Collection context
Summary
- Creator:
- Plesur, Milton and University Archives
- Abstract:
- Research and course materials assembled by Professor Milton C. Plesur, Department of History, State University of New York at Buffalo on the history of the American movie industry from its beginnings to the 1980s.
- Extent:
- 21 Linear Feet and 14 cartons
- Language:
- English .
- Preferred citation:
[Description and date of item], Box/folder number, 22/6F/795, Milton C. Plesur Research and Course Material on the American Movie Industry, ca. 1970-1985, University Archives, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York.
Background
- Scope and Content:
Research and course materials assembled by Professor Milton C. Plesur, Department of History, State University of New York at Buffalo on the history of the American movie industry from its beginnings to the 1980s. These papers include reference files on movie actors and directors, with particular emphasis on personalities of the 1920s and 1930s, subject files and subject files used by Dr. Plesur in support of his research into the movie industry and by his students for course research. These reference files include articles from newspapers and magazines, primarily dating from the 1970s and 1980s, notes and student papers. Plesur also conducted oral history interviews in the 1970s with many movie actors and directors of the 1920s and 1930s. Transcripts of these interviews, as well as the original cassette recordings are included in these papers.
- Biographical / Historical:
Dr. Milton Plesur was born in Buffalo on April 15, 1927. He attended Buffalo State College where he received his Bachelor of Science in 1947, then his Masters at the University of Buffalo in February of 1949 and his Ph.D. at the University of Rochester in June 1954. Plesur started his teaching career while pursuing his Masters and Ph.D. He taught in Buffalo Public Schools from 1949 to 1954 and Niagara Falls, N.Y. Public Schools from 1953 to 1954. He began teaching at the University of Buffalo in 1949, when he became a graduate assistant in History. From 1950 until 1952, Plesur was a teaching fellow in History at the University of Rochester. At the University at Buffalo Dr. Plesur held the positions of lecturer, assistant professor, associate professor, and professor teaching in the fields of history, education, history of education with a focus in social studies education, and general studies. Dr. Plesur's tenure at UB spanned from 1955 until his retirement in 1987.
Dr. Plesur's research focused on mid-19th century and mid-20th century America, encompassing political affairs, Judaism in America, American Imperialism and foreign affairs, and popular culture, especially in film.
In addition to his teaching duties at the University at Buffalo, Plesur held visiting professorships at the University of Michigan (1970), University of Maine (1967), and Indiana University (1965) during their summer classes. Plesur also held several non-teaching positions that included Doctoral Advisor in the Education, History, Senior Honors, etc. Dr. Plesur served on the M.A. and Ph.D. Examination Boards. He made approximately 150 public appearances throughout the years 1956 to 1974, speaking at local Western New York and out of state forums, schools, panels, radio shows, synagogues, and even being featured in The Village Voice, The SUNY/Buffalo Report, and the Daily Mirror in London.
- Acquisition information:
- The Milton C. Plesur papers was gifted to University Archives in 1991 as accession 91-003.
- Processing information:
Processed by Archives staff, circa 1992; finding aid encoded by Sarah Cogley, November 2018.
- Arrangement:
The collection is arranged four series: Box 1-6 Film Personalities and Directors; Box 7-12 Movie Reference Material; Box 13-14 Interviews by Milton Plesur, 1974-1984; Oral History Recordings (268 cassette tapes).
- Accruals:
No further accruals are expected.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed Terms
Access
- RESTRICTIONS:
-
The Plesur papers are open to researchers. However, the University Archives does not hold the copyright to the oral history interviews or the student papers in the Plesur Papers. These may not be copied, quoted or reproduced without the permission of the owner(s) of the literary copyright. Due to condition, audiocassettes cannot be played.
The Plesur papers are open to researchers. However, the University Archives does not hold the copyright to the oral history interviews in the Plesur Papers. These may not be copied, quoted or reproduced without the permission of the owner(s) of the literary copyright. The original format audiotape recordings are restricted from playback; digitized mp3 files are open to researchers. Please note: This collection is stored off-site. Access to collection requires 3 business days' notice. Contact lib-archives@buffalo.edu to schedule an appointment.
Please note: This collection is stored off-site. Access to collection requires 3 business days' notice. Contact lib-archives@buffalo.edu to schedule an appointment.
- TERMS OF ACCESS:
-
Copyright is held by The State University of New York at Buffalo, University Archives. Copyright in other papers in the collection may be held by their authors, or the authors' heirs or assigns. Researchers must obtain the written permission of the holder(s) of copyright and the University Archives before publishing quotations from materials in the collection. Most papers may be copied in accordance with the library's usual procedures unless otherwise specified.
- PREFERRED CITATION:
-
[Description and date of item], Box/folder number, 22/6F/795, Milton C. Plesur Research and Course Material on the American Movie Industry, ca. 1970-1985, University Archives, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York.
- LOCATION OF THIS COLLECTION:
- CONTACT:
-
716-645-2916lib-archives@buffalo.edu