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Finding Guide.  Edited by Tony Gardner, Curator

Processed by  Kathryn Cannarozzi, Archives Student Intern

Revised - June 1999

8.5 linear feet

Call  No. PS3561.L454 1942

Provenance

The Violet Atkins Klein Papers were donated to the University Library's Special Collections/Archives on January 14, 1999 by Ms. Klein's daughter, Jill Block. Ms. Klein was a published author of fiction as well as a writer for radio and television. The collection includes finished scripts, unproduced manuscripts, legal documents, correspondence, and research materials. Often, the documents include various drafts of a given work, illustrating the author's writing process. The collection was opened to researchers on December 1, 1999.

The collection is open to research without restrictions.

Scope & Contents Notes

The Violet Atkins Klein Papers document the professional writings of Violet Atkins Klein. Ms. Klein wrote novels and short fiction, as well as scripts for radio and television. The material in this collection reflects the writing process from research items through several drafts and variations. The legal materials illustrate the struggle to get a story published and to have script ideas produced. These items make this collection a good source of reference for a researcher interested in the difficulty writers, particularly women writers, experienced in the entertainment industry in the 1940s and 1950s.

The collection is divided into seven series, the first of which contains various drafts of manuscripts for film ideas, short fiction, novels, and scripts. Series II contains material that was written exclusively for television. In Series III, there is an assortment of legal papers and correspondence, which includes copies of contracts and agreements with both other writers and television studios. Series IV through VI contain scripts for different radio shows, respectively, The Treasury Star Parade, Camel Caravan, and The Camel Hour. The final series contains material on the development of ideas and story lines for a television series, The Lost Mail Bag. This series was never produced, but the concept was eventually purchased and two pilots produced in the form of television movies. Both pilots were shown on ABC, The Letters, on March 6, 1973 and Letters from Three Lovers, on October 3, 1973.

Related Special Collections and Archives Research Collections.

Related research collections found in The Special Collections and Archives of California State University, Northridge include the following:

Related Research Institutions

Secondary Sources

These sources are available in the University Library's general book collection.

Content & Series Descriptions

(8 manuscript boxes, 2 oversize boxes)

Series I: Stories, Film Ideas, Scripts

This series contains various manuscripts and manuscript fragments of fiction works and scripts arranged alphabetically by title. Also included are Ms. Klein's notes on ideas and editing for these manuscripts. Some folders also contain newspaper and magazine clippings that were used as research material in preparing the stories. The portfolio material for Samuel Klein contains assorted papers and clippings for works written under that name.

Series II: Television Works

This section includes works that were written expressly for, or adapted to, television. These stories were not designated for any one particular television program or series. In fact, not all the scripts in this section were actually produced. The scripts are arranged alphabetically by title and often include several versions of one story.

Series III: Legal Documents and Contracts

This series consists of various records and correspondence pertaining to the legal aspects of Ms. Klein's career. Included are copies of contracts and receipts of scripts registered with the Screen Writers Guild. There is also a series of correspondence between Ms. Klein and her agent documenting some of the difficulties she experienced in her attempts to sell her work to the studios. These folders in this series are arranged alphabetically by title.

Series IV: Treasury Star Parade Scripts

This section contains scripts that were aired as part of the Treasury Star Parade radio program. Some of the scripts included were actually used by performers during the show's broadcast. The scripts are arranged alphabetically by episode title. In some instances there are original and revised versions of the script as well as the shooting script. The scripts are marked with the broadcast date and include the cast credits for the episode. Some of the scripts in this section are signed by one or more of the actors and include handwritten notes in the margins.

Series V: Camel Caravan

This series consists of scripts for the radio program, Camel Caravan. It is organized alphabetically by episode title and the scripts also include the broadcast date of the performance.

Series VI: Camel Hour

This series contains scripts from another radio program, the Camel Hour. These scripts are also arranged alphabetically by episode title and include the broadcast date of the show. There are various drafts of some of the titles as well as the actual shooting scripts.

Series VII: Lost Mail Bag

This last series is comprised of material related to a proposed television series that Ms. Atkins had tentatively titled, The Lost Mailbag. The folders are arranged alphabetically and include various proposed story lines for episodes of the show. There are copies of the treatment that was sent out to the various studios in the hope of selling them the series. There are also included correspondence and contracts as well as extensive research materials that Ms. Klein drew upon for ideas. The series was never actually produced, but the concept was sold and; eventually, two pilots were aired on ABC in 1973. Both pilots were in the form of television movies, with the first titled, The Letters, and the second titled, Letters from Three Loves.

Box Listing

Series I. Stories, Film Ideas, Scripts.

Box 1. (AS/RS 30700107801101)

Box 2. (AS/RS 30700107801093)

Box 3. (AS/RS 30700107801127)

Box 4. (AS/RS 30700107801077)

Series II. Television Work.

Box 4. (AS/RS 30700107801077)

Box 5. (AS/RS 30700107801085)

Series III. Legal Documents and Contracts.

Box 5. (AS/RS 30700107801085)

Series IV. The Treasury Star Parade.

Box 5. (AS/RS 30700107801085)

Box 6. (AS/RS 30700107801119)

Series V. Camel Caravan.

Box 6. (AS/RS 30700107801119)

Series VI. The Camel Hour.

Box 6. (AS/RS 30700107801119)

Series VII. The Lost Mail Bag.

Box 7. (AS/RS 30700107801051)

Box 8. (AS/RS 30700107801069)

Oversize Manuscript Material

Box OV1. (30700108140301)

Box OV2. (30700108140319)

Index to Important Subjects & Personalities.

Index locations refer to Box and Folder numbers where material on a given subject or personality can be found. [Example - is located in Box number / Folder number .]

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