Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Richard W. Lewis papers
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: Richard W. Lewis papers
- Date
- 1946-1976, undated (inclusive)
- Creator
- Lewis, Richard Warren, 1932-1998
- Extent
- 1.8 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- Celebrities -- United States
- Journalists -- Correspondence
- Journalists -- Interviews
- Military life.
- Arrangement
- Collection is arranged by subject. The Wade Hall Collection of American Letters has been processed into discrete collections based on provenance.
- Preferred Citation
- 2009ms132.0481: [identification of item], Wade Hall Collection of American Letters: RIchard W. Lewis papers, 1946-1976, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- Richard Warren Lewis (1932-1998) was born in Vermont to John Lewis (b. 909) and Charlotte Lane (b. 1910). The family lived in Queens in New York City, where John worked as a freelance writer. After finishing high school, Richard went on to attend the University of Michigan and studied political science as well as serving in the Army. Lewis made his career as an author and journalist, writing for several newspapers and magazines such as the LA Times, TV Guide, Playboy, Playgirl, People, Life, and Saturday Evening Post. He also wrote many anthologies and nonfiction works such as "The Scavengers and Critics of the Warren Report". In 1983, Lewis married Glenda K. Edwards (b. 1952). Lewis passed away in Hancock, New Hampshire in 1998.
- American Letters collector Wade Hall (1934-2015) was a native of Union Springs, Alabama. Starting in 1962, he lived in Louisville, where he taught English and chaired the English and Humanities/Arts programs at Kentucky Southern College and Bellarmine University. He also taught at the University of Illinois and the University of Florida. He held degrees from Troy State University (B.S.), the University of Alabama (M.A.), and the University of Illinois (Ph.D.). He served for two years in the U.S. Army in the mid-fifties. Dr. Hall was the author of books, monographs, articles, plays, and reviews relating to Kentucky, Alabama, and Southern history and literature. His most recent books include A Visit with Harlan Hubbard; High Upon a Hill: A History of Bellarmine College; A Song in Native Pastures: Randy Atcher's Life in Country Music; and Waters of Life from Conecuh Ridge.
- Scope and Content
- The Richard W. Lewis papers (dated 1946-1976, undated; 1.8 cubic feet; 4 boxes) comprise interview notes and transcripts, article rough drafts, newspaper clippings, correspondence, photographs, and research materials that document the writing process of Richard Lewis in the mid-twentieth century in Hollywood. Lewis wrote articles on a number of celebrities, including Lee Marvin, Paul Newman, Jack Nicholson, Debbie Reynolds, and Barbra Streisand. The interview notes and transcripts include the various questions asked by Lewis for his articles, biographies of the persons, and contact with close associates and employees. Lewis also wrote about TV shows, movies, music, and the Hollywood social scene. Each file is a separate article written by Lewis. Also included in the collection are check statements, mainly from Playboy, reimbursing him for expenses and paying him his writing fees, along with a few letters written to his parents while he was stationed in Japan serving in the US Army in the 1950s.
- The Richard Lewis papers are part of the Wade Hall Collection of American Letters, which includes correspondence and diaries from all over North America covering the time period of the Civil to Korean Wars. The materials were collected by Wade Hall and document everyday men and women.
Restrictions on Access and Use
- Conditions Governing Access
- Collection is open to researchers by appointment.
- Use Restrictions
- The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Contents of the Collection
Chuck Ashman, 1975-1976, undated
Bill Cosby, 1966-1969, undated
Country music, 1957-1966, undated
Anne Francis, 1965-1974, undated
Ben Gazzara, 1964-1966, undated
General article research and notes, 1963-1971, undated
Elliot Gould, 1969-1970, undated
Robert Goulet, 1962-1966, undated
Andy Griffith, 1968, undated
Helter Skelter film, 1974-1976, undated
Jill St. John, 1962-1964, undated
Ernie Kovacs, 1961, undated
"Lassie" TV show, 1960-1965, undated
Jack Lemmon, 1962-1965, undated
Meredith MacRae, 1963-1970, undated
Lee Marvin, 1963-1968, undated
Mitch Miller, 1946-1963, undated
Paul Newman, 1964-1968, undated
Jack Nicholson, 1969-1972, undated
Night clubs, 1961-1962, undated
Carroll O'Connor, 1971-1972, undated
Claes Oldenburg, 1971, undated
"Peyton Place" TV show, 1964-1969, undated
Stefanie Powers, 1964-1966, undated
Juliet Powse, 1963-1965, undated
Debbie Reynolds, 1960-1966, undated
Jay Sebring, 1964-1966, undated
Connie Stevens, 1966-1974, undated
Barbra Streisand, 1963-1969, undated
Check statements, 1968-1971
Richard Lewis to parents, 1956-1957, undated
UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.
Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.
Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.
Table of Contents
You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.
Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.
Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.
Requests
No items have been requested.
You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
