Phillips H. Lord papers, 1923-1969 (bulk 1930-1942)

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Lord, Phillips H. (Phillips Haynes)
Title
Phillips H. Lord papers
Dates
1923-1969 (bulk 1930-1942) (inclusive)
Quantity
16.28 cubic ft. (35 boxes)
Collection Number
06798
Summary
Contains the papers of Phillips Lord, radio program writer, creator, producer, narrator, and actor.
Repository
American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
American Heritage Center
University of Wyoming
1000 E. University Ave.
Dept. 3924
Laramie, WY
82071
Telephone: 3077663756
ahcref@uwyo.edu
Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.

Languages
English
Sponsor
The creation of the EAD-version of this finding aid has been made possible through a grant from the National Historic Publications and Records Commission.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Lord (1902-1975) created over eighteen radio and television programs, including "Seth Parker"; "Seth Parker's Old Fashioned Singing School"; "G-Men"; "Gangbusters"; and "Mr. District Attorney." The "Seth Parker" series was his most popular work, in which he appeared, wrote, produced, and directed. Lord was born in Hartford, Vermont but moved shortly after to Meriden, Connecticut where his father became the pastor of a local church. He graduated with honors from Bowdoin College in 1923 and then became principal of the high school in Plainville, Connecticut, at just twenty-two years old, the youngest person to hold such a post in the state. However, he tired of the academic life and began writing short stories, eventually moving to New York City in 1927. His break came from his first program "Old Fashioned Singing School," broadcast on a Hartford station, which received favorable letters and was picked up by five stations. Eventually, NBC decided it wanted the series, which led to the formation of "Seth Parker." In 1935 Lord bought a schooner and attempted to sail around the world, but the ship was wrecked in a storm near Tahiti. Lord and the crew survived, but the trip was curtailed as the ship was wrecked and sold for parts.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Collection contains extensive correspondence; manuscripts; musical scores; news clippings; publications; advertisements; legal and financial material; photographs; negatives; scrapbooks; scripts; a log kept while on his world-wide voyage; the manuscript for "Seth Parker's Scrapbook"; and 78 rpm phonograph records for the radio programs "Seth Parker," "Seth Parker's Old Fashioned Singing School," and "Sunday Evenings at Seth Parker's."

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Copyright Information

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Restrictions on Use

Statement on Potentially Harmful Language and Images Found in Collections

The American Heritage Center aspires to approach all areas of our work in ways that are respectful to those who create, use, and are represented in our collections. For a variety of reasons, however, users may encounter offensive or harmful language or images in some of our finding aids, catalogs, and collection materials.

Note that the AHC does not censor or alter contents of the collections as they provide context and evidence of a time, people, place, or event. Therefore, we encourage users to bring questions and concerns about descriptions in our finding aids to our attention via email or anonymous web-form. For more information, read our full statement.

Preferred Citation

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Related Materials

Related Materials

There is another archival collection pertaining to Phillips Lord's radio character "Seth Parker" at the Library of Congress.

Acquisition Information

This material was received from Jean Lord Greenlaw (daughter), in 1977 and 1990.

Processing Note

The collection was processed by Kathryn Brooks in March 2012.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I. CareerReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1
Agreement of Sale between General Teleradio, Inc. and Phillips H. Lord, Inc.
1954 January 29
1
Blueprints - Country Store
undated
28
Book - Uncle Hosie by Lord
1930
1
Briefs
circa 1935-1941
2
Contracts
1933-1967
28
In the Matter of the Income & Excess Profits Taxes of Visual Drama, Inc.
1951-1957
7
Manuscripts - story outlines
undated
5
Manuscripts
1929-1943, undated
6
Manuscripts
1926-1947, undated
7
Manuscripts
1934-1942, undated
8
Music scores
undated
9
Music scores
undated
10
Music scores
undated
11
Music scores
undated
12
Music scores
undated
13
Music scores
undated
14
Music scores
1928, circa 1940, undated
15
Music scores
undated
17
Outlines
circa 1933-1953
34
The Panama Canal Log Book of the S.S. Seth Parker
1934-1935
18
Poetry
undated
34
Print - "The Seth Parker"
undated
18
Prospectus
undated
19
Reports
undated
19
Resumés
circa 1932
19
Schedules
1938-1939
21
Script - radio - "Jonesport Star"
undated
20
Script material
1932, undated
20
Scripts - movie - "Obeah"
1935, undated
21
Scripts - movie - "Way Back Home"
1931 July 6
22
Scripts - radio - "Seth Parker"
1938-1939
23
Scripts - radio - "Seth Parker"
1939-1940
23
Scripts - radio - "Seth Parker's Old Fashioned Singing School"
1928-1932, undated
24
Scripts - radio - "Seth Parker's Old Fashioned Singing School"
undated
21
Scripts - radio - "Sunday Evening at Seth Parker's"
undated
24
Scripts - radio - "Sunday Evening at Seth Parker's"
1928-1929, undated
25
Scripts - radio - "Sunday Evening at Seth Parker's"
1930-1931, undated
26
Scripts - radio - "Sunday Evening at Seth Parker's"
1932-1935
27
Scripts - radio - "Sunday Evening at Seth Parker's"
1933-1935, undated
19
Scripts - radio
undated
21
Scripts - radio
1933-1940, undated
24
Scripts - radio
1934, 1939-1941, undated
28
Scripts - theatre
undated
21
Scripts - TV
undated
19
Seth Parker book mock-up
circa 1930-1931
18
Seth Parker production and Lord biographical information
undated
19
Seth Parker scrapbook
1929-1935
1
Seth Parker's Hymnal (3)
1930-1931
19
Seth Parker's Old Fashioned Songbook
undated
30
Seth Parker's Scrapbook
1935
29
Ship log
1934
29
Sketches
undated
30
Telegrams
1933-1937

Series II. Printed materialsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1
Advertisements
1929-1939
17
The American Magazine with story on Lord (p. 68)
1931 September
17
Association Men (with story on Seth Parker, p. 345)
1930 April
17
Broadcast Weekly (Seth Parker on cover)
1931 February 28
17
Caravan (with piece on Lord, p. 10)
1948 July
17
The Christian Home (with piece by Lord)
1950 January
4
Envelopes
1969
4
Forms
undated
17
Good Housekeeping with story about "Seth Parker"
1929 December
28
The Grade Teacher (with piece by Lord as Seth Parker)
1933 January
17
Hearst's International combined with Cosmopolitan (with Seth Parker story by Lord)
1932 May
4
Magazine clippings
circa 1929-1940
17
The Model Craftsman (with piece on Seth Parker, pp. 70-71)
1934 April
28
National Magazine (with feature on Lord, p. 450)
1930 July
15
Newspaper clippings
1929-1932
16
Newspaper clippings
1934-1938, 1960-1962
17
Newspaper clippings
1939-1942, undated
28
Newspaper clippings
1953, 1966
17
Newspapers
1933-1935
17
Radioland story - "The Seth Parker Disaster"
1934 November
17
Real America (with piece on Seth Parker, p. 8)
1934 July
28
Rockefeller Center Weekly (with piece on the Seth Parker, p. 10)
1935 February 21
17
Stamps (contains feature on Lord, p. 210)
1934 August 11
17
Stamps (contains piece on Seth Parker, p. 125)
1934 July 28

Series III. Audiovisual itemsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
18
Glass negatives
undated
35
Negatives (converted to interpositives)
undated
31
Phonograph record - Radio Mirror Dedication Program "Phil Lord"
1936 October 25
32
Phonograph record - Seth Parker broadcast
1939 February 12
32
Phonograph record - Seth Parker broadcast
1938 December 4
31
Phonograph record - Seth Parker Chor. "The Lost Chord" broadcast
1939 March 2
33
Phonograph record - Seth Parker Singers
1942 May 12
33
Phonograph record - Seth Parker's Neighbors Audition
undated
33
Phonograph record - Seth Parker's Neighbors broadcast
1939 June 2
33
Phonograph records - Seth Parker & male quartet with two duplicates (6)
undated
33
Phonograph records - Seth Parker (2)
undated
32
Phonograph records - Seth Parker broadcast (2)
1939 January 22
32
Phonograph records - Seth Parker broadcast (2)
1939 March 12
31
Phonograph records - Seth Parker broadcast (3)
1939 March 19
31
Phonograph records - Seth Parker broadcast (3)
1939 February 26
31
Phonograph records - Seth Parker broadcast (3)
1939 March 5
31
Phonograph records - Seth Parker broadcast (3)
1938 November 6
31
Phonograph records - Seth Parker broadcast (3)
1938 October 9
31
Phonograph records - Seth Parker broadcast (3)
1939 January 15
31
Phonograph records - Seth Parker broadcast (3)
1938 October 30
31
Phonograph records - Seth Parker broadcast (3)
1938 December 11
31
Phonograph records - Seth Parker broadcast (3)
1938 December 25
31
Phonograph records - Seth Parker broadcast (3)
1939 January 29
31
Phonograph records - Seth Parker broadcast (3)
1938 November 20
31
Phonograph records - Seth Parker broadcast (3)
1938 October 23
32
Phonograph records - Seth Parker broadcast (3)
1938 September 25
32
Phonograph records - Seth Parker broadcast (3)
1939 January 1
32
Phonograph records - Seth Parker broadcast (3)
1939 February 5
32
Phonograph records - Seth Parker broadcast (3)
1939 February 19
32
Phonograph records - Seth Parker broadcast (3)
1938 December 18
32
Phonograph records - Seth Parker broadcast (3)
1938 October 2
32
Phonograph records - Seth Parker broadcast (3)
1938 November 13
32
Phonograph records - Seth Parker broadcast (3)
1938 October 16
32
Phonograph records - Seth Parker broadcast (3)
1939 January 8
32
Phonograph records - Seth Parker broadcast (3)
1938 November 27
32
Phonograph records - Seth Parker chorus (4)
1939 March 2
33
Phonograph records - Seth Parker special & male quartet (3)
1939 January 23
33
Phonograph records - Seth Parker's Neighbors (4)
1939-1940
33
Phonograph records - Seth Parker's Neighbors Audition (2)
1939 June 2
33
Phonograph records - Seth Parker's Neighbors with Mother Parker original with two duplicates (3)
1939 June 2
18
Photographs - characters Ma & Seth Parker
undated
19
Photographs - Haiti - Sans Souci Palace
undated
19
Photographs - Lord, Albert J. (Dr.)
undated
19
Photographs - Lord, Phillips H.
undated
18
Photographs - miscellaneous identified photos
1932-1935, undated
19
Photographs - Palmer, Effie Lawrence
undated
18
Photographs - Phillips H. Lord with others, some identified
undated
18
Photographs - Phillips H. Lord
undated
18
Photographs - Seth Parker the ship
1934, undated
19
Photographs - Ship-Schooner Seth Parker
undated
18
Photographs - the Seth Parker crew & visitors
undated
18
Photographs - unidentified people
undated
18
Photographs - unidentified
undated
19
Photographs - Wittmer, Alfred; Wittmer, Heinz and Margret; Galapagos Islands; Floreana Island
1934, undated
32
Unlabeled phonograph records (4)
undated

Series IV. PersonalReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1
Certificates
1943-1966
2
Correspondence
1932-1933
3
Correspondence
1934-1969, undated
15
Correspondence - Harriet M. Cheney
1946-1947, undated
4
Financial records
1947-1969, undated
28
Legal correspondence & related
1925-1968
4
Lists
circa 1932-1968
7
Memos
circa 1923-1969
7
Minutes - Exposé, Inc.
1947-1948
7
Minutes - Hancock County Development Co.
1966-1967
7
Minutes - Treasury Agent, Inc.
1951
28
Miscellaneous Harold Herzstein
1957-1959
30
Miscellaneous
circa 1933-1957
15
Philately & notes
circa 1939-1955
19
Receipts
circa 1935-1969
34
Scrapbook
circa 1929-1938
29
Statements
1956-1968
30
Statements
circa 1957-1969
1
Stock certificates - Exposé
1948
34
Stock certificates - Lord, Inc.
1941 September 5
1
Stock certificates - Treasury Agent, Inc.
1947

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Ocean travel
  • Shipwrecks
  • Radio programs -- United States.
  • Voyages and travels.

Form or Genre Terms

  • Phonograph records.
  • Photographs.
  • Radio scripts.
  • Scores.
  • Scrapbooks.

Titles within the Collection

  • Seth Parker (Radio program)