Contributors

These collections from writers, composers, directors, and other contributors to film and television document how stories are brought to life on screen. 

Charles Lederer (Screenwriter)

Charles Lederer (1910-1976) was an American screenwriter and film director recognized for his comic and acerbic adaptations and collaborative screenplays. He was a major contributor to the "screwball comedy" genre. Among his credits are His Girl Friday (1940), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), Ocean's 11 (1960), and Mutiny on the Bounty (1962). The papers consist of scripts, synopses, and notes for produced and unproduced works from 1949 through 1964.

Finding aid: Charles Lederer Papers, 1949-1964

George Burt (Composer)

George Burt (1929-2105) wrote scores for several films, including Robert Altman’s Secret Honor and Fool for Love. He also composed classical music and taught composition at various institutions, including the University of Michigan. His papers include scores (both classical and film), lecture materials and notes, handouts, readings, sheet music, book evaluations, and his book, The Art of Film Music.

Finding aid: George Burt Papers, 1936-2015

Hal Cooper (Director)

Michigan alum Hal Cooper (1923-2014) worked primarily on sitcoms in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s,  including The Dick Van Dyke Show, I Dream of Jeannie, That Girl, The Courtship of Eddie’s Father, All in the Family, The Brady Bunch, Maude, Empty Nest, Dear John, Gimme a Break, and Love, Sidney. His papers consist of scripts for programs he directed, many of which include limited annotations.

Finding aid: Hal Cooper Papers, 1938-2003 (majority within 1970-1990)

Jaime Del Valle (Producer)

Jaime Carillo Del Valle (1910-1981) produced the pioneering police procedural franchise The Lineup on radio from 1950-1953, television from 1954-1960, and in a feature film in 1958. The collection features the radio, television, and film scripts for The Lineup, as well as other series Del Valle was associated with, including The Asphalt Jungle, Felony, and The Islanders.

Finding aid: Jaime del Valle Papers, 1950-1961

Jay Gorney (Composer)

Jay Gorney (1896-1990) was a renowned composer for musicals, film, and television. The collection, which spans his entire career, contains scripts, articles, sheet music, correspondence, news clippings, compositions, set photographs, and other biographical material.

Finding aid: Jay Gorney Papers, 1915-1967

Mary Cybulski (Script Supervisor)

Mary Cybulski (1955-2025), who briefly attended the University of Michigan, worked with many leading film directors as a script supervisor: Robert Altman (The Gingerbread Man), Jane Campion (In the Cut), Jodie Foster (Little Man Tate), Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton), Michael Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind), Ang Lee (The Ice Storm, Life of Pi), Nancy Savoca (True Love, Dogfight), John Sayles (Lone Star, Sunshine State), and many others. Her papers include set books, which comprise her notes, set breakdowns, and lined scripts.

Finding aid: Mary Cybulski Papers, 1988-2012

Max Hodge (Writer)

U-M alum Max Hodge (1916-2007) was chief editor of the campus humor magazine Gargoyle. His career writing for television included series from the 1960s through 1980s: The Girl from U.N.C.L.E., The Wild Wild West, Ironside, Marcus Welby, MD, The Waltons, Police Woman, Maude, and Cannon, and many others. He is credited with creating Mr. Freeze for the Batman series. His papers include scripts from the shows he worked on and from earlier musical projects for Oldsmobile in the 1950s.

Finding aid: Max Hodge Papers, 1938-1993 (majority within 1965-1980)

Norman Taurog (Director)

Academy Award winner Norman Taurog (1899-1981) had a long career as a Hollywood director and screenwriter. During the 1950s, he directed most of the films that co-starred Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, and in the 1960s, he directed nine films starring Elvis Presley. His papers comprise three volumes of bound, annotated shooting scripts and six scrapbooks containing behind-the-scenes photographs, cast member photographs, and newspaper clippings referencing Taurog and his films.

Finding aid: Norman Taurog Papers, 1922-1970