Title: Harold and Lynne Rhodes Mayer Collection
Inclusive Dates: 1955-1985

Creators:

• Mayer, Harold
• Mayer, Lynne Rhodes

Call Number: M2015-015; AE 583-AE 584; DG 188-DG 189; CC 931; CC 937-CC 938; CC 948-CC 951

Quantity: 4.6 cubic feet (12 archives boxes); 5 videotape reels (1-inch), 9 videocassettes (3/4-inch), 1 videocassette (BetacamSP), 14 videocassettes (VHS), 10 videodiscs (DVD-R), 4 audio reels (1/4-inch), 179 film reels (16 mm), 14 film reels (35 mm), and 1 computer disc (4 3/4-inches)

Repository:

Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections / Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research

Archival Locations:

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Abstract:

Papers and audiovisual material of Harold and Lynne Rhodes Mayer, documentary filmmakers.

Note:

There is a restriction on use of this material; see the Administrative/Restriction Information portion of this finding aid for details.

The register to the Harold and Lynne Rhodes Mayer Collection currently contains only the contents list for the papers. Contact the WCFTR Film Archivist for a list of film titles.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-m2015015

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Harold and Lynne Rhodes Mayer were internationally recognized documentary filmmakers. Harold began his film career with the United Nations film division in the late 1940s, while Lynne started as a journalist and writer after graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1947. They met in Columbus, Mississippi while she was on a writing assignment and he was on a directing job, marking the beginning of a personal and professional partnership that would span almost 70 years.

In 1956, Harold Mayer was hired by CBS to direct a documentary series meant to educate Americans on advancements in science and technology. The resulting series, Conquest, was hosted by Edward Murrow and sponsored by the Monsanto Corporation and the National Science Foundation.

In 1961, the couple formed Harold Mayer Productions in New York City. Their company was responsible for many influential documentaries created for National Educational Television (NET), which eventually became WNET, the flagship station of what is now the Public Broadcasting Service. Notable titles include the first telelvision film on family therapy, "Mental Health: Trouble in the Family," nominated for an Emmy award; to the unspoken scandal of ghetto education in "The Way It Is" (1967); to "Schizophrenia: The Shattered Mirror" (1966), which was celebrated by mental health experts as a respectful and accurate work.

In 1964, Harold Mayer produced and directed his first feature-length documentary - The Inheritance (1964). The film was commissioned by the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America (ACWA). While the film was intended to be a short history of the labor organization, Mayer's meticulous research led to a much more ambitious film about how labor movements were intwined with the immigrant experience in the 20th century. The Inheritance was one of the first documentary films that relied on still photography instead of interviews, zooming and panning across stills to impart a sense of drama and dynamism; and voice acting instead of traditional narration. The film was screened at several film festivals and recieved many accolades, by unions as well as the general public.

Following the success of The Inheritance, Harold Mayer (as producer and director) and Lynne Rhodes Mayer (as writer) released Movin' On (1969), a documentary film commissioned by the United Transportation Union about the construction and use of the railroads.

1972 saw the release of Khrushchev Remembers, based on the memoirs of Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev during the Cold War, a controversial depature for Harold Mayer Productions that was was commercially unsuccessful, given many accusations that the source material (a translated book by Edward Crankshaw) was considered to be largely a fabrication.

During this time, the Mayers also released L'Chaim - To Life! (1974), a documentary story of the Jewish experience in Eastern Europe and Russia, from the shtetls of the 1880s to the formation of the Organization for Rehabilitation Through Training (ORT), which was founded to provide occupational training and education for Jews during a time when laws severely limited their employment, and discrimination was rampant. The Women's American ORT sponsored the film. It enjoyed a limited theatrical release, though it was seen by over 40 million viewers nationwide due to televised broadcasts. The film was very well recieved, and eventually translated into Spanish for international audiences.

The Mayers' films have won national and international awards, and have been screened at numerous film festivals, as well as broadcast for public television, reaching wide audiences. Despite this, their careers relied primarily on film formats, and their simultaneous retirement from documentary filmmaking coincided with the rise of affordable consumer and home video formats, which has severely limited access to these important documentary films.

Lynne Rhodes Mayer died in 2015 and Harold Mayer died the following year.

Select Films for Television

1957-1960	Conquest: Six one-hour specials followed by 26 half-hour shows on science and technology, produced in cooperation with the National Science Foundation and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, with Eric Sevareid and later Charles Collingwood as host.
1962	Focus on Behavior: Ten half-hour shows on experimental psychology sponsored by the National Science Foundation.
1963	Exploring the Universe with Dave Garroway: 11 half-hour science shows aired on public television through a grant from the National Science Foundation.
1964	Man and the Atom
1965	"Mental Health: The Emotional Dilemma," part of the series America's Crises.
1965	"Mental Health: Trouble in the Family," part of the series America's Crises: A film showing footage from family therapy sessions. Received a Peabody Award.
1966	"Schizophrenia: The Shattered Mirror," part of the series NET Journal: Documentary that presented the various attempts by the medical community to define and treat schizophrenia, including the popular theory of maternal inheritance pitted against the "fringe" theory that it might be caused by chemical imbalance.
1967	"The Way It Is," part of the series NET Journal: Short documentary about the difficulty of education in low-income, minority communities. Nominated for an Emmy Award.

Select Public Relations films

1968	Never Again to be Denied
1969	The Making of a Man: Prize-winning film for the Women's American ORT, filmed in Iran
undated	Railroad Man
1975	Tellin' the World: Produced and Directed by Harold Mayer. Written by Lynne Rhodes Mayer. Presented by The United Federation of Teachers and The Youth Vote Project of the U.S. Youth Council in co-operation with Frontlash, The American Federation of Teachers and many AFL-CIO Unions. Short film encouraging young people to register to vote (18 minutes : color).

Feature films

1964	The Inheritance: Presented by The Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America. Produced and Directed by Harold Mayer. Written by Millard Lampell. Narrated by Robert Ryan. Associate Producer Lynne Rhodes Mayer (57 minutes : black and white).
1969	Movin' On: Produced and Directed by Harold Mayer. Written by Lynne Rhodes Mayer and Harold Flender. Narrated by Arthur Kennedy. Music Performed by The New Lost City Ramblers and Bonnie Dobson (58 minutes : color).
1972	Khrushchev Remembers: Produced and Directed by Harold Mayer. Based on the Memoirs of Nikita Khrushchev, Edited and Translated by Edward Crankshaw. Written by Lynne Rhodes Mayer (78 minutes : black and white).
1974	L'Chaim - To Life!: Presented by Women’s American ORT. Supervised by Nathan Gould. Produced and Directed by Harold Mayer. Written by Lynne Rhodes Mayer. Narrated by Eli Wallach. Associate Producers Roy Hyrkin and Lynne Rhodes Mayer (84 minutes : black and white + six-minute color finale).

The collection has been organized into two major series; manuscripts materials and film materials. The manuscripts materials have been further divided into subseries related to many of the major film projects of Harold Mayer Productions, as well as some additional records related to administration, public relations films, publicity, and television projects.

Use Restrictions

No duplication or public screening without consent of copyright holder.

M2015-015	Series: Manuscripts
	Subseries: Administration
Box   10 Folder   1	Photograph licensing, 1968-1972
Box   10 Folder   2	Cables, correspondence regarding Hands of the Future, 1973
Box   10 Folder   3	Receipts, 1973
Box   10 Folder   4	Notes, addresses, ephemera from wall/board, undated
Box   10 Folder   5	Mayers' personal copies of important correspondence, 1944-1972
	Subseries: Public relations films	⇧
Box   8 Folder   3	Photographs -- Harold Mayer production shots, If I Forget Thee, undated
Box   8 Folder   5	The Making of a Man -- transcript, undated
	Subseries: Publicity	⇧
Box   10 Folder   6	Various -- publicity, accolades, 1960-1975
Box   10 Folder   7	Harold and Lynne Rhodes Mayer bios, publicity, 1965-1966
Box   10 Folder   8	Miscellaneous publicity, 1981
Box   10 Folder   9	Awards -- Golden Eagles (Council on International Nontheatrical Events), 1979-1980
Box   10 Folder   10	Miscellaneous publicity, newspaper clippings, 1962-1975
Box   10 Folder   16	Reviews -- “The Way It Is,” “Trouble in the Family,” and “Schizophrenia: The Shattered Mirror,” 1966-1967
	Subseries: Television	⇧
Box   10 Folder   11	Conquest TV Show -- publicity, 1958-1964
Box   10 Folder   12	Various -- publicity, newspaper clippings, 1961-1976
Box   10 Folder   13	America's Crises: “Trouble in the Family” -- transcript from National Educational Television, undated
Box   10 Folder   14	Franklin Delano Roosevelt -- treatment, undated
Box   10 Folder   15	Scopus -- treatment, undated
Box   11 Folder   1	“The Way It Is” -- transcript from National Educational Television, 1967
Box   11 Folder   2	“Schizophrenia: The Shattered Mirror” -- transcript from National Educational Television, 1966
Box   11 Folder   4	Interview with Ackerman, family therapist, undated
Box   11 Folder   5	Publicity, correspondence for Emotional Dilemma, “Trouble in the Family,” 1965
Box   11 Folder   6	“Schizophrenia: The Shattered Mirror,” reviews, correspondence, 1966
Box   11 Folder   7	“The Way It Is,” photographs, undated
Box   11 Folder   8	Conquest, final transcript, publicity booklet, 1958
Box   11 Folder   9	Publicity for Focus on Behavior, TV series, 1964
Box   11 Folder   3	America's Crises: “The Emotional Dilemma” -- transcript from National Educational Television, 1965
	Subseries: Khrushchev Remembers	⇧
Box   1 Folder   1	Artkino Pictures -- Unforgettable Years, undated
Box   1 Folder   2	Script, 1971
Box   1 Folder   3	Khrushchev Remembers, premeire, 1972-1975
Box   1 Folder   4	Transcript, personal script of Harold Mayer, undated
Box   1 Folder   5	Work script, undated
Box   1 Folder   6	Publicity and correspondence, 1971-1975
Box   1 Folder   7	Time/Life contract for Khrushchev Remembers, 1970-1974
Box   12 Folder   1	Footage licensing, 1967-1971
	Subseries: L'Chaim - To Life!	⇧
Box   1 Folder   8	Publicity and public response, 1974-1975
Box   2 Folder   1	TV reviews, 1974-1976
Box   2 Folder   2	Public response, New York TV, 1973-1974
Box   2 Folder   3	Film credits, undated
Box   2 Folder   4	Accounts paid - Women's American Organization for Rehabilitation through Training (ORT), 1970-1974
Box   2 Folder   5	Requests to preview L'Chaim - To Life! before distribution, 1973
Box   2 Folder   6	Copyright, 1974-1976
Box   2 Folder   7	Igal Bursztyn research, 1972
Box   2 Folder   8	Researchers' correspondence, 1971-1973
Box   2 Folder   9	Accounting to stock footage houses, 1972-1973
Box   2 Folder   10	Nathan Gould correspondence, 1971
Box   3 Folder   1	Roman Vishniac correspondence, 1971-1972
Box   3 Folder   2	Spanish scripts, undated
Box   3 Folder   3	Shtetl -- outline and presentation, 1972
Box   3 Folder   4	Outline, undated
Box   3 Folder   5	Screening at Donnell Public Library, 1973
Box   3 Folder   6	Prop letter written in Russian, undated
Box   3 Folder   7	Contract with Women's American ORT, 1970-1971
Box   3 Folder   8	Women's American ORT -- reports to the National Executive Council, 1964-1971
Box   3 Folder   9	Non-research correspondence, 1971-1974
Box   3 Folder   10	Rights, 1972-1975
Box   3 Folder   11	Women's American ORT -- budget, 1971-1972
Box   3 Folder   12	Lists of sources (films, books, stills, etc.), 1971-1972
Box   3 Folder   13	Correspondence with World ORT Union, 1971-1972
Box   4 Folder   1	Research notes (typed), undated
Box   4 Folder   2	Roman Vishniac transcript, 1971
Box   4 Folder   3	ORT notes, undated
Box   4 Folder   4	Notes to labs, running memo from Alan Pesetsky, 1973
Box   4 Folder   5	ORT/L'Chaim -- treatments, undated
Box   4 Folder   6	Jacob Oleiski transcript, 1971
Box   4 Folder   7	Translation of "ORT under the occupation in France," undated
Box   4 Folder   8	Script, credits, publicity, 1974
Box   4 Folder   9	Additional scripts, 1972
Box   4 Folder   10	Distribution correspondence, 1974-1975
Box   4 Folder   11	Spanish script, undated
Box   4 Folder   12	Hirsch Altuski interview transcript, undated
Box   5 Folder   1	Publicity, 1974-1976
Box   5 Folder   2	Variant language versions, 1974-1975
Box   5 Folder   3	Copyright, 1975
Box   5 Folder   4	Junior High School student/teacher responses, 1975
Box   5 Folder   5	Hofstra film class reports, 1974
Box   5 Folder   6	Photographs from ORT, 1973-1977
Box   5 Folder   7	Film festivals, 1974
Box   5 Folder   8	Theatre, public receptions, various publicity, 1975
Box   12 Folder   2	Screening notes, stock lists, 1971
	Subseries: Movin' On / Railroad Man	⇧
Box   5 Folder   9	Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen -- one hour outline, 1966
Box   5 Folder   10	Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen -- convention film, 1968
Box   5 Folder   11	United Transportation Union -- We Are Together concert budget, 1969
Box   5 Folder   12	Railroad Man -- script, undated
Box   5 Folder   13	Movin' On -- audience response correspondence, 1969-1974
Box   5 Folder   14	Photograph licensing, 1967
Box   6 Folder   1	United Transportation Union -- correspondence, 1970-1973
Box   6 Folder   2	Movin' On -- script, undated
Box   6 Folder   3	Movin' On -- production/licensing agreements, 1965-1985
Box   6 Folder   4	Train historical societies and brotherhoods, 1966-1968
Box   6 Folder   5	Movin' On-- purchases, 1973
Box   6 Folder   6	Return of Russell Railroad Prints to Lou Corsi, United Transportation Union, 1979
Box   6 Folder   7	Kenneth Vose correspondence, 1967-1968
Box   6 Folder   8	Movin' On, Railroad Man -- budgets, 1966-1967
Box   6 Folder   9	Railroads and businesses -- correspondence, 1966-1969
Box   6 Folder   10	Movin' On -- publicity, 1970
Box   6 Folder   11	Music licensing, 1968-1972
Box   6 Folder   12	Stock lists, undated
Box   6 Folder   13	Eastin-Phelan / Blackhawk Co. -- correspondence, 1967
Box   7 Folder   1	Bills / licensing -- paid, 1969-1972
Box   7 Folder   2	Movin' On McGraw Hill distribution and royalties, 1973-1979
Box   7 Folder   3	Movin' On still list, undated
Box   7 Folder   4	Movin' On scripts, undated
Box   7 Folder   5	Accounts paid, 1972-1980
Box   7 Folder   6	Railroad research, undated
Box   7 Folder   7	Movin' On album, 1966-1976
Box   7 Folder   8	Research -- photostats, 1966
Box   7 Folder   9	Movin' On -- accounts paid, 1972
Box   8 Folder   1	Railroad Man, Movin' On -- miscellaneous, 1966-1968
Box   8 Folder   2	Movin' On -- transcript, undated
Box   12 Folder   3	Movin' On -- The Short Film Service Ltd., 1969-1975
	Subseries: Tellin' the World	⇧
Box   8 Folder   4	Publicity, photographs, 1972
	Subseries: The Inheritance	⇧
Box   9 Folder   1	Script, cues, undated
Box   9 Folder   2	Journey from Yesterday: A History of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, by Lynne Rhodes, 1955
Box   9 Folder   3	Publicity, newspaper clippings, 1956-1965
Box   9 Folder   4	Amalgamated Clothing Wokers of America -- script, scene outlines, 1963
Box   9 Folder   5	Newspaper clippings, 1964-1965
Box   9 Folder   6	Photographs, photo of Harold and Lynne Rhodes Mayer, undated
Box   9 Folder   7-8	Photographs -- possibly used for The Inheritance, depicting industrial/factory/construction/mining workers, unions, immigrant groups, Coney Island, glued onto index cards with possible provenance on back?, undated
Box   12 Folder   4	Award of Merit (the International Labour Film Institute), 1967
	Subseries: The People vs. Willie Farah	⇧
Box   8 Folder   3	Photographs, publicity, draft, 1973
	Series: Films Note: Please contact WCFTR Film Archivist for list.	⇧