Hayworth mss., 1943

Summary

Creator:
Hayworth, Rita, 1918-1987.
Abstract:
The Hayworth mss., 1943, consist primarily of letters to actress Rita Hayworth, 1918-1987, from her new husband, actor/director Orson Welles, 1915-1985.
Extent:
3 Boxes (1 standard, 2 custom)
Language:
Materials are in English .
Preferred citation:

[Item], Hayworth mss., Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.

Background

Biographical Note:

Actress Rita Hayworth (Margarita Carmen Cansino), 1918-1987, was born in Brooklyn, New York. Over the course of her career, she appeared in over 60 movies, most famously Gilda (1946), in which she plays a femme fatale opposite Glenn Ford. Her 1944 photograph for Life magazine was a popular pin-up photo during World War II.

Hayworth married actor/director Orson Welles, 1915-1985, on September 7, 1943. Following a short honeymoon Welles returned to New York City to pursue his career and awaited Rita's arrival there once her film commitment at Columbia Pictures was completed.

Hayworth and Welles had one daughter, Rebecca. Hayworth divorced Welles in 1948.

Scope and Content Note:

Consists primarily of letters to Rita Hayworth from her new husband, Orson Welles. Most of the letters are from New York. Several are illustrated by Welles in watercolor and pen, and all contain the loving sentiments of a new husband missing his bride.

Other correspondents include Hayworth's brother, Vernon Cansino, Hortense Hill, Mercedes Jimenez and Bill Stern. Accompanying the letters is Hayworth's membership card for the National Automobile Club and an undated inscribed photograph of Welles. All of the correspondence was found in the upper compartment of Hayworth's makeup case, which is also present in the collection.

The case is a dark brown box with a brown suede protective cover and a brass plaque bearing Hayworth's name. Inside are monogrammed makeup jars containing original portions of powder and cosmetic cream, a tin Midol box, a comb, and other personal items such as hairpins.

Acquisition information:
Purchase. 2006
Arrangement/Organization:

The collection is organized into the following series: I. Correspondence; II. Miscellaneous Items; III. Makeup Case

Physical location:
Lilly - Stacks

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Many collections are housed offsite; retrieval requires advance notice. Please make an appointment a minimum of one week in advance of your visit.

Terms of access:

Photography and digitization may be restricted for some collections. Copyright restrictions may apply. Before publishing, researchers are responsible for securing permission from all applicable rights holders, then filling out the Permission to Publish form.

Preferred citation:

[Item], Hayworth mss., Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.

Location of this collection:
1200 East Seventh Street
Bloomington, Indiana 47405-5500, USA
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Before you visit:
Campus:
Indiana University Bloomington
Contact:
(812) 855-2452
liblilly@iu.edu