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Collection Number: 04950

Collection Title: Jeff Fields Papers, 1953-1990 (bulk 1964-1980)

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This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in our reading room, and not digitally available through the World Wide Web. See the Duplication Policy section for more information.


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Size 7.0 feet of linear shelf space (approximately 1200 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 Also included are letters, chiefly between Fields and agents and magazine editors regarding an unpublished second book and short stories submitted for publication, and other writings by Fields, mostly class assignments from the University of North Carolina at Chapel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.
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Restrictions to Access
Use of audio or moving image materials may require production of listening or viewing copies.
This collection contains additional materials that are not available for immediate or same day access. Please contact Research and Instructional Service staff at wilsonlibrary@unc.edu to discuss options for consulting these materials.
Copyright Notice
Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], in the Jeff Fields Papers #04950, Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Provenance
Received from Jeff Fields of Chamblee, Ga., in September 1998 (Acc. 98207).
Sensitive Materials Statement
Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, the North Carolina Public Records Act (N.C.G.S. § 132 1 et seq.), and Article 7 of the North Carolina State Personnel Act (Privacy of State Employee Personnel Records, N.C.G.S. § 126-22 et seq.). Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill assumes no responsibility.
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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subject Headings

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.

Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Biographical Information

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.

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Scope and Content

Chiefly 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.

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Contents list

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series Quick Links

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 1. A Cry of Angels, 1964-1990 and undated.

About 900 items.

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subseries 1.1. Correspondence and Related Items, 1965-1980.

About 800 items.

Correspondence 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 1

Folder 2

Agent and publisher, 1965-1978

Folder 3

A Cry of Angels: Foreign rights, 1974-1979

Folder 4-8

Folder 4

Folder 5

Folder 6

Folder 7

Folder 8

A Cry of Angels: Movie, 1974-1980

Folder 9-11

Folder 9

Folder 10

Folder 11

Correspondence, 1973-1978

Folder 12

Contracts

Folder 13

Publicity and biography

Folder 14-16

Folder 14

Folder 15

Folder 16

Reader response, 1973-1978

Folder 17-18

Folder 17

Folder 18

Reviews

Folder 19-20

Folder 19

Folder 20

Speeches and public appearances

Folder 21-22

Folder 21

Folder 22

Writers Guild of America

Folder 23

Writing income

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subseries 1.2. Writings, 1964-1990.

About 100 items.

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 24

Folder 25

Folder 26

Folder 27

Journals, 1964-1985

Folder 28

Research materials

Folder 29-30

Folder 29

Folder 30

Notes and outline

Folder 31-81

Folder 31

Folder 32

Folder 33

Folder 34

Folder 35

Folder 36

Folder 37

Folder 38

Folder 39

Folder 40

Folder 41

Folder 42

Folder 43

Folder 44

Folder 45

Folder 46

Folder 47

Folder 48

Folder 49

Folder 50

Folder 51

Folder 52

Folder 53

Folder 54

Folder 55

Folder 56

Folder 57

Folder 58

Folder 59

Folder 60

Folder 61

Folder 62

Folder 63

Folder 64

Folder 65

Folder 66

Folder 67

Folder 68

Folder 69

Folder 70

Folder 71

Folder 72

Folder 73

Folder 74

Folder 75

Folder 76

Folder 77

Folder 78

Folder 79

Folder 80

Folder 81

Original draft

Folder 82-89

Folder 82

Folder 83

Folder 84

Folder 85

Folder 86

Folder 87

Folder 88

Folder 89

Original draft: Alternate chapters and scenes

Folder 90-92

Folder 90

Folder 91

Folder 92

Original draft I, II, IV

Folder 93-118

Folder 93

Folder 94

Folder 95

Folder 96

Folder 97

Folder 98

Folder 99

Folder 100

Folder 101

Folder 102

Folder 103

Folder 104

Folder 105

Folder 106

Folder 107

Folder 108

Folder 109

Folder 110

Folder 111

Folder 112

Folder 113

Folder 114

Folder 115

Folder 116

Folder 117

Folder 118

Draft

Folder 119-138

Folder 119

Folder 120

Folder 121

Folder 122

Folder 123

Folder 124

Folder 125

Folder 126

Folder 127

Folder 128

Folder 129

Folder 130

Folder 131

Folder 132

Folder 133

Folder 134

Folder 135

Folder 136

Folder 137

Folder 138

Proofs

Folder 139-150

Folder 139

Folder 140

Folder 141

Folder 142

Folder 143

Folder 144

Folder 145

Folder 146

Folder 147

Folder 148

Folder 149

Folder 150

Screenplay

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 2. Other Papers, 1953-1987.

About 250 items.

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subseries 2.1. Correspondence, 1968-1987.

About 150 items.

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 154

Folder 155

Second book, 1979-1987

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subseries 2.2. Writings, 1953-1980 and undated.

About 100 items.

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 157

Folder 158

Folder 159

Folder 160

Folder 161

Folder 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 172

Folder 173

Miscellaneous, 1966-1980

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 3. Audiovisual Materials, 1970-1974 and undated.

About 200 items.

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.

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subseries 3.1. Photographs, 1973-1974 and undated.

About 150 items.

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

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subseries 3.2. Audiotapes, 1974.

2 items.

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

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subseries 3.3. Films, 1970-1972 and undated.

22 items.

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.

Film F-4950/1

Cracker Barrel: "Zippy"

Film F-4950/2

Jeff and Pat and Sunday Night: Printer head originals, A Roll, 12 January 1972

Film F-4950/3

Jeff and Pat and Sunday Night: Printer head originals, B Roll, 12 January 1972

Film F-4950/4

Jeff and Pat and Sunday Night: Sound printer head, 14 January 1972

Film F-4950/5

Jeff and Pat and Sunday Night: Clown, 26 January 1972

Film F-4950/6

Jeff and Pat and Sunday Night: Clown, 26 January 1972

Film F-4950/7

Jeff and Pat and Sunday Night: Ives and Jeff and Pat, Originals, A Roll

Film F-4950/8

Jeff and Pat and Sunday Night: Ives and Jeff and Pat, Originals, B Roll

Film F-4950/9

Jeff and Pat and Sunday Night: Ives and Jeff and Pat, Originals, C Roll

Film F-4950/10

Jeff and Pat and Sunday Night: Close

Film F-4950/11

Jeff and Pat and Sunday Night: Close

Film F-4950/12

Jeff and Pat and Sunday Night: Original work printouts and trims

Film F-4950/13

Jeff and Pat and Sunday Night: Original work printouts and trims

Film F-4950/14

Jeff and Pat and Sunday Night: Original work printouts and trims

Film F-4950/15

Jeff and Pat and Sunday Night: Promo

Film F-4950/16

Jeff and Pat and Sunday Night: Promo

Film F-4950/17

Jeff and Pat and Sunday Night: Promo

Film F-4950/18

Jeff and Pat and Sunday Night: Promo

Film F-4950/19

Jeff and Pat and Sunday Night: Promo

Film F-4950/20

Jeff and Pat and Sunday Night: Promo

Film F-4950/21

Mule Train, 7 September 1970

Film F-4950/22

Agent-Fields

Film F-4950/23

Kids/playground

Film F-4950/24

Parachuting out-takes

Film F-4950/25

Singers, 17 April 1972

Film F-4950/26

Sound "A" wind pos printer tail

Film F-4950/27

Zoo

Film F-4950/28

unidentified motion picture film

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subseries 3.4. Videotapes, 1970-1973 and undated.

9 items.

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

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Items Separated

Photographs (P-4950)

Audiotapes (T-4950/1-2)

Films (F-4950/1-22)

Videotapes (VT-4950/1-9)

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