Collection Summary
Ornitz, Arthur J. (Arthur Jacob), 1916-1985
Arthur J. Ornitz papers
1931-1985
09718
4.87 cubic
ft. (8 boxes + 1 other)
University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
English
The collection contains personal and professional papers of cinematographer Arthur J. Ornitz and correspondence, articles, and a play by blacklisted writer Samuel Ornitz.
Biography of Arthur J. OrnitzArthur 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.
Scope and ContentCollection 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.
Access Restrictions
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.
Related Materials
There 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
This material was received from Stephania Ornitz in December 1989.
Processing Information
The collection was processed by Jill Jean Johnson March 2011
Preferred Citation
Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection
Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
Access Terms
Motion pictures--20th century.
Cinematography--20th century.
Photography--20th century.
Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences.
Performing Arts.
Audiotapes.
Motion pictures.
Scrapbooks.
Slides.
Cinematographers.
Photographers.
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Ornitz, Samuel, 1890-1957.
Container List
Series I. Professional and Personal Papers
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
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 Photographs
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
7
Photographs - "A Midsummer Night's Dream"
undated
7
Framed Baby Picture
undated
Series III. Scrapbooks
7
Scrapbook - "Wanted - A Master,"
1936
7
Scrapbook - Arthur J. Ornitz
undated
Series IV. Samuel Ornitz papers
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