Collections Database Manuscript & Object Collect... Extensive archival and manu... Shana Alexander collection ... Finding AidTitle: Shana Alexander collection of H.A.L. Craig materials, 1945-1997
Predominant Dates:1969-1989
ID: 01/01/MSS00111
Primary Creator: Alexander, Shana
Other Creators: Craig, H. A. L.
Extent: 3.6 Cubic Feet
Arrangement:
Shana Alexander originally kept these materials in labeled file folders; these groupings have been maintained, with Alexander's original titles in quotation marks, where provided.
Series 1: "HALC - Miscellany", 1956-1997
Series 2: "H. A. L. C. Scripts / 'The Houlihan' (H. A. L. C. Script)", 1956-1990
Series 3: "The O'Houlihan / Harry Craig", 1979-1997
Series 4: Unlabeled file, 1945
Series 5: Photographs, 1970-1992
Series 6: McCall's magazines, 1969-1971
Each series is arranged chronologically, with undated materials at the end.
Subjects: Craig, H. A. L., Women periodical editors - United States
Languages: English
The Shana Alexander collection of H. A. L. Craig materials (1945-1997) pertains largely to Alexander's personal relationship with Irish author H. A. L. Craig. The collection contains correspondence, notes, newspaper clippings, photographs, and magazines. Shana Alexander originally kept these materials in labeled file folders; these groupings have been maintained, with Alexander's original titles in quotation marks (where provided).
The series "HALC - Miscellany" (1956-1990; 75 items) contains correspondence, writings, notes, photographs, newspaper clippings, and financial documents. The majority of the correspondence is between H. A. L. Craig and Shana Alexander. The remaining correspondence and other materials largely pertain to Craig's death in 1978.
The "H. A. L. C. Scripts / 'The Houlihan' (H. A. L. C. Script)" (1979-1997; 5 items) series consists of correspondence, notes, and photographs. Two letters pertain to a script by H. A. L. Craig. The series "The O'Houlihan / Harry Craig" (1984; 1 item) consists of a single letter.
The Unlabeled file (1945; 3 items) contains books and photographs.
The items in the Photographs series (1970-1992; 22 items) predominantly feature Shana Alexander and H. A. L. Craig.
The McCall's magazines series (1969-1971; 12 items) contains copies of McCall's, each stamped with "rough copy." Many of the magazines include notes paperclipped to the cover, as well as heavy editorial comments on the cover and inside. Some of the comments appear to be Alexander's, and others are in a different hand.
Shana Alexander (1925-2005) was a journalist, author, and television personality, active predominantly in the 1960s-1980s. Alexander became the first female staff writer at Life magazine in 1951. She moved on from Life in 1969, becoming the editor of McCall's, a position she held until 1971. Alexander wrote a weekly column, "The Feminine Eye," beginning at Life and continuing during her time at McCall's.
Alexander maintained a long personal relationship with H. A. L. Craig (1921-1978), an Irish journalist, radio producer, and screenwriter. Craig was a radio personality in Ireland until he moved to Rome, Italy in 1968 to pursue screenwriting. His screenwriting credits include Waterloo, Anzio, Fraulein Doktor, The Message, and Lion of the Desert.
Sources:
Fox, Margalit. "Shana Alexander, 79, Dies; Passionate Debater on TV." The New York Times, June 25, 2005.
Craig, Siobhan. "H. A. L. Craig Biography." Internet Movie Database.
Repository: Rare Book & Manuscript Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Access Restrictions: The collection is open for research.
Use Restrictions:
This collection is the physical property of the Rare Book & Manuscript Library. Intellectual property rights, including copyright, may reside with the materials' creator(s) or their heirs.
The Rare Book & Manuscript Library's reproduction and publication policies are available here. The library welcomes requests for reproductions made from works in our collections, though restrictions may apply to certain materials. Please contact the library with any questions.
Preferred Citation: Shana Alexander collection of H. A. L. Craig materials, Rare Book & Manuscript Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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