Horace McCoy papers, 1920-1956

Printable guide [HTML]
Request items

Summary

Creators:
McCoy, Horace, 1897-1955
Abstract:
Horace McCoy (1897-1955) wrote hard-boiled detective fiction and sold his first screenplay, The Luxury Girl, in 1933; his first and most notable novel was They Shoot Horses, Don't They?(1935). During the next twenty years, he wrote scripts for several Hollywood studios and produced five additional novels. The collection consists mainly of typescripts of McCoy novels and screenplays.
Extent:
6 boxes (3 linear ft.)
Language:
Finding aid is written in English. and Materials are in English. Portions of this collection are in Portuguese, French, Danish, German, Italian and Norwegian.

Background

Scope and content:

Collection consists mainly of typescripts of McCoy novels and screenplays. Includes the final shooting script and ephemera for They Shoot Horses, Don't They?(1935). Also includes correspondence, copies of McCoy's work in translation, and ephemera.

Biographical / historical:

Horace McCoy was born April 14, 1897 in Pegram, Tennessee; worked for Dallas Journal and Dallas Dispatch in 1920s; his hard-boiled detective fiction appeared in Black Mask magazine; arrived in Hollywood to pursue acting career in 1931; sold screenplay, The Luxury Girl, in 1933; his first and most notable novel was They Shoot Horses, Don't They?(1935); during the next twenty years, he wrote scripts for several Hollywood studios and produced five additional novels; died December 15, 1955.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Helen McCoy, 1962.
Arrangement:

Arranged in the following series:

  1. Manuscripts, typescripts, screenplays
  2. Ephemera, clippings, correspondence
  3. Books--foreign translations.

Physical location:
Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact UCLA Library Special Collections for paging information.
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Access and use

Location of this collection:
A1713 Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575, US
Contact:
(310) 825-4988
AskLSC@library.ucla.edu
Website