Skip to main content

Ford, John, 1894-1973

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1894 - 1973

Biography

John Ford (1894-1973) was an American film director, producer, and screenwriter.

John Ford was born John Martin Feeney on February 1, 1894, in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Though he often claimed his name was Sean Aloysius O'Feeney, baptismal records confirm his birth name and date. The name Aloysius was adopted later at his Confirmation. While many references, including Ford himself, cited 1895 as his birth year, official records and his tombstone affirm 1894. Ford began his film career in the silent era, sometimes credited as Jack Ford, and directed early works such as The Secret Man (1917). Over a career spanning more than five decades, he became renowned for his work in directing, producing and screenwriting, particularly in the Western genre. His notable films included Stagecoach (1939), The Grapes of Wrath (1940), and The Searchers (1956). His work earned him six Academy Awards, including four for Best Director. Ford passed away on August 31, 1973 in Palm Desert, California.

Citation:
Mitry, J. John Ford, 1954.

Gallagher, T. John Ford, c1984:CIP t.p. (John Ford) CIP galley (liked to claim his name was Sean Aloysius O'Feeney; baptismal records show name and birthdate as John Martin Feeney, b. 2/1/1894; Aloysius was name John chose at Confirmation) book p. 2 (although most references, including Ford himself, cite the year as 1895, the town clerk registered him as John Martin Feeney, born Feb. 1, 1894, and this information appears also on his tombstone and baptismal records)

American film-index 1916-1920, 1984(Jack Ford; director of The Secret man)

IMDB, Feb. 7, 2011(John Ford; John Martin Feeney; b. Feb. 1, 1894 in Cape Elizabeth, Me.; d. Aug. 31, 1973 in Palm Desert, Calif.; director, producer, screenwriter)

Found in 36 Collections and/or Records:

3 Godfathers (1948), 1948-1950

 Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS 1849 Series 13 Sub-Series 4
Scope and Contents Argosy Pictures Corporation records such as agreements, letters, and reports on the produced film, "3 Godfathers." Materials dated 1948-1950. Argosy contracted with MGM to make "3 Godfathers," also in 1948. This was a project designed to reduce Argosy's financial risk, as can be seen from the contracts, but since it lowered Argosy's costs, it also reduced the company's earnings. In spite of the smaller return, Argosy needed this film to improve its cash flow so it could pay some of its debt...
Dates: 1948-1950

Argosy Pictures Corporation collection of story properties, 1913-1952

 Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS 1849 Series 12 Sub-Series 3
Scope and Contents Contains some 450 synopses, summaries, and stories, arranged alphabetically by story author, that Argosy Pictures Corporation accepted for consideration during its operation. Writers represented include Maxwell Anderson, Pearl S. Buck, Raymond Chandler, Borden Chase, C.S. Forester, A.B. Guthrie Jr., Ernest Haycox, Ben Hecht, Aldous Huxley, Sinclair Lewis, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, and Laurence Stallings. Includes tear sheets, clippings, full scripts, letters and memoranda. Story property...
Dates: 1913-1952

Argosy Pictures Corporation financial records, 1938-1958

 Series
Identifier: MSS 1849 Series 5
Scope and Contents

Contains the financial history of Argosy Pictures Corporation and related corporations. These records cover the period 1939-1958, and include ledgers, bank books and statements, balance sheets, and federal and state income tax and information returns. Materials dated 1938-1958.

Dates: 1938-1958

Argosy Pictures Corporation general correspondence, 1940-1957

 Series
Identifier: MSS 1849 Series 1
Scope and Contents

Contains general correspondence of Argosy Pictures Corporation, both external and internal. Includes letters and telegrams. Materials dated 1940-1957.

Dates: 1940-1957

Argosy Pictures Corporation legal records, 1939-1957

 Series
Identifier: MSS 1849 Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains corporate records for the Argosy Corporation, Argosy Pictures Corporation, ARKO, Inc., and Argosy Television Corporation. These records include articles of incorporation, by-laws, directors minutes, stockholder lists, stock certificates, and trademark designs. Materials dated 1939-1957.

Dates: 1939-1957

Argosy Pictures Corporation photographs, 1918-1940s

 Series
Identifier: MSS 1849 Series 15
Scope and Contents

Photographs collected or produced by the Argosy Pictures Corporation. Includes logos, military training photographs, song lyrics from the the film "Fort Apache," and a collection of photographs collected as part of research for the film adaptation of the novel, "The Family." Also includes two negatives that correspond to the photographs. Materials dated 1918-1940s.

Dates: 1918-1940s

Argosy Pictures Corporation records

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 1849
Scope and Contents The Argosy Pictures Corporation records documents the operations of this independent motion picture company through its pre-war Argosy Corporation and post-war Argosy Pictures Corporation phases, spanning 1913 to 1958 (bulk 1939 to 1957). The records provide insight into the legal, financial, and tax aspects of film production, as well as the creative process of identifying story material and researching projects prior to production. Materials include internal and external correspondence;...
Dates: 1913-1958; Majority of material found within 1939-1957

Argosy Pictures Corporation records on personnel, 1937-1956

 Series
Identifier: MSS 1849 Series 6
Scope and Contents

Includes employee lists, agreements with craft guilds, contracts and contract digests with various writers, and correspondence and contracts with John Ford and Merian C. Cooper. The Cooper file includes the correspondence of a select committee of the Directors Guild with the House Un-American Activities Committee. Materials dated 1937-1956.

Dates: 1937-1956

Argosy Pictures Corporation records on produced films, 1933-1954

 Series
Identifier: MSS 1849 Series 13
Scope and Contents Contains information on all ten feature films produced by Argosy Pictures Corporation, although some films are better documented than others. "The Fugitive," "Fort Apache," "3 Godfathers," "Mighty Joe Young," "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon," and "Wagonmaster" are the better documented films, including script development, contracts, Production Code Administration correspondence, and location information. However, not all of the film files contain this information. Records not present include full...
Dates: 1933-1954

Argosy Pictures Corporation records on production agreements, 1939-1953

 Series
Identifier: MSS 1849 Series 9
Scope and Contents

Contains contracts and correspondence with various entities concerning the production and distribution of motion pictures. These are general agreements between Argosy and RKO, Republic Productions, United Artists, Walter Wanger Productions, and Technicolor Corporation. Additionally, there are other agreements between other companies which were used as models for the Argosy agreements. Picture specific documents are included in the individual film files. Materials dated 1939-1953.

Dates: 1939-1953

Additional filters:

Subject
Motion picture studios -- United States 26
Letters 25
Motion pictures -- Production and direction 17
Agreements 16
Motion pictures -- Distribution 12
Abstracts 7
Financial records 7
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.) 6
Memorandums 6
Motion pictures 6
Scripts (Documents) 6
Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences 5
Motion picture industry 5
Performing Arts 5
Photographs 5
Lists 4
Contracts 3
Legal instruments 3
Motion picture authorship 3
Notes 3
Budgets 2
Business enterprises 2
Drafts (Documents) 2
Minutes (Records) 2
Motion picture producers and directors 2
Motion picture producers and directors -- United States 2
Outlines 2
Publications 2
Reports 2
Research (Documents) 2
Stock certificates 2
Tax records 2
Tear sheets 2
Telegrams 2
3-D television 1
Account books 1
Administrative records 1
Articles of incorporation 1
Audiocassettes 1
Business records 1
By-laws 1
Compact discs 1
Copyright 1
Film criticism -- United States 1
Interviews 1
Long-playing records 1
Moab (Utah) 1
Moab (Utah) -- History 1
Monument Valley (Ariz. and Utah) 1
Motion picture actors and actresses 1
Motion picture actors and actresses -- Photographs 1
Motion picture actors and actresses -- Utah 1
Motion picture directors 1
Motion picture music -- United States -- History and criticism 1
Motion picture producers 1
Motion picture producers and directors -- Photographs 1
Motion picture producers and directors -- United States -- History 1
Motion pictures -- History 1
Motion pictures -- Production and direction -- Photographs 1
Motion pictures -- Setting and scenery 1
Motion pictures -- United States -- History 1
Negatives 1
Oral histories 1
Patents 1
Personal papers 1
Personnel records 1
Photocopies 1
Publicity photographs 1
Receipts (Acknowledgments) 1
Schedules (Time plans) 1
Scrapbooks 1
Screenplays 1
Short stories, American 1
Silent films 1
Transcripts 1
Western films -- Utah -- History and criticism -- Sources 1
Wide-screen processes (Cinematography) 1