Albert Maltz Papers, 1910-1985

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Maltz, Albert, 1908-1985
Title
Albert Maltz Papers
Dates
1910-1985 (inclusive)
Quantity
65.53 cubic ft. (70 boxes)
Collection Number
02675
Summary
Papers of novelist and screenwriter Albert Maltz, who was blacklisted by the House Un-Amerian Activities Committee in the 1950s. Included in the collection are materials on Maltz's testimony before HUAC in 1947, as well as published and unpublished writings, personal correspondence, research, and biographical materials.
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
Access Restrictions

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

Languages
English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Albert Maltz (1908-1985) was a movie screenwriter, playwright, and novelist during the twentieth century. Born in Brooklyn, New York and educated at Columbia University and Yale University, Maltz started his show business career as a playwright and wrote several plays during the 1930s, including the Broadway play "The Black Pit" (1935). He turned to screenwriting during the 1940s and wrote scripts for a number of movies between the 1940s and 1970s, including "The Robe" (1953). Maltz's screenwriting career was interrupted in 1947. He was a member of the "Hollywood Ten", a group of Hollywood figures who refused to answer the questions of the House Committee on Un-American Activities concerning alleged communist influence in the movie industry. For this, he was jailed for contempt of Congress and was blacklisted by the movie industry until the mid 1960s. In addition to his work in theater and movies, Maltz was author of a number of novels, including "The Journey of Simon McKeever" (1949) and "A Long Day in a Short Life" (1957), and numerous short stories.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection contains material pertaining to the "Hollywood Ten" and Maltz's blacklisting from Hollywood during the 1940s-1960s, including photos, correspondence, court documents, advertisements, and pamphlets. Reel to reel audio tapes of Maltz's testimony before the House Committee on Un-American Activities (1947) is also included. The collection also contains Maltz's play and screenplay manuscripts (original and copies) including "The Black Pit" and "The Robe." Unproduced screenplays include "The Spy" and "Shattered Silence." Collection also holds Maltz's short story and novel manuscripts such as "Bel Canto." Correspondence covers Maltz's personal and professional life and includes letters to family members and publishers. Biographical material includes published journals and newspaper clippings, diaries, an oral history transcript and biographical manuscript, and miscellaneous items from traveling. Photos include headshots of Maltz, family and wedding pictures and pictures of theater sets.

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.

Preferred Citation

Preferred Citation

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

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

This collection has been arranged into six series, and each series has varying levels of organization.

Related Materials

Related Materials

There are other archival collections created by Albert Maltz at the Wisconsin Historical Society, the University of California - Los Angeles, the New York Public Library, the Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center at Boston University, and Columbia University.

Acquisition Information

Acquisition Information

Esther Maltz donated the Albert Maltz collection to the American Heritage Center in 1986.

Processing Note

Processing Information

The collection was processed by Keith Reynolds and Laura Uglean Jackson, September 2008.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I. House Committee on Un-American ActivitiesReturn to Top

This series contains materials related to the Hollywood 10, House Committee on Un-American Activities, and blacklisting. Materials include court documents such as statements and testimonies, prison and other correspondence, photographs, paid advertisements, newspaper articles, pamphlets, certificates and notes.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1-2
Letters, photographs, sound recordings, and other materials relating to the Hollywood 10, HUAC, and Blacklisting
circa 1940s-1950s

Series II. Manuscripts and Research FilesReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
3
Short Stories and One Act Plays
1930s-1980s
4
Collections of Short Stories and One Act Plays, research notes for a Civil War Novel
1930s-1980s
5
Miscellaneous Short Stories and Research Notes
1930s-1980s
6
Bel Canto
undated
6
Blood Brother
circa 1948
7, 32
The Bridge in the Jungle
circa 1964
6
Cloak and Dagger
1946, March 16
6
Day 121 (Mill Point), Unpublished
undated
6
Destination Tokyo
1943, June 20
6
Elizabeth
undated
8, 9
Eyewitness Report (The Cage)
undated
6
Exodus (Published under pseudonym - Julian Silva)
undated
10
The Flame within (play from the novel "The Cross and the Arrow" by Albert Maltz, adapted by Alan M. Miller)
undated
10
Gideon's Trumpet
undated
10
This Gun for Hire
1941, October
11, 32
Hang Up (The Face of Night)
1972 and earlier
10
The House I Live In and The Hollywood 10 Film
1945, May 3 and undated
39-40
Story ideas and discarded notes
undated
12, 13, 14
The Journey of Simon McKeever (novel and screenplay)
undated
10
Johnny Dragoo
undated
10
A Long Day in a Short Life
undated
15, 32
The Lovers (Modigliani)
undated
15, 32
Merry Go Round and The Black Pit
circa 1932
32-37
Miscellaneous
undated
63
Miscellaneous Manuscripts
undated
16
Monsieur Victor (Originally published as The Exile)
1958 and 1969
16, 32
The Morrison Case
undated
16
Moscow Strikes Back (English commentary by Maltz)
circa 1942
16
Pride of the Marines
1944, October 24
16, 32
The Naked City (Originally Homicide)
1947, May 20
29
Naked Heart
undated
29, 30, 32
Paulette
1932 and undated
62
Research
28
Research Journals and West Virginia Coal Mining Pictures
1932 and undated
37-38
Research files for manuscripts and writings (secondary material, sources, and notes)
undated
16, 32
The Robe (Credited to Philip Dunne but written by Maltz)
1946, December 11
17, 18, 32
Scalawag (Bar Silver)
circa 1960s
19, 20, 32
Shattered Silence
1971 and earlier
21, 22, 32
Sierra (Miguel O’Hara)
1967 and earlier
16
Silver Nutmeg
1959-1962
22
Speedy
undated
23
The Spy
undated
23
A Tale of One January
1971
24, 32
Two Mules for Sister Sara
1960's
25, 26
The White Dacoit of Khyber Pass
1970's
27, 32
Witch Hunt
undated

Series III. CorrespondenceReturn to Top

Includes professional correspondence with authors, publishers, colleagues in the film industry, and government officials. Topics include writing, publishing, living in Mexico, the Hollywood 10 and blacklisting, film production, and other professional matters. There is also personal correspondence with and about Maltz's three wives, friends, and children.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
41
Correspondence by Country
undated
42
Correspondence by Country, Pedro Galvan, Rosyln Targ, Miscellaneous
undated
43
Correspondence
1929 -1985
44
Correspondence
1955-1961
45
Correspondence
1962-1972
46
Correspondence
1971-1985 and undated
47
Hope Foye Scholarship Fund
1954 and undated
47
The Cross and the Arrow
1949-1973
47
The Citizen Writer
1947-1950
47
RE: Simon McKeever, Henry Fonda, Jane Fonda, Burt Lancaster
1976-1982
47
The Seven File, Public Relations, and Writer's Guild
1964
47
Mary Murray
1978
47
Short Stories
1951-1983
47
The House I Live In
1946 and 1958
47
Underground Stream, Fan Letter
undated
47
A Long Day in a Short Life
1957-1983
47
Form Letters to Interviewers
undated
47
Author's League Contract Advice
1972-1973
47
Pride of the Marines
1944, 1945, and undated
47
Data on Warner Brothers from Mary Baker
1944-1946
47
Author's League Special Folder
1946
47
War Effort
1942 and 1944
47
Mexico
1957-1958
47
Written Criticism of Books by Publishers and Friends
1953
47
Monsieur Victor, Alain Mangel
1979
47
Monsieur Victor, Correspondence, Criticisms, and Letters of Rejection
1968-1971
47
Stevenson, Current Work
1965
47
Peter Maltz
1954-1963
48
The Cross and the Arrow, Arron Kramer, Eugene Glickman
1969-1971
48
Albert's 1972 Round Robin Letters
1972
48
Financial
1950-1984
48
Elly Hopkins
1978-1985
48
Grab Bag Personal, From my Desk Tray
1947-1962
48
Photocopies of letters to me which I have given to universities through 1966
1945-1966
48
Photocopies of (largely) unpublished materials given to universities through 1966
circa 1966
48
Erzsi
1963-1984
48
The Literary Life
1966-1982
48
Blacklist
undated
48
Miscellaneous
1969-1981
48
Miscellaneous
1977
48
Miscellaneous
1963-1981
48
Miscellaneous
1941-1984
48
Miscellaneous
1963-1983
48
Miscellaneous
1977-1980
48
Miscellaneous
1970-1977
48
Miscellaneous
1970-1981
48
Miscellaneous
1963-1964
49
Moving to New York
1968
49
Correspond (notes on a phone call to Snyder)
1971-1973
49
Max Wilkinson
1952
49
Union of South Africa
1958
49
Maxim Lieber
1954-1957
49
Frank Ross
1953-1955
49
Ernest Maltz
1951
49
Arthur Dossie, Bonnie Claire, and Lawson
1953-1955
49
Broken Arrow
1973
49
Exodus
1973
49
Private Slovick
1973
49
Black List, Moral Question
1963
49
Sierra/ Miguel O'Hara
1969 and 1974
49
Literary Business Contacts
June - August 1962
49
Literary Business Contacts
Sept. - Dec.t 1962
49
Witch Hunt
1963-1964
49
Urgent Correspondence
1972-1974
49
Literary Business Contacts
June - August 1962
49
Storehouse of Autobiographical Miscellany
Dec. 1951 - July 1952
49
Plan for Handling Funds in the Light of Devaluation
1954
49
Letters to LA Times about Bruce Cook's Trumbo Biography and Various Related Articles
1977
49
To be Xeroxed
1955
49
Letters from Europe
1929
49
Literary Business Contacts
June - August 1962
49
Sinatra
1945-1960
49
Trumbo Correspondence, Plus Attorneys, Plus Maltz Statement Given to the N.Y. Times
1954-1980
49
Victor Navasky "Naming Names"
1980
49
Elizabeth Lampell
1968-1969
49
New Republic
1967
49
Loose Correspondence of Interest
11944-1962
49
Interview and article
1978-1979
49
Correspondence between Helen and Margaret
1941-1950
49
Copies of Brecht-Eisler correspondence
1935
50
Miscellaneous
1968-1970
50
Skadron, Bernard
1957
50
Margaret to Maltz and Miscellaneous
1934-1941
50
Miscellaneous, A-D
1965-1970
50
Miscellaneous, E-H
1963-1975
50
Miscellaneous, I-L
1963-1970
50
Miscellaneous, M-S
1965-1970
50
Miscellaneous, T-Z
1966-1970
50
Publishers
1954-1969
50
Items on London
1968-1969
50
American Documentary Films
1967
50
Miscellaneous
1968
50
Miscellaneous
1955-1965
50
Instructions on moving stuff from Mexico
undated
50
Alfred Stern, Robert Stern, and Dr. Brill
1972
50
Miscellaneous
1953-1957
50
Miscellaneous
1968-1970
50
Literary and business correspondence, folder #4
1962-1963
50
Miscellaneous
1958
50
Miscellaneous
1957-1959
50
Miscellaneous correspondence and autobiography
1959
50
Skadron, Bernard
1958
51
Miscellaneous correspondence
1951-1959
51
Miscellaneous correspondence
1962
51
Lieber, Max
1958-1962
51
Fania correspondence #2
1961-1962
51
Violette - Pierro - Bill Cole - Dr. Goldstein
1960-1961
51
Fania correspondence folder #1
1960
51
Herbert Biberman
1955-1956
51
Jenner Committee
1953
51
King Brothers - Dalton Letters
1959
51
Miscellaneous correspondence (U.S.A.)
1959-1961
51
Ivan Von Auw, Jr. and Harold Ober Associates
1952-1959
51
Burges Johnson
1956-1961
51
Skadron, Bernard, general correspondence
1954-1960
51
Maltz - Dossie
1953-1955
51
Skadron, Bernie
1951-1952
51
Miscellaneous correspondence
1959
51
Peter Maltz
1958
51
Family
1957
51
Question of pseudonym and problems of publishing
1952
51
Miscellaneous, spring and summer
1960
51
Correspondence with Christopher La Farge and James Caine on Guild Matters
1947
51
Correspondence with Author's Guild
1946-1947
51
Correspondence with Christopher LaFarge, Oscar Hammerstein, Luise Sillcox, and others (Author's Guild)
1946-1947
51
Sam Ornitz
1972-1975
51
Germany
1963-1980
51
Greece
1966
51
Miscellaneous
1962-1965
51
"Salt of the Earth" case
1964
51
Assorted HUAC
1967-1968
51
Marcel Marceau
1969-1975
51
Lewis, Oscar
1963-1967
51
Halperin, Maurice
1969-1970
52
Theater Union meeting minutes and correspondence
1938
52
Miscellaneous correspondence and autobiography
1957-1959
52
General Correspondence
October-December, 1951
52
Little Brown
1951
52
Arthur - Belford Lawson correspondence
1951-1953
52
Letters [concerning] Rosenburg Case
1952-1953
52
General Correspondence
1951-1957
52
Pete Correspondence
1962-1963
52
Miscellaneous
1962-1963
52
Ernesto
1951-1958
52
Albert's Letters of Condolence to Various People
Pre-1968
52
Divorce Papers, Financial Settlements, and Private Agreement with Margaret
1963
52
Miscellaneous
1962-1967
52
Letters to Family During the Mexico Years
1948-1960
52
McKeener [Cross and Arrow]
undated
52
Larkin, Margaret
1962-1966
52
Peter Maltz and Katherine Larkin
1962-1967
52
Trumbo and Biberman
undated
52
Miscellaneous
1950-1964
52
Solzhenitsyn
1972-1973
52
Einig and Dietz
1946-1950
52
Maria Von Schweinitz
1947-1950
52
Volk und Welt
1949-1950
52
Various Writers
1947 and undated
52
Lieber, Maxim
1962-1981
52
Columbia Workshop
1937
52
Foye, Hope
1955-1970
52
Fania Fenelon
1962-1963
52
Belinda- Hope Foye
1969
52
The Journey of Simon McKeever
1948-1950
52
Ring Lardner Jr.
1978-1981
52
Fania Fenelon
1964-1967
52
Dashiell Hammett
1940

Series IV. Biographical MaterialReturn to Top

This series contains biographical material such as an oral history transcript and biography, secondary material, journals and diaries, and material about Maltz's family and friends.

Container(s) Description
Box
53-54
Secondary Material (newspapers, journals, and other publications)
54-55
Financial and Medical Records
55
"Albert Maltz" by Jack Salzman (manuscript)
undated
55
Our Family History by Maltz
1976
55
Oral History with Maltz (transcript)
1983
56
Foreign Publishers and Agents
undated
56
Lectures on screenwriting
1983 and 1976
56
Julian Silva Photos and Biography
56
Rosemary and other wives
56
Autobiography
56
Written materials- speeches, correspondence, and drafts
circa 1950
56
Philip Stevenson's Will
undated
56
Philosophical and Social Observations and Endings
undated
56
Literary Memo to Executors
1961
57
Journals and notebooks
1932-1934
58
Miscellaneous biographical material (vacations, notes, day planners)
59
Italy (Maps, menus, photos, language study, notes)
1964

Series V. PhotographsReturn to Top

Contains photographs of theater stage designs and actors, travel photos from Italy, Mexico, and other destinations, and images of family members including Albert Maltz and his wife Rosemary. There are also pictures of friends, doctors, and animals.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
60
Professional Photographs
undated
60
Travel Photographs
undated
60
Family and Miscellaneous Photographs
1910-1985
61
Rosemary
1960s

Series VI. Published Novels and Plays in Various LanguagesReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
64-70
Published Novels and Plays in Various Languages
circa 1940-1980

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Blacklisting of authors.
  • Dramatists -- United States -- 20th century.
  • Literature -- United States -- 20th century.
  • Motion picture authorship -- United States -- 20th century.
  • Motion picture industry -- United States -- 20th century.
  • Motion pictures -- United States -- 20th century.
  • Novelists, American -- 20th century.
  • Plays -- United States -- 20th century.
  • Playwriting.
  • Screenwriters -- United States -- 20th century.
  • Theater -- United States -- 20th century.

Corporate Names

  • United States. Congress. House. Committee on Un-American Activities.