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Gene L. Coon papers, 1956-1973

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Coon, Gene L.
Title
Gene L. Coon papers
Dates
1956-1973 (inclusive)
Quantity
12.40 cubic feet (28 boxes)
Collection Number
06650
Summary
This collection contains the papers of Gene L. Coon, an American screenwriter, television producer, and novelist. It contains his personal papers and scripts from his work. Included are materials from his time on the early seasons of Star Trek, one of his most notable credits from his television career.
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.

Additional Reference Guides

Finding aid available in repository.

Languages
English
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Historical Note

Eugene “Gene” Lee Coon was an American Screenwriter, television producer, and novelist. He is best known for his work on the original Star Trek as a screenwriter, story editor, and showrunner. Gene was born in Nebraska in January of 1924. The Coon family moved to California when he was a teenager. During World War II, Gene served stateside in the Marine Corps from 1942-1946. He remained a reservist afterword, while he studied radio communications at Glendale Junior College, and additional studies at University of Iowa before returning to active duty in 1950 during the Korean War. He was demobilized in 1952. Coon wrote about his military experience in his novels Meanwhile Back at the Front and The Short End of the Stick. Gene died of lung and throat cancer at 49 in July of 1973.

Gene began his television career in 1956. He was first involved with scripting popular western and action shows. Notable titles he worked on include Dragnet, Wagon Train, and Bonanza. In the early 1960s, while working at Universal, he turned McHale’s Navy from a one-hour drama to a 30-minute sitcom. Coon then joined the Star Trek project partway through it’s first season. Coon’s Wagon Train scripts, containing strong moral values about personal redemption and opposing war, provided a basis for his Star Trek scripts. David Gerrold credited him with being a skilled showrunner before Coon left in the middle of the second season. The reason for the split was reported as arguments between Gene and Gene Roddenberry. Coon would later contribute to four more scripts in the third season under the pseudonym Lee Cronin.

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Content Description

This collection contains Gene L. Coon’s personal papers and scripts from his work as a screenwriter, television producer, and novelist. Included are materials from his time on the early seasons of Star Trek, scripts from his shows such as Wagon Train, Zorro, and Dragnet, as well as manuscripts for his novels.

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Use of the Collection

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.

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Administrative Information

Related Materials

There are no known other archival collections created by Gene L. Coon at the date of processing.

Acquisition Information

The collection material was recieved from Mrs. Gene L. Coon in 1977.

Processing Note

The collection was processed by Brittany Heye in October 2023.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Form or Genre Terms

Occupations

Titles within the Collection

  • Star trek (Television program)
  • Wagon train (Television program)
  • Zorro (Television program)

Other Creators

Processed by Brittany Heye
2023

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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