Television: “Mad Men” Archive Open for Research at Harry Ransom Center/University of Texas at Austin

From the Harry Ransom Center:

The archive of the television show Mad Men is open for research at the Harry Ransom Center at The University of Texas at Austin. Researchers will have access to the creation and production history of the series’ 92 hourlong episodes.

Acquired in January 2017, the archive documents the work of creator Matthew Weiner and his writing and production team behind the scenes of the acclaimed drama.

“Mad Men is a groundbreaking program, noteworthy for the high quality of its writing, acting and design, as well as for the insightful depiction of American culture through the lens of the past,” said Steve Wilson, the Ransom Center’s curator of film. “Through the Mad Men holdings, students and scholars will gain new insights into the creative decisions that shaped the series and a greater understanding of the evolution of motion pictures.”

Classes in the departments of journalism, English, undergraduate studies and advertising have already used the collection to study popular culture, nostalgia, advertising and the press.

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The collection encompasses scripts, outlines, notes, correspondence, memos, casting materials, costume sketches, costume inspiration boards and lookbooks, call sheets, shooting schedules, clearance reports, photographs, set plans, storyboards, clippings, maps, schedules, promotional materials, invitations, awards, proof pages, props and costumes.

Digital files acquired with the archive include administrative, art department and casting files, behind-the-scenes production photographs, and photographs and inventories of props.

Learn More, Read the Complete Launch Announcement

See Also: Acquisitions: “Don Draper and ‘Mad Men’ Archive Land at University of Texas” (Harry Ransom Center) (Jan. 12, 2017) 

2017 Video Harry Ransom Center

Filed under: Awards, Maps, News, Reports