Boyer (Charles) French Research Foundation Collection, 1939-1950,, bulk 1939-1946

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Summary

Title:
Charles Boyer French Research Foundation Collection,
Dates:
1939-1950,, bulk 1939-1946
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.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Charles Boyer French Research Foundation collection (Collection 1132). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library.

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 Note

Charles 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

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Processed by William J. Leugoud
Date Prepared:
© 2004
Date Encoded:
Machine-readable finding aid created by ByteManagers using OAC finding aid conversion service specifications. Machine-readable finding aid derived from in-house paper finding aid. Date of source: 14 July 1973

Access and use

Restrictions:

COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Library Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.

Terms of access:

Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library Special Collections. Literary rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Charles Boyer French Research Foundation collection (Collection 1132). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library.

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