urn:taro:utexas.cah.013## A Guide to the Walter Winchell Papers Original EAD Catherine Best according to TARO 2 EAD 2002 Editing Instructions. October 2009 Finding aid written in English. Descriptive Summary Winchell (Walter) Walter Winchell Papers 1928-1993 (bulk 1930s-1960s) Materials are written in English. 2006-070 8 feet Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin Walter Winchell (1897-1972) was an influential print and broadcast journalist who pioneered the gossip column genre. Collection consists of correspondence with notable people of the time and from Winchell's fans. Collection also includes clippings, photographs, and one piece of sheet music. Biographical Note

Walter Winchell (1897-1972) gained acclaim as a journalist and gossip columnist with a career spanning five decades. He contributed a column to the New York Daily Mirror for over 30 years, as well as hosting radio and television broadcasts (ABC, CBS, and NBC). Winchell’s early career was marked by his public criticism of pro-fascists in America and strong condemnation of the rise of the Nazi Party in Germany. He also expressed support for the Democratic Party and President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Mixed with political opinion and commentary was Winchell’s trademark entertainment news and “gossip,” where he gained a reputation as being frank and fiery.

After World War II, Winchell became increasingly concerned with the spread of Communism and voiced support for Senator Joseph McCarthy and the “Red Scare” investigations. With the passing of the McCarthy era Winchell slowly faded from the public eye.

Scope and Contents

Collection consists of correspondence with notable people in news, entertainment and government; and, letters from fans who appealed to Winchell to use his influence for their causes. Many of the letters bear Winchell’s handwritten comments or directions to Rose Bigman, his secretary. Collection also includes clippings, photographs, and one piece of sheet music.

Most of the material is arranged in alphabetical order by the recipient or the topic covered. An intermediary owner of the collection had moved some papers from their original folders. These are found after the alphabetical listing as “Unsorted correspondence and printed material.” There is some overlap between the alphabetical and unsorted groups.

Alternate Format Available

Access Restrictions

Unrestricted access.

Use Restrictions

Unrestricted use.

Index Terms Subjects (Persons) Winchell, Walter, 1897-1972. Subjects Journalism Journalists Gossip columnists Preferred Citation

Walter Winchell Papers, 1928-1992 [bulk, 1930s-1960s], Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin.

Related Material

Forms part of the Media History Collection.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Catherine Best and Emily Preece, October 2009.

Detailed Description of the Papers Correspondence and printed material 4Zg40 "A" Miscellaneous, 1941-1968 ABC-TV, general, 1945-1958 ABC-TV, "The Headliners," 1946, 1964 ABC-TV, "The Street," 1964-1966 Abraham Lincoln columns, 1947 Acapulco News, 1964 Actors and Actresses, 1946-1962 Actors Equity, 1932, 1937 Actors Fund of America, 1933, 1949 America First Committee, 1941 American Broadcasting Lawsuits, 1939-1955 American Christian Palestine Committee [regarding Yusif El-Bandak], 1949 American Guild of Variety Artists, 1941 American Home Products, 1964 American International, "Wild in the Streets," 1967-1968 American Labor Magazine, 1968 American Peace Mobilization, 1941 American Seamen, 1933 American Tobacco Company, 1932 Amitone, 1968 Amvets (American Veterans of World War II), 1967-1968 Anastasia (Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna), 1939 Anderson, John, 1939-1943 Andrew Jergens Co., 1945 Anti-Defamation League, 1940, 1946, 1967-1968 Antioch Chamber of Commerce, 1933 Army, 1945 Arnold , Dorothy (disappeared Dec. 12, 1910), 1935 Articles, undated Asher, Court, 1945 Atom Bomb, 1945-1946 Auchincloss, James L., 1964 Authors, 1929-1968 Axis Sally (Mildred Gillars), 1947-1949 "B" Miscellaneous, 1933-1967 Bananas, Joe, 1964-1965 Bandak, Yusif El, 1949-1950 Bankers Casualty of Chicago, 1959-1960 Barton, Andrew, 1968-1969 Baxter, David, 1945 Beacon, Tony, 1937 Beaten, David (TV shows), 1967 Bennett, Constance, 1939-1940 Berger, Meyer (article in Scribner's magazine), undated Bergerac, Jacques, 1964 Bergman, Ingrid, 1950, 1959 Beverage Times, 1945 Beverly Hills Citizen News (Greenberg-Heyler), 1968 Biddle, Attorney General 1944 Biederman, Les, 1964-1968 Bigman, Rose [notes Winchell], undated Bilbo, Sen. Theodore, 1945-1947 Billingsley, Sherman (Stork Club), 1937-1967 "Billy" ["When I Walk I Always Walk with Billy," song by James Kendis], 1939 Birthday Party, 1967 Bissel, Pelham St. George, III, 1934 Blue Network, 1944-1945 Blue Star Mothers of America, 1943-1948 Bob Hope dinner, 1947 Bon Ami, 1959 Boston Herald Traveler, 1967-1968 Bowles, Chester, 1946-1949 Boxing, 1964-1968 Bradford, Robert (true story for movie), 1957 Bravest and Finest, 1967 British Information Services, 1941-1951 Broadway Alien, 1941 Broadway Stars, Inc., 1956-1964 Brown, Wilson, 1949 4Zg41 Buchalter, Louis "Lepke", 1939-1960 Synopsis of Lepke case Busby Productions, 1968-1969 Business, 1932-1950 Business Men, 1968 Byline Ball Speech, 1967 Byrnes, James F. [copy of letter to President Truman], 1949, 1952 "C" Miscellaneous, 1924-1962 Cadillac, 1947-1969 Caen, Herb, 1958 Caesar, Irving, 1942-1943 California State Federation of Labor Picket Line, 1957 California, 1932, 1935, 1953, 1962-1968 Cameron, W.J., 1940-1941 Campbell Soup Company, 1968 Canada, 1944 Cannon, Jack, 1962, 1967 Cannon, Jimmy, 1934-1952 Capehart, Sen. Homer E., 1955 Capone, Al, 1931-1939 Carroll, Luke, 1962-1967 Cartoonists, 1964 Cassidy, John F., 1942 Castle, Paul (singer), undated Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), 1943 Chamberlain, Prime Minister Neville, 1939 Chambers, Whittaker, 1945-1948 Chicago Daily News, 1942 Christian Front, 1940-1942 Christians, George 1934 Christmas and New Year columns, 1955-1968 Christmas Seal, 1936-1937 CIO has not denounced communism, 1946 Clark, Tom (Attorney General), 1946-1948 Close, Upton, 1944-1951 Coast Guard, 1945, 1955 Coffin, Tris, 1947 Cohen, William [also known as William Cahn], 1945-1955 Coll, Vincent "Mad Dog", 1960-1964 College Association for Public Events and Services [CAPES], San Francisco, 1968 College Humor [magazine], 1930-1939 Colliers, 1948-1956 Columbia Features, 1964, 1968 Columbia University, 1968 Columbus Day Celebration, 1962 Communism, 1940-1962 Como, Perry, [The Perry Como Show], 1956 Composers, 1941-1957 Condon, Glenn, 1934-1938 Confidential [magazine], 1955-1967 Congressional Records of Winchell columns, 1958 Congressmen, 1937-1951 Conrad, Earl, 1968 Contracts ABC, 1951-1955 Mutual, 1941-1956 Stasny Music Corporation, 1960-1964 Miscellaneous, 1943-1957 Conventions, 1964,1968 Copyrights, 1936 CORE [Congress of Racial Equality], 1964 Cosmopolitan [Hearst magazine], 1951-1957 Costello, Frank, 1950-1959 Coughlin, Father Charles E., 1934-1940 Coward, Noel, 1957 Cox, Congressmen E. E., 1943 Cox, James [or Joseph], 1943-1956 Crawford, Rheba (Salvation Army), 1962-1965 Crime, 1932-1955 Crosby, Larry, 1966 Crum, Bartley, 1948-1949 Cuba, 1940-1949 Cummings, Robert, 1955 Cuneo, Ernest, 1939-1968 Dafoe, Dr. Allan Roy, 1934-1935 de Rochemont, Louis, 1940 Dentist, 1943-1966 Dies, Martin, 1943 Entertainers, 1954, 1957 4Zg42 "F" Miscellaneous, 1933-1968 Facts Forum, 1954 Facts [newspaper], 1944 Faggen, Jay, 1939-1967 Fairchild, John, and Women's Wear Daily, 1967 Fan-Fare [magazine], 1935 Farley, Frank, 1934-1935 Farragut College and Technical Institute, 1947 Farrell, Frank, 1945-1959 Father Andre [Penachio], 1960-1962 Fay, Frank, 1945-1947 F. B. I., 1940 F.B.I. [television series], 1965 Federal Theatre, 1939 Ferguson, Elsie, 1929 Film Daily [newspaper], 1967-1968 Fire Department, 1942, 1967 Fires, undated Fish, Hamilton, 1947 Fitts, Burton, 1938 Flaherty, Vincent, 1956-1959 Florida Southern College, 1958-1959 Florists Telegraph, 1933-1935 Flynn, Erroll, 1943-1944 Food Giant Markets, 1968 Forster, Arnold, 1944-1968 Fort Wayne newspaper, 1943-1944 Fortune, Ed and Grace, 1939-1940 Fowler, Gene, 1942 Foy, Brian, 1964-1969 Franklin, Art, 1947-1948 French, Marjorie (and Fritz Zarb-Mizzi), 1938-1938 Friends of Democracy, 1942-1943 Front Page Broadcast, 1937 Fulbright, Sen. J. William, 1955 Fuller, John Frederick, 1945 George S. May Co., 1941-1943 George Washington Carver Award, 1947-1962 German Bund, 1939-1942 Girl Friday, 1957 Gyson, Sam, 1952 "H" Misc., 1933-1970 Habe, Hans (author), 1946 Halsey, Margaret, 1944 Hammer, Armand, 1958 Hammond, Percy, 1936 Hanrahan, Ed, 1967-1968 Harlem Herald, 1940 Harris, Robin Curley, 1960-1962 Hart, Merwin K., 1949-1950 The Hartmans, 1947 Hartmann, A. C., 1934 Hartwell, Dickson, 1947 Hauptmann, Bruno (and Lindbergh kidnapping), 1930-1967 Hayakawa (Language in Action), undated Healy, Judge Leo, 1940-1946 Hellinger Award, 1934, 1960-1970 Hendrickson, Robert, 1944 Hess, Donna, 1968 Hicktown, 1940 Hill & Knowlton, Inc., 1958 Hilton Advertising Agency (Clearwater Bank), 1969 Hines, William, 1963-1964 Hit Songs From Flop Shows Research, 1954-1955 Hitler, Adolf, 1933-1935 Hoffa, James, 1965 Hoffman, Clare, 1941-1946 Hoffman, Gov. Harold, 1935-1936 Holford, Clyde, 1935, 1950-1967 Holland, Elmer, 1943-1944 Hollenbeck, Don, 1947 Holliday, Judy, 1952 Hollister, Paul, 1939-1940 Hollywood, 1955 Holt, Rush D., 1944 Holtzmann, Fanny [regarding Gen. Morgan], 1946 Home Show, 1956 Hoover, J. Edgar, 1968 Hosiery- Velon yarn, 1946 The Hour, [bulletin], 1939-1942 Hughes, Howard, 1968 4Zg43 Israels, Joseph, 1930-1931 Kefaufer Committee, Rudolf Halley, attorney, 1951 Kitner, Robert, 1949-1952 Klan, 1942 "L" Misc., 1942-1968 Lachmann, Marc, 1934, 1941 LaGuardia, Mayor, 1934-1943 Lambertson, Congressman William. P., 1943 Lane, Myles, 1952-1953 Lardner, John, undated Lasher, Samuel, 1936 Lasky, Victor, 1955-1963 Lavan, Jerry, 1957, 1968 Lawsuits, 1940-1966 Ledger Syndicate, 1968 Lee, Canada, 1949 Letters sent to editors, undated Levin, Meyer, undated Levy, Edward G., abstract, 1939-1940 Lewis, Fulton, Jr., 1940-1949 Lewis, Jerry D., 1962, 1966 Lewis, Joe E., 1955-1957 Lewis, John L., 1940, 1946 Liberty [magazine], 1941-1942 Lippman, William (ketchup bottle incident at Lindy’s), 1942 Lloyd's of London Insurance, 1958 Loeb, William, newspapers, 1968 London Daily Mail, 1940 Long, Huey, 1944 Look [magazine], 1939-1962 Lorant, Stefan, undated Los Angeles Herald Examiner, 1964–1968 Los Angeles Times Syndicate, 1967 Lowenstein, David, undated Luce, Henry, 1937-1951 Luciano, Lucky, 1962-1967 Lundeen, Sen. Ernest, 1940-1942 Lurie, Lou, 1962-1968 "M" Miscellaneous, 1946-1968 M.G.M., 1941 MacArthur, Douglas, 1951 Magnuson, Sen. Warren G., 1947-1964 Malaxa, Nicolae, 1951-1952 Maloney, Russell, 1938 Maloney, William Power, 1942-1943 Manhattan College, 1956 Mann, F. Allen, 1958 Marci, Benedicto, 1950-1954 Marine Corps, 1946-1949 Marinoni, Antonio and Passarelli, Luigi, 1940 Marshall, Mr. [telegram from Douglas R. Grant], undated Martin, Darrell, 1944 Martin, Herb, 1967 Martin, Margaret (murder case), 1940 Martin, Quinn, 1934-1967 Marty, Syra (actress from Germany), 1964 Matchabelli, Prince Georges, 1932 Mattson, Charlie (kidnapping), 1937 Mauchenheim, Egon Karl Freiherr von, and Margarete, 1940 Maurer, Doctor D. W., 1940 Mayer, Milton, 1942 "Mc" and "Mac" Miscellaneous, 1961-1968 McCarthy, Joe, 1951-1955 McCrary, Tex 1941-1949 McFadden, Benarr and Mary, 1967-1968 McGuire Sisters, 1963-1965 McIntosh, Alan C., 1967 McNaboe, Sen. John, 1940 McNair, Barbara, 1956-1968 McNaught Syndicate, Inc., 1963-1968 McWilliams, J., 1939-1945 Medicare, [Winchells’s account], 1967 Mehnert, Klaus, 1940 Melard, H. J. M (producer of Bay of Pigs film), 1963-1964 Mercouri, Melina, 1967 Metropolitan Daily, 1963 Miami Beach, 1940-1945 Miami Herald, 1961-1968 Miller, Arthur, 1956 Miller, William Burke, threats, 1937 Mirror Promotion, 1929-1959 Miscellaneous, 1939-1963 Miss-A-Meal Campaign, 1933-1939 Monroe, Marilyn, 1961-1968 Montana Liberal, 1939 Moore, Philip, 1938 Moran, Mildred Hardenbergh, 1939 Morell, Parker, 1941 Morgan, Sir Frederick, 1946 Morgan, Helen, 1941, 1957 Morning Telegraph, 1968 Mortimer, Lee, 1947-1961 Mutual Broadcasting Conventions, 1968 National Workers League, 1941-1942 Nazis, 1933-1947 New York [City] Schools, 1949 New York Daily Mirror, 1941 Newspapers, 1929-1968 Office of Censorship, 1943 4Zg44 Pearson, Drew, 1941-1958 Pegler, Westbrook, 1949 Photographer [Stephen McNult], undated Political, 1933-1965 Producers, undated Publishers, 1930-1968 Raft, George, 1934-1937 Roosevelt, Mrs. Franklin [letter from Christian Mobilizers meeting], 1940 Rose, Billy (Aquacade Scandal), 1939 “S” Miscellaneous, 1937-1969 Sacks, Manie, 1956-1957 Saints and Sinners, 1958 Sakellariou, Admiral Alexander, 1945 San Diego Union, 1962-1968 San Francisco Conference, 1945 Santa Monica Outlook, 1962 Sarnoff, Robert, 1956 Sato, Ruth, 1934-1942 Sberna, Charles, 1942-1946 Schine, G. David, 1963-1967 Schine, Myer and David, 1946-1968 Schipa, Tito, 1937-1948 Schoenfeld, Dudley, 1936 Schuster and Lepke, 1939 Schuster, M. Lincoln [Simon and Schuster], 1931-1940 Screen Actors Guild, 1937-1965 Seaboard Drug Company, 1952-1958 Sears, Jean, 1935-1936 Secretary of Defense, 1963 Securities Exchange Commission, 1938 Seger, Gerhart, 1944 Senators, 1948-1951 Shaw, Stan, 1935-1937 Shattuck Company, Frank G. [The Schrafft’s Stores], 1934-1938 Shea, Donald, 1943-1944 Sheen, Fulton J., 1940-1945 Shelley, H. Michael, 1941 Shepard, Elaine, 1961-1965 Sheppard, Dr. Sam, 1955-1967 Showacre Commercials, 1968 Sidor, Karol, 1950 Silicosis, 1939 Simon and Schuster Publishers, 1928-1964 Simon, Sheridan, 1962-1969 Singer, Kurt, 1946 “Single Room Furnished,” (Jayne Mansfield film), 1968 Smith, B. J. , 1968 Smith Davis & Co., 1947 Smith, Earl E. T. (testimony regarding Cuba), 1960-1961 Smith, Gerald K., 1945 Smith, Lt. Patrick, 1945 Smith, Merriman, 1967 Smythe, Edward James, 1943-1949 Sobel, Bernard, 1937 Sokolsky, George, 1946-1955 Solzer, Bill, 1942-1943 Spivak, John L., 1939-1940 Spot Productions, 1967 Spy (or Traitor) TV format, 1962 St. Moritz Hotel, 1958 Stadsklev, Rev. C. O., 1943-1944 Statler, Suzie, 1969 Statue of Liberty, 1962 Steele, Larry, 1951, 1964-1968 Stephans, Mira, 1940-1941 Stern, Bill, 1941 Strikebreakers, undated Stuart, Lyle, 1951-1964 Styles, Hal, 1944 Subversive Influence Educational Process, 1953 Sullivan, Ed, 1964 4Zg45 Survey of Home Reading of New York City Newspapers, 1935 Swanson, Gloria [regarding remark about Lana Turner], 1958 Symphonic Radio and Electronic Corp., not dated Television quiz shows, 1959 Television show, 1955-1964 Time [magazine], 1947 Transport Workers Union, 1946 U. S. S. Squalus, 1939 Walter Winchell Narrates The Headliners (Story Lines), 1942 War, 1942-1945 Waterbury, Ruth, 1933 Wethan, Frederic, 1949 William Morris Agency, 1935-1968 Winchell , Walter [personal], 1933-1968 Winchell, Walter [script by Tom Everett], 1938 4Zg45 Correspondence of intermediary owner of collection, 1992-1993 4Zg46 Sheet music, "There's a Lull in My Life," 1937 Unsorted correspondence and printed material 4Zg45 1929-1939, 1955 1930-1936 1930-1967 1932-1939, 1967-1968 1932-1952 1932-1968 1934-1968 1934-1969 1936-1967 1937-1939 1940-1942 1940-1945 1940-1947 1943-1945 1946-1949 4Zg46 1950-1953 1950-1959 1954-1959 1959-1968 1960-1964 Photographs 3S36 Walter Winchell, Republican National Convention, San Francisco, July, 1964 Walter Winchell, photographed by Don Pack undated Walter Winchell with Lauren Bacall and two men, November, 1944 Walter Winchell receiving award from San Diego Police Officers Association, August, 1964 Walter Winchell with Nick Blair and Molly, 1934 Walter Winchell playing golf, 1951 Walter Winchell, from College Confidential [movie], 1960 Walter Winchell, at birthday party, 1967 Walter Winchell serving coffee inside Salvation Army Emergency Canteen, 1968 The Stork Club, interior with newspaper front page on display, 1955 New York Hitler Headquarters, 1932 Kappa Tau Alpha Dinner, Los Angeles Press Club, 1964 George P. Hunt and Frank Farrell, undated Marilyn Monroe's funeral, 1962