Donald Spoto papers, circa 1940-1988

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Summary

Creators:
Spoto, Donald, 1941-
Abstract:
Donald Spoto (1941- ) wrote biographical studies of film and theater personalities. The collection contains files relating to Spoto's biographies and includes books, magazines, interviews, bibliographies, holograph notes, cassette recordings, film scripts, letters, and galley proofs covering the lives of Tennessee Williams, Alfred Hitchcock, Lotte Lenya, Preston Sturges, and Laurence Olivier. Spoto's doctoral dissertation and two of his original screenplays are included as well.
Extent:
17 linear feet (34 boxes and 6 oversize boxes)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Donald Spoto papers (Collection 1563). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

Background

Scope and content:

Collection contains files relating to Spoto's biographies of film and theater personalities. Research material is organized first by personality, then by work. Includes books, magazines, interviews, bibliographies, holograph notes, cassette recordings, film scripts, letters, and galley proofs covering lives of Tennessee Williams, Alfred Hitchcock, Lotte Lenya, Preston Sturges, and Laurence Olivier. Also includes Spoto's doctoral dissertation and two of Spoto's original screenplays.

Biographical / historical:

Spoto was born June 28, 1941 in New Rochelle, New York; BA, Iona College, 1963; MA (1966) and Ph.D. (1970), Fordham University; taught at New School for Social Research, New York City, 1975-86; began teaching at University of Southern California in 1987; visiting lecturer, British Film Institute, National Film Theatre, London, 1980-86; published biographical studies of filmmakers Stanley Kramer, Alfred Hitchcock, Preston Sturges, playwright Tennessee Williams, and actors Marlene Dietrich, Marilyn Monroe, Lotte Lenya, Laurence Olivier, Elizabeth Taylor, Ingrid Bergman, and James Dean.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Donald Spoto, 1988-92.
Processing information:

Processed by Manuscripts Division staff, 1999.

Collections are processed to a variety of levels depending on the work necessary to make them usable, their perceived user interest and research value, availability of staff and resources, and competing priorities. Library Special Collections provides a standard level of preservation and access for all collections and, when time and resources permit, conducts more intensive processing. These materials have been arranged and described according to national and local standards and best practices.

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Arrangement:

Arranged in the following series:

  1. Series 1. Biographical
  2. Series 2. Tennessee Williams
  3. Series 3. Alfred Hitchcock
  4. Series 4. Lotte Lenya
  5. Series 5. Preston Sturges
  6. Series 6. Laurence Olivier
  7. Series 7. Screenplays

Physical / technical requirements:

CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: This collection contains both processed and unprocessed audiovisual materials. For information about the access status of the material that you are looking for, refer to the Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements note at the series and file levels. All requests to access processed audiovisual materials must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.

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

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 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], Donald Spoto papers (Collection 1563). 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