University of Oregon Libraries
Special Collections & University Archives
1299 University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403-1299 USA
URL: http://libweb.uoregon.edu/speccoll/index.html



Guide to the John and Ward Hawkins Papers, 1937-1981


Coll. 071





Finding aid prepared by Molly Taylor

Finding aid encoded by Aimee LaBounty, 2007
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.


Overview of the Collection

 
Repository Name:
 

University of Oregon Libraries
Special Collections & University Archives

1299 University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403-1299 USA
URL: http://libweb.uoregon.edu/speccoll/index.html

 
Collection Number:
 

Coll. 071

 
Creator:
 

Hawkins, John, 1910-Hawkins, Ward, 1912-

 
Title:
 

John and Ward Hawkins Papers

 
Dates:
 

1937-1981 (inclusive)

 
Quantity:
 

50.5 linear feet
101 containers

 
Languages:
 

Collection materials are in English. 

 
Summary:
 

The John and Ward Hawkins Papers comprise fiction manuscripts and teleplays, correspondence, non-fiction manuscripts, and screenplays by American writers John and Ward Hawkins.

 

Biographical Note

John Hawkins was born in Hamilton, Montana in 1910. He lived in Oregon City and Gladstone before moving to Portland in 1939. Hawkins began writing stories for such "pulp" magazines as Popular Detective and Ace G-Man Stories in 1933. He and his brother Ward Hawkins (b. 1912, Vancouver, B.C.) then made the move from the “pulp” to more respectable "slick" magazines. These included The Saturday Evening Post, Colliers, and Cosmopolitan. When these magazines lost circulation and began folding in the late 1950's, the Hawkins brothers decided to try their hand at television and screen writing. They moved to Los Angeles in 1938.

The two, separately and as a team, wrote scripts mainly for westerns and police dramas, such as "Boots and Saddles," "Manhunt," and "The Virginian." However, they wrote for a wide variety of shows, including "Alcoa Premiere," "The Man From U.N.C.L.E.," and "General Electric Theatre." John Hawkins was especially successful, becoming assistant producer and story editor for "Bonanza" and finally producer of "Little House on the Prairie." Ward contributed scripts to both series. In addition, John was creator of and writer for "Shannon." The Hawkins' also proposed their own series: "The Golden Tramp," "Jake Sloan," "Vietnam," among others.

In addition to short stories and teleplays, the Hawkins' wrote novels and screenplays. The brothers were well known in their field and respected for their professionalism and ability to produce quality "formula" stories and scripts.

John Hawkins died in 1978 after a long illness, after producing "Little House on the Prairie" for four years. Ward Hawkins is living in California.

Content Description

The Papers of John and Ward Hawkins consist largely of fiction manuscripts and teleplays. Correspondence, non-fiction manuscripts, and screenplays are also included in the collection. This inventory represents an incorporation of all the material received between 1965 and 1984.

The correspondence consisting of about 1,050 letters, is mostly with literary agents, in particular the Brandt and Brandt agency. These agents' letters often provide detailed commentary on the Hawk-ins' work and information on the contemporary writing market. Later correspondence often concerns "Little House on the Prairie." Noted correspondents include Albert R. Wetjen, August Lenninger, and Ed-ward Abbey. The correspondence is in alphabetical order by name of correspondent.

The fiction and non-fiction manuscripts provide samples of all types of the Hawkins' work: pulp stories, "slick" stories; romance, sports, and detective fiction; short stories, novel-length works, and work intended for serialization. While many works are represented only by a single draft, others have correspondence, outlines, notes, and/or early drafts preceding the latest draft. Manuscripts are in alphabetical order by title. When more than one draft of a work is present, chronological order has been established if discernible. Several folders of untitled works and fragments come between fiction and non-fiction manuscripts.

Teleplays (scripts for television) are in alphabetical order by television series name. Within each series, teleplays are in order by episode title, with final title determining placement. A series proposal, or series format packet, if present, will precede all teleplays for a particular series. Especially in the "Bonanza" and "Little House on the Prairie" series, many drafts of scripts contain episode information, such as work schedules (documenting scenes shot per day and hours worked), shooting schedules giving brief summaries of scenes shot and including props and cast needed, cast lists, and Broadcast Standards remarks. The following order has been established: work schedule, shooting schedule, day-out-of-days sheet, cast list, outline approval, Broadcast standards remarks, set sketches, and character/set lists. Much of this information will be of interest to the television historian. Shooting schedules are often irreverent and humorous in their scene synopses, as well as being technically informative. Some of the cast lists for "Little House" scripts include actors' salaries. Also, the N.B.C. Broadcast Standards remarks, included in many "Bonanza" and a few "Little House" teleplays, provide interesting information on sex and violence standards.

"Bonanza" and "Little House" scripts comprise more than half of the teleplay series. The collection of "Little House" scripts, in fact, is nearly complete through 1977. Following the "Bonanza" scripts are five folders of information about many writers for "Bonanza" and their story ideas. Included in the "Little House" section are notes on scripts and information from that show.

Other television series which are well represented are: "Daniel Boone," "Boots and Saddles," "Manhunt," "Not For Hire," "Rawhide," "Shannon," "Steve Canyon," "The Virginian," and "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea," Outlines and scripts for such series as "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.," "Tarzan," "Alcoa Premiere," and "General Electric Theater" illustrate the Hawkins ability to apply their skills to various formulas. Of particular interest to the historian may be the Cold War attitude implicit in such series as "Behind Closed Doors" and "Special Mission"; the series proposal "Vietnam"; the increasing emphasis on social comment in later "Bonanza" scripts; and the overall sexism in most of the earlier teleplays. Included in the teleplays is a script by Gene Roddenberry, of "Star Trek" fame ("The Detectives," Blue Fire).

Not all of the teleplays in the collection are written by John and/or Ward Hawkins. This is especially so for "Bonanza" and "Little House," where John worked as a producer. For other series, such scripts may have been sent to the Hawkins' as guidelines for writing their own scripts, or for revision work. The researcher may assume that unless otherwise indicated, all manuscripts and published works are by both John and Ward Hawkins. A notation of "author uncertain" indicates that the work in question is by John and/or Ward Hawkins but it is not clear who; "author unknown" means just that.

Following the teleplays from specified series are other teleplays, screenplays, and treatments. These include movie scripts, expanded story treatments, and teleplays for unspecified series. These are in alphabetical order by title. One radio play by Earl Hammer Jr., producer of "The Waltons," follows this section. Next are idea and plot files, which are in alphabetical order by series. Miscellaneous fragments of manuscripts follow.

Tearsheets of the Hawkins' published stories are in alphabetical order by title. The advertisements on the tearsheets reflect society from the late 1930s to the late 1950s. Business records including contracts, agreements, and financial information follow. A free-standing volume, the French version of The Floods of Fear - Alerte - completes the collection.

Arrangement

Collection is organized into the following series:

  • Correspondence
  • Manuscripts: Fiction
  • Manuscripts: Non-fiction
  • Manuscripts: Teleplays
  • Manuscripts: Radio Play
  • Manuscripts: Idea File
  • Manuscripts: Plot File
  • Manuscripts: Fragments
  • Tear sheets
  • Business records

Administrative Information

Processing Note 

Collection processed by Molly Taylor, Manuscripts Processor.

Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Access 

Collection is open to the public.

Collection must be used in Special Collections & University Archives Reading Room.

Restrictions on Use 

Property rights reside with Special Collections & University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries. Copyright resides with the creators of the documents or their heirs. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to the Manuscripts Librarian in Special Collections & University Archives. The reader must also obtain permission of the copyright holder.

Preferred Citation 

[Identification of item], John and Ward Hawkins Papers, Coll. 071, Special Collections & University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries, Eugene, Oregon.

Related Information

Additional Reference Guides 

Paper finding aid with additional information available in Special Collections & University Archives.

Subjects

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.

 
Authors, American--20th century--Correspondence
Popular literature--Authorship
Television authorship
Western television programs
Other Creators :
Abbey, Edward, 1927-1989 (contributor)
Brandt & Brandt (contributor)
Lenniger Literary Agency (contributor)

Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.


 

Correspondence

 
Container(s)
Description
 
box
1
folder
1

Abbey - Baumgartner
 
 
2
Benjamin, Ben/Ray Stark, 1948
 
 
3
Benjamin, Ben/Ray Stark, 1950-1957
 
 
4
Beresford - Stowe - Bragg
 
 
5
Brandt and Brandt, 1938-1946
 
 
6
Brandt and Brandt, 1947, Jan.-March
 
 
7
Brandt and Brandt, 1947, April-June
 
 
8
Brandt and Brandt, 1947, July-Sept
 
 
9
Brandt and Brandt, 1947, Oct.-1948, Feb
 
 
10
Brandt and Brandt, 1948, March-April
 
 
11
Brandt and Brandt, 1948, May-Dec
 
 
12
Brandt and Brandt, 1949, Jan.-June
 
 
13
Brandt and Brandt, 1949, July-Nov
 
 
2 1
Brandt and Brandt, 1949, Dec.-1950, April
 
 
2
Brandt and Brandt, 1950, May-August
 
 
3
Brandt and Brandt, 1950, Sept.-Dec
 
 
4
Brandt and Brandt, 1951, Jan.-March
 
 
5
Brandt and Brandt, 1951, April-August
 
 
6
Brandt and Brandt, 1951, Sept.--1952, Jan
 
 
7
Brandt and Brandt, 1952, Feb.-July
 
 
8
Brandt and Brandt, 1952, August-1958, May; undated
 
 
9
Brown - Enochs
 
 
10
Fletcher - Hoffman
 
 
3 1
Howard - Hyers, includes one manuscript by Hyers,
 
 
2
Hyers (cont.)
 
 
3
Jacobs - Morse
 
 
4
National Academy of Television Arts 6 Sciences - National Broadcasting Company
 
 
5
North Hollywood Community Adult School - Ryal
 
 
6
Sanders, Sydney, 1940
 
 
7
Sanders, Sydney, 1941-1947
 
 
8
Saturday Evening Post
 
 
9
Schafer - Weitzman
 
 

Stark, Ray- see Benjamin, Ben
 
 
10
Wetjen - Zuckerman; unknown
 

 

Manuscripts: Fiction

 
Container(s)
Description
 
box
3
folder
11

Accident
 
 
4 1-3
Accident
 
 
4
The Accused
 
 

All the Angles, by John Hawkins
 
 
5
Another Man's Game, by John Hopkins
 
 
6
Appointment With Death, by John Hawkins
 
 
7-15
The Assassin, (earlier titles: Dark Circle; The Trunk from Myitkyina)
 
 
5 1-8
The Assassin (cont.)
 
 
9-10
Barney and the Wolf Pack, by John Hawkins
 
 
11
The Black Piano
 
 

Blueprint for Murder, by John Hawkins (earlier title: Death Delivery)
 
 
12
Blues Gone Away
 
 

Bright Road, by John Hawkins
 
 
13-14
Broken River
 
 
6 5-10
Broken River
 
 
7 1
Burden of Guilt
 
 

Buried Evidence, by John Hawkins
 
 
2-4
The Case of the Hung Jury, by John Hawkins
 
 
5
Casual Death, by John Hawkin
 
 

Cat Man, by John Hawkin
 
 
6
Cheeko Kill, by Ward Hawkins
 
 
7
The Children's Hour, by John Hawkins
 
 

The City is Dark
 
 

The Clank of Brass, by John Hawkins
 
 

Clothes Make the Man, by John Hawkins
 
 

The Cold Trail
 
 
8
Come Dance with Me, by John Hawkins
 
 
9
The Contractor, the Stooge, and the Nine Grand Turnip, by John Hawkins
 
 
10
Contrivin' Woman
 
 
11-12
Cop Trouble, by Ward Hawkins
 
 
13
Cop Without a Badge
 
 
8 1
Cop Without a Badge (cont.)
 
 

The Corpse Comes Home, by John Hawkins
 
 
2
Crown Fire
 
 
3
A Cup for the Mantel
 
 
4-5
Dark Action, by John Hawkins
 
 
6
Dark Circle
 
 

The Dark Hour, by John Hawkins
 
 
7-9
Dark Passport, by John Hawkins
 
 
10-13
The Dark Pathway
 
 
9 1
The Dark Pathway (cont.)
 
 

Dark Shadow, by John Hawkins
 
 
2
Day of Question
 
 
3-4
The Day of the Hunter
 
 
4
Dear Gramps, author uncertain
 
 
5
Death at My Heels, by Ward Hawkin
 
 
6
Death Comes on the Night Shift, by John Hawkins
 
 
7
Death Has No Voice, by John Hawkins
 
 
8-9
Death Has Wings, by John Hawkins
 
 
10-11
Death Marks a Ballot, by John Hawkins
 
 
12-13
Death Pattern, by John Hawkins
 
 
10 1-2
Death Song, by John Hawkins
 
 
3-4
Death Strikes from the Shadow, by John Hawkins (earlier title: Murder Mansion)
 
 
5-6
Death Watch (see also: Mss: Other Teleplays, Screen plays, and Treatments)
 
 
7
Death Wears Two Faces, by John Hawkin
 
 
8
Death's Double, by John Hawkins
 
 
9
Deep Harbor, by John Hawkins (earlier title: A Decent Burial)
 
 

Desperado
 
 
10
The Devil Comes Out of the Sea, by John Hawkins
 
 
11-?
Devil on His Trail (earlier titles: A Guy Named Joe; Joe)
 
 
11 1-10
Devil on His Trail (cont.)
 
 
6-14
The Devil to Pay
 
 
12 1
Disguise for the Dying, by John Hawkins (earlier title: The Maker of Living Death)
 
 
2
Don't Tie a Man Down, by John Hawkins
 
 
3
Double or Nothing
 
 

Easy Go, by Ward Hawkins
 
 
4
The Echo of Guns, by John Hawkins
 
 
5
Elmer, Meet the Professor, by John Hawkins
 
 
5-6
Everything Was New, by John Hawkins
 
 
7
Everything's Jake, by John Hawkins
 
 
8-9
Explosion
 
 
9-12
The Ex-Sergeant, the Sikh, and the Holy Man
 
 
13 1-3
The Ex-Sergeant, the Sikh, and the Holy Man (cont.)
 
 
3
A Fair Trade, by John Hawkins
 
 

Fallen Star
 
 
4
The Floods of Fear See also: Mss, Other Teleplays, Screenplays, and Treatments: Day of Disaster; Free-standing Volume)
 
 

The Flying Bathtub, by John Hawkins
 
 

Flying Far
 
 
5
For Sale: Sun God, by John Hawkins
 
 

The Four O'Briens
 
 
6
Game Time, by Ward Hawkins
 
 
6-7
The General said, "Ha!" by John Hawkins
 
 
7
Gentleman's Sport, by John Hawkins
 
 
8-9
A Girl in Camp, by John Hawkins
 
 
10-12
The Girl on the Lonely Road
 
 
13
Girl on the Run
 
 

Graveyard Island
 
 
14 1
A Guys Got to Learn, by John Hawkins
 
 

Hand of Fate, by John Hawkins
 
 
2
Hard Guy, by John Hawkins
 
 

Have You Got a Minute?
 
 
3
Hello, Sweetheart
 
 
4
Hereafter and Return, by John Hawkins
 
 
5
Heritage
 
 
6-7
Hide from the Dark, author uncertain
 
 
7
Hide-out, by John Hawkins
 
 

High As the Sky
 
 
8
Home is the Sailor, by John Hawkins
 
 
9
Hot Pay-off, by John Hawkins
 
 

House Cleaning, by John Hawkins
 
 
10
Humans are Funny People, by John Hawkins
 
 
10-11
A Hundred Dollars Worth of Hell, by John Hawkins (earlier title: Bloody Hundreds)
 
 
12
Hunt for the Hot Seat, by John Hawkins