The Reginald Rose Papers have been organized in two parts. Part 1 is the Original Collection comprised of the materials received in the Archives in 1969. These materials date 1952-1967 and consist of 53 boxes of scripts, correspondence, and other papers, 3 tape recordings, and 260 films. Part 2 consists of additions received in 1980 which date 1970-1979 and consist of 15 boxes of scripts, correspondence, and other papers.
Part 1, Original Collection, 1952-1967
Part 1 of the collection is divided into the three major genres of Rose's work: Motion Pictures, Theater, and Television. The bulk of the collection is in the field of television and this category, in turn, is divided into three sub-categories: television--general, television--series., and unproduced ideas. Within the designation “television--general” (Boxes 7-19) are the individual scripts written by Rose for such programs as Studio One, Playhouse 90 and Alcoa Theatre. “Television--series” (Boxes 20-52) are the series that Rose created: The Carroll Files, Dear Friends, The Defenders, Flanagan, James the Fifth, and The New Yorkers. Finally, “unproduced ideas” (Box 53) are those script ideas which were not produced.
Within each of the categories, materials are arranged alphabetically by title. The one exception to this rule is The Defenders series (Boxes 22-47); within The Defenders, scripts are filed chronologically by date of production (air time). A chronological arrangement presents a clearer picture of the development of this important and long-running series.
Material filed with each script in the collection documents the production, from outline and notes, through several drafts, to the final script. Much of the terminology (such as “original carbon,” “first draft,” etc.) has been retained as Rose used it. There are several holograph scripts in the collection.
The small amount of correspondence in the collection is filed with the particular script to which it pertains. Of particular interest are the letters referring to The Defenders (Box 22) and those referring to The Sacco-Vanzetti Story (Box 16). In order to present the latter historic case objectively, Rose wrote to the jurors and attorneys in the trial; their responses form part of the correspondence.
Perhaps the most valuable part of the collection is The Defenders files, for this series is present in its entirety -- 132 scripts and the film for each script. A synopsis of each program is located in Box 22, and for each episode there are varying amounts of production material, scripts, and revisions. Production information for each script is included on the list below, with the exception of the producer, Herbert Brodkin, and the two male leads, E.G. Marshall and Robert Reed, as they remained in their roles throughout the entire series.
Also included in Part 1 are three tape recordings containing performances of eight of Rose's early television scripts.
Part 2, 1980 Additions, 1970-1979
Part 2, the 1980 additions, consist of scripts, screenplays, correspondence, and miscellany, illustrating Rose's more recent writing projects. The films represented are Baxter! (1973), The Killer Elite (1975, which was completely rewritten by other writers and in its final form no longer lists Rose as a contributor), Somebody Killed Her Husband (1978), and The Wild Geese (1978). Television productions include The Four of Us (ABC, 1976), Studs Lonigan (NBC, 1979), and The Adversaries (unproduced).
The additions are arranged in a single alphabetical order by title of production, and materials for each are in alphabetical order thereunder. Scripts and screenplay materials are arranged chronologically, usually beginning with outlines and treatments and ending with final scripts.
