Weissberger mss., 1938-1949
Summary Information
Repository
Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
Lilly Library
Indiana University
1200 E. Seventh St.
Bloomington, IN 47405-5500
Phone: 812-855-2452
Fax: 812-855-3143
Email: liblilly@indiana.edu
Creator
Weissberger, L. Arnold
TitleWeissberger mss., 1938-1949
Collection No.
LMC 2067
Extent
1,100 items
Language
Materials are in English.
Abstract
The Weissberger mss., 1938-1949, consist
primarily of correspondence and legal papers pertaining to the financial affairs of
Orson Welles and Mercury Theatre, Inc., as handled by Welles's personal
attorney, L. Arnold Weissberger, 1907-1981.
Access Restrictions
This collection is open for research.
Biographical Note
Personal attorney to Orson Welles, Weissberger was born in New York City and educated
at the Ethical Culture School. He graduated from Harvard University in 1927 and
received an LL.B. from Harvard Law School in 1930. He was admitted to the New York
State bar that year and went on to become an American theatrical lawyer whose
clientele featured numerous celebrities from the stage and screen, including Welles.
He was chairman of the board of Friends of the Theater and Music Collection of the
Museum of the City of New York, chairman of the New Dramatists Inc., and president
of the Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance before his death in 1981. Orson
Welles delivered a eulogy at Weissberger's memorial service.
Arrangement
Organized by the following series: I. Correspondence; II. Contracts, Agreements,
Legal Papers; III. Photographs; IV. Printed; V. Miscellaneous.
Scope and Content Note
Correspondence includes primarily financial matters of Orson Welles and Mercury
Theatre, Inc., including detailed accounts of Welles's tax difficulties with
the IRS; as well as correspondence concerning the release of
Citizen Kane and to the threatened lawsuit by William Randolph Hearst.
The Contracts, Agreements, Legal Papers series includes more records concerning
Welles's tax problems; copies of contracts and agreements between Welles and
RKO; other legal documents pertaining to Mercury Theatre; insurance policies for
both Orson and Virginia Welles; and copies of Welles's birth certificate.
Correspondents include: Aaron Copland; Herbert Drake; John Houseman; Carlos L.
Israels; Ruth Krauser; Jack Moss; Fleta Preston; George Schaefer; Augusta
Weissberger; L. Arnold Weissberger; Orson Welles; S. P. Williams.
Photographs consist of primarily theater productions and performers, as well as
stills from the recently discovered (in 2013) early Welles film
Too Much Johnson. The Printed series includes newspaper
clippings mainly about Welles. Miscellaneous materials include an oversize folio
containing summary film earnings for
Citizen Kane,
Sept. 1941-Jan. 1942.
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
Acquired: 1996
Usage RestrictionsPrior arrangements are not necessary before coming to the Library, however,
patrons from out of town are encouraged to communicate with the Library in
advance of their visits to ascertain availability of materials.
Photocopying permitted only with permission of the Curator of Manuscripts, Lilly
Library.
Preferred Citation
[Item], Weissberger mss., Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington,
Indiana.
Processing InformationProcessed by Staff.
Completed in 2013
Series:
Box 1
Correspondence
Correspondence, 1939-1949;
1938-1949;
Primarily financial matters of Orson Welles and Mercury Theatre,
Inc.
(26 folders)
Includes two folders (1941, Jan.
and 1941)
pertaining to the release
of
Citizen Kane and William Randolph Hearst's threatened
lawsuit.
Series:
Box 2
Contracts, Agreements, Legal Papers
Folder 1: AFRA and CBS.
1938, Jul. 12
Folder 2: Housman, John. Assignments to L. Arnold Weissberger,
4 Oct. and
28 Oct. 1938;
agreement re: production of
Five Kings,
(Jan. 27, 1939)
Folder 3: Welles and Columbia Artists, agreements and correspondence.
1938-1940
Folder 4: Columbia Phonograph Co., Mercury Theatre, Inc. and Orson Welles,
May 1939
Folder 5: Orson Welles and RKO agreements,
1939 Jul.-1941
Folder 6: RKO and Orson Welles agreement,
Jul. 7, 1941
[photocopy of photostat]
Folder 7: Welles' insurance policies [a few are for Virginia Welles]
Folder 8: Welles' birth certificate (2 copies)
Folder 9: Welles' tax problems
Box 3
Orson Welles and RKO: photocopy of
1939 contract and photostat of revised
1941 contract
Series:
Box
2
(continued)
Photographs
Folder 10: Actors [incl. one of Mark Blitzstein] (15)
Folder 11: Actresses (6)
Folder 12:
Doctor Faustus (2)
Folder 13:
Horse Eats Hat (2)
Folder 14:
Julius Caesar (2)
Folder 15:
Shoemaker's Holiday (2)
Folder 16:
Too Much Johnson (16)
Folder 17: Welles, Orson (5)
Folder 18: Miscellaneous (3)
Folder 19: Postcard Photographs
Box 5 (Oversize)
Orson and Virginia Welles wedding photo
Series:
Box 2
Printed
Folders 20-21: clippings re:
Citizen Kane and
Macbeth
Box 6 (Oversize)
Printed: clippings, chiefly re: Welles
Series:
Box 2
MISCELLANEOUS
Folder 23:
"Alva Johnston's Second Installment,"
written piece on the young Orson Welles
Folder 24: Train tickets; calling cards; reply brief:
Helen Twelvetrees v. RKO
Folder 25: Personal
Folder 26: Clippings re: Weissberger
Box 4 (Oversize)
Summary earnings sheets for
Citizen Kane,
Sept. 1941-Jan. 1942
