The Peter Lawford Papers contain biographical material, family and professional correspondence, film and television contracts, production records, business and financial records, scripts, magazine articles, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, photographs, and memorabilia documenting Lawford's career in show business.
Identification:
MS SC LA
Language:
Material in English
Repository:
Arizona State University Library. Rare Books and Manuscripts P.O. Box 871006 Tempe, AZ 85287-1006 Phone: (480) 965-4932 E-Mail: archives@asu.edu Questions? Ask An Archivist!
Biographical Note
Peter Lawford was born to Sir Sidney and Lady May Lawford in London, England on September 7, 1923. He moved with his family from England to France, Hawaii, Ceylon, Nassau, and Florida before he went to Hollywood. Here, he completed three films in two years and went on to secure a twelve-year contract with MGM. He also acted on television in such shows as The Thin Man and was a member of Frank Sinatra's "Rat
Pack" until he and Sinatra fell out over political issues in the 1960s. His many prominent acquaintances included Elizabeth Taylor, Lana Turner, Marilyn Monroe, the Kennedy family, and Nancy (Davis) Reagan. Lawford was married four times: to Patricia Kennedy (1954-1966), to Mary Rowan (1971-1975), to Deborah Gould (1976-1977), and finally to Patricia Seaton (1984). He had four children with his first wife, Christopher, Sydney Maleia Kennedy, Victoria Francis, and Robin
Elizabeth. Peter Lawford died in Los Angeles on December 24, 1984.
Scope and Content Note
Series I through Series VII of the Peter Lawford Papers contain biographical material, family and professional correspondence, film and television contracts, production records, business and financial records, scripts, magazine articles, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, and memorabilia documenting Lawford's career in show business.
The majority of images in Series VIII: Photographs were generated by Lawford's career in the entertainment industry. Also included are a substantial number of photographs documenting Lawford's relationship with the Kennedy family. Most of the photographs are 8" x 10" black and white silver gelatin prints that were taken on the sets of films that Lawford worked on. Photographs showing the Kennedy family are primarily 8" x 10" black and white photographs used for press releases and
public relations. Very few negatives and personal photographs are present.
Arrangement
This collection contains seventy-seven boxes divided into eight series:
To view this collection, make an appointment at least five business days prior to your visit by contacting Ask an Archivist or calling (480) 965-4932. Appointments in the Wurzburger Reading Room at Hayden Library (rm. 138) on the Tempe campus are available Monday through Friday. Check the ASU Library Hours page for current availability.
Copyright
Arizona State University does not own the copyright to this collection. We recognize that it is incumbent upon the researcher to procure permission to publish information from this collection from the owner of the copyright.
[Identification of item], Peter Lawford Papers, MS SC LA, Arizona State University Library.
Provenance
Patricia Seaton Lawford donated these papers to Special Collections in 1985 and 1988 (Accession #2003-02751, 2003-02829, 2003-02861, 2003-03040, 2003-03060, and 2003-02964).
Other Finding Aids
Six appendices describing this collection in greater detail are available:
Appendix I: Itemized Listing of Photographs According to Film and Format
Appendix II: Motion Picture Abstracts of Films Cited in the Photographic Listing
Appendix III: Peter Lawford's Motion Picture Credits
Appendix IV: Bibliography [Photographs]
Appendix V: Photo Index
Appendix VI: Lawford Biography (LA-1; LA-3) Photograph Credits/Location in Collection
Contact Archives and Special Collections for additional information about these items.
Labeled "Photographs". Includes newspaper clippings.
4/OV
2
Scrapbook, Dear Phoebe TV Series, 1954-1955
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3
Pencil Drawing by Michael G. Reagan
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4
Certificate, Honorary Lt. Colonel Aide de Camp, Alabama State Militia, 1975 October 8
Signed by Gov. George Wallace.
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5
Misc. Film Publicity for Sergeants 3, Where's Parsifal; One More Time
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6
"Ringo for President" Magazine Cover, 1976
Box
5/OV
Scrapbook, 1945-1951 (Red Cover; 12" x 14½")
Peter Lawford on front. Prepared by fan Bebette Gualano, Monterey Park, Ca. Includes letter to Lawford, 1951 July 14 from Bebette Gualano, drawing of Lawford by Bebette, 1949. Also P. L. Post, official Peter Lawford Fan Club #8 (newsletter), 1947 November; mounted and loose newspaper clippings. Includes five 8" x 10" photographs: Frank Sinatra, 4 photos, early Lawford career (including 2 with military personnel).
5/OV
Scrapbook, circa 1947-1969 (Red; 12" x 14½")
Includes clippings and magazine covers, some of wedding of PL to Pat Kennedy; photograph of recognition plaque, Lady Mae Lawford. Ligue Internationale De Aviateurs, Undated.
The materials were received in disarray and were placed in major subject oriented divisions that have a specific chronology. The film related materials are organized according to the year in which the films were made and then by the responsible agency's negative numbers, which appear in brackets [ ] in the contents list. (See Appendix III for a complete listing of known negative numbers and the specific films that they correspond to). The other sub-series are arranged
chronologically as well; however, the dates are not as specific. Several albums are included in the collection and their original order and arrangement have been preserved.
Rat Pack Photographs (15 8" x 10" Black and White Photographs)
Includes Jerry Lewis, Dick Stabile, Peter Lawford, Dean Martin at Las Vegas Flamingo Hotel at about the time of filming The Red Danube (1949). Also pool-side with Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis and Peter.
12
2
Rat Pack Photographs (9 Photographs; Assorted Sizes)
Includes Peter and Frank Sinatra snapshots (2 items); Peter and Sammy Davis, Jr. (5" x 7"); Peter and Frank Sinatra (8" x 10"); and miscellaneous Rat Pack.
12
3
Rat Pack Photographs (10 Photographs; 8" x 10")
Includes Jerry Lewis, Sammy Davis, Jr., Petula Clark, Diahann Carroll, Sammy Davis, Jr., Peter; Peter and crowd on street; empty Birdland Miami photograph folder.
12
3A
Rat Pack Photographs (3 Items)
Peter and Sammy Davis Jr. "one more time"; Frank Sinatra; Dean Martin and Peter in "Sergeant's Three".
12
4
Television Photographs (10 3" x 5" Color Photographs)
12
5
Television Photographs (4 8" x 10" Black and White Photographs; 2 8" x 10" Color Photographs)
Color photographs are from "Laughin".
12
6
"This Island Earth"
(11 8" x 10" Color Photographs)
12
7-12
"Thin Man"
(15 8" x 10" Black and White Photographs)
12
13
"Thin Man"
(9 8" x 10" Black and White Photographs)
12
14
"Thin Man"
(24 3" x 5" Black and White Photographs)
12
15
"Thin Man"
(23 3" x 5" Black and White Photographs)
Box
13
Photograph Albums from the Mike Douglas Show (5 Items)
Signed by and presented by Mike Douglas to Peter Lawford. Album #5 is also signed inside back cover.
Box
Folder
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7
Rat Pack: It's only 3 miles from Dino's, "Dino's Place" (14" x 11"; Black and White)
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8
Rat Pack in Headdresses (14" x 11"; Black and White)
1/OV
9
Rat Pack: Lawford, Frank Sinatra, and Sammy Davis, Jr. at the Microphone (14" x 11"; Black and White)
1/OV
10
Sammy Davis, Jr. and Lawford (13½" x 9½" Color)
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11
Performance Lawford and Sammy Davis, Jr., "Strutting" (12" x 10"; Black and White)
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12
Movie Scene with Lawford and Jerry Lewis, 1968 January 19 (11" x 14" Color)
Photo by Jerry Lewis Films.
1/OV
13
Movie Scene with Lawford and Jerry Lewis, "One More Time" (14" x 11"; Black and White)
1/OV
14
Movie Scene with Lawford and Jerry Lewis (14" x 11"; Black and White)
Lewis with hand over his mouth. Includes Scatman Crauthers, "One More Time."
1/OV
15
Movie Scene with Lawford and Scatman Crauthers in Morgue, "One More Time" (14" x 11"; Black and White)
1/OV
16
Movie Scene with Lawford, Lewis, and Two Men in Morgue (14" x 11"; Black and White)
Includes Scatman Crauthers, "One More Time."
1/OV
17
Letterman Sweaters with Caption Above. Jerry Lewis and P.L. (11" x 14"; Black and White)
1/OV
18
Letterman Sweaters. Lewis and P.L. "Hook, Line & Sinker", 1969 (11" x 14"; Black and White)
1/OV
19
Rat Pack on Stage at the Sands Hotel, Las Vegas, 1960 (11¾" x 9¼"; Black and White)
1/OV
20
Rat Pack Performing (14" x 11"; Black and White)
Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Peter, Joey Bishop, and Louis Prima at Sands Hotel, Vegas.
1/OV
21
Rat Pack Taking Photo of Photographer, 1961 (13¾" x 10¾"; Black and White)
Dean Martin with camera, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Peter in background.
1/OV
22
Peter Lawford Sings to Jimmy Durante, 1962 November 29 (10¼" x 13¼"; Black and White)
Credit John Loengard. "I've grown accustomed to that face" in Las Vegas.
1/OV
23
Sammy Davis, Jr., Children, and Lawford (14" x 11"; Black and White)
1/OV
24
Six Men Standing Behind Seated Sammy Davis, Jr. (13¼" x 10½"; Black and White)
From Peter's night club "The Factory." Board members.
1/OV
25
Dean Martin, July Garland, and Frank Sinatra, Las Vegas (10½" x 13¼"; Black and White)
1/OV
26
Frank Sinatra and Lawford at the Microphone (16" x 20"; Black and White)
#26-34; 36 - mounted on matte board - signed by George Sidney '60.
1/OV
27
Lawford and Sammy Davis, Jr. at the Microphone (16" x 20"; Black and White)
1/OV
28
Lawford Performing with Band Behind (16" x 20"; Black and White)
1/OV
29
Lawford Shakes Hands (Vegas) (16" x 20"; Black and White)
1/OV
30
Close Up of Sammy Davis, Jr. (16" x 20"; Black and White)
1/OV
31
, Frank Sinatra Sings (11:30pm) at the Sands Hotel, 1960 (16" x 20"; Black and White)
1/OV
32
Rat Pack Sings (16" x 20"; Black and White)
1/OV
33
Lawford and Sammy Davis, Jr. Performing with a Band Behind Them (16" x 20"; Black and White)
1/OV
34
Laughing or Crying Closeup (16" x 20"; Black and White)
1/OV
35
Surfing (19" x 15"; Black and White)
1/OV
36
Rat Pack Drawing Straws from a Brandy Snifter (16" x 20"; Black and White)
1 8" x 10" black and white photograph of very young Lawford
5 5" x 7" black and white photographs
4 3" x 5" black and white snapshots
3 5" x 7" duplicates
15
2
Teens and Twenties (with Parents)
Includes:
2 8" x 10" black and white negatives (Lady Mae)
1 black and white contact sheet
1 8" x 10" black and white photograph of Lady Mae
1 8" x 10" of Lawford as a teen attending a party
7 8" x 10" black and white photographs of Lawford with his parents
Parents and Peter on set of Rogue's March, 1952
15
3
Older Portraits of Sir Sidney and his Friends (8 Items)
15
4
Family
Includes:
1 8" x 10" sepia tone of Sir Sydney
1 5" x 7" of Lawford with Mrs. Douglas, the wife of the U.S. Ambassador to England, dated 1950
4 8" x 10" black and white miscellaneous
2 8" x 10" of Sir Sydney with soldiers from the Imperial War Office
15
5
Lawford with Fans and Friends (67 Black and White Snapshots)
15
6
Snapshots (67 Black and White Images)
15
7
Lawford's Fan Club (15 3" x 5" Black and White Photographs)
15
8
Lawford and Friends (24 Photographs)
Palm Beach related subjects.
15
9
Lawford and Friends (40 3" x 5" Black and White Photographs)
Palm Beach and water skiing at Western lake.
15
10
Lawford and Friends (2 3" x 5" Kodachrome Prints; 15 3" x 3" Black and White Photographs)
15
11
Lawford and Friends (41 2" x 2" Black and White Photographs)
Includes a photograph of Judy Garland.
15
12
Lawford and Friends (14 5" x 5" and 12 3" x 3" Black and White Photographs)
The 3" x 3" photographs were taken at Mrs. Earl T. Smith's house in Palm Beach.
15
13
Lawford and Friends (4 4" x 6" Black and White Photographs; 1 Album of Palm Beach; 5 5" x 7" Images)
15
14
Lawford and Friends (26 Black and White Photographs)
Images predate 1960. Includes a 10" x 6" of surfing
15
15
Lawford and Friends (20 Color Prints)
Images predate 1970.
15
16
Lawford and Friends: with Henry and Christina Ford, 1967 (29 3" x 5" Color Prints)
15
17
Lawford and Friends, 1967 June (19 3" x 5" Color Prints)
15
18
Lawford and Friends: Appearing with Gallagher the Comedian (35 3" x 5" Black and White Photographs)
15
19
Lawford and Friends: Wedding to Mary Rowan (2 8" x 10" and 12 5" x 7" Color Photographs)
15
20
Lawford and Friends: Wedding and Other with Mary Rowan (15 8" x 10" Black and White Photographs)
15
21
Lawford and Friends: With Mary Rowan (15 8" x 10" Black and White Photographs; 3 8" x 10" Color Photographs)
15
22
Lawford and Friends: Later Years (15 Photographs; 1 Note)
15
23
Lawford and Friends (76 Photographs)
Box
Folder
16
1
Lawford's Children
Includes:
4 cards from Lawford's children
6 color snapshots of Christopher's Birthday
7 3" x 3" black and white photographs of Christopher at 1 year
43 color snapshots of children in their teens, plus 1 color picture of Lawford
16
2
Sidney Lawford McKelvey's Wedding, 1983 September 17 (5 5" x 7" and 4 8" x 10" Color Photographs)
16
3
Lawford's Children (10 Large Format Photographs)
16
4
Children and Pet Goat (8 8" x 10" Black and White Photographs; 3 Contact Sheets; 3 Polaroids)
16
5
Photographs Given to Lawford by Lou Costello (8 8" x 10" Black and White Photographs)
Includes handwritten captions and 2 notes by Lou Costello.
16
6
Portraits Autographed to Peter (6 8" x 10" Photographs)
Includes portraits of Henry Fonda, Ava Gardner, Hugh Hefner, Janet Leigh, Walter Pidgeon, and Fred and Betsy Riviera.
16
7
Photographs Mailed to Lawford, 1945 (15 Items)
Sent care of Keenan Wynn.
16
8
Sharon Douglas on her Trip to Europe (11 5" x 7" and 6 Miscellaneous Format Black and White Photographs)
16
9
Peter and Friends (27 Black and White Photographs)
Includes Michael Wilding, Jane Russell, Ava Gardner, Betsy Drake, June Allyson, Mrs. Earl T. Smith, Judy Garland, Lana Turner, and Joan Fontaine.
16
10
Portraits Autographed to Peter (7 8" x 11" Black and White Photographs)
Includes Mickey Rooney and Rovita; Victoria?; Jane Withers; and unidentified male.
16
11
With Sharon Douglas. (7 Black and White Contact Sheets)
16
12
Peter and Friends. (6 Color and 2 Black and White Snapshots)
Includes Anthony Newly, Joan Collins, and Jackie Cooper.
16
13
Peter with Others (19 Items)
Includes June Allyson, Van Johnson, Dustin Hoffman, Mohammed Ali, Catherine Deneuve, Janet Leigh, Margaret O'Brien, Frankie and Marilyn Maxwell, Gloria Swanson, Stephanie Powers, Jill St. Johns, Lana Turner, Keenan Wynn, and Jane Wyman.
16
14
Contact Sheets (39 Items; Black and White)
16
15
Contact Sheets (26 Items; Black and White)
16
16
Slides (17 Items)
Slides predate 1960.
16
17
Slides, 1968 May (52 Items)
16
18
Slides, 1968-1975 (20 Items)
16
19
Slides, 1979 October (51 Items)
16
20
Palm Beach (1951) and Other (22 Black and White Negatives; 18 Other Negatives)
16
21
Palm Beach, circa 1952 (24 Negatives)
16
22
Unidentified and Beach Scenes, 1951 (21 Negative Strips)
16
23
Wedding to Mary Rowan (3 Black and White Negatives)
16
24
Other Negatives, 1951-1972
16
25
Images for Peter Lawford Story (40 4" x 4" Negatives)
16
Negatives used in Books by Larry Leamer; Wendy Leigh, 1991 (1 Negative; 4 Strips; Stored on Range 38)
16
26
Peter and Children, 1971 July (18 Slides)
Box
Folder
17
1
Franzi; Mountain scenery; Christmas 1966 (Possibly from Herbert Aushelder) (3 8" x 10" Images)
17
2
Brooktrails (2 8" x 10" Color Images)
17
3
House Interior and Exterior (7 8" x 10" Images)
17
4
Ocean Miscellaneous (5 8" x 10" Images)
17
5
Lawford: Later Years (8" x 10" Images)
17
6
Lawford, Patricia Seaton (8" x 10" Images)
17
7
Kenya (3 8" x 10" Images)
17
8
Unidentified (18 Photographs)
Box
1/OV
J. M. de Beauforts Album
Gift to Lawford in 1961.
1/OV
Lawford's Album (1938); Lady Lawford's Photo Album, 1938, Undated
Box
Folder
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1
Peter Lawford's Son (10½" x 13½" Color)
2/OV
2
Peter Lawford's Young Child (10½" x 13½" Color)
2/OV
3
Baby Christopher (11" x 14" Black and White)
2/OV
4
Lawford Having Dinner (11¼" x 9½" Black and White)
2/OV
5
Lawford with Bruises on his Face (9½" x 11¼" Black and White)
2/OV
6
Season's Greetings Card (5¼" x 7¼" Red Card with Color Photo)
2/OV
7
Lawford with a Horse (10¼" x 8½" Color)
2/OV
8
Lawford and Two Unidentified People Eating Dinner at the Patio (11" x 9¼" Black and White)
2/OV
9
Photograph (9¼" x 11" Black and White; In Cover from The Patio, Palm Beach)
2/OV
10
Lawford and Six Others at Dinner (11" x 9¼" Black and White; In Cover from The Patio, Palm Beach)
2/OV
11
Drawing Enclosed in a Black Circle, 1976 April (8½" x 11"; Color; Signed by Blaze)
2/OV
12
Closeup of a Female (10" x 12" Black and White)
Signed "All my yesterdays, todays and tomorrows Rosemarie X".
2/OV
13
Getting Some Sun, Arms Folded (8½" x 13" Black and White)
2/OV
14
Getting Some Sun and Yawning (8½" x 13" Black and White)
2/OV
15
Lawford with Two Women in Beaded Jewelry (10½" x 13" Black and White)
2/OV
16
Two Unidentified Dogs (9½" x 12½" Black and White)
Range
8
2 Oriental (Framed)
8
Aces Letter, "Goody", Regarding Gala (Framed)
8
Sands Promotion, "Rat Pack" (Framed)
8
Pre-Inaugural Gala Cartoon (Framed)
8
Exodus (Framed)
8
Oil Painting of Peter (Framed; 25" x 20")
8
Oil Painting of Flowers by Ted Kennedy (Framed)
8
David Stone Martin (3 Drawings; Framed; 26" x 22")
8
Sir Sydney Lawford (2 Framed Photographs)
8
Norman Rockwell of JFK (Framed)
8
California Assembly Resolution Regarding Death of JFK (Framed)
8
Kennedy Cartoon (Framed)
8
Oil Painting of Sir Sydney Lawford (Framed; 42" x 34")
8
JFK tribute, Israel (Framed; Paper Sculpture; 45" x 36")
8
JFK Peace Forest in Israel, 1965 December 29 (Framed; Laminated on Wood; 19" x 16")
Color Photograph of JFK on Kennedy Golf Cart with Kids (Framed; Stored in "Alcove" by Range 15)
Collage of Lawford Photographs (Framed; Stored in "Alcove" by Range 15)
Range
8
Peter with Surf Boarders on Beach (Framed)
8
Peter in Tower on Beach (Framed)
8
Peter and Unidentified Female (Framed)
8
Dean Martin and Peter Performing (Framed)
8
Blackened Faces (Framed)
8
JFK, Ted, RFK, Peter and 2 Others at Wedding (Framed)
8
Rose Kennedy and Lady Lawford at Wedding (Framed)
8
Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Peter (Rat Pack) by Swimming Pool (Framed)
8
Peter and Jimmy Durante in Rabbit Costume (Framed)
8
Peter, Eddie Fisher, Durante, and 2 Others (Framed)
8
Rose Kennedy, Pat, and Joseph Kennedy at Wedding (Framed)
