Finding aid for the Irving Shulman papers

Biography of Irving Shulman

Irving Shulman (IS) was an American author and screenwriter whose works were adapted into movies. His books included The Amboy Dukes, Cry Tough and The Square Trap, all of which were adapted into movies. He wrote the screen adaptation of the James Dean movie Rebel Without a Cause, and the novelization for the film West Side Story.

IS was born on May 21, 1913 in Brooklyn, New York. He earned his bachelor's degree, majoring in English, German, Philosophy, and Education at Ohio University (1933-1937) and his master's at Columbia University (1937-1938). He also studied at New York University (1938-1941) and George Washington University (1941-1943). At the age of 59 (1972), IS received his doctorate at UCLA. He was employed by the United States government as a statistician and information specialist with War Department, occupational analyst with Foreign Economic Administration, and administrative assistant with Department of State. He was also an instructor at George Washington University (1943-1947), UCLA (1961-1964), and California State University, Los Angeles (1964-1965).

IS's firsthand knowledge of his native borough launched his literary career. His first and most popular novel, The Amboy Dukes (1947), about juvenile street gangs in a Brooklyn slum, sold five million copies in the 1940s and 50s, establishing the reputation of the novelist. Hired as a contract writer by Warner Brothers, he adapted a few of his books for film: The Amboy Dukes became the film "City Across the River" (1949), The Square Trap (1953) became "The Ring" (1952), and Children of the Dark (1955) became "Rebel Without a Cause" (1955).

His credits include more than fifteen published novels, six screenplays, and three biographies: Harlow: An Intimate Biography in 1964, Valentino in 1967, and Jackie: The Exploitation of a First Lady in 1970. He was one of the first novelists to convert screenplays into novels, authoring West Side Story. He was also a contributor of many short stories to popular magazines.

Besides a novelist and screenwriter, IS was a member of the Writers' Guild of America (West), Modern Language Association of America, American Association of University Professors, Phi Epsilon Pi, Zeta Beta Tau, and Alumni Association of Southern California (president, 1959-1965).

Scope and Content

The Irving Shulman papers span from 1947 to 1990 and contain correspondence, manuscripts, reviews, personal materials, newspapers, and posters. The collection is divided into six series with related subseries. Series 1 includes correspondence from IS's friends, publishers, and fans, which is arranged chronologically.

Series 2 is comprised of draft manuscripts and galley proofs for books by IS. There are some early versions, sketches, treatments, and background notes of his works. It also includes his dissertation and research, along with most of his novel manuscripts, screenplays, scripts, and short stories.

Series 3 contains reviews by others about IS's works. Most of them are article tear sheets of newspapers and magazines. They are arranged by each subject.

Series 4 contains miscellaneous material relating to his creative works. They are books, magazines, newspapers, and notes.

Series 5 contains personal materials, including Annual Commencement of Columbia University (1938), Annual Alumnia Day of Ohio University (1958), his speech at Ohio University in 1988 (audio cassette), and Valentino Sings (audio tape). Series 6 is an oversized box that contains documents, such as a contract for Amboy Dukes and Rebel Without a Cause, Oscar Ads, posters, and newspapers. There is a supplement to this collection and is arranged in the same order.

Statement of Arrangement

Subject Terms

The following terms have been used to describe this collection.

Subjects:

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Preferred Citation

Researchers are requested to cite collection name, collection number, and Ohio University, Athens, Ohio in all footnotes and bibliographical references.

Other Finding Aid

A paper copy of the folder list is available.