7 boxes)
Date (inclusive): circa 1920-1979
Abstract: Collection consists of clippings, sketches, photographs and motion picture stills, correspondence, scrapbooks, audio recordings,
and ephemera related to Dorothy Arzner's personal life and career as filmmaker. Includes stills the films Anybody's Woman,
The Bride Wore Red, The Covered Wagon, Craig's Wife, Dance Girl Dance, Fashion for Women, First Comes Courage, Get Your Man,
Manhattan Cocktail, Merrily We Go To Hell, Nana, Old Ironsides, Ten Modern Commandments, and Working Girls.
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.
Language of Material: Materials are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located
on this page.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: This collection contains processed audiovisual materials. All requests to access audiovisual
materials must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use
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.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Mildred Sumner, 1985.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Dorothy Arzner papers (Collection PASC 175). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young
Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
Processing Information
Processed by UCLA Library Special Collections staff.
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UCLA Catalog Record ID
Biography
Arzner was born Jan. 3, 1900; studied medicine at Univ. of So. CA; ambulance driver in WWI (1917-18); in 1919, she was hired
by William C. De Mille as a stenographer in the script dept. at Famous Players-Lasky (Paramount), and was later promoted to
script clerk, film cutter, and film editor; editor for Realart, a subsidiary of Paramount, 1922; wrote and edited "Old Ironsides,"
1925; met Marion Morgan, choreographer and dancer, in the early 1930s and the two remained companions until Morgan's death
in 1971; retired from directing in 1943; produced WAC training films during WWII; taught at UCLA and made commercials for
Pepsi-Cola; her credits include, "Christopher Strong" (1933), "Nana" (1934), and "Craig's Wife" (1936); honored at the 1st
International Festival of Women's Films, NY, 1972, and by Director's Guild of America, 1975; died Oct. 1, 1979 in La Quinta,
CA.
Scope and Content
Collection consists of clippings, sketches, photographs and motion picture stills, correspondence, scrapbooks, audio recordings,
and ephemera related to Arzner's personal life and career as filmmaker. Includes stills the films Anybody's Woman, The Bride
Wore Red, The Covered Wagon, Craig's Wife, Dance Girl Dance, Fashion for Women, First Comes Courage, Get Your Man, Manhattan
Cocktail, Merrily We Go To Hell, Nana, Old Ironsides, Ten Modern Commandments, and Working Girls.
Organization
Arranged in the following series:
- Audio recordings (box 2)
- Clippings (box 5)
- Negatives (box 6)
- Personal sketches (box 5)
- Personal photographs (boxes 5-6)
- Personal correspondence (box 7)
- Scrapbooks (boxes 1,3,4)
- Stills (box 6)
- Tributes (boxes 6-7)
- Writings by and about Arzner (box 7)
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Women motion picture producers and directors -- Archives.
Arzner, Dorothy, 1900-1979 -- Archives
Audio recordings
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: This collection contains processed audiovisual materials. All requests to access audiovisual
materials must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.
box 2, case 1
DGA Tribute to Dorothy Arzner Reel 1 of 5 pasc_0175_002_001
1975 January 25
Creator: Ida Lupino, 1918-1995
Creator: Directors Guild of America
Physical Description: 1 Sound Recordings(1 1/4 inch audiotape; Duration: 0:14:14)7 inch
Conditions Governing Access
CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: Audiovisual materials are available for access. All requests to access digital materials must
be made in advance using the request button located on this page.
Scope and Contents
Transcribed from container: Original; Voices of- Doug Morrison, Joelle Debrew, Ida Lupino
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Arzner, Dorothy, 1900-1979
box 2, case 2
DGA Tribute to Dorothy Arzner Reel 2 of 5 pasc_0175_002_002
1975 January 25
Creator: McCall, Mary C., Jr., 1904-1986
Creator: Directors Guild of America
Physical Description: 1 Sound Recordings(1 1/4 inch audiotape; Duration: 0:16:17)7 inch
Conditions Governing Access
CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: Audiovisual materials are available for access. All requests to access digital materials must
be made in advance using the request button located on this page.
Scope and Contents
Transcribed from container: Original
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Arzner, Dorothy, 1900-1979
box 2, case 3
DGA Tribute to Dorothy Arzner Reel 3 of 5 pasc_0175_002_003
1975 January 25
Creator: Folsey, George J., 1898-1988
Creator: Wellman, William A., 1896-1975
Creator: Directors Guild of America
Physical Description: 1 Sound Recordings(1 1/4 inch audiotape; Duration: 0:14:15)7 inch
Conditions Governing Access
CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: Audiovisual materials are available for access. All requests to access digital materials must
be made in advance using the request button located on this page.
Scope and Contents
Content note: Features the reading of telegrams from Mayor Tom Bradley, Joe Mankiewicz, Lucille Ball, and Katherine Hepburn,
and Frank Capra.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Arzner, Dorothy, 1900-1979
box 2, case 4
DGA Tribute to Dorothy Arzner Reel 4 of 5 pasc_0175_002_004
1975 January 25
Creator: O'Hara, Shirley
Creator: Coppola, Francis Ford, 1939-
Creator: Directors Guild of America
Physical Description: 1 Sound Recordings(1 1/4 inch audiotape; Duration: 0:16:19)7 inch
Conditions Governing Access
CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: Audiovisual materials are available for access. All requests to access digital materials must
be made in advance using the request button located on this page.
Scope and Contents
Content note: Features the reading of a telegrams from CA Secretary of State March Fong Eu, Fay Wray, Louie Hayward, Fredrick
March, Rosalind Russel, Joan Crawford,
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Arzner, Dorothy, 1900-1979
box 2, case 5
DGA Tribute to Dorothy Arzner Reel 5 of 5 pasc_0175_002_005
1975 January 25
Creator: Ballard, Lucien, 1908-1988
Creator: Directors Guild of America
Physical Description: 1 Sound Recordings(1 1/4 inch audiotape; Duration: 0:11:04)7 inch
Conditions Governing Access
CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: Audiovisual materials are available for access. All requests to access digital materials must
be made in advance using the request button located on this page.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Arzner, Dorothy, 1900-1979
box 2, case 6
DGA Tribute to Dorothy Arzner Part 1 of 2 pasc_0175_002_006a
undated
Creator: Ida Lupino, 1918-1995
Creator: Directors Guild of America
Physical Description: 1 Sound Recordings(1 audiocassette; Duration: 0:44:49)
Conditions Governing Access
CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: Audiovisual materials are available for access. All requests to access digital materials must
be made in advance using the request button located on this page.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Arzner, Dorothy, 1900-1979
box 2, case 6
DGA Tribute to Dorothy Arzner Part 2 of 2 / Fragment of King Vidor Talk pasc_0175_002_006b
undated
Creator: Vidor, King, 1894-1982
Creator: Directors Guild of America
Physical Description: 1 Sound Recordings(1 audiocassette; Duration: 0:46:47)
Conditions Governing Access
CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: Audiovisual materials are available for access. All requests to access digital materials must
be made in advance using the request button located on this page.
Scope and Contents
Content note: Recording transitions to "K. Vidor Talk" at 0:28:00
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Arzner, Dorothy, 1900-1979
box 2, case 7
DGA Arzner Tribute, Reel 1 and Reel 2 pasc_0175_002_007a
undated
Creator: Ida Lupino, 1918-1995
Creator: Directors Guild of America
Physical Description: 1 Sound Recordings(1 audiocassette; Duration: 0:30:33)
Conditions Governing Access
CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: Audiovisual materials are available for access. All requests to access digital materials must
be made in advance using the request button located on this page.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Arzner, Dorothy, 1900-1979
box 2, case 7
DGA Arzner Tribute, Reel 3 pasc_0175_002_007b
undated
Creator: Ida Lupino, 1918-1995
Creator: Directors Guild of America
Physical Description: 1 Sound Recordings(1 audiocassette; Duration: 0:14:40)
Conditions Governing Access
CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: Audiovisual materials are available for access. All requests to access digital materials must
be made in advance using the request button located on this page.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Arzner, Dorothy, 1900-1979
box 2, case 8
Dorothy Arzner At Diablo Valley College pasc_0175_002_008a
1976 October 13
Creator: Arzner, Dorothy, 1900-1979
Creator: Diablo Valley College
Physical Description: 1 Sound Recordings(1 audiocassette; Duration: 0:46:51)
Conditions Governing Access
CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: Audiovisual materials are available for access. All requests to access digital materials must
be made in advance using the request button located on this page.
box 2, case 8
Dorothy Arzner At Diablo Valley College pasc_0175_002_008b
1976 October 13
Creator: Arzner, Dorothy, 1900-1979
Creator: Diablo Valley College
Physical Description: 1 Sound Recordings(1 audiocassette; Duration: 0:02:55)
Conditions Governing Access
CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: Audiovisual materials are available for access. All requests to access digital materials must
be made in advance using the request button located on this page.
box 5, folder 2
Includes tributes to Dorothy Arzner, and commentary and announcements related to festivals featuring her films
undated
box 5, folder 3
Includes articles pertaining to women filmmakers in general with mention of Dorothy Arzner
undated
box 5, folder 4
Five (5) issues of "Camera: the Digest of the Motion Picture Industry" (fragile). Includes 1922, Vol. 5 no.'s 16, 24, 26,
28, 29
undated
Sixty-nine (69) negatives of clippings in scrapbooks and photographs in this collection. Negs are numbered DA1-DA69. Availablity
is marked on verso of photographs or on the page of scrapbooks. STORED IN Performing Arts Special Collections - NEGATIVE FILES
undated
box 6, folder 26
One (1) 8x10 negative of Dorothy Arzner with film strip, two (2) strips of La Quinta home, four (4) strips Morgan Dancers,
one (1) strip of young Dorothy Arzner. six(6) contact strips of outings with friends
undated
box 5, folder 5
Nine (9) pencil sketches, one (1) ink sketch (all unsigned). Orignal envelope labeled "Sketches by Dorothy Arzner and Marion
Morgan"
undated
box 5, folder 6
Eight (8) items including seven (7) pencil sketches and one (1) pastel. Four (4) items signed D. Arzner
undated
box 5, folder 1
Oversized portraits of Dorothy Arzner. Seven (7) items, (2) inscribed by Dorothy Arzner
undated
box 5, folder 7
One (1) oversize photograph labeled "Entrance Atrium 2249 Mountain Oak Dr. Home of Marion Morgan and Dorothy Arzner 1930 -
1951"
undated
box 6, folder 1
Forty (40) items including small snap shots of Dorothy Arzner and friends. Includes snap shot of Marlene Dietrich holding
Dorothy Arzner's Siamese cat
undated
box 6, folder 2
Fifty-seven (57) items. Includes small photos of young Dorothy Arzner, family, and friends
undated
box 6, folder 3
Twenty (20) items. Includes photographs of Dorothy Arzner and family from childhood to adolesence
undated
box 6, folder 4
Twenty-one (21) items. Includes (1) portrait of a young Dorothy Arzner and Marion Morgan, two (2) snap shots of Dorothy Arzner
bust by Alice Bush Lewis, and photos of older Dorothy Arzner at Diablo College
undated
box 6, folder 5
Fifteen (15) items including portraits of Dorothy Arzner early in her career
undated
box 6, folder 6
Twenty (20) items including photographs of Dorothy Arzner at work on various projects
undated
box 6, folder 24
Fifty-six (56) items. Includes several photographs sent to Dorothy Arzner by Marion Morgan from [Europe]. [Items are undated,
possible date 1920's or 1930's].
box 7, folder 1
(Dates unknown) Seventeen items including cards, letters and postcards. Includes (8) postcards from Aunt Emma addressed to
Emma [Dorothy's middle name] and Dave
undated
box 7, folder 2
(1930'S - 1940's) Twenty-three items including postcards and letters to Dorothy Arzner
undated
box 7, folder 3
(1970'S) Forty-three letters, cards, and post cards to Dorothy Arzner
undated
Scope and Contents
Includes personal and professional work related correspondence. One Christmas card from Marion Morgan dated Christmas 1969.
box 7, folder 4
Forty-four postcards from Marion Morgan to Dorothy Arzner dates spanning
circa 1920s - 1940s
box 7, folder 5
Forty-three postcards from Marion Morgan to Dorothy Arzner
circa 1930s
box 7, folder 6
Ten (10) assorted letters, cards, and postcards to Marion Morgan
mostly from 1971
box 7, folder 7
Fifty-three (53) postcards, letters, cards, and telegrams. Condolences to Dorothy Arzner concerning the death of Marion Morgan
undated
box 7, folder 8
Seven (7) items including (2) coat of arms for Arzner, (1) Westlake School for Girls Record, death certificates for Dorothy
Arzner, David Arzner, Mabel Arzner, and Lois Arzner
undated
box 1
One (1) red scrapbook (fragile). Includes photos of young Dorothy Arzner, family, and friends
undated
box 3
Three (3) items (fragile). One "Presented to Dorothy Arner from Joe Dill" includes small snap shots from "Old Ironsides".
Two remaining include photos of Dorothy Arzner, family, and friends
undated
box 4
"Dorothy Arzner Press Book", hand made (fragile), clippings
1926 - 1980
box 6, folder 7
"ANYBODY'S WOMAN (1930, Paramount). Six (6) items including photographs of Dorothy Arzner at work
undated
box 6, folder 8
"BEHIND THE MAKE UP" (1930, Paramount). One (1) photograph of Fay Wray and William Powell
undated
box 6, folder 9
"THE BRIDE WORE RED" (1937, MGM). Twelve (12) photographs including Dorothy Arzner at work, Joan Crawford, and Franchot Tone
undated
box 6, folder 10
"THE COVERED WAGON" (1923, Paramount). Three (3) photographs
undated
box 6, folder 11
"CRAIG'S WIFE" (1936, Columbia). Nine (9) photographs including Dorothy Arzner at work, John Boles, Rosalind Russell, Billie
Burke, and Mary McCall
undated
box 6, folder 12
"DANCE GIRL DANCE" (1940, RKO). Eleven (11) photographs including Dorothy Arzner at work and home, Lucille Ball, and one inscribed
photograph from James Anderson
undated
box 6, folder 13
"FASHION FOR WOMEN" (1927, Famous Players Lasky/Paramount). Three (3) photographs including Dorothy Arzner at work
undated
box 6, folder 14
"FIRST COMES COURAGE" (1943, Columbia). One (1) photograph of Carl Esmond, Merle Oberon, and Brian Aherne
undated
box 6, folder 15
"GET YOUR MAN" (1934, Paramount). Eleven (11) photographs including shots of various scenes
undated
box 6, folder 16
"MANHATTAN COCKTAIL" (1928, Famous Players Lasky/Paramount). Six (6) photographs including Dorothy Arzner at work
undated
box 6, folder 17
"MERRILY WE GO TO HELL" (1932, Paramount). Four (4) photographs including Dorothy Arzner at work
undated
box 6, folder 18
"NANA" (1934, United Artists). One (1) photograph labeled "Anna Sten in the Samuel Goldwyn Production of NANA". Shows Dorothy
Arzner at work
undated
box 6, folder 19
"OLD IRONSIDES" (1926, Paramount). Fifty-six (56) photographs including Dorothy Arzner working, Esther Ralston, Wallace Berry,
George Bancroft, George Godfrey, and Charles Farrell
undated
box 6, folder 20
"TEN MODERN COMMANDMENTS" (1927, Paramount). Four (4) photographs including Dorothy Arzner at work
undated
box 6, folder 21
WAC'S TRAINING FILM (1944). Two (2) publicity stills of Dorothy Arzner with WACS World War II
undated
box 6, folder 22
WORKING GIRLS (1931, Paramount). Two (2) photographs including Dorothy Arzner with telephone operators, and Dorothy Hall and
Judith Wood
undated
box 6, folder 25
Five (5) miscellaneous photographs. Includes (2) photographs of Billie Burke, (1) photograph of drapes in a hotel suite, (1)
photograph of Charles the Second, and (1) unidentified group of actors
undated
box 6, folder 23
Five (5) photographs from the Director's Guild Tribute to Dorothy Arzner. Includes Dorothy Arnzer, William Wellman, Fay Wray,
Robert Wise, Daisy Gerber, Francis Ford Coppola, Lucien Ballard, Mary McCall, Jr., Margaret Lindsay, and Francine Parker
undated
box 7, folder 14
Two (2) programs: "Director's Guild of America A Tribute to Dorothy Arzner Pioneer Director". One with picture of Dorothy
Arzner
undated
box 7, folder 15
Twenty-six (26) items. Correspondence to Dorothy Arzner about the Director's Guild Tribute. Includes telegrams and letters
from Katherine Hepburn, Joan Crawford, Robert Young, Rosalind Russell, Fredric March, Lucille Ball, Frank Capra, and others
undated
box 7, folder 16
Fourteen programs for film festivals. (4) programs featuring Dorothy Arzner's work specifically. (10) programs featuring women
film makers in general including Dorothy Arzner
undated
Writings by Dorothy Arzner
box 7, folder 9
"Starlight", [n.d.], 3 page writing philosophy on the influence of movies on people's lives
undated
box 7, folder 10
Four (4) studio biographies. (1) untitled, (1) Director's file Publicity, (1) M.G.M. Director's file, (3) M.G.M. Publicity
Director's file - (1) annotated
undated
box 7, folder 11
Senior thesis, 91 pages. "What Is This We Hear - A Broad Is Gonna Direct?" by Deborah Derow
May, 1976
box 7, folder 12
"The Work of Dorothy Arzner: Towards a Feminist Cinema" edited by Claire Johnston. Published by the British Film Institute
1975
box 7, folder 13
"Approaching the Art of Arzner" by Francine Parker, [n.d.], 14 pages
undated