Ken Darby papers
Scope and Contents
Contains a large collection of recorded audio materials, including Ken Darby's personal collection of 12" and 7" records; Musical scores for film soundtracks and personal compositions; cassette tape duplicates of the work of J. C. Thomas; scrap books and photograph albums,; correspondence; published literature; collection of award nomination and recognition certificates; three Academy Award statuettes; programs, books and magazines; a record player and electronic composing aid; and a videocassette of Ken Darby's eulogy.
Dates
- 1929-1992
Creator
- Darby, Ken (creator, Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Open for public research.
Conditions Governing Use
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances. Permission to publish material from Ken Darby papers must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Board of Curators.
Biographical History
Ken Darby (1909-1992) was a vocal performer, coach, supervisor, arranger, condutor, and musical scorer. He worked on many motion pictures and composed "Love Me Tender" and acted as Elvis Presley's vocal coach.
Kenneth Lorin Darby (1909-1992) was born in Hebron, Nebraska. He was a vocal performer, coach, supervisor, arranger, conductor and musical scorer for many motion pictures. In 1929, he became a member of the vocal group The King's Men, who performed on the radio show "Fibber McGee and Molly" and in many motion pictures. He worked with Disney as a vocal director and song writer, and with 20th Century Fox as a studio associate to Alfred Newman. He composed "Love Me Tender" and acted as vocal coach to Elvis Presley. He was the author of Hollywood Holyland and worked on many of the most popular films of the 1940s and 1950s. These included: The Robe, The Greatest Story Ever Told, and South Pacific, winning Academy Awards for Camelot, The King and I, and Porgy and Bess.
Extent
6 boxes (3 linear ft.)
2 oversize boxes (2 linear ft.)
24 cartons (24 linear ft.)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Contains a large collection of recorded audio materials, including Ken Darby's personal collection of 12" and 7" records; musical scores for film soundtracks and personal compositions; cassette tape duplicates of the work of J. C. Thomas; scrapbooks and photograph albums, some autographed; correspondence; published literature written by or about Ken Darby, including the unexpurgated original manuscript for Hollywood Holyland; collection of award nomination and recognition certificates, including those from The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; three Academy Award statuettes for Camelot, Porgy and Bess, and The King and I; programs, books and magazines concerning the films and people associated with Ken Darby; record player and electronic composing aid; videocassette of Ken Darby's eulogy. In separate collection: the score of "Man of Galilee:" A Symphonic Cantata. (MSS SC 2723).
Other Finding Aids
Item-level inventory available online. http://files.lib.byu.edu/ead/XML/MSS3337.xml
Custodial History
Bequeathed in Ken Darby's will after the time of his death in 1992.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated; 1992.
Appraisal
Arts and Communications.
Processing Information
Processed; Elizabeth West; October 2006.
- Audiotapes
- Awards
- Composers -- United States -- Archives
- Darby, Ken -- Archives
- Hebron (Neb.)
- Letters
- Long-playing records
- Motion picture music
- Motion picture music -- United States -- History and criticism
- Motion pictures
- Music -- History and criticism -- 20th century
- Photographs
- Programs
- Sound recordings
- Title
- Register of Ken Darby papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Elizabeth West
- Date
- October 2006
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English in Latin script.
- Sponsor
- Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant, 2007-2008
- Carton: 1 (Mixed Materials)
- Carton: 2 (Mixed Materials)
- Carton: 3 (Mixed Materials)
- Carton: 4 (Mixed Materials)
- Carton: 5 (Mixed Materials)
- Carton: 6 (Mixed Materials)
- Carton: 7 (Mixed Materials)
- Carton: 8 (Mixed Materials)
- Carton: 9 (Mixed Materials)
- Carton: 10 (Mixed Materials)
- Carton: 11 (Mixed Materials)
- Carton: 12 (Mixed Materials)
- Carton: 13 (Mixed Materials)
- Carton: 14 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 15 (Mixed Materials)
- Carton: 16 (Mixed Materials)
- Carton: 17 (Mixed Materials)
- Carton: 18 (Mixed Materials)
- Carton: 19 (Mixed Materials)
- Object: 20 (Mixed Materials)
- oversize: 21 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 22 (Mixed Materials)
- Carton: 23 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 24 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 25 (Mixed Materials)
- Carton: 26 (Mixed Materials)
- Carton: 27 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 28 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 29 (Mixed Materials)
Repository Details
Part of the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Repository
1130 HBLL
Brigham Young University
Provo Utah 84602 United States