Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the Community Life TV Soap Operas Collection

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.0108
Creators:
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Cultural and Community Life
Dates:
1952-1983
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
1.5 Cubic feet
5 boxes
Repository:
The collection includes scripts and films related to soap operas. Included are the 1982 script from the first episode of "Capitol," autographed by the cast; the projected story line for "As The World Turns" for 1957; and three 16mm reels from "As The World Turns."

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The collection includes scripts and films related to soap operas. Included are the 1982 script from the first episode of "Capitol," autographed by the cast and the projected story line for "As the World Turns" for 1957. Also included are three 16mm reels from "As the World Turns."

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is arranged into two series.
Series 1: Scripts, 1952-1983
Series 2: Moving Image Materials, 1951-1963

Administration

Author
Robert Harding, archivist
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Immediate source of acquisition unknown.
Processing Information
Processed by Robert S. Harding, archivist, 1984; revised Robert S. Harding, archivist, 1996.
Custodial History
The television soap opera scripts were acquired by the Division of Community Life (now the Division of Home and Community Life) as part of the History of American Entertainment Collection. The collection was transferred from the Division of Home and Community Life (now Division of Cultural and Community Life) to the Archives Center in 1984.
Separated Materials
Materials at the National Museum of American History
Artifacts in the Division of Cultural and Community Life (now the Division of Culture and the Arts) include:
"As the World Turns"
Apron (See accession:1984.0198.03)
Globe (See accession: 1984.0198.04)
Thank you card (See accession: 1984.0198.05)
"Edge of Night"
Miniature carousel (See accession: 1984.0202.01)
Gold pocket watch (See accession: 1984.0202.02)
"Search for Tomorrow"
Apron (See accession:1984.0208.01)
Scissors (See accession:1984.0199.01)
Black straw mourning hat (See accession:1984.0199.02)
"The Guiding Light"
Coffee pot (See accession:1984.1098.01)
Housecoat (See accession: 1984.0198.02)
Also included are six posters from "Soap Opera Festivals" in several cities (See accession: 1983.0726.05)

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Preferred Citation
Community Life TV Soaps Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Conditions Governing Use
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Television programs Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Television Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Soap operas -- 1970-1990 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Scripts (documents) Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Motion pictures (visual works) -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
16mm films Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Archives Center, National Museum of American History
P.O. Box 37012
Suite 1100, MRC 601
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
archivescenter@si.edu