Guide to the James Pinckney Miller Papers, 1955-1972

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".

Restrictions

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.

Administrative Information

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.

Detailed Description of the Collection