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

Guide to the Houston Branch Papers, 1919-1962


Coll. 249





Finding aid prepared by processing staff

Finding aid encoded by ArchProteus, 2006
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
URL: http://libweb.uoregon.edu/speccoll/index.html
 
Collection Number:
 

Coll. 249
 
Creator:
 

Branch, Houston, 1905-1968
 
Title:
 

Houston Branch Papers
 
Dates:
 

1919-1962 (inclusive)
 
Quantity:
 

15 linear feet
12 containers
 
Languages:
 

Collection materials are in English. 

 
Summary:
 

Houston Branch (1899-1968) was a writer, editor, publicist, and organization executive. The collection contains literary manuscripts, correspondence, and records relating to Branch's work as a creative writer and in public relations.
 

Biographical Note

Houston Branch, writer, editor, publicist, and organization executive, was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, on March 5. The year of Branch's birth has been listed as 1899, 1903, or 1905; the correct date cannot be verified, but it is most likely 1899 since that is the year Branch himself used on copyright documents found in the collection. Branch began his career as a reporter for the St. Paul Pioneer Press in 1920, became associate editor of Western Magazine in 1922, and then worked as a feature writer for the San Antonio Express and Dallas News from 1922 to 1924. Branch began writing plays in the early 1920s, and by 1926 was living in and writing for Hollywood. He is the author of more than 200 works, ranging from screenplays and teleplays to novels, short stories and theatrical plays. Branch pioneered the use of the achievements of industry as background and themes for theatrical films such as Tiger Shark (tuna fishing), Wild Harvest (harvesting), and Silk Express (railroading). Branch was also a pioneer in the field of public relations, and is credited with organizing the first "Neiman Marcus style" runway fashion show. In many ways he was ahead of his time, writing a self-help book in 1950, Duality, The Science of Dynamic Living, and initiating the now widespread public relations practice of "exploitation campaigns," using product placement in feature films and television programs. In this way Branch often combined his skills as a writer and publicist.

Branch's career was not limited to writing and public relations; however, he served as an expert consultant on training films for the U.S. Army Signal Corps from 1942 - 1943, as editor of technical publications for the Marguardt Corp from 1959 - 1963, and as the executive director of the Academy of Applied Science from 1963 - 1968. In 1938, Branch founded the American Library Foundation, organized to secure books and libraries for rural school children, and served as the foundation's director.

Branch married Mildred E. Clark on January 13, 1942, and they had one daughter, Victoria Elaine. Mildred died in July 1957. Branch, who had spent most of his adult life in California, moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts to serve as director of the Academy of Applied Science in 1963 and he lived there until his death on January 27, 1968.

Source: Who Was Who in America with World Notables, Vol. V, 1969 - 1973. Chicago, IL : Marquis Who's Who, 1973, p. 82

Content Description

The Houston Branch Papers consist primarily of manuscripts, including screenplays, teleplays, short stories, novels, screen treatments, screen stories, theatrical plays, and operettas. The manuscripts are arranged alphabetically by title. Branch often collaborated with composer Charles Wakefield Cadman, Branch writing the book for operettas or musicals and Cadman composing the music. The two sometimes collaborated on song lyrics, but Branch primarily wrote the lyrics in addition to the book while Cadman wrote the score. Notable among the many manuscripts are the shooting script for Tiger Shark, starring Edward G. Robinson; The Black Pearl; The Booby Prize; and Feather In His Crown, among others. Although the manuscripts of Branch's two novels written with Frank Waters, Diamond Head and River Lady, are not included in the collection, there are folders of material related to them, including a legal suit over the use of the title "Diamond Head" which spanned 14 years.

It is important to note that Branch often wrote under pseudonyms, and nine different pseudonyms appear on various manuscripts within the collection. A list of these pseudonyms appears at the end of the inventory.

A small amount of Branch's correspondence is included in the collection. The majority of the correspondence has been placed in the relevant Public Relations folders. General correspondence comprises only one folder at the beginning of the collection. Notable among the correspondence are original letters from Albert Einstein, Carl Sandburg, and Edna Ferber regarding the American Library Foundation (11/16). The originals have been removed to safe folder #31 and copies remain in the collection. An original letter from Prince Rainier of Monaco has been removed from 11/8; this letter contains public relations material regarding the submarine "Cetacean."

A sampling of Branch's public relations work concludes the collection. In addition to the previously mentioned American Library Foundation, Branch established the American Landmarks Association, and also spent several years promoting the aforementioned privately constructed and owned two man submarine, the "Cetacean." The "Cetacean" was used as a theme for a T.V. series and several projected movies, most of which were never produced. Also included are folders from Huston Branch Associates, Branch's public relations firm, including promotions for Cuban tourism and an "exploitation campaign" for the Tucker Sno-Cat.

Arrangement

Collection is organized into the following series:

Correspondence

Manuscripts

Public Relations

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information 

Gift of Victoria Branch in 1968.

Processing Note 

Collection processed by processing staff, August 2006.

Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Access 

Collection is open to the public.

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

Restrictions on Use 

Property rights reside with Special Collections and 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 Special Collections and University Archives. The reader must also obtain permission of the copyright holder.

Preferred Citation 

[Identification of item], Houston Branch Papers, Coll. 249, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon.

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.

 
Branch, Houston, 1905-1968
Cadman, Charles Wakefield, 1881-1946
Einstein, Albert, 1879-1955--Correspondence
Ferber, Edna, 1887-1968--Correspondence
Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, 1923-2005
Sandberg, Carl, 1878-1967--Correspondence
American Library Foundation
Houston Branch Associates
Dramatists, American
Public relations--United States
Screenwriters--United States

Detailed Description of the Collection

 

Biographical Information
 
Container(s)
Description
 
box
1		 folder
1
Biographical information
  
 

Correspondence
 
Container(s)
Description
 
box
1		 folder
2
General
  
 

Manuscripts
 
Container(s)
Description
Dates
 
box
1		 folder
3
Aaron Steel. 3 act play. Alternate title: Rays of Darkness
  1923
 
4
The Amanda M. Fife Mutiny. Outline for a teleplay. 4 complete drafts, 1 incomplete draft, and notes
  
 
5
American Holiday. Play
  
 
6
American Holiday. 3 act play. Revised version
   1935
 
7
American Pilgrimage. Original Story and Screen Treatment
   1940
 
8
Another Man's Poison. 3 act play
   1945
 
9
Appointment With Death
  1953
 
Script. 1 clipping from Variety.
 
10
Armistice Day. Treatment for a screenplay. 1 letter from Warner Bros. to Branch
   1937
 
11
Armistice Day. Treatment. Different version
  
 
12
Arms of the Fleet. Screen Story. 2 versions; notes; 2 letters, 1 clipping. Alternate title: The Life For Me
 
 
13
Athens Express. Film Treatment. 4 versions
   1955
 
14
Babe and Me and Mary. Screen story?
  
 
1 p. notes, 1 letter, 5 clippings
 
15
Bad Boy, Good Girl. Original screen story
  
 
16
Barbary Coast. Outline of a 3 act play, notes. Alternate title: Coastwise
 
 
17
Barbary Coast. 2 screen versions; notes
  
 
18
The Bargain #1. 4 act play
   1920, 1924
 
19
The Bargain #2. Screen shooting script (set in New Orleans)
  
 
20
The Bargain #3. Screen treatment. 2 versions and notes (set in New York City)
  
 
21
Beach Boy. Original screen story outline. 1 complete draft; 3 incomplete drafts; notes; research materials; 1 letter
  
 
22
The Beachcomber. Original screen story
  
 
23
Beggar of Love. Original screen story by Branch and Frank Waters. 2 drafts, notes
  
 
24
Beggars of the Sea. Movie scenario by Branch and Frank Waters. 2 drafts; notes; various loose pages
  
 
25
Belle of the Yukon. Treatment
   1943
 
2 1
Beyond Good & Evil. Play Premise? 4 drafts
  
 
2
The Big Bite. Screen Story. 1 draft and notes
  
 
3
The Big Haircut. Screen story
  
 
notes; 3 letters; 3 clippings
 
4
The Big Jackpot. Shooting script, Republic Pictures. Master Schedule
   1954, 1955
 
5
Bitter Root Valley. Written For TV series "Wagon Train." Rough draft, various incomplete drafts; notes; 1 letter. Alternate title: Winter Thaw
 
 
6
Bitter Sweet. 3 Act play."As played in St. Louis."
   June 5, 1933
 
7
Black Gold. Screen story, film shooting script
   1934
 
8
The Black Pearl. Treatment
  
 
9
The Black Pearl. First version
  
 
10
The Black Pearl. Second draft screen play
  
 
11
The Black Pearl. Shooting script. Early draft
  
 
12
The Black Pearl. Shooting script. Ararat Productions
  
 
13
The Black Pearl. Shooting script with revisions. Houston Branch Associates
  
 
14
The Black Pearl. Changes in script. (p. 110 - 117B missing)
  
 
15
The Black Pearl. Discards from script
  
 
16
The Black Pearl. Production material
  
 
17
The Black Pearl. Notes
  
 
18
The Black Pearl. Correspondence
   1953-1958
 
19
The Black Pearl. Financial Material
  
 
20
The Black Pearl. Research Materials
  
 
21
The Black Pearl. Research Materials
  
 
22
The Black Pearl. Photographs
  
 
23
The Blackguard. Musical romance
  
 
24
Bless The Man. Teleplay Outline
  
 
25
The Blond Woman. "Founded upon the great sea saga of that name by Rolf Thorwalson."
  
 
26
The Blood Bond. Adaptation. 2 drafts. Alternate title: Gang War
 
 
27
Blood Enemy (of the Yagus). Premise
  
 
1 complete draft, various incomplete drafts, notes, and 1 clipping
 
28
Blow Devil. Synopsis (One line continuity)
   1953
 
29
Boards [the story of the theatre]
   1920?
 
30
The Booby Prize
  1949
 
3 act play. 1 complete draft, 1 incomplete draft.
 
3 1
The Booby Prize. Notes and research materials
  
 
2
The Border Beat. Outline of a teleplay for Wire Service. 1 complete draft, various incomplete drafts, notes and 1 clipping. See also: 1200 Laughing Gods; Wetback Story
 
 
3
Bravely Waiting. Stage synopsis, original screen treatment
  
 
4
Bravely Waiting. Screenplay, shooting script
  
 
5
The Bright Shawl. By Joseph Hergeshimer. Adapted as a musical romance by Lillian Albertson and Houston Branch
  
 
6
Bull on the Tracks. TV episode for "Cimarron City." Retitled from: Rough Shod
  
 
4 drafts, notes, letter, 1 clipping
 
7
By the Dawn's Early Light. Screen story. Outline, 1 complete draft, various incomplete drafts and notes
  
 
8
Can Can [The Music and Paris of Offenbach]. Music arranged by Antal Dorati. Plot Line and Scene Outline. 3 drafts. Plot synopsis. List of Characters
  
 
9
Can Can. Scene drafts; notes; 1 letter
  
 
10
The Candy Kid. Screen premise. 9 drafts, 1 letter, 1 clipping
  
 
Includes: Chicken Shack. Outline and notes for a 3 act play; short story. 2 copies. See also: White Women; Every Day Was Christmas
 
11
Canvas Cage. Original story for the screen. 2 drafts
  
 
12
Canvas Cage. Original story for the screen
  
 
1 draft, 2 clippings, note
 
13
Captain Typhoon. Original screen story by Houston Branch and Wolfe Kaufman. 2 drafts
  
 
14
Captain Typhoon. Original screen story by Houston Branch and Wolfe Kaufman. 1 draft, notes, 2 letters
  
 
15
Cattle King
 
 
16
Charlie Chan in Morocco. 2 drafts, 1 clipping. Alternate title: Mr. Wong in Morocco
 
 
17
Cheap Girl. One act play [comedy]. 2 drafts, notes
   1922, 1929
 

Chicken Shack
 
 
18
China Seas. Shooting script for screen
  
 
19
Chinook Passage. Screen story
  
 
20
Christmas Present. Short story (screen story?) "Sold to Monogram". 2 copies, notes, 1 letter
  
 
21
Cimarron Crossing. Story Outline. 5 drafts, 1 Line Continuity, Notes Also titled: Texas Rose
  1953
 
22
The City of Angels. 3 act comedy by Houston Branch and Charles Webb
   1931
 
23
The Clay Pigeon. Story line for a teleplay
   1954
 
24
The Clown. Suggested story idea based on "The Show Down". 2 drafts, notes
  
 
25
Come Live With Me. 3 act comedy, copyright by Houston Branch as Springing Stephen. 1 draft, notes, correspondence, clippings
   1949
 
26
The Commodore Sloat Story. Outline for a "Wagon Train" episode
  
 
27
Companion Wanted. "Sold to Republic." Synopsis, screen adaptation from the book/story"Gay Pilgrimage."
  
 
28
Congo. Screen Story. See also: End of the Line. Includes: Congo Crossing. Screen story; revision of Congo
  1950
 
29
Conquered Women. Original screen story
   1944
 
4 1
The Cracking Point. Screen story. 2 drafts. "Sold to Independent Producer."
  
 
2
Cubanita. "A story of Romance and Adventure." By Eugenia Clark. 2 drafts
  
 
3
Cubanita. Outline of an Operetta. Stage Version Book by Houston Branch, Music by Charles Wakefield Cadman
  
 

Dames Are Poison
 
 
4
Dance Team. Screen Treatment, notes
  
 
5
A Dark Miracle. One Act Comedy. 2 copies
  
 
6
Davy Crockett. The Greek War, pt. 1. Production #5575, Telecast #7. Revised by Tom Blackburn
   December 8, 1954
 
7
Davy Crockett. I Get Into Politics, pt. 2. Production #5550. Revised by Tom Blackburn
   1954
 
8
Death At Noon. Story outline. Notes, research materials
   February 7, 1933
 
9
Death on the Dot, A Mark Sabre Mystery. Story Outline. 3 drafts
  
 
10
The Deep End. Novella by Kinsey Stewart
  
 
11
The Deep End. Novella by Houston Branch, notes. Alternate Title: Time To Kill; Harbor Command
 
 
12
Deep Water Man. Proposed television series. Premise
  
 
4 drafts. Episode Outline. Notes. Clippings. Contract Correspondence. Photographs.
 
13
The Devil Has Wings. Screen story. 2 drafts
  
 
14
Diamond Head. Correspondence and Reviews of novel by Houston Branch and Frank Waters. Publicity articles
  
 
15
Diamond Head. Legal suit regarding use of title
   1949-1963
 
Correspondence. Notes. 3 Clippings.
 
16
Divorce Before Marriage. Reno, Nevada story. 2 copies. Notes, Research Materials
  
 
17
Doctors Are Brutes. Original TV story outline. 2 drafts. 1 note, 1 letter. See also: Private Nurse; No More Pills
 
 
18
Dona Maria, "A Romantic Comedy Drama."
   1922
 
19
A Double Fisted Dude. Western screen story. 1 draft by Larry Holt. 1 draft by Houston Branch. 2 copies. 1 incomplete draft
  
 
20
Duality, The Science of Dynamic Living. Published book. 2 copies
   1950
 
21
Duality, The Science of Dynamic Living. Notes and draft pages
  
 
22
Duality, The Science of Dynamic Living. Notes and Research materials
  
 
23
Dundonald. Suggestion for a Screenplay
   1955
 
4 drafts. Notes. Correspondence. 1 clipping. Script for "The Prudential Family Hour."
 
24
The Empire Builders or The Empire Builder. Novel synopsis/screen story. 2 drafts, 1 letter
   1926
 
25
Eighty Days. Original screen story. 2 drafts. Notes. 1 page research material
   1940?
 
26
End of the Line. Story line for "Damar of the Jungle" series. 3 drafts. Notes, 1 letter. Also titled: Lost River; Congo
 
 
27
The Enforcer. Notes and research materials
  
 
28
Every Day Was Christmas. Original Screen Story by Houston Branch and Eugenia Night. 4 drafts
   1947
 
29
Every Day Was Christmas. Screen story by Houston Branch and Eugenia Night. Incomplete drafts. Outline. 3 drafts. Notes. 1 letter. Also titled: Garden of the Gods
 
 
30
Face Valley. Romantic Comedy Synopsis
  
 
31
The Fall Guy. Original Story. 1 draft, notes
  
 
32
Feather in His Crown. Play. Synopsis. 2 complete copies, various incomplete copies; incomplete manuscripts
  
 
33
Feather in His Crown. Notes
  
 
34
Feather in His Crown. Research materials; correspondence
  
 
35
Feather in the Breeze. Manuscript by Doris I. Coppersmith. Screen story? [Branch pseudonym?]
  
 
36
Female Impersonator. Screen story
   1933
 
37
The Fergugon Girl. Original Screen story by William R. Lipman and Houston Branch
  
 
38
The Firefly. Play--Act one
  
 
39
Fishing Story. Suggested Story Outline
   January 18, 1932
 
40
Flamingo. Original screen story by Mary Raymond
  
 
5 1
The Flesh Trap. A Romance of Louisiana [Original screen story with sound effects]. Synopsis; 5 drafts; notes; research materials. Alternate title: Swamp Song
 
 
2
Flowers o