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Robert Bloch papers, 1885-2019

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Bloch, Robert, 1917-1994
Title
Robert Bloch papers
Dates
1885-2019 (inclusive)
Quantity
234.17 cubic ft. (366 boxes)
Collection Number
02256
Summary
Robert Bloch was a writer of novels, short stories, and essays. He wrote primarily in the genres of horror, science fiction, and crime, and he is best known as the author of novel "Psycho," which was the basis for the 1960 film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. This collection includes books, stories, essays, and scripts written by Bloch, magazines and fanzines with stories and essays by Bloch, correspondence, convention programs, and publicity and advertising 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

There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.

Languages
English
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Historical Note

Robert Bloch was best known as the author of the novel "Psycho." He was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1917. He attended schools in Maywood, Illinois, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He worked as a freelance writer from 1934-1942. He then spent eleven years as a copywriter for a Milwaukee advertising agency before returning to freelance writing in 1953. He wrote primarily horror fiction, science fiction, and crime fiction. Bloch's most famous book was "Psycho," but he wrote other novels and anthologies of short stories, as well as scripts for film and television. Many of his stories were published in numerous pulp magazines, including "Amazing Stories" and "Weird Tales." His scripts for television included episodes of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "Thriller," and "Star Trek." His screenplays included "Strait-Jacket," "The House That Dripped Blood," "The Psychopath," and "Torture Garden." Bloch died in 1994.

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Content Description

The Robert Bloch papers consist of extensive personal and professional correspondence, a large selection of science fiction and horror books, as well as periodicals (including rare fanzines), convention programs, and annotated screenplays, scripts, and manuscripts written by Bloch. Also included are advertising and publicity materials for films written by Bloch.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Copyright Information

Copyrights are retained by the donor. 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, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into the following series and sub-series:

Series I. Books

  • Books by Bloch – English-Language Editions
  • Books by Bloch – Foreign-Language Editions
  • Books featuring writings by Bloch – English language
  • Books featuring writings by Bloch – Foreign languages
  • Books about Bloch
  • Collected Cookbooks, Diet Books, and Wine Guides
  • Collected Books - English language
  • Collected Books - Foreign languages

Series II. Magazines, Fanzines, Newsletters, Bulletins, Journals, and Newspapers

  • Magazines, Fanzines, Newsletters, Bulletins, Journals, and Newspapers with Writings by Bloch, Writings about Bloch, or Interviews with Bloch – English Language
  • Magazines, Fanzines, Newsletters, Bulletins, Journals, and Newspapers with Writings by Bloch, Writings about Bloch, or Interviews with Bloch – Foreign Languages
  • Collected Magazines, Fanzines, Newsletters, Bulletins, Journals, and Newspapers – English Language
  • Collected Magazines, Fanzines, Newsletters, Bulletins, Journals, and Newspapers – Foreign Languages

Series III. Comic Books and Comic Magazines

  • Comic Books and Comic Magazines with stories by Bloch
  • Collected Comic Books and Comic Magazines

Series IV. Manuscripts

  • Anthologies
  • Essays
  • Novels and Novellas
  • Short Stories
  • Speeches and Addresses
  • Unpublished and Unsold Short Stories and Essays

Series V. Scripts

  • Theatrical Films
  • Television
  • Unproduced Projects
  • Projects offered to but rejected by Bloch
  • Scripts adapted from Bloch’s stories

Series VI. Writings by others

Series VII. Correspondence

  • Announcements
  • Empty Envelopes and Blank Postcards
  • Greeting Cards and Notes
  • Invitations
  • By Person
  • By Subject
  • By Year
  • Undated – By Name (first or last)

Series VIII. Conventions, Conferences, and Fairs

  • Memorabilia
  • Publications, Invitations, and Announcements
  • Speeches, Interviews, and Panel Discussions

Series IX. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Series X. Artworks

Series XI. Biographical

Series XII. Diaries and Calendars

Series XIII. Catalogues

  • Books and Magazines
  • Movie Memorabilia
  • Movies and Television Shows
  • Paintings
  • Sound Recordings
  • Stamps

Series XIV. Clippings

Series XV. Collected Music

Series XVI. Collected Radio Shows

Series XVII. Directories

Series XVIII. Film Festivals, Film Programs, and Film Notes

Series XIX. Financial

  • Contracts and Agreements
  • Assorted Clauses and Paragraphs
  • Assorted

Series XX. Interviews with and Presentations by Bloch

Series XXI. Photos

Series XXII. Production Files

Series XXIII. Publicity and Advertising

  • Bloch-related
  • Other

Series XXIV. Assorted

Series XXV. Sally Francy Donations

Related Materials

Robert Bloch Papers, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives Department.

Acquisition Information

This material was received from Robert Bloch from 1967-1994, J. Vernon Shea in 1967, Randall D. Larson from 1971-1975, and Diana Thatcher in 2015. The letters sent from Bloch to Sprague Vonier were received from Vonier between 1987 and 1995; they have been transferred to this collection. The materials from series XXV, Sally Francy Donations, were received from Sally Francy, Robert Bloch's daughter, in 2025. The scripts from the radio series "Stay Tuned for Terror" were purchased by the American Heritage Center in 2025.

Processing Note

The collection was processed by Shaun Hayes in June 2010 and re-processed by Roger Simon from March 2023-May 2024.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Container List

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Subject Terms

  • Authors-- United States-- 20th century.
  • Fantasy fiction.
  • Horror tales.
  • Horror.
  • Science fiction.
  • Screenwriters-- United States-- 20th century.
  • Television scripts

Titles within the Collection

  • Psycho (Motion picture)

Processed by Shaun Hayes; Roger Simon
2010;2024

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

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