Charles Boyer French Research Foundation Collection, 1939-1950,, bulk 1939-1946
Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- French Research Foundation of Los Angeles
- Abstract:
- Charles Boyer and friends founded the French Research Foundation in Los Angeles, California, in the late 1930s to collect information on France and her people and their historical, artistic, and cultural background. Boyer hoped the Hollywood movie industry would use the research and library facilities of the Foundation to provide audiences with truer images of the French people than the existing stereotypes. The collection consists of newspaper clippings, pamphlets, and photographs assembled by the Foundation for the library. Materials mainly cover 1939-46, documenting occupied France, activities of the Free French movement, and the post-war diplomatic relations of France.
- Extent:
- 72 boxes (35.5 linear ft.)
- Language:
- English.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
Collection consists of newspaper clippings, pamphlets, and photographs assembled by Boyer and the French Research Foundation of Los Angeles for the library. Materials mainly cover 1939-46, documenting occupied France, activities of the Free French movement, and the post-war diplomatic relations of France. Includes ephemera issued by the Free French organizations in London, New York, and Algiers.
Expanded Scope and Content NoteCharles Boyer, the internationally famous screen star, was vitally interested in the Free French Movement and was a moving force behind the French Research Foundation in Los Angeles. The avowed purpose of the Institute was to collect information concerning France and her people and their historical, artistic and cultural background. This knowledge was then to be disseminated to the people of the United States either directly or through motion pictures, radio and television. It was Mr. Boyer's particular hope that those involved in the movie industry in Hollywood would avail themselves of the research and library facilities of the Institute in order to afford the viewing audience a truer image of the French people than the stereotypes then in vogue.
The bulk of the material contained in this section of the Institute's holdings are newspaper clippings, pamphlets and photographs. They concern themselves mainly with the time period 1939-1946. The collection is particularly strong on the topics of France under the Occupation, the activities of the Free French Movement and the Post-War diplomatic relations of France. Of special interest are the numerous pamphlets, newsletters and periodicals issued by the Free French organizations in London, New York and Algiers.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Charles Boyer and friends founded the French Research Foundation in Los Angeles, California, in the late 1930s to collect information on France and her people and their historical, artistic, and cultural background; this information was to be disseminated to the American people either directly or through the media; Boyer hoped especially that the Hollywood movie industry would use the research and library facilities of the Foundation to provide audiences with truer images of the French people than the existing stereotypes.
- Acquisition information:
- Gift of Charles Boyer, 1970.
- Arrangement:
-
Arranged in the following series:
- France before the war (Box 1).
- France under the German occupation (Boxes 2-8).
- Free French movement (Boxes 9-25).
- France since the liberation (Boxes 26-32).
- French foreign relations (Boxes 33-43).
- Post-war Paris (Boxes 44-45).
- Political events in post-war France (Boxes 46-49).
- War-time newspapers, pamphlets, and tracts (Boxes 50-52).
- Biographies of leading Frenchmen (Box 53).
- Photo collection (Boxes 54-66).
- Memorabilia from WWII (Box 67).
- Clandestine publications circulated in Nazi-occupied France (Boxes 68-71).
- Physical location:
- Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Indexed terms
- Subjects:
- World War, 1939-1945--Propaganda--Research.
- Indexes:
-
Index
Casablanca Conference: Box 17 Darlan, Francois, Admiral: Box 17 De Gaulle, Charles, General: Boxes 5, 21, 22 Giraud, Henri, General: Box 17 Laval, Pierre: Boxes 6, 47, 52 Maginot Line: Box 1 Nazis: Boxes 2, 3, 4, 5, 51, 52 Petain, Henri Philippe, Marshall: Boxes 6, 47, 52 Photographs: Boxes 3, 5, 9-12, 22, 24, 25, 31, 45, 54-66 Propaganda (Allied): Boxes 50 Propaganda (Nazi): Boxes 3, 51, 52 San Francisco Conference: Boxes 41 Underground Movement in France: Boxes 7, 8, 23-25, 68-71 Vichy Government: Boxes 6, 47
Access and use
- Location of this collection:
-
A1713 Charles E. Young Research LibraryBox 951575Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575, US
- Contact:
- (310) 825-4988