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Description
The Melvyn B. Helstien papers consist of slides, diapositives, pen & ink illustrations, correspondence, articles, newsletters,
manuscripts, bibliographic materials, journals, photographs, slides, index cards, and essays produced and collected by Dr.
Melvyn Helstien. The materials are from Afghanistan, Africa, Argentina, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Bali, Belgium, Borneo, Burma,
Cambodia, Canada, Ceylon, China, Cuba, the former Czechoslovakia, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland,
Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Java, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Guinea, Norway, Pakistan, Poland,
Puerto Rico, Rumania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, the United States, Venezuela, Vietnam, and Yugoslavia.
Dr. Helstien, professor of theater arts, was a leading force in UCLA's Department of Theater from 1948 until his death in
1990. The focus of the collection is on international puppetry with strengths in Southeast Asian puppets and puppets from
India.
Background
Melvyn B. Helstien was born in Denver, Colorado on the 2nd of February 1920. He received his BA from the University of Washington
in 1947 and his MFA from the Yale School of Drama in 1948. In 1962, Dr. Helstien earned his Ph.D in theater at the University
of Minnesota. He taught at UCLA in the Department of Theater Arts from 1963-1986. He served as the department Vice-chairman
from 1971-1973 and again in 1981 until 1985. During his thirty-eight year career, he directed, produced, designed or performed
in dozens of UCLA theatrical productions; lectured, and wrote with a focus on puppetry. In 1976, Dr. Helstien curated the
exhibit Asian Puppets: Wall of the World, as well as writing chapters in its accompanying catalog for the Museum of Cultural
History. He was a member of the board of directors for the Union Internationale des Marionnettes (UNIMA-USA). Dr. Helstien
died on March 6, 1990.
Extent
12.5 linear feet (12 boxes) of documents
Restrictions
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Registrar. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of the UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History as the owner of the physical items and is
not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.
Availability
Access to the archives collection is by appointment.