Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Arthur J. Ornitz papers, 1931-1985
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Ornitz, Arthur J. (Arthur Jacob), 1916-1985
- Title
- Arthur J. Ornitz papers
- Dates
- 1931-1985 (inclusive)Date of CollectionDate of Collection
- Quantity
- 4.87 cubic ft. (8 boxes + 1 other)
- Collection Number
- 09718
- Summary
- The collection contains personal and professional papers of cinematographer Arthur J. Ornitz and correspondence, articles, and a play by blacklisted writer Samuel Ornitz.
- 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
Arthur Ornitz was a well known cinematographer in the motion picture and television industries. He earned his first motion picture credit as director of the Oscar-nominated 1936 short film "Wanted: A Master", but later turned his attention to cinematography. He earned cinematography credits on a number of popular films between the late 1950s and early 1980s, including "The Goddess" (1958), "The Young Doctors" (1961), "Requiem for a Heavyweight" (1962), "A Thousand Clowns" (1965), "Charly" (1968), "Serpico" (1973), "An Unmarried Woman" (1978) and "The Chosen" (1981). Ornitz was also the cinematographer of a number of television movies between the 1960s and 1980s, including "Carol for Another Christmas" (1964), "Honor Thy Father" (1973), and "Playing for Time" (1980). In addition to his work in movies, Ornitz made a number of television commercials and was an accomplished photographer. Arthur Ornitz passed away in 1985.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Collection concerns Arthur Ornitz's cinematography career. It contains correspondence, legal documents, clippings, manuscripts, and printed material. It also holds two scrapbooks concerning Ornitz's career and the movie "Wanted: A Master". Collection also includes slides taken by Ornitz, including artistic and travel images and those concerning the 1973 movie "Black Snake," 16 mm films of Ornitz's commercials, an unidentified 35 mm film roll, an unidentified nitrate film, and two audio tapes are found in this collection as well. Also included in this collection are personal correspondence, articles, and a play by Samuel Ornitz, the father of Arthur J. Ornitz, one of the original members of the Hollywood Ten.
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
Related Materials
Related MaterialsThere are no known other archival collections created by Arthur J. Ornitz at the date of processing. There are additional papers of Samuel Ornitz at the Wisconsin Historical Society.
Acquisition Information
Acquisition InformationThis material was received from Stephania Ornitz in December 1989.
Processing Note
Processing InformationThe collection was processed by Jill Jean Johnson March 2011
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series I. Professional and Personal PapersReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 1 | 1 | Professional Documentary Associations - Invitations, Ballots, Newsletters, and Correspondence |
1939-1940 |
| 1 | 2 | Personal Correspondence - World War II |
1942 |
| 1 | 3 | Professional Papers - Employment Agreements, Contracts, Appeals, Statements, and Correspondence |
1954-1980 |
| 1 | 4 | Professional Correspondence - Television Commercials and Productions, "The Young Doctors", The Goddess", "Requiem for a Heavyweight," |
1958-1962 |
| 1 | 5 | Personal and Professional Correspondence, Unpublished Articles, Newspaper Clippings, Local #644, "Honor Thy Father", "Serpico," |
1971-1976 |
| 1 | 6 | Professional Correspondence - Movie Reviews and Related Material |
1972-1983 |
| 1 | 7 | Personal and Professional Correspondence, |
1950-1982, 1985 |
| Safe Envelope | Letters signed by Omar Bradley; Dick Clark (originals; photocopies are filed elsewhere in collection), |
circa 1945, 1961 | |
| Box | Folder | ||
| 2 | 1 | Ephemera |
1938, 1946 |
| 2 | 2 | Military Papers, Identification Cards, Military and Personal Correspondence, Paris Photographs circa V-E Day |
1941-1948 |
| 2 | 3 | U.S. Passports |
1954-1983 |
| 2 | 4 | Personal and Bibliographical and Associated Materials for Release of "The Chosen," |
1974, 1980 |
| 2 | 5 | Spiral Bound Notebook - Budgets, Notes, Letters |
Circa 1982 |
| 2 | 6 | Biographical Articles |
1974, 1981-1983 |
| 2 | 7 | Last Will and Testament - Codicil |
1975 |
| 2 | 8 | Maurice Rapf Memorial Speech - "Notes for Ornitz Talk," |
1985 |
| 3 | 1 | Greek Guerrilla Forces - Drafts of Articles |
1947 |
| 3 | 2 | Greek Guerrilla Forces - Newpapers and Newspaper Clippings |
1947-1948 |
| 3 | 3 | Summer Motion Picture Workshop |
1962 |
| 3 | 4 | Film First Draft and Source Material, Film Idea |
undated |
| 3 | 5 | Reviews "Playing for Time" and Associated Personal Correspondence |
1980 |
Series II. A/V, Audio Recordings, and PhotographsReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | |||
| 4 | Slides - Flora I, II, III |
undated | |
| 4 | Slides - Places I and II |
undated | |
| 4 | Slides - People II and III |
undated | |
| 4 | Slides - Loire, |
1971 | |
| 4 | Slides - France |
undated | |
| 4 | Slides - A.O. |
undated | |
| 4 | Slides - Steph |
undated | |
| 4 | Slides - "Blacksnake," |
1972 | |
| 5 | Slides - Unidentified |
undated | |
| 6 | Commercials - Various Products, Various Companies |
undated | |
| 6 | Audiocassette - "Piper," |
undated | |
| Cold Storage | Nitrate Film Negatives - Various Subjects |
1948-1950 | |
| Box | |||
| 7 | Photographs - "A Midsummer Night's Dream" |
undated | |
| 7 | Framed Baby Picture |
undated | |
Series III. ScrapbooksReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 7 | Scrapbook - "Wanted - A Master," |
1936 |
| 7 | Scrapbook - Arthur J. Ornitz |
undated |
Series IV. Samuel Ornitz papersReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 8 | 1 | Samuel Ornitz - Harlan County, KY Coal Miners Strike Notes, Dreiser Committee Testimony, and play, "In New Kentucky," |
1931 |
| 8 | 2 | Samuel Ornitz - Gabriel Miller Article and Filmography, Royalties and Copyright, Book-related Correspondence |
1933-1977, 1987 |
| 8 | 3 | Samuel Ornitz - University of Wisconsin Deed of Gift, Appraisals, Sadie Ornitz (widow) correspondence |
1963-1964 |
| 8 | 4 | Samuel Ornitz - Harvey Pekar Articles and Correspondence, |
circa 1980s |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Cinematography--20th century.
- Motion pictures--20th century.
- Photography--20th century.
Form or Genre Terms
- Audiotapes.
- Motion pictures.
- Scrapbooks.
- Slides.
Occupations
- Cinematographers.
- Photographers.
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Ornitz, Samuel, 1890-1957.
Processed by Jill Jean Johnson
2011
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
