Lester Cowan and Ann Ronell "Trial of Billie Holiday" Collection
Abstract
The Lester Cowan and Ann Ronell "Trial of Billie Holiday" Collection consists of correspondence, scores, lyric sheets, contracts, film proposals, screenplays, clippings, and photographs related to the proposed film, "The Trial of Billie Holiday," developed in collaboration by Lester Cowan and Ann Ronell.
Important Information for Users of the Collection
The collection is open for research use.
Lester Cowan and Ann Ronell "Trial of Billie Holiday" Collection, Special Collections, University of Maryland Libraries.
Materials from this collection must be used in the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library's Irving and Margery Morgan Lowens Special Collections Room, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Contact the curator for an appointment: http://www.lib.umd.edu/scpa/contact
This collection is PROCESSED.
Historical Note
Lester Cowan (1907-1990), originally from Mansfield, Ohio, was an independent producer of motion picture films in the 1930s and 40s. He started his career by leaving his studies at Stanford University and migrating to Hollywood in the late 1920s. In 1928, he was hired by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, where he wrote a book on the advent of talkies and helped start the annual Academy Awards. In 1929, he started a lecture series on film studies at the University of Southern California. He also organized the film industry's research council, which was responsible for developing technical standards and audience research. Films he produced include "You Can't Cheat On Me" (1939), "My Little Chickadee" (1940), "Ladies in Retirement" (1941), "Commandos Strike At Dawn" (1942), "Tomorrow the World" (1944) and "The Story of G.I. Joe" (1945). He collaborated on the proposal for "The Trial of Billie Holiday" with his wife, Ann Ronell.
Ann Rosenblatt Ronell (1908-1993), a composer of both classical works and music for motion pictures, was born in Omaha, Nebraska. During her studies at Radcliffe College, she met George Gershwin, who subsequently gave her a job as a rehearsal pianist for Broadway shows. She also took up teaching, vocal coaching and songwriting. Ronell became one of the few composers of her day to be adept at writing both lyrics and music. After writing a few successful songs in the 1930s ("Baby's Birthday Party" and "Willow Weep for Me"), she started composing music for films. Her collaboration with composer Frank Churchill resulted in the first Disney hit song, "Who's Afraid of the Big, Bad Wolf?" (from The Three Little Pigs, 1933). Her work as music director for "The Story of G.I. Joe" (1945) won her two Oscar nominations. She also composed a Broadway musical ("Count Me In," 1942) as well writing opera lyrics and music for ballet. The Cowan and Ronell "Trial of Billie Holiday" Collection suggests that she created the script for this film, and provides evidence of her participation in the planning of it.
Scope and Contents of the Collection
This collection contains correspondence, song manuscripts, lyric manuscripts, photographs and other materials pertaining to the proposed film entitled "The Trial of Billie Holiday."
Custodial History and Acquisition Information
Purchase made by Bruce Wilson (former head, Performing Arts Library) from the Charles Apfelbaum Company. Purchased in 1999.
Processing Information
Processed by Stephanie Schmitz, November 2004
EAD markup created using EAD database in Microsoft Access. Markup completed by Stephanie Schmitz.
Arrangement of Collection
This collection is organized into six series.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series 1: Correspondence, 1957-1965 (Six folders)
This series comprises letters written by those affiliated with the planning of the film "The Trial of Billie Holiday." Such correspondence includes materials from Lester Cowan and Ann Ronell to personal acquaintances, attorneys, the United Artists Corporation and various record companies.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | Item | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal correspondence | series 1 | box 1 | folder 1 | ||
| Bill Dufty to Ann Ronway, 1965 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 1 | item 1.0 | |
| To Corky Hale [Unsigned.], 1965 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 1 | item 2.0 | |
| To Bill Dufty [Unsigned.], 1965 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 1 | item 3.0 | |
| To Lester Cowan [unsigned], 1971 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 1 | item 4.0 | |
| Correspondence with attorneys | series 1 | box 1 | folder 2 | ||
| Sidney Levin to Lester Cowan, 1957 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 2 | item 1.0 | |
| Sidney Levin to Lester Cowan, 1957 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 2 | item 2.0 | |
| Milton Rosenbaum to Lester Cowan, 1968 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 2 | item 3.0 | |
| Correspondence with United Artists Corporation | series 1 | box 1 | folder 3 | ||
| Anthony Mann to "Gentlemen", 1957 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 3 | item 1.0 | |
| Max Youngstein to Lester Cowan, 1959 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 3 | item 2.0 | |
| Max Youngstein to Lester Cowan, 1959 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 3 | item 3.0 | |
| Correspondence regarding lead actress | series 1 | box 1 | folder 4 | ||
| Charles Wood to Lester Cowan, 1957 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 4 | item 1.0 | |
| Max Youngstein to Lester Cowan, 1959 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 4 | item 2.0 | |
| Correspondence with record companies | series 1 | box 1 | folder 5 | ||
| Archie Bleyer to Lester Cowan, 1957 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 5 | item 1.0 | |
| Herbert Marks to Lester Cowan, 1957 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 5 | item 2.0 | |
| George Avakian to Lester Cowan, 1958 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 5 | item 3.0 | |
| Lewis Dreyer M. William Krasilovsky, 1960 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 5 | item 4.0 | |
| Miscellaneous correspondence | series 1 | box 1 | folder 6 | ||
| Envelope (Empty), [Undated.] | series 1 | box 1 | folder 6 | item 1.0 | |
| Envelope containing address information of Jean Pace, [Undated.] | series 1 | box 1 | folder 6 | item 2.0 | |
| Draft of letter to Billie Holiday. [Unsigned.], [Undated.] | series 1 | box 1 | folder 6 | item 3.0 | |
Series 2: Contracts and Contract Related Materials, Undated (1 folder)
This series includes signed and unsigned contracts between those involved with the planning of the film.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | Item | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Signed and unsigned contracts between those involved with film planning. Also contains memos and letters. | series 2 | box 1 | folder 7 | ||
| Agreement: Drake Investment Corporation ("Producer") and Walter Reade, Jr. ("Lender"), 1957 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 7 | item 1.0 | |
| Agreement: Lester Cowan and William P. Dufty William P. Dufty ("Writer"), 1957 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 7 | item 2.0 | |
| Agreement: Lester Cowan and William P. Dufty, 1957 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 7 | item 3.0 | |
| Agreement: Lester Cowan and Louis McKay regarding rights to the book "The Lady Sings the Blues", 1957 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 7 | item 4.0 | |
| Agreement: Lester Cowan and Ann Ronell, 1957 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 7 | item 5.0 | |
| Agreement: Lester Cowan and Ann Ronell regarding the "Photoplay.", 1957 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 7 | item 6.0 | |
| Agreement: Lester Cowan and United Artists Corporation Artists Corporation, 1957 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 7 | item 7.0 | |
| Agreement: Lester Cowan to William Dufty, 1959 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 7 | item 8.0 | |
| 324 Federal Reporter, 2nd Series, pages 762-763, [Undated.] | series 2 | box 1 | folder 7 | item 9.0 | |
| "Notes for Ann," Lester Cowan, 1957 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 7 | item 10.0 | |
| Letter: Herbert Schottenfield to Paul O'Brien, 1959 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 7 | item 11.0 | |
| "Memorandum, Billie Holiday Property", [Undated.] | series 2 | box 1 | folder 7 | item 12.0 | |
| Letter: William Dufty to Billie Holiday, 1955 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 7 | item 13.0 | |
| Contract: Holiday, Dufty and Cowan (loose page), [Undated.] | series 2 | box 1 | folder 7 | item 14.0 | |
Series 3: Manuscripts, Undated (1 folder)
Includes handwritten scores of "Hungry for Love" and "Smoke Dreams." Also contains drafts of lyrics written on miscellaneous pieces of paper.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | Item | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scores and lyric sketches relating to the proposed film. | series 3 | box 1 | folder 8 | ||
| "Hungry for Love," vocals, [Undated.] | series 3 | box 1 | folder 8 | item 1.0 | |
| "Hungry for Love," piano, [Undated.] | series 3 | box 1 | folder 8 | item 2.0 | |
| "Hungry for Love," published copies, [Undated.] | series 3 | box 1 | folder 8 | item 3.0 | |
| "Hungry for Love," published copy for Billie Holiday, [Undated.] | series 3 | box 1 | folder 8 | item 4.0 | |
| "Smoke Dreams," sketch, [Undated.] | series 3 | box 1 | folder 8 | item 5.0 | |
| "Diaz and Lores hair stylists" letterhead: "For you found injustice...", [Undated.] | series 3 | box 1 | folder 8 | item 6.0 | |
| Ann Ronell c/o G. Schirmer letterhead: "I cried for you...", [Undated.] | series 3 | box 1 | folder 8 | item 7.0 | |
| "Hungry For Love", [Undated.] | series 3 | box 1 | folder 8 | item 8.0 | |
| "Hungry for Love," verse and refrain, [Undated.] | series 3 | box 1 | folder 8 | item 9.0 | |
| "My door is open...", [Undated.] | series 3 | box 1 | folder 8 | item 10.0 | |
| Ann Ronell stationary (back): "When you're sentimental..", [Undated.] | series 3 | box 1 | folder 8 | item 11.0 | |
| Green cover from Columbia Pictures' central files: "The Whole Town's Talking", [Undated.] | series 3 | box 1 | folder 8 | item 12.0 | |
Series 4: Film Proposal, Undated (3 folders)
Drafts of film plans and song lists related to the proposed film.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | Item | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drafts of film plans and song lists relating to the proposed film. | series 4 | box 1 | folder 9 | ||
| "The Trial of Billie Holliday, Waskow and Ernie Pyle" [sic], [Undated.] | series 4 | box 1 | folder 9 | item 1.0 | |
| Notes on proposed film, [Undated.] | series 4 | box 1 | folder 9 | item 2.0 | |
| Song list, [Undated.] | series 4 | box 1 | folder 9 | item 3.0 | |
| Song list, [Undated.] | series 4 | box 1 | folder 9 | item 4.0 | |
| Song list, [Undated.] | series 4 | box 1 | folder 9 | item 5.0 | |
| Song list, [Undated.] | series 4 | box 1 | folder 9 | item 6.0 | |
| Song list, [Undated.] | series 4 | box 1 | folder 9 | item 7.0 | |
| Song list, [Undated.] | series 4 | box 1 | folder 9 | item 8.0 | |
| Song list, [Undated.] | series 4 | box 1 | folder 9 | item 9.0 | |
| Song list, [Undated.] | series 4 | box 1 | folder 9 | item 10.0 | |
| Song list, 1988 | series 4 | box 1 | folder 9 | item 11.0 | |
Series 5: Screenplays, Published Items, and Clippings, Undated (1 folder)
This series contains two copyrighted screenplays: The Trial of Billie Holiday (Ronell) and Harlem: A Musical Memoir (Dufty). It also contains published items and clippings that hold an ambiguous relationship to the film.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | Item | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screenplays | series 5 | box 1 | folder 10 | ||
| Dufty, William. Harlem: A Musical Memoir, 1966 | series 5 | box 1 | folder 10 | item 1.0 | |
| Ronell, Ann. The Trial of Billie Holiday, 1957 | series 5 | box 1 | folder 10 | item 2.0 | |
| "The Trial of Billie Holiday" [cover sheet], [Undated.] | series 5 | box 1 | folder 10 | item 3.0 | |
| Published items | series 5 | box 1 | folder 11 | ||
| Playbill, Volume 87, No. 4 (April 1987), 1987 | series 5 | box 1 | folder 11 | item 1.0 | |
| WGA Bulletin, January 1958, 1958 | series 5 | box 1 | folder 11 | item 2.0 | |
| Clippings | series 5 | box 1 | folder 12 | ||
| Watt, Douglas. "Record Review" [Source Unknown], [Undated.] | series 5 | box 1 | folder 12 | item 1.0 | |
| Wilson, John S. "Aura of Billie Holiday is Captured at the Jazz Museum.", [Undated.] | series 5 | box 1 | folder 12 | item 2.0 | |
| "There is Joy In Heaven Over Billie Holiday," Catholic News, 1959 | series 5 | box 1 | folder 12 | item 3.0 | |
| Short review of Holiday autobiography, [Undated.] | series 5 | box 1 | folder 12 | item 4.0 | |
Series 6: Photographs, Undated (1 folder)
This series contains photographs and other visual materials related to the proposed film.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | Item | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miscellaneous photographs pertaining to the proposed film. | series 6 | box 1 | folder 13 | ||
| Diahann Carroll headshots (b&w, 8.5x11), [Undated.] | series 6 | box 1 | folder 13 | item 1.0 | |
Related Material
For other related archival and manuscript collections, please see the following subject guides.
Bibliography
Fowler, Glenn. "Lester Cowan, 83, Film Producer of Works Lighthearted to Weighty" (obituary), The New York Times, October 23, 1990. Section B, page 9, column 1.
Grattan, Virginia L. American Women Songwriters, A Biographical Dictionary. Westport: Greenwood Press, 1993.
Harrison, Nigel. Songwriters: A Biographical Dictionary with Discographies. Jefferson: McFarland. 1998.
Holden, Stephen. "The Women Who Wrote Songs that Made Grown Men Sigh," in The New York Times. August 15, 1999. Section 13, page 4, Column 1.
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
- Cowan, Lester -- Archives.
- Cowan, Lester -- Correspondence.
- Holiday, Billie, 1915-1959.
- Motion picture music.
- Motion picture producers and directors -- United States.
- Ronell, Ann -- Archives.
- Ronell, Ann -- Correspondence.
- Songs.
- Women composers -- United States
Names (Added Entries)
- Ronell, Ann.