Archival Resources in Wisconsin: Descriptive Finding Aids

Container	Title
M95-071	Part 3 (M95-071): Additions, circa 1929-1990 Physical Description: 3.9 c.f. (3 record center cartons, 2 archives boxes, and 1 oversize folder) Scope and Content Note: Additions, which comprise the Bruce Rubenstein Collection of the Alvah Bessie Archives, circa 1929-1990. Included is correspondence (originals and carbon copies) especially between Bessie and his sons David and Daniel; typed film and play scripts; outlines; novels; stories and articles; a 16mm film The Hollywood Ten (1950; script by the 10; produced by Paul Jarrico; directed by John Berry); and a pair of bookends. Arrangement of the Materials Box 1 contains items numbered 1-82. Box 2 contains items numbered 83-156. Box 3 contains items 10, 11, 84, 87, 94, 95, 108-110, 119, 123, 137. Items 94 and 136 are housed separately. Items 76, 88, and 91 were not received.
	Unnumbered Items
Box 4 Folder A	Miscellaneous letters, cards, clippings
Box 4 Folder B	5 stories by Alvah Cecil Bessie (ACB), 1932-1937
Box 4 Folder C	Pamela Ellen Feinsilber--M.A. thesis, San Francisco State University, 1990
Box 4 Folder D	Unidentified fragment
	Dave Bessie/ACB correspondence
Box 4 Folder E	1981-1986
Box 4 Folder F	1953-1969
Box 4 Folder G	1969-1971
Box 4 Folder H	1971-1974
Box 5 Folder I	Dave Bessie/ACB correspondence, 1975-1978
Box 5 Folder J	1979-1984
Box 5 Folder K	1984-1986
Box 5 Folder L	Letters to Helen Clare Nelson Bessie from ACB, 1940-1980
Box 5 Folder M	Unidentified correspondence, found with items 39-54
Box 5 Folder N	Spain Again (press kits, including synopses and photos)
Box 5 Folder O	Correspondence, ACB/Dan Bessie regarding Bread and a Stone, August-November 1982
Item 1	Original carbon story, Rip Van Winkle, adaptation by Alvah Bessie, 1976 Note: This list derives from a photocopy of Bruce Rubenstein's inventory of his donation. Asterisked items were not received with the accession. Physical Description: 36 typed pages plus handwritten changes
Item 2	The Only Child, Original typed story treatment by Alvah Bessie Physical Description: 33 pages, handwritten changes
Item 3	Original typed screenplay by Alvah Bessie of The Hostages Physical Description: 117 pages, handwritten changes
Item 4	Story Magazine, January-February 1940, and , November 1933, with articles by Alvah Bessie entitled, “My Brother, My Son,” and “No Final Word”
Item 5	Eight magazine articles by Alvah Bessie, 1929-1934 (early in his career)
Item 6	Original correspondence of Alvah Bessie to his son, Daniel, 1963-1985 Physical Description: Hundreds of typed and written pages
Item 7	Original correspondence of Alvah Bessie to his son, David, and from David to Alvah Bessie, 1955-1980 Physical Description: Hundreds of pages
Item 8	Original adaptation into Slovak of Bread and a Stone, broadcast between 1976 and , 1978, Bratislava Physical Description: 85 pages, handwritten changes
Item 9	Neamericane, Slovak adaptation of Bread and a Stone Physical Description: 133 pages
Item 10	Gott in Asien, original German screenplay by Alvah Bessie Physical Description: 70 pages, handwritten changes
Item 11	Die Aufrechten (The Un-Americans), original television adaptation in German by Alvah Bessie Physical Description: 132 pages, handwritten changes
Item 12	Unfinished original typed manuscript, Culture and the People's War Physical Description: 16 pages, handwritten changes
Item 13	Unfinished original typed article, “What You Can Do” Physical Description: 37 pages, handwritten changes
Item 14	Unfinished original typed article, “Dress Rehearsal” Physical Description: 9 pages, with signature of Alvah Bessie
Item 15	Unfinished typed original article, “You Can Fly,” by Julian Leonard (Alvah Bessie) Physical Description: 5 pages
Item 16	Original unfinished typed review of Richard Wright's Native Son Physical Description: 4 pages handwritten changes
Item 17	Original unfinished typed article entitled “Since the Wrights” Physical Description: 9 pages and handwritten changes
Item 18	Original unfinished typed article entitled “North to America,” by Mikhail Gromov (Alvah Bessie) Physical Description: 11 pages with handwritten changes
Item 19	Original unfinished typed article on the opera, “No For An Answer” Physical Description: 3 Pages, with signature
Item 20	Original unfinished article, typed
Item 21	Typed and signed original article on Cole vs. Loew's and reflections on Hollywood Ten cases, January 20, 1949 Physical Description: 4 pages
Item 22	Original typed and signed article, “Letter to the Editor,” February 16, 1954 Physical Description: 5 pages
Item 23	Original typed and signed article for Masses and Mainstream, “From Spain to Washington” Physical Description: 9 pages
Item 24	Original typed and signed “We Ten,” January 18, 1948, setting out of the reasons why the Hollywood Ten challenged the law and Congress Physical Description: 9 pages, handwritten changes
Item 25	Original typed article, “I Am in Contempt of Congress” Physical Description: 3 pages
Item 26	Original typed article, “Thoughts While Awaiting Judgment,” on the Hollywood Ten, October 3, 1949 Physical Description: 2 pages, signed
Item 27	Original undated typed article “It Happened to Us-It Can Happen To You,” signed with a signed letter of Ben Margolis, Attorney for the Hollywood Ten, March 29, 1950 Physical Description: 8 pages
Item 28	Original typed and signed article, 1965, and typed re-write signed with handwritten changes on attending an international writers meeting in Germany Physical Description: 12 pages
Item 29	Original typed and signed article for Pravda, September 27 Physical Description: 5 pages
Item 30	Original TLS (typed letter signed) of Alvah Bessie to Jean-Paul Sartre, July 20, 1953, discussing the Rosenberg Case Physical Description: 9 pages
Item 31	Original typed analysis of Norman Mailer, June 1965 Physical Description: 5 pages, signed
Item 32	Original typed statement for Attorney Francis J. McTernan by Alvah Bessie upon McTernan being summoned before the Naval Board of Inquiry Physical Description: 2 pages, signed initials
Item 33	Original articles to The New Republic and San Francisco Chronicle
Item 34	Original typed article, “Movies Are Worse Than Ever,” October 1965 Physical Description: 8 pages, signed
Item 35	Original typed article, January 16 Physical Description: 4 pages
Item 36	Original typed review, March 7
Item 37	Original typed review of We Have Not Forgotten for California Living Magazine, March 9, 1981, and reply Physical Description: 5 pages
Item 38	Original typed story with handwritten changes entitled “The Witches of Hollywood,” undated Physical Description: 14 pages
Item 39	Typed correspondence with Henry Moe of the Guggenheim Foundation regarding grants, 1934
Item 40	TLS to Steve Nelson, December 28, 1984, with ALS (autographed letter signed) reply and another TLS, , January 8, 1985 with ALS reply Physical Description: 5 pages
Item 41	TLS from Jessica Mitford (DECCA), October 31, 1966 to Alvah Bessie Physical Description: 1 page
Item 42	TLS from Robert Kenny to Alvah Bessie, October 10, 1966 Physical Description: 1 page
Item 43	2 ALS of Albert Maltz to Alvah Bessie, 1958 and 1966 Physical Description: 3 pages
Item 44	TLS of John Henry Faulk- to Alvah Bessie, October 8, 1982, and TLS reply from Alvah
Item 45	TLS, October 3, 1966 from Kay Boyle to Alvah Bessie Physical Description: 1 page
Item 46	TLS from Albert Kahn to Alvah Bessie, February 20, 1974
Item 47	TLS, June 26, 1965 postcard from Steve Nelson
Item 48	Typed certification from VALB designating Alvah Bessie as the official reporter and historian-observer for VALB to the 40th Reunion in Italy, October 9-10, 1976, and signed by Steve Nelson, Commander and T. Wallach, Executive Secretary Physical Description: 1 page
Item 49	TLS, December 4, 1965, to Norman Corwin with TLS reply Physical Description: 1 page
Item 50	TLS, June 9, 1974, from Ring Lardner to Alvah Bessie, and one TLS reply concerning the Rosenberg Memorial Physical Description: 2 pages
Item 51	Three poems by Helen Sobell and ALS note
Item 52	The Soul Book by Malvina Reynolds, inscribed to Alvah Bessie
Item 53	TLS to Art Hoppe Newsman of the San Francisco Chronicle, February 12, 1985, and reply note
Item 54	Two TLS from Edward Asner to Alvah Bessie with replies, 1984
Item 55	Original Academy Award (Original Story)-Objective Burma, December 31, 1945, with seal
Item 56	Carbon screenplay of Honesty Physical Description: 57 pages
Item 57	Archive material, 1973-1979
Item 58	TLS from Bessie welcoming international writers and directors to a conference, April 6, 1956 Physical Description: 1 page, signed
Item 59	TLS of speech at John Lawson Memorial, September 8, 1977 Physical Description: 4 pages, signed
Item 60	TLS speech at , 1955 Lawson Dinner Physical Description: 1 page
Item 61	TLS from Adrian Scott to the rest of the Hollywood Ten concerning a message to them all by Jules Dassin, April 3, 1956 Physical Description: 1 page
Item 62	One TLS from Stephen Fritchman to Alvah Bessie, May 6, 1964, and reply signed statement
Item 63	TLS from T. Cheng, editor of Foreign Languages Press, Beijing, China, April 8, 1957, and TLS reply
Item 64	Invitations honoring Edward Barsky, Joe North, and one for the Daily Worker
Item 65	Original telegram from the Joint Anti-Fascist Refugee Committee, June 2, 1954, plus 1 TLS from their Executive Board Physical Description: 2 pages
Item 66	TLS from Freedom Ways, December 30, 1967, signed by Ossie Davis, James Baldwin, William Sloan Coffin, Pablo Casals and Basil Davidson, requesting sponsorship of Alvah Bessie for the magazine Physical Description: 1 page
Item 67	Signed article on Harry Bridges, written by Alvah Bessie and signed by Harry Bridges
Item 68	VALB poster handbill from a VALB meeting on January 5, 1951
Item 69	TLS from Hollywood Writers Mobilization to Alvah Bessie, November 17, 1944 Physical Description: 1 page
Item 70	TLS from C. Galjano, Secretary General De Autores De Espano, with envelope and one TLS reply, October 26, 1970 Physical Description: 2 pages
Item 71	TLS to Bob Kenny from Alvah Bessie, undated, and one TLS to Alvah Bessie from Attorney Richard Siegel, , January 17, 1952 Physical Description: 2 pages
Item 72	Original typed play, 1954, Are You Now-? Physical Description: 150 pages with handwritten changes, signed
Item 73	Archive of several typed internal Communist Party memos of Alvah Bessie using his party name, N.A. Daniels, 1955, 1956 Physical Description: 75 pages
Item 74	Original certified judgment and Commitment of U.S. vs. Bessie
Item 75	Original copy of Alvah Bessie's clemency petition, November 27, 1950 and Department of Justice TLS to Alvah Bessie regarding clemency and parole records
Item *76	Original story idea by Helen Clare Nelson (Bessie), The Hollow Man, undated Physical Description: 10 pages with corrections
Item 77	Twelve unfinished plays, stories, articles Physical Description: Approximately 75 total pages, most signed with handwritten changes
Item 78	Original play, The Night People Physical Description: 321 pages, signed
Item 79	Original teleplay, I Can't Sleep, August 1965 Physical Description: 60 pages, signed
Item 80	Screenplay, 1950 Physical Description: 31 pages, plus revised edition with adaptation notes
Item 81	Revised screenplay, One for My Baby, with handwritten changes, plus 10 page schedule of changes, May 16, 1984
Item 82	Original script, Jeanne d'Arc, August 12, 1972 Physical Description: Signed, with carton and reply, TLS photo
Item 83	Photocopy of One For My Baby with handwritten notes of Alvah Bessie
Item 84	Teleplay, The Un-Americans, Berlin, 1961, , August 30, 1961 Physical Description: 100 pages, with handwritten changes
Item 85	Typed radio-play of The Un-Americans Physical Description: 88 pages, with handwritten notes of Alvah Bessie and his home address stricken
Item 86	Original short fiction, “The Free World” Physical Description: 120 pages, typed and signed with hand changes
Item 87	Photocopy of Spain Again Physical Description: 75 pages, handwritten changes
Item *88	Archive of Spain Again Physical Description: 120 pages Scope and Content Note: Primarily in Spanish, including 10 page typed synopsis. Includes letters to and from Bessie to the film's director, letters to and from Milt Wolff and others.
Item 89	Original photo of Abraham Lincoln Brigade members leaving on ship to Spain, Physical Description: 8¾″x6½″, 22 signed on back
Item 90	Alvah Bessie's stationery Physical Description: 30 pages
Item *91	Original correspondence by and between Alvah and Eva Bessie and his mother, 1930 to 1985, much about the black list and Hollywood Ten Physical Description: About 1,000 pieces
Item 92	Original screenplay Joaquin, with handwritten changes and letter from Dan Bessie regarding Joaquin Physical Description: 103 pages
Item 93	Original carbon of novel, One For My Baby Physical Description: 376 pages
Item 94	Original cover art work and mock up by Bessie of Bread and a Stone Physical Description: Mounted [in oversize folder]
Item 95	Russian postcard, mounted with Stalin quote
Item 96	Original manuscript, The Snake Friend, typed, with letter to Jerry Zinnamon Physical Description: 23 pages
Item 97	Archive of letters, et cetera, to and from Jerry Zinnamon, Ring Lardner, Jr., Dalton Trumbo, et cetera, including Save the American Eagle, Bubo Virginianus and The Serpent Was More Subtle; half from Bessie Physical Description: About 700 pieces
Item 98	Archive correspondence between Alvah Bessie and his grandson, Joseph Bessie, 1974-1985
Item 99	Photocopy of Campo Abierto by Max Aub with original correspondence with Will Kirkland, the illustrator, 1982, signed, several ALS
Item 100	Revised original manuscript The Hesitation Waltz Physical Description: 25 pages, with handwritten changes, signed
Item 101	TLS to Paul Mazursky and signed reply TLS Physical Description: 2 pages
Item 102	Four TLS, signed from Lester Cole, 1964, great substance in letters
Item 103	Two TLS and 1 page reply from Carl Marzani, 1967, signed
Item 104	TLS to Phil Gersh, June 21, 1982 and , July 6, 1982, and one page reply signed
Item 105	Small archive of correspondence by and between Alvah Bessie and Walter Matthau, February 1982-June 1982
Item 106	TLS from Milton Berle and two notes from Alvah Bessie to Milton Berle, signed, 1982
Item 107	TLS to Woody Allen with 2 page ALS reply from Woody Allen, 1982
Item 108	Framed photo and ALS from author Pablo Neruda to Alvah Bessie Physical Description: 8"x10"
Item 109	Archival material from author Stephen Heym from , 1978 to 1985 Physical Description: 200 pages
Item 110	Framed photo of Angus Cameron with ALS on back Physical Description: 8"x10"
Item 111	2 TLS from Albert Maltz to Alvah Bessie, good content, 1980
Item 112	Archive of letters from Alvah Bessie to Milton Wolff on matters relating to VALB, Hollywood Ten, and politics, 1981-1984 Physical Description: 30 signed letters
Item 113	TLS from George Seldes and TLS reply from Alvah Bessie signed, 1983 Physical Description: 2 pages
Item 114	Agreement between Lenny Bruce and Alvah Bessie, September 2, 1959 Physical Description: 1 page, signed
Item 115	Typed original article, “Bill Bailey, Belchite-One Man's View” Physical Description: 30 pages, handwritten changes
Item 116	Small archive on The Passionate War by Peter Wyden, letters, clippings, et cetera
Item 117	First draft, The Symbol, teleplay Physical Description: 103 pages, typed, handwritten changes
Item 118	Final shooting script of The Sex Symbol, ABC Movie of the Week, November 26, 1973 Physical Description: 90 pages, signed with handwritten changes
Item 119	Original manuscript radio play, Honesty, typed, September 26, 1961, with handwritten changes with German original manuscript Ehrlichkeit, typed, handwritten changes, with press release Physical Description: 75 total pages
Item 120	Script and first draft of film, Try It-You'll Like It, May 2, 1980 Physical Description: 30 pages, typed, signed, handwritten changes
Item 121	Original typed manuscript, The Serpent Was More Subtle, 1969 Physical Description: 151 pages, handwritten changes
Item 122	Original manuscript, Dwell in the Wilderness, published 1935, Alvah Bessie's first novel Physical Description: 540 typed pages, handwritten changes
Item 123	Hollywood On Trial ( 1948), 1st edition with ripped desk jacket Physical Description: Signed by Alvah Bessie and inscribed by seven Hollywood Ten members, plus the author
Item 124	Small archive of July 12, 1961, visit to Hotel Newa, Berlin, Germany, for international conference of writers
Item 125	Three TLS from author and editor Kyle Chrishton, August 1938 - September 1938, great content Physical Description: 8 pages, all signed
Item 126	ALS article for Pravda, August 23, 1961 Physical Description: 5 pages, signed
Item 127	TLS testimonial for his friend Dr. Richard Lippman, undated Physical Description: 2 pages, signed
Item 128	Four ALS from Spanish Censors to Alvah Bessie, May 15, 1938, , May 25, 1938, , July 20, 1938, and , August 26, 1938, great content Physical Description: 4 pages
Item 129	TLS from Alvah Bessie to his girlfriend while he was in Spain, August 10, 1938, with Spanish censor notice
Item 130	TLS from Chu Teh, Commander-in-Chief of 18th Group Army (Red Chinese Army head, second to MHO), September 8, 1944 Physical Description: Signed, on Army letterhead
Item 131	Alvah Bessie's typed address to the jury in his Contempt of Congress trial Physical Description: 13 pages, signed, handwritten changes
Item 132	18 ALS and TLS from Alvah Bessie in prison to his children, July 20, 1950-April 14, 1951 Physical Description: Signed
Item 133	TLS to his children, April 12, 1950, just before going to prison in which he talks about his values, Hollywood Ten matters and socialism and communism Physical Description: 8 pages, signed
Item 134	Typed TLS from Alvah Bessie, June 20, 1950, read at his sentencing Physical Description: 2 pages, signed
Item 135	Three TLS from Hubert Humphrey to Alvah Bessie, 1965 and 1966 on Vice-Presidential stationery, regarding Vietnam Physical Description: Signed
Item 136	Original film, The Hollywood Ten ( 1950), script by the Ten, produced by Paul Jarrico, directed by John Berry, includes Dmytryk Physical Description: 15 minutes
Item 137	Original wood book markers of Alvah Bessie with Hammer and Sickle and his initials with inscription on side, 1942, from Tom McEwew, Canadian Communist author and leader
Item 138	Archive of correspondence concerning The Hostages, between Alvah Bessie and Dan Bessie and others, 1970-1975 Physical Description: About 50 letters
Item 139	Unpublished original manuscript, Easier Than Walking, by Alvah Bessie Physical Description: 16 typed pages, handwritten changes, signed
Item 140	Alvah Bessie's family recollections and history, October 1974, with initialed two-page TLS, , May 19, 1983 Physical Description: 12 typed pages with handwritten changes
Item 141	Archive of John Lawson; includes 1955 Tribute to Lawson booklet inscribed by Lawson, letter from Lawson, 4-page TLS memorial speech by Alvah Bessie at Lawson's memorial, signed September 8, 1977
Item 142	Six TLS from “Jo” on Frisbie Case
Item 143	Starting detective article and articles on Frisbie Case
Item 144	Two letters to Mary Burnett (Bessie's first wife), undated, 1940s
Item 145	One-page TLS, signed, from Attorney Joseph Inghacium, May 28, 1941, to Alvah Bessie regarding Frisbie Case, plus letter and petition regarding case
Item 146	TLS from Alvah Bessie to publisher regarding Frisbie Case, August 5, 1941 Physical Description: 2 pages, signed
Item 147	TLS to Harold Frisbie from Minister F.A. Smith, February 25, 1941 Physical Description: 2 pages
Item 148	Notes of Alvah Bessie on Bread and a Stone Physical Description: 3 pages
Item 149	Two letters to Mary Burnett (Bessie's first wife) regarding Frisbie Case
Item 150	TLS from Mary Burnett to Alvah Bessie, October 17, 1940, good content on Frisbie Case and personal matters Physical Description: 1 page, signed
Item 151	Notes and news article on Bread and A Stone
Item 152	Updated version of Bread and A Stone written as film treatment Physical Description: 30 pages, with signed photo pages
Item 153	Photo of Goya print initialed by Alvah Bessie with notes
Item 154	Original typed screenplay, Museum, by Alvah Bessie, January 8, 1974 Physical Description: 14 pages, signed
Item 155	Typed manuscript, first draft of Many Waters, July 12, 1971 Physical Description: 16 pages, handwritten changes
Item 156	Typed manuscript Life and Death, September 8, 1971 Physical Description: 16 pages, with handwritten changes