Raymond Chandler papers, 1930-1959

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Summary

Creators:
Chandler, Raymond
Abstract:
Raymond Thornton Chandler (1888-1959) published his first novel, The Big Sleep, to great success in 1939 and began writing screenplays in 1944. The collection consists of correspondence, books, photographs, speeches, and literary manuscripts by Raymond Chandler.
Extent:
6.5 linear feet (13 boxes and 1 oversize box)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Raymond Chandler Papers (Collection 638). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

Background

Scope and content:

Collection consists of correspondence, books, photographs, speeches, and literary manuscripts by Raymond Chandler. Includes manuscripts for The Little Sister, The Long Good-Bye, Playback and the Poodle Springs Story. Also includes Billy Wilder's copy of the screenplay of Double Indemnity and various writings about and interviews with Chandler.

Biographical / historical:

Born Raymond Thornton Chandler in Chicago on July 23, 1888; studied at Dulwich College, London, and privately in France and Germany; began career as contributor of verse, essays, book reviews and special articles to daily and weekly papers in London, 1909; served with Canadian Expeditionary Force and R.A.F. during World War I; afterwards, returned to U.S. to become an officer in various independent oil corporations; began writing fiction contributions to magazines in 1933; published his first novel, The Big Sleep, to great success in 1939, followed by Farewell, My Lovely (1940), The Long Good-Bye (1954) and others; began writing and mostly co-writing screenplays in 1944; his best known screenplay is Double Indemnity, based on James Cain's novel; died in La Jolla, California, March 26, 1959.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Raymond Chandler, 1954-1958. Gift of James Sandoe, 1961.
Processing information:

Processed by UCLA Library Special Collections staff.

Collections are processed to a variety of levels depending on the work necessary to make them usable, their perceived user interest and research value, availability of staff and resources, and competing priorities. Library Special Collections provides a standard level of preservation and access for all collections and, when time and resources permit, conducts more intensive processing. These materials have been arranged and described according to national and local standards and best practices.

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Arrangement:

Arranged in the following series:

  1. Photographs (Box 1).
  2. Correspondence (Boxes 1-2).
  3. Writings by Chandler (Boxes 2-8,12-13).
  4. Screenplays by Chandler (Boxes 8-9; 13).
  5. Writings about Chandler (Boxes 9-12).
  6. Correspondence with James Sandoe (Box 1).
  7. Books by and about Raymond Chandler, including translations in various languages (Boxes 15-58).

Physical location:
Stored off-site. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.

Terms of access:

Property rights to the physical objects belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. All other 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], Raymond Chandler Papers (Collection 638). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

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