The collection documents Wilson's professional career as a columnist, writer, and radio commentator. The papers are organized in four series: a General File, Writings and Speeches, Radio and Television Broadcasts, and Disc Recordings. Because the majority of the collection was written on high acid paper which was rapidly deteriorating, the paper portion has been microfilmed and the originals destroyed.
The GENERAL FILE includes scattered biographical clippings, certificates and awards, correspondence, anecdotes and jokes, miscellany, and writings authored by Rosemary Wilson. Much of the General Correspondence is routine and consists of letters about his travels or his column and miscellaneous personal letters from friends. An undated letter from Fred Allen is included in this series. Of interest are the files of Specific Correspondence which were generated in response to Wilson's columns. A 1947 column about discrimination against Jews brought a strong reaction from readers and included letters of praise and condemnation. Many of the letters consist of hate mail attacking Jews and blacks. A 1964 column in which Wilson predicted that the Beatles wouldn't last also brought a strong response from teenage fans who adamantly disagreed with Wilson's evaluation of the singing group. The Humor File, which includes some ethnic humor, consists of jokes, anecdotes, and tall tales. The file on “Wilson Girls” contains correspondence from women who wanted to be selected a “Wilson Girl” for a contest which Wilson described in his column. Drafts of writings by Rosemary Wilson complete the series.
WRITINGS AND SPEECHES comprise the major portion of the manuscript collection and include newspaper and magazine columns, a novel, plays, songs, and miscellaneous writings and speeches which Wilson authored. Most of the series consists of Wilson's newspaper column, “It Happened Last Night.” Tear sheets of the regular column, which typically focus on Broadway and Hollywood personalities, begin the series. A brief file of columns written during a world tour includes his descriptions and impressions of several countries. Wilson also had regular inserts geared to individual cities which subscribed to his syndicated column. These inserts often focused on hometown people who were in show business.
RADIO AND TELEVISION BROADCASTS includes script materials for programs or proposed programs in which Wilson commented on the Broadway and Hollywood scene. In addition a script fragment for Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts and scripts for miscellaneous episodes of The Fred Allen Show are also included.
DISC RECORDINGS comprise the other major portion of the collection. Arrangement is alphabetical by title; supplied titles are bracketed. Descriptions are based on label identification and jacket descriptions; therefore, researchers are cautioned that some of these may be in error. Among the discs are recordings of several Earl Wilson Show broadcasts which focus on celebrities such as Fred Allen, Eddie Cantor, Frank Capra, Ronald Reagan, Toots Shor, Frank Sinatra, Mike Todd, and many others. Also included are discs pertaining to several historical and political individuals such as Anthony Eden, Adolph Hitler, H. V. Kaltenborn, and Adlai Stevenson. Recordings of individual episodes of Adopted Daughter, Breakfast with the Fitzgeralds, The Herb Shriner Show, and The Ted Mack Amateur Hour are also in this series.
