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Collection Overview
| Size | 1.5 feet of linear shelf space (approximately 315 items) |
| Abstract | Frank Crowther (1932-1976) was a journalist and 1960 graduate of the University of North Carolina. He had professional connections to the United States Virgin Islands, the Democratic Party, the National Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. The collection includes drafts of an unfinished autobiography, "Give Me a Ticket to Wherever It Is," screenplays, essays, short stories, and articles by Crowther; correspondence; and other material. Shorter writings by Crowther constitute the bulk of the papers; many are unpublished commentaries on life in New York City literary circles in the 1960s. Included amongst the shorter writings are interviews with John Cassavetes and Larry McMurtry. The collection also includes photographs presumably taken in relation to the American Film Institute, that feature actors Sidney Poitier, Gregory Peck, and Helen Hayes. Correspondence in the collection deals with various writing projects and other activities. |
| Creator | Crowther, Frank, 1932-1976. |
| Language | English |
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Information For Users
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Subject Headings
The following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.
Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.
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Biographical
Information
| 1932 | Frank (Francis Harrison Brundige) Crowther born, 7 August, the son of Rodney G. and Martha Lewis Crowther |
| 1951-1955 | Served in United States Marine Corps |
| 1955-1958 | Attended University of North Carolina |
| 1958 | Leave of absence from University of North Carolina. Worked in American pavilion at Brussels World's Fair with RCA/NBC Color Television Studio |
| 1960 | Received A.B. in Philosophy, University of North Carolina |
| 1962-1963 | Special Assistant to the governor of the United States Virgin Islands |
| 1964-1965 | Worked with Democratic National Committee |
| 1965-1968 | Special Assistant to Roger L. Stevens, Chairman, National Council on the Arts and National Endowment for the Arts |
| 1974 | 3 June, produced Sesame Street Benefit, New York, N.Y. |
| 1976 | Died, 13 May, New York, N.Y. |
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Scope and Content
The collection includes drafts of an unfinished autobiography, "Give Me a Ticket to Wherever It Is," screenplays, essays, short stories, and articles by Frank Crowther, also correspondence, notes, printed material, and other items. Shorter writings by Crowther constitute the bulk of the papers; many are unpublished commentaries on life in New York City literary circles in the 1960s. Included amongst the shorter writings are interviews with John Cassavetes and Larry McMurtry. The collection also includes photographs presumably taken in relation to the American Film Institute, that feature actors Sidney Poitier, Gregory Peck, and Helen Hayes. Correspondence in the collection deals with various writing projects and other involvements including the National Council on the Arts.
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Series Quick Links
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Series 1. Correspondence, 1961-1975.
Mostly personal and professional communications between Crowther and various authors, publishers, and individuals concerned with the National Council on the Arts. Letters are also included both in the Writings and in the Subject Files Series.
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Series 2. Writings, 1955-1976.
Mostly typed versions of short stories, essays, articles, film treatments, and an incomplete book-length manuscript titled "Give Me a Ticket to Wherever It Is," all by Frank Crowther.
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Subseries 2.1. Give Me a Ticket to Wherever It Is
Incomplete book-length autobiography, apparently to have consisted of chapters titled "Day One" through "Day Six."
Note: Crowther's arrangement of material for his autobiography has been maintained; manuscript material is interfiled with research material.
| Folder 3-4 |
Outline #04245, Subseries: "2.1. Give Me a Ticket to Wherever It Is" Folder 3-4Folder 3Folder 4 |
Preface and Introduction #04245, Subseries: "2.1. Give Me a Ticket to Wherever It Is" Folder 3-4Folder 3Folder 4 |
|
| Folder 5-6 |
"Day One" #04245, Subseries: "2.1. Give Me a Ticket to Wherever It Is" Folder 5-6Folder 5Folder 6 |
| Folder 7-8 |
"Day Two" #04245, Subseries: "2.1. Give Me a Ticket to Wherever It Is" Folder 7-8Folder 7Folder 8 |
| Folder 9 |
"Day Three" #04245, Subseries: "2.1. Give Me a Ticket to Wherever It Is" Folder 9 |
| Folder 10-11 |
"Day Four" #04245, Subseries: "2.1. Give Me a Ticket to Wherever It Is" Folder 10-11Folder 10Folder 11 |
| Folder 12-13 |
"Day Five" #04245, Subseries: "2.1. Give Me a Ticket to Wherever It Is" Folder 12-13Folder 12Folder 13 |
| Folder 14-15 |
"Day Six" #04245, Subseries: "2.1. Give Me a Ticket to Wherever It Is" Folder 14-15Folder 14Folder 15 |
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Subseries 2.2. Shorter Works
Shorter works include interviews with John Cassavetes and Larry McMurtry and chiefly consist of social and political commentary and thoughts on life in New York literary circles in the 1960s.
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Series 3. Subject Files, 1955-1974.
Clippings, notes, and correspondence pertaining to various subjects, including: Albert Camus, the establishment of the American Film Institute, "Memoranda" for New Times magazines, the Sesame Street benefit which Crowther produced in 1974, Crowther's tenure in the Virgin Islands, Crowther's work and educational history, and Norman Mailer.
Note: Some of these files were established by Crowther, while others were set up during the processing of these papers.
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Series 4. Miscellaneous Material, 1958-1974 and undated.
Includes a screenplay writer's contract, lists of addresses, class notes, literary notes, and other items.
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Photographs
Includes photographs, perhaps taken at an early meeting of the American Film Institute. Among those pictured are Helen Hayes, Gregory Peck, and Sidney Poitier.
| Image Folder P-3975/1 |
Unidentified group #04245, Series: "Photographs" P-3975/1 |
| Image Folder P-3975/2 |
Hayes, Helen #04245, Series: "Photographs" P-3975/2 |
| Image Folder P-3975/3-9 |
Unidentified #04245, Series: "Photographs" P-3975/3-9P-3975/3P-3975/4P-3975/5P-3975/6P-3975/7P-3975/8P-3975/9 |
| Image Folder P-3975/10 |
Poitier, Sidney and unidentified man and woman #04245, Series: "Photographs" P-3975/10 |
| Image Folder P-3975/11 |
Unidentified man #04245, Series: "Photographs" P-3975/11 |
| Image Folder P-3975/12 |
Peck, Gregory and unidentified woman #04245, Series: "Photographs" P-3975/12 |
| Image Folder P-3975/13-14 |
Unidentified #04245, Series: "Photographs" P-3975/13-14P-3975/13P-3975/14 |
| Image Folder P-3975/15-22 |
Contact sheets #04245, Series: "Photographs" P-3975/15-22P-3975/15P-3975/16P-3975/17P-3975/18P-3975/19P-3975/20P-3975/21P-3975/22 |
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Items Separated
Photographs (PF-4245/1).
Back to TopProcessed by: SHC Staff
Encoded by: Noah Huffman, December 2007
Updated by: Kate Stratton and Jodi Berkowitz, September 2009
This collection was rehoused and a summary created with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
This finding aid was created with support from NC ECHO.
Diacritics and other special characters have been omitted from this finding aid to facilitate keyword searching in web browsers.
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