The David Davidson Papers are organized in two parts. Part 1 consists of materials received in the archives in 1962-1963. Designated the Original Collection, these papers date 1950-1962 and consist of typescripts of television plays (primarily written for series) and a few letters, notes, and clippings. A brief history (resumé) by Davidson of the writing and production of the work is filed with each title. The papers in Part 1 are arranged alphabetically by title of the episode. The papers concerning the FDR series are listed under “Roosevelt” The several episodes present for Saints and Sinners are grouped together under “S” At the end of Part 1 are Miscellaneous Clippings, as well as a list of Davidson's professional credits compiled in 1962.
Part 2 is designated the Additions and consists of papers received in the Archives between 1964 and 1970. The papers date 1945 to 1969. This addition is arranged in four subseries: NOVELS, TELEVISION, MOTION PICTURES, and RECORDINGS.
NOVELS is organized chronologically and contains typescripts for The Steeper Cliff (1947), The Hour of Truth (1949), and In Another Country (1950).
The subseries TELEVISION contains materials from both produced and unproduced programs and is organized alphabetically by title. For most titles there are correspondence, notes, scripts, and revisions. Particularly helpful to the researcher are the resumés written by Davidson for each production; they succinctly explain the background of each script. Box 14 contains comprehensive materials on The Ship That Wouldn't Die: The USS Franklin, a script for which Davidson won the 1970 Writers' Guild award for television writing.
MOTION PICTURES are also organized alphabetically and contain both produced and unproduced films. Here are several scripts for documentaries done for the United States Information Agency, as well as scripts written for the AFL-CIO, the New York Telephone Company, and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Finally, RECORDINGS contains correspondence, scripts and extensive research materials for the narration of the disc recording We Have Landed on the Moon. This is a recorded history of the United States space program. The disc publication itself is also included.
