Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
James Elward papers, 1938-1996
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Elward, James
- Title
- James Elward papers
- Dates
- 1938-1996 (inclusive)Date of CollectionDate of Collection
- Quantity
- 53.32 cubic ft. (64 boxes)
- Collection Number
- 10499
- Summary
- James Elward wrote television scripts, plays, and novels. This collection documents his work and contains some personal 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
James Elward was a playwright and author born in 1928 and based in New York City. He was most noted for writing soap operas in the 1960s and 1970s such as "The Secret Storm," "The Guiding Light," and "Dr. Kildare." He also wrote and produced a soap opera called "The Young Marrieds." Additionally, he wrote several plays for theaters in New York and London. He was active in summer stock with the Barnstormers in Tamworth, New Hampshire. He published three novels for Doubleday under the name of Rebecca James: "Storm's End" (1974), "The House Is Dark" (1976), and "Tomorrow Is Mine" (1979). He also published under his own name, including "Ask For Nothing More" (1984), "Monday's Child Is Dead" (1995), and "Public Smiles, Private Tears" (1982) with Helen Van Slyke. In 1991 he helped to organize Mystery Stage, Inc. a group that worked to foster stage performances in the mystery genre in New York City. He died in 1996.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The James Elward collection contains material relating to Elward's work as a writer in television, theater, and novels. Television material includes scripts for soap operas such as "The Guiding Light," "The Young Marrieds," and "The Secret Storm," and scripts for other television productions including episodes for Kraft Television Theater ("Paper Fox Hole," 1956) and the U.S. Steel Hour ("Victim" and "Upbeat," 1953). There are also production reports and correspondence. Material for his theater work includes dozens of scripts by Elward, correspondence, advertisements and posters, and photographs. Material relating to his novels includes drafts and final copies, hard and soft cover books, book cover illustrations, publisher correspondence, and notes and ideas. There is also personal material such as diaries and day planners, Army and reunion correspondence, family photographs and albums, awards, and personal correspondence.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Copyright InformationThe researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.
Preferred Citation
Preferred CitationItem Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
This collection has been minimally processed and organized by type of work (television, play, and novel). Works were grouped together by title, and titles of works only appearing once are not listed individually, instead they can be found under "Various". Materials in the Personal Materials series may include material from Elward's professional life, such as professional correspondence.
Related Materials
Related MaterialsThere are no other known archival collections created by Elward at the date of processing.
Acquisition Information
Acquisition InformationThe James Elward Estate sent this collection to the American Heritage Center in 1997.
Processing Note
Processing InformationThe collection was processed by Laura Uglean Jackson in July 2008.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series I. Television MaterialsReturn to Top
This series contains scripts Elward wrote for television soap operas and other productions. Also included are daily production reports, correspondence, and ideas and notes for scripts.
| Container(s) | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 1 | Various television scripts |
|
| 2 | Television outlines |
|
| 3 | Unsold and unfinished television scripts |
|
| 4-5 | Lamp Unto My Feet and Look Up and Live episodes |
|
| 6-8 | The Young Marrieds television scripts |
|
| 8 | The Paper Foxhole |
1956 |
| 8 | Victim |
1953 |
| 8 | Upbeat |
1953 |
| 9 | Where the Heart Is |
|
| 9 | Strange Paradise |
|
| 10 | Love is a Many Splendid Thing |
|
| 11 | The House on High Street |
|
| 12-14 | The Secret Storm |
|
| 14 | The Doctors |
|
| 14 | Hide Me in the Mountains |
|
| 14 | Television correspondence |
|
| 14 | Untitled telescripts |
|
| 14 | Various soap operas and other scripts |
|
| 14 | Daytime serial writing credits |
|
| 15 | The Guiding Light |
|
| 15 | Cosmopolitan article on soap operas |
|
| 15 | Television notes, audition material, and ideas |
|
| 39 | Television Award |
Series II. Plays and Theater ProductionsReturn to Top
This series contains scripts, correspondence, photographs, playbills, and advertisements for plays written by Elward. There is also general material related to the Barnstormers Theater in Tamworth, New Hampshire.
| Container(s) | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 16 | Best of Friends |
|
| 17-18 | Servants of the Lord or Hallelujah |
|
| 18 | The Murmur of Angels |
|
| 18 | Upbeat |
|
| 19-20 | A Perfect Stranger |
|
| 20 | Church Mouse |
|
| 20 | Friday Night |
|
| 20 | Look After Lulu |
|
| 21 | Couples |
|
| 21 | Cherokee Night |
|
| 21-22 | Suite 507 |
|
| 22 | The Winter Tree |
|
| 22 | Picture You Upon My Knee |
|
| 23-24 | Various plays |
|
| 24 | Subject to Change |
|
| 24-26 | Whispers |
|
| 26 | Theater correspondence, notes, and ideas for plays |
|
| 27-28 | Barnstormers Theater Material |
|
| 29 | Various plays |
|
| 30 | Unfinished and unsold plays |
|
| 31 | Operas and lyrics |
|
| 32 | Photographs and early career |
|
| 33-39 | Photographs, pictures, albums, and scrapbooks |
|
| 39 | Framed reviews and letters |
|
| 40 | Advertisement posters |
|
| 40 | Mystery Stage Material |
Series III. NovelsReturn to Top
This series contains drafts, final copies, hard and soft cover editions, book cover illustrations, correspondence, and notes and ideas on novels by Elward.
| Container(s) | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 41 | Book cover illustrations |
|
| 42 | Ask for Nothing More |
|
| 43 | Flesh and Blood |
|
| 43 | An Occupied City |
|
| 44 | Friday Night |
|
| 44 | Don't Go to Strangers |
|
| 44 | Second Chances |
|
| 45-46 | Public Smiles, Private Tears |
|
| 46 | How Come You're Not Married? |
|
| 46 | Monday's Child is Dead |
|
| 46 | Novel correspondence |
|
| 47-48 | Storm's End |
|
| 48-49 | The House is Dark |
|
| 49-50 | Various novels |
|
| 49 | Background material, notes, and excerpts |
|
| 50-51 | Tomorrow is Mine |
|
| 52 | Various novels and articles |
|
| 52 | European magazines |
|
| 53-55 | Hard and soft cover books |
Series IV. Personal MaterialsReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 40 | Sketches and drawings |
|
| 56 | Family photographs |
|
| 57 | Day Planners |
1971-1995 |
| 58 | Diaries and day planners |
1958-1996 |
| 59-60 | Diaries |
1938-1950 |
| 59 | Notebooks on writing |
|
| 61-62 | Correspondence |
|
| 62 | Pat O'Conner material |
|
| 62 | Research and secondary material |
|
| 63 | Resumes, poems, Early Years, family material, travel material, and secondary materials |
|
| 64 | Early career, school materials, Army materials, awards, and family photos |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Authors and the theater.
- Dramatists.
- Fiction -- authorship.
- Soap operas.
- Television scripts.
- Theater -- 20th century.
Personal Names
- James, Rebecca, 1928-1996.
- Van Slyke, Helen, 1919-1979.
Geographical Names
- Tamworth (N.H.)
Form or Genre Terms
- Scripts.
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Elward, James. Public smiles, private tears.
- Van Slyke, Helen, 1919-1979. Public smiles, private tears.
Processed by Laura Uglean Jackson
2008
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
