University of Texas at Austin

Edward Chodorov:

A Preliminary Inventory of His Papers at the Harry Ransom Center

Creator: Chodorov, Edward, 1904-1988
Title: Edward Chodorov Papers
Dates: 1936-1997
Extent: 22 boxes, 2 oversize boxes (9.87 linear feet)
Abstract: This collection contains Chodorov's notes, proposals, and scripts for produced plays, movies, and unrealized productions, including typescript drafts of Kind Lady and Oh Men! Oh Women!; business and personal correspondence, including some relating to the Hollywood blacklist of the 1950s; other business and personal documents of Chodorov and his wife, including clippings, notes, travel documents, diaries, and address books; and a short story by Chodorov's brother Jerome, a television documentary proposal by his sister Isabelle Chase, and several versions of a play by his wife Rosemary.
Call Number: Manuscript Collection MS-04977
Language: Most material in English.
Access: Open for research


Administrative Information


Acquisition: Gift 2003 (Gift no. 12422)
Processed by: Isabel Morales and Hope Rider, 2005
Repository:

Harry Ransom Center, The University of Texas at Austin

Scope and Contents


The Edward Chodorov Papers contain materials relating to his long career writing for film and stage. The collection is arranged in four series: I. Works & Related Files, ca. 1941-1993; II. Correspondence 1947-1997; III. Career-Related & Personal, 1936-1995; and IV. Works by Others.
Series I. Works & Related Files includes produced plays and movies, as well as notes, proposals, and scripts for many unrealized productions. Two of the works represented are Kind Lady and Oh Men! Oh Women, both produced on stage and in film. The bulk of the series contains typescript drafts of the works. Chodorov did not keep materials related to his early productions.
The correspondence in Series II. is primarily business related, although there are some personal letters. It is organized chronologically, with some folders also grouped by subject. There are several folders of notebooks, listing outgoing correspondence kept by Chodorov's wife, Rosemary. These record all of the mail, both business and personal, that the couple sent for the years 1970-1980. Of special interest in this series are folders relating to the Hollywood blacklist of the 1950s. Chodorov was blacklisted in 1954 and spent the rest of his life trying to reclaim his position and benefits. Throughout the series there are numerous letters to the artist Al Hirschfeld and the journalist Abe Rosenthal, both personal friends of the Chodorovs.
Series III. Career-Related & Personal includes reference files of clippings and notes collected by Chodorov, personal photographs and official travel documents, and diaries. The diaries were kept by Rosemary Chodorov, beginning several years before she met Edward, and continuing after his death. The bulk of the diaries chronicle their daily activities and appointments, both personal and business. There are several folders of address books covering time they spent in England, Europe, and New York.
The works by others in Series IV. consist of a short story by Chodorov's brother Jerome (also a playwright), a television documentary proposal by his sister Isabelle Chase, and several versions of a play by Rosemary entitled "Harry's Whore."
Audio and video cassettes received with this collection were transferred to appropriate departments within the Ransom Center.

Separated Material


Sound recordings were transferred to the Ransom Center's Sound Recording collection and are described individually in a list at the end of this finding aid and in a searchable database.

Index Terms


People

Chodorov, Rosemary.
Chodorov, Jerome.
Chase, Isabelle.
Hirschfeld, Al.
Rosenthal, Abe.

Subjects

Screenwriters United States.
Blacklisting of authors.
Diarists.

Document Types

Plays.
Motion picture plays.
Diaries.

Edward Chodorov Papers--Folder List