Harold Salemson papers


Summary Information
Title: Harold Salemson papers
Inclusive Dates: 1929-2003

Creator:
  • Salemson, Harold J.
Unique Identifier: Collection ZZC

Quantity:
  • 4.0 Linear Feet
  • 1 record storage carton, 1 legal document box, 1 oversize box, 1 slide box

Repository:
Archival Location:
UW-Madison Libraries, Special Collections (Map)

Abstract:
The papers of Harold Salemson (1910-1988), the founder and editor of Tambour, a quarterly magazine that ran from 1928 to 1930. The papers document Salemson's involvement with the Psychological Warfare Branch of the US military during World War Two, including propaganda flyers and leaflets, newspapers, drafts and sketches, radio scripts, and translations. Salemson also worked as a newspaper correspondent, film editor and critic, and translator in Hollywood prior to and after the war. Other materials in the collection consist of correspondence from contributors to Tambour as well as contacts in Hollywood.

Language: English , French , German , Italian .

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-sc-zzc

Scope and Contents

The Harold Salemson papers are divided into two series, Psychological Warfare Branch materials and Biographical materials. The Pyschological Warfare Branch materials consists mainly propaganda leaflets and flyers in Italian, French, and German. Many include a translation document in English. There are also radio scripts, correspondence, newspapers and magazines, reports, and 3 rolls of film positives. The Biographical materials are largely correpondence from colleauges, poets, and contributors to "Tambour", and family. Additional materials include photographs from movie sets, photos of Harold Salemson, CVs, identification cards, and reviews written by Salemson.

Biographical / Historical

Harold J. Salemson was born on September 30, 1910 in Chicago, Illinois. His family moved to France in 1922 and for the next few years, Salemson was back and forth between France and the US. He attended the University of Montpellier and the Sorbonne although did not complete a degree. In 1927, Salemson was apart of the first class in the Experimental College at UW-Madison, however, he only attended for one semester. He used what would have been the second semester's tuition money to go back to France and start a publication called "Tambour". Salemson ran "Tambour" as the editor for two years, from 1928 to 1930, in which he published issues quarterly. During this time, he also worked as a film critic for "Le Monde", a French newspaper. When Salemson returned to the US in 1930, he began working in Hollywood in a number of roles. Most notably, Salemson was the correspondent for "L'Intransigeant" and "Pour Vous".

Salemson enlisted shortly after Pearl Harbor, in December 1941. Salemson was assigned to the Psychological Warfare Branch. He was in the First Mobile Radio Broadcasting Company, which was located in North Africa. He ran the print shop in Tunis, Tunisia, which printined propaganda leaflets to be dispensed in Italy. He moved to radio broadcasting for six months and then returned to Algiers as the Editor-in-Chief of the French Leaflet Section. Towards the end of the war, he moved back to the US to work on radio programs where he remained until his discharge on October 4, 1945.

When Salemson returned to civilian life, he continued to work as a Hollywood correspondent until 1947. After 1947, Salemson worked in the distribution end of films, particularly as a publicist. In 1955, he was called before the House of Representatives' Committee of Un-American Activities to give testimony about his alleged past involvement with the Communist Party. After leaving Hollywood in 1966, Salemson worked as a book reviewer. He also worked on translations of books and films, notably translations of biographies of Picasso, Dali, and Georges Simenon. Salemson died on August 28, 1988 of a heart attack in Glen Cove, NY.

Conditions Governing Access

This collection includes no known access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Collection materials may be subject to laws governing rights. Researchers are solely responsible for determining the rights status of the materials they use. Permission may be required for some uses such as publication or reproduction.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in two series: Psychological Warfare Branch materials and Biographical materials.

Psychological Warfare Branch materials include the indentifier given by the PWB. Not all items include an identifier.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Series 1: Gift of Steve Salemson and Betsy Salemson, November 2016 and October 2017

Series 2: Gift of Daniel Salemson, 2019

Related Materials

"Tambour", issues 1-8, Little Magazine collection, UW-Madison Special Collections

Subject Terms
World War, 1939-1945 -- PropagandaWorld War, 1939-1945 -- ItalyLittle magazines
Contents List
Series: Series 1: Psychological Warfare Branch
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 0.5
CD of Harold Salemson papers, created by donor Undated
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 1
War Photographs, Undated
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 2
Letterhead paper for Allied Forces Headquarters Psychological Warfare Branch, blank tapes Undated
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 3
Allied Force Headquarters, Psychological Warfare, "Confetti: Combat Propaganda" booklet April 1943
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 4
Reports from Major Hackett, PWB of Tunis, Tunisia January-February 1944
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 5
"Salemson-Film Show" draft with notes, June 10, 1944
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 6
"Rough outline of Display Presentation: The Nickel named Joe", June 23, 1944
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 7
Reports on Corsica, from PWB written by Bernard Frieszel July 1944
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 8
Report, "Comment on 'Soldaten-Nachtichten'" August 24, 1944
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 9
Reports of Interrogations of German Prisoners of War, July 1944, September 1944
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 10
Recommendation for Legion of Merit Award for Harold Salemson, September 12, 1944
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 11
Draft and edits to French translation of a prayer for Jacob by Red Sullivan, Undated
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 12
News extracts, with edits of the translations 1944
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 13
"Les Victoires des et la realite" booklet, 1940
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 14
"Blida's Boomers" by Eric M. Summers, November 1943
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 15
"55 anos" pamphlet in Portugese, 1944
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 16
Special edition of "Signal" magazine in Portugese, no. 19 October 1943
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 17
"Sternenbanner" pamphlets, June-July 1944
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 18
"L'Amerique Guerre" pamphlet, no. 94, 105, 112 March-July 1944
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 19
"Corriere Dell'Aria" magazine, no. 4 with translation March 22, 1943
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 20
"Courrier Francais du Temoignage Chretein", no.4-6 Undated
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 21
Small booklets in German, "1918=1943?"; "De Wervelwind no. 16"; "Gebt mir 4 Jahre Zeit" 1942-1943
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 22
Small booklets in French: "La France Libre"; "VNV Verite et Mordle"; "La Revue du Mondre Libre no. 13 and 15"; "Collaboration et Fidelite"; "Savoir por prevoir, prevoir pour pourvoir" 1942-1944
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 23
Small booklets in Italian: "Ecco I Nostri Nemici": ""E al Microfono il Colonnello Stevens", 1940, 1943
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 24
"Carta Dell' Atlantico" leaflet with translation, PWB Identifier Leaflet No.8 August 14, 1941
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 25
Leaflet "Fel Magyar! Delre!" with translation, Identifier 21/M Undated
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 26
Leaflet "Nazioni Unite", Identifier a. f. October 1942
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 27
Pamphlet "Le Courrier de L'Air", Identifiers F.34, F.35, F.158, F.159 March 1944, November 1944
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 28
"Accord" monthly illustrated magazine, no.5-8, Identifiers F.37, F.56, F.70, F.74 1944
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 29
"Passierschein", safe-conduct flyers, Identifier F. L. 6 Undated
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 30
"Um Zeit zu gewinnen" flyers, Identifier F. L .11 1943
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 31
"Luftpost" pamphlet, Identifier G.93 November 6, 1943
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 32
German Leaflet G.B., "Mussolini Gestuerzt" with translation 1943
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 33
German Leaflet G.C., "Italien Steht Jetzt Gegen Euch" with translation 1943
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 34
German Leaflet G.D., "Deutsche Soldaten in Sizilien" with translation Undated
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 35
German Leaflet G.E., "Der Kluge Soldat Weiss Wann Schlussmachen" with translation Undated
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 36
German Leaflet G.F., "Und Jetzt Italien" undated
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 37
German Leaflet G.H., "Deutscher Soldat in Mittelitalien" with translation 1943
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 38
German Leaflet G.I., "Wie weit von der Heimat?" with translation 1943
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 39
German Leafleft G.J., "Deutsche Soldaten in Italien!" with translation 1943
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 40
German Leafleft G.K., "Deutsche Soldaten in Italien" with translation 1943
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 41
German Leafleft G.L., "Deutsche Soldaten in Italien!" with translation 1943
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 42
German Leaflets G.M., "Dokumente" with translation 1943
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 43
German Leaflet G.N., "Aus der Heimat" with translation 1943
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 44
German Leaflet G.O., "Deutsche Soldaten in Italien" with translations 1943
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 45
German Leaflet G.P., "Denk Selber Darueber Nach!" with translation Undated
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 46
German Leaflet G.V., "Luft Ohne Luftwaffe" with translation Undated
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 47
German Leaflet G.U., "Friede-Freiheit-Brot" with translations 1943
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 48
German Leaflet G.W., compares Hitler's speech on November 8, 1943 with the war, with translations 1943
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 49
German Leaflet G.Y., about Kiev to German soldiers in Italy, with translations 1943
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 50
German Leaflet G.Z., "Was man den deutschen Soldaten verheimlicht" with translations 1943
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 51
"Hitlers Galgenfrist" leaflet, Identifier GTC/6 1943
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 52
Identifier I.20, flyer, negative, and printing plate Undated
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 53
"Voir" magazine no.1-2, 4-5, 7, Identifiers USF118, USF121, USF123, USF125, USF128 1944
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 54
"Amtliche Erklarung" safe-conduct pass, Identifier U.S.G.12.F.L 1943
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 55
Transport leaflet proof with editor's notes and translation document, Identifier ZF.2 or ZB.2 Undated
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 56
Leaflets in German, Identifiers AF138, G.4.b, G.95, H.27 Undated
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 57
Leaflets in Italian, Identifiers USI-2, USI-3, I-1-A, I.31, I.W.W., I.yy, and unidentified Undated
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 58
Leaflets in Arabic, Identifiers A 2601 1 n, 1 2578 1 w m, K m, and unidentified Undated
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 59
Leaflets in French, no PWB Identifiers Undated
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 60
Photocopies of French pamphlets and flyers, 1942-1944
Box [89130103807]   2
  folder 1
"That's P.W.B., A Sketch in Three Scenes", script and drafts December 1943
Box [89130103807]   2
  folder 2
Radio Script, "The Adventures of Jane Andrews, Army Wife!" Undated
Box [89130103807]   2
  folder 3
Radio Script, preview for "Boy Meets Girl", adapted by Salemson for radio Undated
Box [89130103807]   2
  folder 4
Radio Script, "Listen, It's Fort Benning!" 'rebroadcast August 23, 1945
Box [89130103807]   2
  folder 5
French radio program summary, January 1944
Box [89130103807]   2
  folder 6
Translations and revisions by Salemson, Undated
Box [89130103807]   2
  folder 7
War correspondence, June 1943-March 1944, Undated
Box [89130103807]   2
  folder 8
PWB, Directive for the Week January 10, 1944-March 6, 1944
Box [89130103807]   2
  folder 9
Reports, from Allied Force Headquarters and Psychological Warfare Branch, French Section January 1994-September 1944
Box [89130103807]   2
  folder 10
PWB-Radio Monitoring Division, Radio Monitoring Report no. 353 February 2, 1944
Box [89130103807]   2
  folder 11
"Service Hebdomadaire d'Information", February 7, 1944
Box [89130103807]   2
  folder 12
Documents from the Comite Francais de la Liberation Nationale, April 1944-May 1944
Box [89130103807]   2
  folder 13
"Propaganda Analysis Report No. 2" from PWD Italian Theatre Headquarters, August 1944
Box [89130103807]   2
  folder 14
Miscellaneous Documents and Translations, Undated
Box [89130103807]   2
  folder 15
Documents on War, Identifiers BN8, BN53, BN67, BN72 Undated
Box [89130103807]   2
  folder 16
Photocopies, French resistance pamphlets August 1943-December 1943
Box [89130103807]   2
  folder 17
"Jeunes" leaflets from Commune Union Federale des Etudiants and Monde Association des Escrivains et Artistes Revolutionnaries, Undated
Box [89130103807]   2
  folder 18
"Landser-Post" leaflets no.20, 23-34, 39-42, some with translations, Identifier F.125 and AF.125 1944
Box [89130103807]   2
  folder 19
"Courrier des Nations Unies" no.2-48, some with translations, Identifiers F.108, F.114, F.126, and AF.126 1944
Box [89130103807]   2
  folder 20
Italian Leaflet No. 43, "Italiani!" with translations 1943
Box [89130103807]   2
  folder 21
"Soldaten-Nachrichten", with translation, Identifier 4/1/GN April 1, 1944
Box [89130103807]   2
  folder 22
"Halt!!" with translation, Identifer C/GN/303 1932
Box [89130103807]   2
  folder 23
"Wer hat das Schlachten gewolt?" with translation, Identifier A.F.-133 Undated
Box [89130103807]   2
  folder 24
"Message aux agents des services du transport et des communications" with translation, Identifier AF/134 Undated
Box [89130103807]   2
  folder 25
"Au Peuple de France" flyers, revisions, and translation, Identifier A.F.-140 Undated
Box [89130103807]   2
  folder 26
"Les 5 consignes de la liberation" leaflets and translation, Identifier A.F.-141 Undated
Box [89130103807]   2
  folder 27
"Les 5 consignes de la liberation" leaflets and translation, Identifier A.F.-142 Undated
Box [89130103807]   2
  folder 28
"Das ist das Ende!" leaflets and translation, Identifier A.F.-143 Undated
Box [89130103807]   2
  folder 29
"Dies ist nicht Euer Kampf!" leaflets and translation, Identifier A.F.-144 Undated
Box [89130103807]   2
  folder 30
"Die Front in Sudfrankreich Steht!" leaflets and translation, Identifier A.G.-151; "Les Allies...", Identifier A.G.-152 Undated
Box [89130103807]   2
  folder 31
"Italiani!" leaflets and translation, Identifier IT.39 1943
Box [89130103807]   2
  folder 32
Leaflets, Identifiers F.102-105, F.107, F.110-113, F. 117, F.127-128, F.130, F.132, F.134, F.136-139, F.141-147, F.160 Undated
Box [89130103807]   2
  folder 33
"Dringend!" with translation, Identifier G/054 Undated
Box [89130103807]   2
  folder 34
German Leaflet G.A., "Deutsche Soldaten in Sizilien" with translation Undated
Box [89130103807]   2
  folder 35
German Leaflet G.X., "Nach dem Fall von Kiew" with translation 1943
Box [89130103807]   2
  folder 36
Leaflets and booklets about Tunis and North Africa, no indentifiers 1942-1944
Box [89130108228]   3
  folder 1
"Il Mondo Libero" publication, No. 2 September 1943
Box [89130108228]   3
  folder 2
"La Battaglia di Alamein, cronistoria ufficiale illustrata" magazine Undated
Box [89130108228]   3
  folder 3
"Defense de la France" newspaper, No.43 July 14, 1941
Box [89130108228]   3
  folder 4
"Feuille Rouge" newspaper, No.6 Undated
Box [89130108228]   3
  folder 5
"Le Populaire" newspaper, November 1943-January 1944
Box [89130108228]   3
  folder 6
Jetpropelled Airplane documents and drawing, Undated
Box [89130108228]   3
  folder 7
"combat" newspaper, November-December 1943
Box [89130108228]   3
  folder 8
"l'Humanite" newspaper, November 1943, September 1944
Box [89130108228]   3
  folder 9
"Le Travailler Alpin" newspaper, September 7, 1944
Box [89130108228]   3
  folder 10
"La Tunisie Francaise" newspaper, March 3, 1944
Box [89130108228]   3
  folder 11
"La Reveil" newspaper, September 5-6, 1944
Box [89130108228]   3
  folder 12
"Das Ende Einer Divison" uncut flyers, Identifier F.131 Undated
Box [89130108228]   3
  folder 13
"Au Peuple de France" sketches, drafts, and revisions, Indentifer A.F.-140 Undated
Box [89130108228]   3
Negative Film: "What We Told the World" produced by Herbert A. Klein in 3 rolls, 1948
Series: Series 2: Biographical
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 61
Photographs, family and early life 1920s-1930s
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 62
Photographs, early career 1930s
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 63
Photographs, mid-to-late career 1940s-1960s
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 64
Photographs, actors and movie sets, including Jaws and King Kong 1975-1976, Undated
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 65
Professional Background, including film credits and biography Undated
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 66
Salemson, identification cards and books 1927-1938
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 67
Carl Schurz High School, certificate of recommendation and correspondence 1925
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 68
Mary Salemson (mother) article, 1947
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 69
PWB correspondence about Salemson; army discharge forms, 1943-1945
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 70
Reviews about and by Salemson, 1937-1960
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 71
Publicity flyer for "Inherit the Wind", 1960
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 72
Writings by Salemson, Undated
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 73
Miscellaneous reviews and obituaries of correspondents, Undated
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 74
Obituaries, photocopies August 28, 1988
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 75
Correspondence, 1929-1932
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 76
Correspondence, 1936-1947
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 77
Correspondence, 1957-1992, Undated
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 78
Beauvis, Robert correspondence 1979
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 79
Bessie, Alvah correspondence 1983
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 80
Calverton, V.F. correspondence 1930-1934
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 81
Clark, Dick correspondence 1961
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 82
Farrell, James correspondence 1931, 1935
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 83
Frank, Waldo correspondence 1929-1931
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 84
Giannini, Ettore correspondence 1961
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 85
Hoffmeister, Adolf correspondence 1937-1942
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 86
Kaufman, Wolfe correspondence and booklet of writings Undated
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 87
Kelley, Kitty correspondence 1981-1982
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 88
L'Intrasigeant correspondence, 1935-1938
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 89
Lewisohn, Ludwig correspondence 1930
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 90
Meiklejohn, Alexander correspondence and clipping 1929-1932
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 91
Menken, H.L. correspondence 1931
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 92
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. correspondence and renewal copyright certificates, 1961
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 93
Pozner, Vladimir correspondence 1939-1941
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 94
Putnam, Samuel correspondence 1931-1941
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 95
Rubin, Louis Jr. correspondence and clippings 1988
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 96
Scopes, John T. correspondence 1961
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 97
Shapiro, Julian (aka John B. Sanford) correspondence 1977, 1982, 2002
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 98
Sinclair, Upton correspondence and clippings 1939
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 99
Treasury Department, Bureau of Customs correspondence 1931
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 100
Tsung-Tai, Liang correspondence 1930-1935
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 101
Walling, Paula (sister) correspondence 1929
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 102
Welles, Orson correspondence 1979
Box [89130101991]   1
  folder 103
Whiting, Margaret correspondence 2003
Box [89130623648]   4
"Tambour Envois" cards, with original box 1928-1930