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Size | 8.0 feet of linear shelf space (approximately 2000 items) |
Abstract | Jeff Fields (1938- ), Georgia-born novelist, television producer and host, and 1964 graduate of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Fields worked in radio and television, chiefly for WJXT-TV in Jacksonville, Fla., while writing his novel, A Cry of Angels (1974). The collection contains materials documenting Fields's work as a writer and in television. Included are drafts, proofs, screenplays, and other materials relating to A Cry of Angels. Also included are letters, chiefly between Fields and agents and magazine editors regarding an unpublished second book and short stories submitted for publication, and other writings by Fields, mostly class assignments from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, short stories submitted for publication, and commentaries written for WJXT-TV. There are also photographs and slides, audiotapes, films, and videotapes relating to Fields's literary work and to his work as producer and host at WJXT-TV. |
Creator | Fields, Jeff. |
Curatorial Unit | Southern Historical Collection |
Language | English. |
The following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.
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Jeff Fields was born in Uvalda, Ga., in 1938. His parents moved from Elberton, Ga., to LaGrange, N.C. At age 14, Fields ran away from home. He worked his way through high school and college, supporting himself as an ironworker. His college career spanned eight years, attending classes one year, then working the next few. He first attended South Georgia College, then the University of Georgia. After a two-year hiatus, he finished his final two years at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, graduating in 1964. Initially, Fields studied drama, but soon turned to a major in television. In his senior year, however, Fields studied with novelist Betty Smith and became interested in writing.
After graduation, Fields worked for a year at a radio station in Anniston, Ala., after which he moved to Greenville, S.C., where he worked in radio and television for four years. Fields then took a position as producer-host for television station WJXT-TV, in Jacksonville, Fla., hosting the programs 30 Below, Cracker Barrel, and Jeff and Pat and Sunday Night.
In 1967, while in Greenville, Fields sold his first short story to McCall's magazine. His initial success sparked him to begin writing a novel. After five years of writing at night and on the weekends, Fields felt he had a final draft, and submitted it to his agent, who returned it asking for major revisions. Frustrated, Fields changed agents, made minor revisions, and, seven months later, A Cry of Angels (1974) was published. In 1975, after signing a contract with Universal Studios to write a screenplay from the novel, Fields quit his job as producer-host to concentrate on writing. Distrusting Hollywood's treatment of his book, Fields opted not to renew the movie rights. He then began writing a second novel, which has not been published. As of 1998, Fields lives in Chamblee, Ga.
Back to TopChiefly materials reflecting Jeff Fields's work as a writer and in television.
Series 1 contains drafts, proofs, and screenplay s for the novel, A Cry of Angels; journals in which Fields wrote about the novel; research materials; correspondence with agents, publishers, and movie producers about the book; newspaper reviews; Fields's speeches about writing the book; research materials; fan mail; and financial records, including expense reports, legal agreements, royalty statements, and a movie contract with Universal Studios for a screenplay of the book.
Series 2 contains correspondence and other writings by Fields. Most of the correspondence is with agents and magazine editors regarding an unpublished second book and short stories submitted for publication. Included are a few letters from aspiring authors and one routine postcard from John Steinbeck. Most of the writings are class assignments from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, short stories submitted for publication, and commentaries written for television station WJXT-TV.
Series 3 contains photographs and slides, audiotapes, films, and videotapes relating to Fields's literary work and to his work as producer and host at WJXT-TV. Photographs and slides relate to WJXT-TV programs Jeff and Pat and Sunday, Cracker Barrel, 30 Below, and to special programs. There are also some publicity photographs for A Cry of Angels, and a few personal photographs. The two audiotapes are of promotional interviews with Fields about A Cry of Angels. Films and videotapes chiefly relate to Jeff and Pat and Sunday Night, Mule Train, and Cracker Barrel.
Back to TopCorrespondence with agents, publishers, and movie producers about Fields's novel, A Cry of Angels; newspaper reviews; Fields's speeches about writing the book; research materials; fan mail; and financial records, including expense reports, legal agreements, royalty statements, and a movie contract with Universal Studios for a screenplay from the novel. There are also some materials from the Writers Guild of America.
Folder 1-2
Folder 1Folder 2 |
Agent and publisher, 1965-1978 |
Folder 3 |
A Cry of Angels: Foreign rights, 1974-1979 |
Folder 4-8
Folder 4Folder 5Folder 6Folder 7Folder 8 |
A Cry of Angels: Movie, 1974-1980 |
Folder 9-11
Folder 9Folder 10Folder 11 |
Correspondence, 1973-1978 |
Folder 12 |
Contracts |
Folder 13 |
Publicity and biography |
Folder 14-16
Folder 14Folder 15Folder 16 |
Reader response, 1973-1978 |
Folder 17-18
Folder 17Folder 18 |
Reviews |
Folder 19-20
Folder 19Folder 20 |
Speeches and public appearances |
Folder 21-22
Folder 21Folder 22 |
Writers Guild of America |
Folder 23 |
Writing income |
Accession 101203
Mostly drafts, proofs, and screenplays of A Cry of Angels. Also included are a few journals in which Fields wrote about the novel and research materials for the story. The folders marked "Original draft" contain several different drafts without pagination. The folders marked "Original draft: Alternate chapters and scenes" do not correspond to final chapter numbers; they are labeled as Fields numbered them. Neither the alternate chapters nor the alternate scenes appear in the final version. They may, however, appear in other chapters of the original drafts. Note that Fields's original folder titles have, for the most part, been retained.
Folder 24-27
Folder 24Folder 25Folder 26Folder 27 |
Journals, 1964-1985 |
Folder 28 |
Research materials |
Folder 29-30
Folder 29Folder 30 |
Notes and outline |
Folder 31-81
Folder 31Folder 32Folder 33Folder 34Folder 35Folder 36Folder 37Folder 38Folder 39Folder 40Folder 41Folder 42Folder 43Folder 44Folder 45Folder 46Folder 47Folder 48Folder 49Folder 50Folder 51Folder 52Folder 53Folder 54Folder 55Folder 56Folder 57Folder 58Folder 59Folder 60Folder 61Folder 62Folder 63Folder 64Folder 65Folder 66Folder 67Folder 68Folder 69Folder 70Folder 71Folder 72Folder 73Folder 74Folder 75Folder 76Folder 77Folder 78Folder 79Folder 80Folder 81 |
Original draft |
Folder 82-89
Folder 82Folder 83Folder 84Folder 85Folder 86Folder 87Folder 88Folder 89 |
Original draft: Alternate chapters and scenes |
Folder 90-92
Folder 90Folder 91Folder 92 |
Original draft I, II, IV |
Folder 93-118
Folder 93Folder 94Folder 95Folder 96Folder 97Folder 98Folder 99Folder 100Folder 101Folder 102Folder 103Folder 104Folder 105Folder 106Folder 107Folder 108Folder 109Folder 110Folder 111Folder 112Folder 113Folder 114Folder 115Folder 116Folder 117Folder 118 |
Draft |
Folder 119-138
Folder 119Folder 120Folder 121Folder 122Folder 123Folder 124Folder 125Folder 126Folder 127Folder 128Folder 129Folder 130Folder 131Folder 132Folder 133Folder 134Folder 135Folder 136Folder 137Folder 138 |
Proofs |
Folder 139-150
Folder 139Folder 140Folder 141Folder 142Folder 143Folder 144Folder 145Folder 146Folder 147Folder 148Folder 149Folder 150 |
Screenplay |
Accession 101203
Folder 177 |
Manuscript pages |
Folder 178 |
Partial manuscript |
Folder 179 |
Screenplay (Universal Studios) |
Folder 180 |
Screenplay: second draft (Universal Studios) |
Folder 181 |
Screenplay: third draft (Universal Studios) |
Mostly correspondence with agents and magazine editors about short stories and an unpublished second book. Also included are a few letters from aspiring authors and one routine postcard from John Steinbeck, written in response to an inquiry by Field's inquiry.
Folder 151 |
Correspondence with writers, 1968-1969, 1973, 1980 |
Folder 152 |
Short stories, 1969 |
Folder 153 |
Other projects, 1974-1976 |
Folder 154-155
Folder 154Folder 155 |
Second book, 1979-1987 |
Accession 101203
Includes correspondence and publicity materials pertaining to Will Rogers, USA and Trying to Matter.
Folder 182-183
Folder 182Folder 183 |
Trying to Matter, 2008-2009 |
Oversize Paper Folder OPF-4950/1 |
Trying to Matter, 2008-2009 |
Folder 184 |
Will Rogers, USA, 1970 |
Mostly papers written for classes at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, short stories submitted for publication, and a few written commentaries from WJXT-TV.
Folder 156 |
Early writings, 1953-1962 and undated |
Folder 157-162
Folder 157Folder 158Folder 159Folder 160Folder 161Folder 162 |
Student papers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Folder 163 |
Andy Griffith Show story idea |
Folder 164 |
"The Seminole Uprising" |
Folder 165 |
"The Ark of the Hoddernocs" |
Folder 166 |
"Caroline: A Documentary" |
Folder 167 |
"Come Monday Morning" |
Folder 168 |
"Maestoso, Mr. Jones!" |
Folder 169 |
"Curing Time" |
Folder 170 |
"Into the Wind" |
Folder 171 |
WJXT-TV stories, 1966-1970 and undated |
Folder 172-173
Folder 172Folder 173 |
Miscellaneous, 1966-1980 |
Materials include explanatory notes written by Fields in 2009.
Accession 101203
Folder 185 |
Affording College Education, 1964 |
Folder 186 |
Come Monday Morning, 1964 |
Folder 187 |
Curing Time, circa 1966-1967 |
Folder 188 |
Into the Wind/We'll Be in Touch, Okay?, circa 1969 |
Folder 189-195
Folder 189Folder 190Folder 191Folder 192Folder 193Folder 194Folder 195 |
Trying to Matter, 2007-2009 |
Materials relating to A Cry of Angels; to WJXT-TV programs Jeff and Pat and Sunday Night, Mule Train, and Cracker Barrel, some of which Fields hosted; and to other television projects in which Fields was involved.
Mostly photographs and slides of Fields at work, with some publicity photos for A Cry of Angels and a few personal photographs. Included are several photographs and slides relating to WJXT-TV programs Jeff and Pat and Sunday, 30 Below, and special programs.
Image Folder PF-4950/1 |
A Cry of Angels: Dust jacket prints, 1973 |
Image Folder PF-4950/2 |
Candids at WJXT-TV, 1974 |
Image Folder PF-4950/3 |
Banquet dinner, 23 August 1974 |
Image Folder PF-4950/4 |
Slides: 30 Below, Cracker Barrel, May Cohens Father's Day TV Special, Midday Prudential remote, and Jeff and Pat and Sunday Night |
Accessions 101203 and 20240517.1
Image Folder PF-4950/5 |
Candid photographs, 2009Accession 101203 Fields promoting Trying to Matter |
Image Folder PF-4950/6 |
Publicity photographs, 1970s, undatedAccession 101203, 20240517.1 Includes color film of Fields (Acc. 101203) and prints promoting A Cry of Angels, similar to the prints in PF-4950/1 (Acc. 20240517.1) |
Two promotional interviews with Fields about A Cry of Angels.
Audiotape T-4950/1 |
Interview, Book Beat, WTTW, 27 June 1974 |
Audiotape T-4950/2 |
Ellen Frank, WJCT, Jacksonville, Fla., 3 September 1974 |
Out-takes, trailers, trims, heads, and closings for WJXT-TV programs Jeff and Pat and Sunday Night, Mule Train, and Cracker Barrel. Note that titles were transcribed from the original labels.
Videotapes from Jeff and Pat and Sunday Night and other projects, composites of Fields, and WJXT 4. Note that titles were transcribed from the original labels.
Videotape VT-4950/1 |
Jeff and Pat and Sunday Night: Circus clown, 28 January 1972 |
Videotape VT-4950/2 |
Jeff and Pat and Sunday Night: Addy Awards |
Videotape VT-4950/3 |
Jeff and Pat and Sunday Night: Open and close |
Videotape VT-4950/4 |
Will Rogers USA, 14 January 1970 |
Videotape VT-4950/5 |
WJXT 4: Marloy Manners, 9 April 1973 (large) |
Videotape VT-4950/6 |
May Cohens/Jeff commercial |
Videotape VT-4950/7 |
Fields composite (6 is large) |
Videotape VT-4950/8 |
Fields composite (6 is large) |
Videotape VT-4950/9 |
#83-5 |
Photographs (PF-4950/1-6)
Audiotapes (T-4950/1-2)
Films (F-4950/1-22)
Videotapes (VT-4950/1-9)
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