Descriptive Summary
James Pinckney Miller - Papers, 1955-1972, Bulk dates 1956-1958
MS 13
2 linear ft.
Rice University
Fondren Library
Houston, TX 77251-1892
Drafts, including screenplays, of several of Miller's works including Days of Wine and Roses (1963), Rabbit Trap, and Race for Home (1968); together with correspondence and notes concerning these works, copyright procedures, credits, and research. Includes material relating to Writers Guild of America, West.
Miller, James Pinckney
English.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
James Pinckney Miller was born in San Antonio in 1919. Having graduated from Rice University in 1941, and serving in the Navy during WWII, Miller turned to writing as a career. His first success was the play
The Rabbit Trap, in 1958. He then went on to write Days of Wine and Roses, another play, and his first novel The Race For Home.
SCOPE AND CONTENT
The Miller papers consists of four boxes of drafts of several literary works, in addition to correspondence concerning these works. The chronological arrangement of each work reveals the progression of literary works from rough draft to screenplay or novel. The
Rabbit Trap material includes notes, the television play, legitimate theater play, and screenplay. The Race For Home material includes notes, rough drafts, title doodlings, and research correspondence. The Days of Wine and Roses material includes notes, television drafts, and screenplay drafts.
Correspondence in the Miller papers mainly concern copyrighting procedures, credits, and research. There is one telegram from Miller's agent concerning the film production of
The Rabbit Trap.
Box 1 and part of Box 2 contain notes and drafts of
The Rabbit Trap, the remainder of Box 2 and Box 3 contain drafts and correspondence regarding The Race For Home and Box 4 contains all materials relating to Days of Wine and Roses.
PREFERRED CITATION:
James Pinckney Miller - Papers, 1955-1972, MS 13, Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University
PROVENANCE
Gift of James Pinckney Miller, received from 1969 through 1974.
RESTRICTIONS AND LITERARY RIGHTS
No restrictions, but permission to publish materials from James Pinckney Miller's papers must be obtained from the Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University.
INDEX TERMS
Writers Guild of America, West.
Copyright--United States.
Trade and professional associations--United States.
American literature--20th century.
American drama--20th century.
BOX 1
The Rabbit Trap
Original Typewritten First Draft
n.d.
Original Notes, Outlines, etc. for the Television Play
1955
J.P. Miller's Personal Rehearsal Copy and Rehearsal Schedule
n.d.
Original Television Play as aired; Original Cast; Technical Notes
1956 February 13
Mimeographed copy of the Television Version
1955
Original Notes and Outline for Legitimate Stage Version
1955
First Outline for Motion Picture
n.d.
Mimeographed First Draft of Screenplay
1956 August 21
BOX 2
Mimeographed Second Draft of Screenplay
1956 October 10
Deleted Pages from First and Second Drafts of Screenplay
n.d.
Final Draft of Screenplay
1956 December 19
Agent's Telegram to J.P. Miller; Letter from Writer's Guild of America to J.P. Miller
1958
The Race for Home
Title Doodlings
n.d.
Notes for Laddie Buck (The Race for Home)
Oct. 1956-Jan. 1957
Early Outline for Laddie Buck
1957 February
Copyright Correspondence for Laddie Buck
1957 February
Notes for Laddie Buck
n.d.
Research Notes for Laddie Buck
n.d.
First Rough Draft for Laddie Buck;
n.d.
Chapters 1-3
Chapters 4-10
BOX 3
Chapters 11-14
Chapters 15-18
Chapters 19-24
Chapters 25-27
Chapters 28-33
Chapters 34-36
Chapters 37-44
Chapters 45-50
Chapters 51-55
Chapters 56-62
Chapters 63-68
Notes for The Race for Home
n.d.
Notes for the Final Version of The Race for Home
n.d.
BOX 4
Days of Wine and Roses
Early Notes
n.d.
Notes
n.d.
Original Draft
n.d.
First Draft for Television
1958 July 14
Television Version as Aired
n.d.
Original Rehearsal Copy of Playhouse 90 Production
1958 September 13
Telecast Copy
1958 September 21
First Draft of Screenplay
1961 April 12
Off the Beaten Track in Athens
1972