Vincent Price papers

Collection

Call Number: MS 1625

Scope and Contents

The papers consist of correspondence, memorabilia, working scripts, writings, photographs, and published material relating to Vincent Price's acting career and activities as a supporter of the visual arts.

The bulk ofthe collection dates from the 1940s to the 1970s, although the scrapbooks contain a great deal of material from the 1930s as well. The papers are perhaps most valuable for the ephemera they contain relating to Price's theatrical and film career. There are rare fan magazines and a number of formal and informal photographs documenting all aspects of Price's career. There is also a large amount of material that provides background information on Vincent Price's public life, including scrapbooks, clippings from newspapers and magazines, and reviews of Price's performances. In addition there is good documentation on Price's interest in and involvement with the art world.

Dates

1890-1990

Creator

Price, Vincent, 1911-1993

Conditions Governing Access

The materials are open for research.

Original audiotape, videotape, and motion picture films, as well as preservation masters and duplicating masters, may not be played. Researchers needing to consult the original materials should refer to the finding aid and/or a reference archivist to determine policies governing reproduction for access.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by Vincent Price has been transferred to Yale University. These materials may be used for non-commercial purposes without seeking permission from Yale University as the copyright holder. For other uses of these materials, please contact mssa.assist@yale.edu.

Copyright status for other collection materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Vincent Price, 1992, and transferred from the Yale Film Studies Center, 1992 and 2003.

Arrangement

The papers are arranged in seven series and one addition: I. Correspondence, 1920s-1980s. II. Memorabilia, 1936-1980s. III. Publicity, 1950s-1980s. IV. Working Scripts, 1935-1990, n.d. V. Writings, 1932-1981, n.d. VI. Scrapbooks, 1910-1970s. VII. Photographs, 1890s-1980s.

Extent

11.33 Linear Feet (19 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Catalog Record

A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog

Persistent URL

https://hdl.handle.net/10079/fa/mssa.ms.1625

Additional Description

Overview

Biographical / Historical

Vincent Price was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on May 27, 1911. His father was president of the National Candy Company in St. Louis. Price received a B.A. in art history and English from Yale University in 1933, and studied art history at the University of London from 1934 to 1935. Price began his acting career in 1935 in a London stage production of Victoria Regina. He acted in Mercury Theatre productions (1937-1938), in Outward Bound (1939-1940), and in Angel Street (1941-1942). Price made his film debut in 1938 in Service de Luxe. He appeared in over one hundred films, achieving fame particularly in films of horror and suspense. In addition to his stage and film roles, Price performed on radio and television; authored several books; lectured on primitive and modern art; and served on committees and boards of arts organizations, including the Archives of American Art, U.S. Indian Arts and Crafts Board, the arts council of the University of California at Los Angeles, and the White House Fine Arts Commission. Price married three times: to Edith Barrett, Mary Grant, and Coral Browne. He had a son, Vincent Barrett Price, from his first marriage and a daughter, Victoria Price, from his second marriage. Price died in Los Angeles, California, on October 25, 1993.