Arthur Barron Collection

Collection — record carton: MSS 014 Box 01

Identifier: MSS 014

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Arthur Barron Collection contains 34 unbound scripts written, directed, or produced by Arthur Barron and spans film, television, and stage. The scripts were written between 1972 and 1999. Some collection items were filmed and aired while others were never produced or sold. Most scripts in the collection are documentaries. Of note is the script "Blind Sunday" which was produced as an ABC afterschool special and won the 1977 Writer's Guild of America Award for best children's script. A few items such as "Kareem!" include correspondence on the production. The collection also contains film reels of Barron's work, stills used in his documentary Rita Hayworth: Dancing Into the Dream, and photo still reproductions from his personal collection.

Dates

1972 - 1999

Creator

Barron, Arthur (Person)

Language of Materials

English No linguistic content

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open to researchers.

Biographical / Historical

Arthur Barron was a freelance director, writer and producer born on May 14, 1929 in New York City. He wrote and produced a variety of documentaries for network television and later expanded into film and television dramas.

In 1961 his television documentary White Paper was nominated for a Primetime Emmy award in Outstanding Writing Achievement in Documentary Field. In 1973 his feature length film Jeremy won Best First Work at the Cannes Film Festival. Later, in 1976, his work on ABC Afterschool Specials was nominated for a Daytime Emmy award.

Later in life, Barron served as Mass Communications Chair at Emerson College where he supported the controversial decision to ban most rap music from the college radio station, WERS 88.9 FM.

Extent

2.5 linear feet; 1 box and 9 film reels

Additional Description

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in two series, both of which are arranged alphabetically:

1) Scripts

2) Assorted Media

Physical Location

Other Finding Aids

A finding aid is available http://www.emerson.edu/academics/academic-services/library/archives/special-collections.

Custodial History

Emerson College acquired this collection through donation in 2002 from Carolyn Barron's daughter, Eileen Drexler. Emerson College faculty members Robert Hilliard and Rob Sabal facilitated this donation.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Eileen Drexler donated the materials in 2002

General

"Arthur Barron." TCM Movie Database, n.d. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/10578%7C15766/Arthur-Barron/filmography.html.

"Arthur Barron (1929-2000)." IMDb, n.d. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0057634/.

Brown, Les. Les Brown's Encyclopedia of Television. 3rd. Canton, Michigan : Visible Ink Press, 1992.

Chatelle, Robert B. "Boston's Emerson College Bans Rap." Rock Out Censorship, n.d.

http://www.theroc.org/roc-mag/textarch/roc-20/roc2010b.htm.

"National Writers Union Letter to Arthur Barron," October 26, 1995.