Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the Smothers Brothers Collection

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.1437
Creators:
Smothers Brothers
Dates:
1959-2008, undated
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
7 Cubic feet
21 boxes, 1 map-folder
Repository:
The collection documents the lives and careers of the Smothers Brothers, with emphasis on their 1960s television variety show, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
Collection documents the private lives and professional careers of Tom and Dick Smothers, with emphasis on their television variety show, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. The largest portion of the collection contains photographic materials. Publicity materials including press releases, programs, newspaper clippings, and magazine articles; correspondence containing fan mail (some from famous persons such as Lucille Ball, Jack Paar, and others), letters from viewers both complimentary and critical of shows, and letters from members of Congress; business records including contracts, tour itineraries, talent agency materials, scripts, and scrapbooks; and legal documents relating to the lawsuit against Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) are also found in the collection. Collection is arranged into three series: Series 1, Photographs, 1961-2007, undated; Series 2, Business Records, 1959-2002, undated; and Series 3, Personal Papers, 1966-2008, undated.

Arrangement

Arrangement
Collection is arranged into three series:
Series 1: Photographic Materials, 1961-2007, undated
Subseries 1.1: Television Shows, 1966-1989, undated
Subseries 1.2: Specials, Tours, and Public Appearances, 1964-1988, undated
Subseries 1.3: Motion Picture Films and Theatre, 1969-1982
Subseries 1.4: General, 1961-2007, undated
Subseries 1.5: Promotional, 1961-2003, undated
Series 2: Business Records, 1959-2002, undated
Subseries 2.1: Press, 1960-2002, undated
Subseries 2.2: Employee Files, 1959-1999, undated
Subseries 2.3: Smothers Brothers v. Columbia Broadcasting System, Incorporated (CBS), 1966-1972, undated
Subseries 2.4: Correspondence, 1960-1996
Subseries 2.5: Performance Materials, 1962-1993, undated
Subseries 2.6: Fan Club, 1990-1992, undated
Series 3: Personal Papers, 1966-2008, undated

Administration

Author
Vanessa Broussard-Simmons
Processing Information
Collection processed by Sarah G. Gediman, intern, 2019; Julia S. Gibson, intern, 2019; Savannah C. Hildre, intern, 2019; Lauren M. Janik, intern, 2019; Abigail L. Starck, intern, 2019; supervised by Vanessa Broussard-Simmons, supervisory archivist, 2019.

Digital Content

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Using the Collection

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.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Preferred Citation
Smothers Brothers Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

Related Materials
Materials in the Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Duncan Family Yo-Yo Collection NMAH.AC.0807
Colonna, Farrell Wine Label Collection NMAH.AC.0626
Sam DeVincent Collection of Illustrated American Sheet Music, Series 16: Country, Western and Folk Music NMAH.AC.0300
Bob Rule Papers, NMAH.AC.0855

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Comedy Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Folk singers Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Television personalities Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Television Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Variety shows (Television programs) -- Production and direction Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Biography files Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Clippings -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Color slides -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Contact sheets Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Contracts Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Itineraries Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Legal records Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Letters (correspondence) -- 20th century. Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photograph albums Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Color prints (photographs) -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs -- Black-and-white photoprints -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs -- Black-and-white negatives -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs -- Black-and-white negatives -- Acetate film Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Programs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Press releases Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Scrapbooks Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Scripts (documents) Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Seeger, Pete, 1919-2014 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Paulsen, Pat Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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