Leonard St. Clair papers

Leonard St. Clair papers, circa 1918-1986

Overview of the Collection

Creator: St. Clair, Leonard
Title: Leonard St. Clair papers
Dates: circa 1918-1986 (inclusive)
19171986
Quantity: 13 cubic ft. (28 document boxes)
Collection Number: 09627
Summary: The Leonard St. Clair collection includes biographical material, correspondence, source material, photographs, diaries, manuscripts, radio scripts, and published books and stories. The largest part of the collection consists of scripts for radio and TV, and manuscripts for historical suspense novels like "The Seadon Fortune."
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
Sponsor: The creation of the EAD-version of this finding aid was made possible through a grant from the National Historic Publications and Records Commission.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Leonard St. Clair was born in 1918 in San Francisco and continued to live in California, although he traveled extensively and lived for awhile in Paris. He attended the Choinard Institute of Arts in Los Angeles but did not earn a degree. He was a self-educated man. He became a popular writer for radio shows during the 1940s and 1950s, and produced the famous A Christmas Carol script for Lionel Barrymore. His regular radio shows included Mayor of the Town, Lux Radio Theatre, Hallmark Playhouse and Mike Shayne. He wrote over 250 radio scripts in all. St. Clair also wrote scripts for TV, especially Four Star Playhouse. In the 1960s and 1970s he wrote magazine stories and adventure-mystery novels including Fortune in Death, The Emerald Trap, The Seadon Fortune, and Obsessions.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Leonard St. Clair collection includes biographical material, correspondence, source material, photographs, diaries, manuscripts, radio scripts, and published books and stories from his commercial writing career.

The biographical file includes resumes, membership cards, and a pamphlet about an oil tanker named for St. Clair’s father. Most of the correspondence relates to St. Clair’s writing history. Source material includes clippings for ideas and notes relating to history and characters. The photographs date from childhood and St. Clair’s radio career. The diaries extend from 1927 to 1943, and they consist mainly of comments about travel, weather, politics, and career. There are a few gaps in a substantial collection of bound and unbound radio and TV scripts from the 1940s and 1950s. The largest part of the collection consists of manuscripts for novels, short stories, radio dramas, outlines, and a few articles. Some of the novels, like The California Saga (later renamed The Seadon Fortune) involved many re-writes so their manuscripts are extensive.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

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

Preferred Citation

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Leonard St. Clair papers, circa 1918-1986, Collection Number 09627, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Related Materials

There are no other known archival collections created by Leonard St. Clair at the date of processing.

Acquisition Information

The Leonard St. Clair papers were given to the American Heritage Center in one shipment by Mrs. Catherine St. Clair in 1988.

Processing Note

Processing Information

The collection was processed by John Hanks in February 2002. The papers were received in good condition and partial order. They have been arranged by type, chronologically within series. Where original folder titles existed they have been maintained. Where none existed, a descriptive title was created.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I.: Biographical Material, Clippings, Photographs, circa 1918-1986Return to Top

0.20 cubic ft. (3 folders)

Arranged alphabetically. Resumes, membership cards, clippings for ideas, youth and professional photographs.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
1	1	Biographical Resumes, Obituaries, Membership Cards	1941-1986
1	2	Clippings (Background Inspiration, Research)	1975-1978
1	3	Photographs (Baby, Youth, Radio Career)	circa 1918-circa 1940s

Series II.: Correspondence, 1933-1982Return to Top

0.25 cubic ft. (4 folders)

Arranged chronologically. Most of this correspondence is professional, involving agents, publishers, and friends.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folders
1	4-7	Correspondence	1933-1982

Series III.: Diaries, 1927-1942Return to Top

1 cubic ft. (2.1 document boxes)

Arranged chronologically. A daily chronical of events from childhood through early adulthood.

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
2	Diaries	1927, 1929-1934
3	Diaries	1935, 1937-1941
4	Diary	1942

Series IV.: Radio and Television Scripts (Bound), 1943-1954Return to Top

4.5 cubic ft. (10 document boxes)

Arranged chronologically. Scripts by St. Clair for popular radio and early television programs.

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
4	Vol. 1. Radio – Mayor of the Town, Amos and Andy, Lux Theatre, etc.	1943
4	Vol. 2. Radio – Lifebuoy Show, Mayor of the Town, Stars Over Hollywood, Results Incorporated, etc.	1944
5	Vol. 2. Television – The Wreck, Rebound, Decision, etc.	1953
5	Vol. 3. Radio – Michael Shayne, etc. (Part 1)	1944
5	Vol. 3. Radio – Michael Shayne, (Part 2)	1945
6	Vol. 4. Radio – Michael Shayne	1945
6	Vol. 5. Radio – Michael Shayne	1945
6	Vol. 5. Television - Death Bed, Make Room for Daddy, etc.
7	Vol. 6. Radio – Michael Shayne	1946
7	Vol. 7. Radio – Michael Shayne	1947
7	Vol. 8. Radio – Mayor of the Town, Hollywood Preview, etc.	1946
8	Vol. 9. Radio – Mayor of the Town	1947
8	Vol. 10. Radio – Mayor of the Town, U.S. Army, etc.	1947
8	Vol. 10. Radio – Mayor of the Town, (Part 2)	1948
9	Vol. 11. Radio – Mayor of the Town	1949
9	Vol. 12. Missing
9	Vol. 13. Radio – Anacin Hollywood Star Theatre	1949-1950
9	Vol. 14. Radio – Charles Boyer, Hollywood Star Playhouse	1950
10	Vol. 15. Radio – Hallmark Playhouse	1951
10	Vol. 16. Radio – Stars Over Hollywood, The Man Upstairs	1951
10	Vol. 17. Radio – Hallmark Playhouse	1951-1952
11	Vol. 18. Radio – Hallmark Playhouse	1952
11	Vol. 19. Missing
11	Vol. 20. Radio – Hallmark Playhouse	1952
11	Vol. 21. Radio – Hallmark Playhouse	1953
12	Vol. 22. Radio – Tums Hollywood Theatre, Stars Over Hollywood, Romance	1952-1953
12	Vol. 23. Radio – Meet Mr. McNutley, Romance	1954
12	Vol. 24. Radio – Lux Radio Theatre	1954
13	Vol. 25. Radio – Lux Radio Theatre, War of the Worlds	1955
13	Vol. 26. Radio – Lux Radio Theatre	1955
13	Vol. 27. Radio – Lux Radio Theatre, Sunday Theatre	1955

Series V.: Radio Scripts (Unbound), 1950-1957Return to Top

0.80 cubic ft. (2 document boxes)

Arranged alphabetically.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
14	1	Four Star Playhouse, Grampy, The Silent Partner, Halls of Ivy, Until Death Do Us Part, The Supreme Moment	1950
14	2	Hallmark Playhouse (A-0)	1952-1956
14	3	Hallmark Playhouse (P-Z)	1950-1952
14	4	Hollywood Star Playhouse (A-M)	1950-1952
14	5	Hollywood Star Playhouse (N-Z)	1951
14	6	Hollywood Star Theatre (Hollywood Theatre, Stars Over Hollywood)	1949-1953
15	1	The Mayor of the Town, Michael Shayne – Private Detective	undated
15	2	Mystery Time, etc.	1950-1957
	Folders
15	3-4	Romance	1953-1954
	Folder
15	5	Untitled Fragments	undated

Series VI.: Publications, 1955-1980Return to Top

0.65 cubic ft. (1.5 document boxes)

Arranged alphabetically. Books and an article by St. Clair.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
16	1	Book, The Emerald Trap	1975
16	2	Book, Famile-arven, (The Seadon Fortune)	1978
16	3	Book, A Fortune in Death	1976
16	4	Book, Obsessions	1980
17	1	Book, The Seadon Fortune	1977
17	2	Periodical, Esquire – “Hollywood on the Couch,”	August 1955

Series VII.: Manuscripts, 1953-1983Return to Top

5.4 cubic ft. (12 document boxes)

Arranged alphabetically. Complete and partial manuscripts, fragments and narrative outlines.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
		*Sub-series 1.: California Saga* (Seadon Fortune)**	1967-1983
Box	Folder
17	3	Finished Typed Manuscript, Pages 1-321	undated
17	4	Finished Typed Manuscript, Pages 171-End	undated
17	5	Volume 1	undated
18	1	Volume 2	undated
18	2	Vol. 2, 1st Half	undated
18	3	Vol. 2, 2nd Half	undated
18	4	Oil Industry Theme – Fragments	1967
19	1	Outline, Chapter Seven – Fragments	undated
19	2	Chapter Three – Fragments	undated
19	3	Fragments	undated
19	4	6th Revision – Fragments	undated
20	1	Revisions, Notes	undated
20	2	Chapter 16, Los Angeles, Fragments	1973
	Folders
20	3-4	Fragments	1973
	Folder
21	1	Fragments	undated
21	2	Chapter 11 (Final)	undated
21	3	Fragments	undated
	Folders
21	4-5	Manuscript (Partial)	undated
	Folder
21	6	The California Story	1983
22	1	Notes, Manuscript	undated
		*Sub-series 2.: Embezzled Lives* (The Glory Hole)**	1964-1970
Box	Folder
22	2	Finished Typed Manuscript	undated
22	3	Fragments (The Glory Hole)	undated
22	4	Fragments	1965-1969
23	1	Fragments	1966-1969
23	2	Fragments (The Glory Hole)	1967-1969
	Folders
23	3-4	Fragments	1964-1970
	Folder
24	1	Fragments	1968-1969
		*Sub-series 3.: Emerald Trap* (Enigma)**	1961-1972
Box	Folders
24	2-3	Fragments	1961-1972
	Folder
24	4	Chapters, Fragments	undated
25	1	Enigma Variations	undated
		Sub-series 4.: Obsession	1979
Box	Folders
25	2-3	Obsession, Chapters 1-17	undated
25	4-5	Obsession, Fragments	1979, undated
		Sub-series 5.: Short Manuscripts and Fragments	1961-1983
Box	Folder
25	6	Damnation of Luis (The Place Called Hope)	1961
25	7	The Eagle and the Snake	1982
26	1	Here There Be Dragons	undated
26	2	Hollywood on the Couch (Article)	undated
26	3	Memory of the Future	1977
26	4	Portable Crucifix	1970
26	5	Prelude (World War I)	undated
26	6	Violent Delights	1983
		Sub-series 6.: Notes and Fragments	1959-1982
Box	Folder
26	7	Brain Storming	1982
26	8	Chihuahua	1972-1979
26	9	Family Themes	1959-1971
26	10	George Themes	1959
26	11	Jewell Trade Themes	1976-1982
26	12	Kiev/15th Novel Themes	1977-1981
27	1	Oil – Western Themes	1969-1973
27	2	The Paris Story	1982
27	3	Romanovs	1977
27	4	South African Themes	1979-1982
27	5	Uncle Louis Themes	1959-1981
	Folders
27	6-7	Various Themes	1959-1982
27	8-9	Various Themes (Handwritten)	1969-1977
		Sub-series 7.: Outlines of Stories	undated
Box	Folder
28	1	Black Out, The Bridge, Damnation, The Day of Wrath, Double You, East Is East, Eve Had Two Sons, Flute in the Night, High Card - Low Card, The High Cost of Living	undated
28	2	The High Cost of Living, Julia Had No Plans, Jack of Diamonds, The Local, The Kingdom, Memory of the Future	undated
28	3	No Greater Love, No One Will Ever Know, The Show Down, Three Wishes, Unscheduled Stop, Volcano

Series VIII.: Notes, 1923-1980Return to Top

0.25 cubic ft. (3 folders)

Arranged alphabetically. Notes on writing, Source notes for writing projects.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
28	4	Literary	1968-1980
28	5	Source – Inspirational, Factual	undated
28	6	Source – Inspirational, Factual (Chronological)	1923-1979

Series IX.: Subject Files, 1974-1984Return to Top

0.20 cubic ft. (2 folders)

Arranged alphabetically. Authors’ professional organizations and miscellanous source pamphlets.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
28	7	Authors Guild, Authors League of America	1974
28	8	Miscellaneous Pamphlets	1981-1984

Series X.: Oversize Materials, 1920s-1970sReturn to Top

0.10 cubic ft. (1 folder)

Family photographs and an advertising galley proof.

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Oversize	CBS TV Film, Telephone Time (16mm)	1950s
	Phonograph Records of Radio Shows:
Oversize-Folder
1-4	Mayor of the Town – KECA, Parts 1-8	February 11, 1948
5	Lionel Barrymore – In Memorium, Parts 1 and 2	November 21, 1954
6-8	Charles Boyer, Parts 1-6	July 11, 1950
9-11	Hollywood Star Playhouse, Parts 1-6 (?)	August 28, 1950
12	Dorothy Lamour Show – Allan Ladd Spot (Parts 1 and 2)	August 24, 1947
13-14	Dorothy Lamour Show – Barrymore Spot (Parts 1-4)	July 27, 1947, undated
15-16	CBS Radio Workshop (Parts 1-4)	March 9, 1956
Oversize-Folder
	Two childhood photographs and one advertising galley proof	1920s-1970s

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