AHJ_ah06798 Inventory of the Phillips H. Lord papers, 1907-1976 (bulk 1930-1942) Lord (Phillips H.) papers Processed by Kathryn Brooks 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. University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
American Heritage Center Dept. 3924, 1000 E. University Avenue University of Wyoming Laramie, WY 82071 Phone: 307.766.2574 Fax:307.766.5511 Email:ahcref@uwyo.edu URL:http://ahc.uwyo.edu/
2012

University of Wyoming

 Finding aid encoded by Kathryn Brooks March 2012 Finding aid is in English Collection Summary Lord, Phillips H. (Phillips Haynes) Phillips H. Lord papers 1907-1976 (bulk 1930-1942) 06798 17.28 cubic ft. (36 boxes) University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center. English Contains the papers of Phillips Lord, radio program writer, creator, producer, narrator, and actor. Biography of Phillips H. Lord

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.

 Scope and Content

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."

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

 Copyright Information

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

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

This material was received from Jean Lord Greenlaw (daughter), in 1977 and 1990. Material was recieved from Kris McCray (on behalf of Jean Greenlaw) in May 2024.

The collection was processed by Kathryn Brooks in March 2012. This collection was updated by Brittany Heye in February 2026.

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

 Access Terms Seth Parker (Radio program) Radio programs -- United States. Voyages and travels. Ocean travel Shipwrecks Phonograph records. Photographs. Scrapbooks. Scores. Radio scripts. Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Performing Arts Social Life and Customs Media and Communication Container List Series I. Career 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 36Scripts - unidentified1958 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 materials 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 items 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 36Photographs - miscellaneous1950-1970 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 36Motion picture films - unidentified (8mm) (2 reels)undated Sub-series 1. Audio Reel-to-Reels 36Reels #1-3 36Joe McCann and the West Side Sydndicate, reel #1November 10, 1975 36The Metropolitan Motor Mob, reel #1November 10, 1975 36The Triple Threat Bandits, reel #1-2November 10, 1975 36The Devil and the Syndicate, reel #2-3November 10, 1975 36Scotch magnetic tape 36Campfireundated 36S.P. SEZ (2 reels)undated 36Gang Bustersundated 36What's Newundated 36Seth Parker Closing Show "Nothin'" partyundated 36Stilphen, Boys and partyundated 36Sardi's, reels #1-2undated 36Unidentified (3 reels)undated Series IV. Personal 36Biographical file1907-1970 1 Certificates 1943-1966 2 Correspondence 1932-1933 3 Correspondence 1934-1969, undated 15 Correspondence - Harriet M. Cheney 1946-1947, undated 36Corresponedence - Lillian Stilphen1973-1976 36Estate of Phillip H. Lord1976 4 Financial records 1947-1969, undated 28 Legal correspondence & related 1925-1968 36Legal - Donnie B. Lord v. Phillip H. Lord1959 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 36Notes/journalsundated 15 Philately & notes circa 1939-1955 19 Receipts circa 1935-1969 36Receipts and taxes1976 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