Finding Aid for the Alan Le May Papers LSC.0880
Finding aid prepared by Phyllis Herzog, August 1965; machine-readable finding aid created by Alight Tsai.
UCLA Library Special Collections
Online finding aid last updated 2002.
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: Alan Le May papers
Creator:
Le May, Alan
Identifier/Call Number: LSC.0880
Physical Description:
11.5 Linear Feet
(23 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1940-1963
Abstract: Alan Le May (1899-1964) began his career as a journalist and author of westerns, some of which were adapted to the screen.
He also produced a number of short stories and screenplays in addition to 17 novels. The collection contains manuscripts of
novels, story outlines, and screenplays for television and motion pictures by Le May.
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.
Restrictions on Access
Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located
on this page.
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
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.
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Gift of Arlene Le May, 1964.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Alan Le May Papers (Collection 880). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research
Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
Processing Information
Processed by Phyllis Herzog, August 1965.
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UCLA Catalog Record ID
Biography
Alan Le May was born June 3, 1899 in Indianapolis, Indiana; attended Stetson University and University of Chicago (Ph.B.,
1922); began career as journalist; author of westerns, some of which were adapted to the screen, including
The Searchers (1954) and
The Unforgiven (1957); he was a prolific writer, producing a number of short stories and screenplays in addition to 17 novels; produced
and directed
High Lonesome in 1950; died on April 27, 1964.
Scope and Content
Collection contains manuscripts of novels, story outlines, and screenplays for television and motion pictures by Le May. Also
includes correspondence and ephemera.
Organization and Arrangement
Arranged in the following series:
- Manuscripts (Boxes 1-21).
- Research materials (Boxes 2, 22).
- Personal papers (Box 23).
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Authors, American -- 20th century -- Archives.
Screenplays
Television plays.
Screenwriters -- United States -- Archives.
Le May, Alan, 1899-1964--Archives.
box 1
African Pitfall. Original story treatment. Pacific Palisades.
n.d.
Scope and Contents note
Included are 5 copies, typescript and carbon. This is an outline of a story, with research information.
box 1
Angels Camp. n.p.
1949.
General Physical Description note: Manuscript and typescript.
Scope and Contents note
This is a draft of a story, with plans and notes.
box 1
Black Cat Patrol. Screenplay. California,
ca.
1951.
Scope and Contents note
Included are 4 mimeograph copies, in manila folders.
box 1
The Blond in the Box Stall. n.p.
n.d.
General Physical Description note: Typescript.
Scope and Contents note
Story frame.
box 2
Boom Camp Printer. Story subject for
The Virginian, a television series. n.p.
n.d.
General Physical Description note: Typescript and carbon. 4 copies with a few corrections.
box 2
Calamity Jane. Screenplay. n.p.
October 14, 1944.
General Physical Description note: Typescript (carbon).
box 2
, vol.1 & 2. Research notes on the South and the Civil War.
1862
General Physical Description note: Typescript. Each volume bound in maroon paper cover, and filed in a manila folder.
Scope and Contents note
There is no indication as to when this work was done, but perhaps it was undertaken in conjunction with working on the Civil
War Story, eventually titled By Dim and Flaring Lamps.
box 2
Fort Cloud. n.p.
n.d.
General Physical Description note: Typescript.
Scope and Contents note
Story idea.
box 2
FSO series. n.p.
n.d.
General Physical Description note: Typescript.
Scope and Contents note
Story idea and plan for a series of screenplays.
box 2
Project Hotspot. n.p.
1962.
General Physical Description note: Typescript and carbons. 8 copies, with corrections.
Scope and Contents note
This is an outline and plan for a possible series of films.
box 3
Hardship Post. Screenplay. Story outline, incomplete script. n.p.
n.d.
General Physical Description note: Typescript and carbon. Filed in manila folders.
box 3
I'd Rather Be Dead Than Fourteen; and Other Stories. n.p.
April 1963.
General Physical Description note: Typescript, some carbon.
Scope and Contents note
Included is an outline for a series of stories, and a ninety-minute story plan for I'd Rather Be Dead Than Fourteen.
box 4
Brickyard. A one hour teleplay. n.p. Typescript, some carbon.
n.d.
General Physical Description note: Typescript, some carbon. Filed in manila folders.
Scope and Contents note
Included are various versions, with extensive corrections, and note cards. The leaves are not in any particular order.
box 5, box 6, box 7
By Dim and Flaring Lamps. [New York].
n.d.
General Physical Description note: Typescript, some carbon.
Scope and Contents note
Included are many typescript leaves, notes, revised and corrected versions. The leaves are filed in manila folders, in no
particular order. The novel is about the South and the Civil War.
box 8, box 9, box 10, box 11, box 12
Civil War Story. n.p.
n.d.
General Physical Description note: Typescript, much carbon.
Scope and Contents note
Included are many typescript leaves, notes, and revised and corrected versions of a story that was later to become By Dim
and Flaring Lamps. Research material is also included.
Many of the leaves are filed in manila folders, in no particular order. Other leaves are grouped in small boxes.
box 13
The Maharajah. n.p.,
ca.
1963.
General Physical Description note: Typescript, some carbon.
Scope and Contents note
Included is the story treatment of the screenplay, the screenplay itself, and correspondence and notes relating to the work.
box 14
The Night Riders. n.p.
n.d.
General Physical Description note: Typescript, some carbon.
Scope and Contents note
This appears to be another version of the Civil War Story that later became By Dim and Flaring Lamps.
Included are various notes, and typescript leaves of the novel.
box 15
The Night Riders. n.p. (Later to become By Dim and Flaring Lamps.).
n.d.
General Physical Description note: Typescript (carbon).
box 15
Passport. n.p.
n.d.
General Physical Description note: Typescript (carbon) and photostat.
box 16
Passport. n.p.
n.d.
General Physical Description note: Typescript, some carbon. Filed in manila folders.
Scope and Contents note
This is a prospectus for a television series, and related drafts, and other materials. Many versions and revised leaves.
General note
Some of the material is filed in a small box in Box 15 of the collection.
box 17
Old Man Coffee Stories. n.p.
n.d.
General Physical Description note: Typescript (carbon).
Scope and Contents note
Included is a story plan, and one 24-minute screenplay entitled An Old Man Coffee Story.
box 17
Omaha. n.p.
July 1963.
General Physical Description note: Typescript, some carbon.
Scope and Contents note
This is a screenplay, possibly for a series on television.
The leaves are filed in manila folders.
box 17
The Pitch Wagon. n.p.
June 25, 1945.
General Physical Description note: Typescript.
Scope and Contents note
This apparently is a synopsis, and sequence rundown for a screenplay. Included are photos of actors and actresses clipped
and pasted on sheets.
box 17
Short short story plots. n.p.
n.d.
General Physical Description note: Typescript.
box 17
Thirty-five American action subjects. n.p.
n.d.
General Physical Description note: Mimeograph.
Scope and Contents note
(Perhaps used in research for a series, or story)
box 17
Twenty-three epics. n.p.
n.d.
General Physical Description note: Typescript (carbon).
box 18
Trumpet. n.p.
n.d.
General Physical Description note: Typescript, some carbon.
Scope and Contents note
This is a screenplay, 4 copies, 3 different versions, with corrections, and revisions.
box 19
Taras Bulba. n.p.
n.d.
General Physical Description note: Typescript, some carbon.
Scope and Contents note
This is a screenplay, and includes character sketches, and outlines, rough draft.
box 19
The Unforgiven. New York.
n.d.
General Physical Description note: Typescript, mostly carbon, with extensive corrections. Filed in manila folders.
box 19
Weapons. n.p.
n.d.
General Physical Description note: 2 notebooks. Filed in manila folders.
Scope and Contents note
The notebooks consist of clipped pictures of various weapons, and commentary, pasted on sheets of paper (Probably used as
research material).
box 20
The Wide Country. California.
1962.
General Physical Description note: Typescript.
Scope and Contents note
Included are: I Was Hanged in Effigy, and 2 copies of Straight-Jacket for an Indian.
It appears that
The Wide Country is the title of a television series.
box 21
The Wide Country. Memory of a Filly. [California].
1962.
General Physical Description note: Typescript, much carbon.
box 21
Wyoming. [California]. This appears to be story plans, or outlines.
1963.
General Physical Description note: Typescript and carbons.
box 22
Research materials.
Scope and Contents note
Television Schedules.
box 23
Correspondence, ephemera, and personal papers (financial reports).
General Physical Description note: Filed in manila folders.
