Julie Stevens Papers
Abstract
Julie Stevens (1916-1984) was an American actress best known for playing the lead role on the radio soap opera "The Romance of Helen Trent." She performed this role for over 15 years. Ms. Stevens also appeared as a newspaper reporter on the TV series "Big Town," from 1951-1952. The bulk of the collection documents Ms. Stevens' early theatrical career and her long radio run as Helen on "The Romance of Helen Trent."
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Julie Stevens Papers, Special Collections, University of Maryland Libraries.
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Historical Note
Julie Stevens (1916-1984) was an American actress of stage, film, television and radio. She is best remembered for playing the part of Helen Trent on the long-running radio serial "The Romance of Helen Trent." Stevens played the role for sixteen years, beginning in 1944.
Born Harriet Foote in St. Louis, MO, Ms. Stevens' birth date was November 23rd. After attending what is now Columbia College in St. Louis, MO she came to New York and made her Broadway debut by replacing Gene Tierney in the play "The Male Animal." Some of Ms. Stevens' other Broadway credits included "Snookie" (1941), "Brooklyn USA" (1942) and "Proof Through the Night" (1943).
In 1942, she took on the title role of "Kitty Foyle" in the daily radio serial based on the film which starred Ginger Rogers. This radio serial ran from 1942 to 1944. Other radio shows on which Stevens performed included "Abbie's Irish Rose," "Road of Life" and "The Abbott Mysteries."
In 1944, Ms. Stevens took over the part of Helen Trent (previously played by actresses Virginia Clark and Betty Ruth Smith). Until the program left the air, listeners tuned in daily for the trials and tribulations of this series' resilient heroine. Each broadcast began with the announcer stating the program's famous preamble: "And now "The Romance of Helen Trent": the real-life drama of Helen Trent, who, when life mocks her, breaks her hopes, dashes her against the rocks of despair, fights back bravely, successfully, to prove what so many women long to prove - that because a woman is thirty-five or more, romance in life need not be over, that romance can begin at thirty-five."
Concurrent with her work on radio as "Helen Trent," Stevens also worked from 1951-1952 on the dramatic TV series "Big Town." Her character was a newspaper reporter named Lorilei.
After playing Helen Trent for the last time in 1960, Ms. Stevens retired to Cape Cod, Massachusetts where, for many years, she co-hosted an area radio show that featured theatre reviews and more. She also devoted her time to her family, to performing in local theatre and to various business interests.
Ms. Stevens married Charles Underhill, an executive with US Steel, in 1944. They had two daughters. Ms. Stevens died on August 26, 1984.
Scope and Contents of the Collection
The Julie Stevens Papers spans the years 1940 to 1980. The collection contains newspaper and magazine clippings, correspondence, business contracts, fan mail, programs, scripts, photos, magazines and a small number of artifacts all pertaining to Ms. Stevens' performing career on stage, radio, film and television.
Custodial History and Acquisition Information
The Julie Stevens Papers was donated to the Library of American Broadcasting, University of Maryland Libraries by Sarah Underhill Kitch, Ms. Stevens' daughter in March of 1999.
Processing Information
Processed by Cary O'Dell, 2004
EAD markup created using EAD database in Microsoft Access. Markup completed by Cary O'Dell, January 2005.
Arrangement of Collection
This collection is arranged into 10 series.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series 1: Clippings, 1940-1972 (8 folders)
This series contains a cross-section of newspaper articles, gossip column mentions, and reviews for the following productions: stage play, "The Male Animal" (1940-1941); stage play, "Brooklyn, USA" (1941); radio serial, "Romance of Helen Trent" (1944-1975); television serial, "Big Town" (1951-1952); miscellaneous stage plays, radio shows and film work. This series also contains clippings pertaining to Ms. Stevens' personal life. Organized by type/production and then by date.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clippings -- "The Male Animal", 1940-1941 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 1 | |
| Clippings -- "Brooklyn, USA", 1941 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 2 | |
| Clippings -- Miscellaneous stage productions, 1943-1972 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 3 | |
| Clippings -- Miscellaneous radio shows, 1942-1948 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 4 | |
| Clippings -- Film work, circa 1939 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 5 | |
| Clippings -- "Romance of Helen Trent", 1944-1975 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 6 | |
| Clippings -- "Big Town", 1951-1952 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 7 | |
| Clippings -- Personal life, 1940-1972 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 8 | |
Series 2: Correspondence, 1940-1982 (11 folders)
This series contain correspondence sent to Ms. Steven pertaining to her career, or personal correspondence from friends, relatives, and colleagues. This correspondence includes: opening night well-wishing telegrams from various friends and family members; communiquès from the likes of Betty Garde, Frank and Anne Hummert, Wally Phillips, Richard Lamparski, Leigh Richmond, and Laird Cregar; and various letters and cards from devoted fans and autograph seekers. The bulk of the "fan mail" is from listeners of "Helen Trent" and viewers of TV's "Big Town." Letters are ordered by date.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Correspondence -- Professional, 1941-1951 | series 2 | box 2 | folder 1 | |
| Correspondence -- Professional, 1952-1969 | series 2 | box 2 | folder 2 | |
| Correspondence -- Professional, 1975-1982 | series 2 | box 2 | folder 3 | |
| Correspondence -- Professional, undated | series 2 | box 2 | folder 4 | |
| Correspondence -- Personal, 1952-1962 | series 2 | box 2 | folder 5 | |
| Correspondence -- Fan Mail, 1942-1951 | series 2 | box 2 | folder 6 | |
| Correspondence -- Fan Mail, 1952-1955 | series 2 | box 2 | folder 7 | |
| Correspondence -- Fan Mail, 1956-1959 | series 2 | box 2 | folder 8 | |
| Correspondence -- Fan Mail, 1960 | series 2 | box 2 | folder 9 | |
| Correspondence -- Fan Mail, 1962-1982 | series 2 | box 2 | folder 10 | |
| Correspondence -- Fan Mail, undated | series 2 | box 2 | folder 11 | |
Series 3: Radio Scripts, 1942-1944 (3 folders)
This series is comprised of a small collection of four radio scripts that Ms. Stevens starred in, including "The O'Keefe Show" (3/29/42); "Kitty Foyle" (undated; series ran: 1942-44); and a partial script (2 pages) for an undated, unknown program. Files are arranged alphabetically by title and then internally by date.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radio scripts, undated | series 3 | box 3 | folder 1 | |
Series 4: Contracts, 1939-1961 (1 folder)
Legal documents (13 total) pertaining to Ms. Stevens' acting career. Contracts are with such entities as Warner Brothers studios, Zeppo Marx, Inc., Actor's Equity, the William Morris Agency and others. Organized by date.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contracts, 1939-1961 | series 4 | box 3 | folder 2 | |
Series 5: Theater Programs, 1940 (1 folder)
Six stagebills from Ms. Stevens' tour with the production "The Male Animal." Ordered by date.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Theatre programs, 1940 | series 5 | box 3 | folder 3 | |
Series 6: Photos, Undated (14 folders)
This series contains black and white snapshots from Ms. Stevens' professional and personal life, including: 8" x 10" "head shots" and publicity photos featuring Ms. Stevens (93 total, including many duplicates); unposed candid photos (8 total) from all stages of Ms. Stevens's career, taken backstage, at events, etc.; family pictures (24 total), posed and non-, of Ms. Stevens with her husband and children; seven publicity photos and other stills taken from various productions (film, theatre, TV) starring Ms. Stevens, including "The Male Animal" and other Universal motion pictures; photographs (some autographed) of Arthur Godfrey, Peggy Wood, Barry Wood, Don DeFore, John Anderson and several unidentified persons; a photo of a cover page from a "Romance of Helen Trent" script; and a photo where only Ms. Stevens' hands are visible as she fills out a biographical questionaire.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photographs -- Portraits, undated | series 6 | box 3 | folder 4 | |
| Photographs -- Portraits, undated | series 6 | box 3 | folder 5 | |
| Photographs -- Portraits, undated | series 6 | box 3 | folder 6 | |
| Photographs -- Portraits, undated | series 6 | box 3 | folder 7 | |
| Photographs -- Portraits, undated | series 6 | box 3 | folder 8 | |
| Photographs -- Portraits, undated | series 6 | box 3 | folder 9 | |
| Photographs -- Portraits, undated | series 6 | box 3 | folder 10 | |
| Photographs -- Portraits, undated | series 6 | box 3 | folder 11 | |
| Photographs -- Candids, undated | series 6 | box 3 | folder 12 | |
| Photographs -- Family, undated | series 6 | box 3 | folder 13 | |
| Photographs -- Production stills, undated | series 6 | box 3 | folder 14 | |
| Photographs -- Other people--identified, undated | series 6 | box 3 | folder 15 | |
| Photographs -- Other people--unidentified, undated | series 6 | box 3 | folder 16 | |
| Photographs -- Misc., undated | series 6 | box 3 | folder 17 | |
Series 7: "Queen of Daytime Dramatic Series", 1952 (1 folder)
Photos (8), certificate (1), and letters (2) detailing Stevens' 1952 crowning as "Queen of the Daytime Dramatic Serials" at a "client-CBS promotional cocktail party" at the Stork Club in New York City. Photos feature Stevens, Yul Brynner (then playing a "king" on Broadway) and Phil Silvers. There are eleven items total in this series.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Queen of the Dramatic Serials" material -- Letters, photos, certificates, 1951 | series 7 | box 4 | folder 1 | |
Series 8: Miscellaneous, Various (1 folder)
Various odds and ends (19 items total) including one press release, a family genealogy, notes on an upcoming personal vacation, material related to a 1971 high school reunion, play programs for productions not featuring Ms. Stevens, and a magazine profile in draft form.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miscellaneous -- Press release, profile article, programs, family genealogy, various dates | series 8 | box 4 | folder 2 | |
Series 9: Magazines, 1950-1980 (14 folders)
This series houses a collection of magazines--mainly "Radio-TV Mirror" --with full feature stories on "Helen Trent" and/or Ms. Stevens. They are ordered by date.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magazines -- "Radio and TV Mirror", October 1950 | series 9 | box 4 | folder 3 | |
| Magazines -- "Radio-TV Mirror", October 1953 | series 9 | box 4 | folder 4 | |
| Magazines -- "Who's Who in TV and Radio", 1954 | series 9 | box 4 | folder 5 | |
| Magazines -- "Radio-TV Mirror", March 1954 | series 9 | box 4 | folder 6 | |
| Magazines -- "TV-Radio Annual", 1955 | series 9 | box 4 | folder 7 | |
| Magazines -- "TV Radio Mirror", January 1955 | series 9 | box 4 | folder 8 | |
| Magazines -- "TV Radio Mirror", April 1955 | series 9 | box 4 | folder 9 | |
| Magazines -- "TV Radio Mirror", May 1955 | series 9 | box 4 | folder 10 | |
| Magazines -- "Radio Mirror", March 1956 | series 9 | box 4 | folder 11 | |
| Magazines -- "TV Radio Mirror", May 1957 | series 9 | box 4 | folder 12 | |
| Magazines -- "TV Radio Mirror", May 1958 | series 9 | box 4 | folder 13 | |
| Magazines -- "Daytime TV Stars", June 1977 | series 9 | box 4 | folder 14 | |
| Magazines -- "The Villager", November 1980 | series 9 | box 4 | folder 15 | |
| Magazines -- "Cape Cod Today", February 1981 | series 9 | box 4 | folder 16 | |
Series 10: Artifacts, 1957-1958 (2 boxes)
This series contains additional materials from the collection, including:
--Two gold medallion "TV--Radio Mirror" awards (1957-58; 1958-59) for "Favorite Radio Dramatic Actress," in their original cases. --Two oversize certificates noting the above awards from "TV-Radio Mirror" --Name tag from Sixth Annual CBS Radio Affiliates Association Convention --Oversize (25" x 38"), multi-color poster promoting the April 22, 1964 TV special "U.S. Steel Presents 'Opening Night at the World's Fair'" which aired over NBC and featured Carol Channing, Marian Anderson, Henry Fonda and Walt Disney, among others.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Artifacts -- Awards, name tags, ribbons (oversize), 1957-1958 | series 10 | box 5 | folder 1 | |
| Artifacts -- Certificates (oversize), 1957-1958 | series 10 | box 6 | folder 1 | |
Related Material
For other related archival and manuscript collections, please see the following subject guides.
Selected Search Terms
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the University of Maryland Libraries' Catalog. Researchers desiring related materials about these topics, names, or places may search the Catalog using these headings.
Subjects
- Actors -- United States -- Archives.
- Women broadcasters -- New York -- Archives.