Jay Leyda Papers, 1925-1956

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Summary

Creators:
Leyda, Jay, 1910-
Abstract:
Jay Leyda (1910-1988) was a critic, filmmaker, author, editor and educator. Leyda also worked as a technical advisor on Russian subjects for Hollywood and taught at Yale, York University and New York University. The collection consists of manuscripts and page proofs with holographic corrections of Leyda's work relating to Herman Melville and Leyda's study The Melville Log, Sergei Eisenstein, Modest Mussorgsky, and Sergei Rachmaninoff.
Extent:
24 boxes (12 linear ft.)
Language:
English.

Background

Scope and content:

Collection consists of manuscripts and page proofs with holographic corrections of Leyda's work relating to Herman Melville and Leyda's study The Melville Log, Sergei Eisenstein, Modest Mussorgsky, and Sergei Rachmaninoff. Also includes correspondence and ephemera regarding research for these books.

Biographical / historical:

Leyda was born February 12, 1910 in Detroit; studied filmmaking at State Film Institute, Moscow, with Sergei Eisenstein in 1933; critic, filmmaker, author, editor, educator; translated Eisenstein's theoretical works on cinema; wrote/edited critical studies/biographies of Melville, Dickenson, Mussorgsky, and Rachmaninoff; lifelong film historian and teacher of cinema; during 1940s was technical advisor on Russian subjects for Hollywood; in 1960s and 70s taught at Yale and York University, Toronto; was at New York University from 1973 until his death on February 15, 1988 of heart failure.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Jay Leyda, 1948-1954.
Arrangement:

Arranged in the following series:

  1. Typescripts (Boxes 1-6, 11).
  2. Correspondence (Boxes 7-8).
  3. Notes (Boxes 9-10, 23-24).
  4. Ephemera (Boxes 12-13).
  5. The Melville Log (Boxes 14-22).

Physical location:
Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.

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