Scope and Content Note
The Motion Picture Copyright Descriptions Collection, Class L, consists of forms, abstracts, plot summaries, dialogue and continuity scripts, press kits, publicity and other material, submitted for the purpose of enabling descriptive cataloging for moving picture photoplays registered with the United States Copyright Office under Class L from 1912-1977.
Prior to 1912, no separate category existed for motion pictures under United States copyright law, and claimants wishing to register films could only do so as photographs. Motion pictures were required to be deposited as photographic prints and deposited with the Copyright Office. These prints have since been preserved as The Paper Print Film Collection at the Library of Congress.
The Act of August 24, 1912 allowed for the separate registration of motion pictures. Two classes were establish: Class L for photoplays, and Class M for all other motion pictures. Class L, the subject of this finding aid, was used for most live-action fictional works. Class M included primarily nonfiction works such as documentaries, newsreels, sports films, educational and training films, and musical performances. It also included non-photoplay fictional works such as animated films and experimental artistic and technical films.
After 1912, registrants were required to submit both a physical copy and written descriptions of motion picture works to the United States Copyright Office. Because of the flammable nature of nitrate film stock, motion pictures were not permanently retained by the Library of Congress for many decades, but the descriptions were transferred to the Library and kept, forming the basis of this collection. And because so many films released during the nitrate era, which ended in 1951 with the introduction of safety film stock, are now considered "lost," the copyright descriptions are sometimes the best or only surviving record of a particular title.
The descriptions varied widely in form and quality, from one-sentence summaries, to fuller treatments, publicity materials, and full scripts. As the decades progressed, continuity and dialogue scripts tend to proliferate as the preferred form. As a result, the collection contains a robust sampling of screenplays and teleplays from the Golden Age of Hollywood, and the early years of television. No attempt has been made to provide details about the specific forms available for individual titles. Please consult a reference librarian in the Moving Image Research Center for further information.
Series I-III and VI list every film registered in their respective series, for which material exists. Note that for any given film, content may range from a basic registration form up to a full script.
Series IV-V and VII are described at the container level only. Please consult the sources listed in this finding aid's bibliography or contact a reference librarian in the Moving Image Research Center to determine the copyright registration number for a film to determine which box may contain description materials.
Series I, Class L, 1912-1929. Descriptive material for motion picture photoplays that were registered for copyright in the period 1912-1929. Motion picture photoplays in this period were given registration numbers with the prefix L and ranging from 1-25999. During this period the single letter L was used for all such works, whether published or unpublished. Researchers should be aware that latter day reference sources, particularly the U.S. Copyright Office's Catalogue of Copyright Entries Cumulative Series: Motion Pictures, 1912-1939, have retroactively reclassified motion pictures as either published (LP) or unpublished (LU); though not contemporary practice these prefixes are included in this finding aid for convenience. All works in this series, whether published or unpublished, can be found in the same numbered range. The extant material begins with entry no. LU 1.
Series II, Class L, 1929-1945. Descriptive material for motion picture photoplays that were registered for copyright in the period 1929-1945. Motion picture photoplays in this period were given registration numbers with the prefix L and ranging from 1-13711. During this period the single letter L was used for all such works, whether published or unpublished. Researchers should be aware that latter day reference sources, particularly the U.S. Copyright Office's Catalogue of Copyright Entries Cumulative Series: Motion Pictures, 1912-1939 and Catalogue of Copyright Entries Cumulative Series: Motion Pictures, 1940-1949, have retroactively reclassified motion pictures as either published (LP) or unpublished (LU); though not contemporary practice these prefixes are included in this finding aid for convenience. All works in this series, whether published or unpublished, can be found in the same numbered range. The extant material begins with entry no. LP 1.
Series III, Class L, 1946-1950. Descriptive material for motion picture photoplays that were registered for copyright in the period 1946-1950. Motion picture photoplays in this period were given registration numbers with the prefix L and ranging from 1-2973. During this period the single letter L was used for all such works until 1947, whether published or unpublished. Beginning in 1947, the U.S. Copyright Office began designating works in the semi-annual Catalogue of Copyright Entries with separate prefixes for published (LP) and unpublished (LU) works. Regardless, all works in Class L continued to be numbered in the same sequence and can be found in this series. Researchers should be aware that latter day reference sources, particularly the U.S. Copyright Office's Catalogue of Copyright Entries Cumulative Series: Motion Pictures, 1940-1949 and Catalogue of Copyright Entries Cumulative Series: Motion Pictures, 1950-1959, have retroactively reclassified motion pictures as either published (LP) or unpublished (LU); though not contemporary practice these prefixes are included in this finding aid for convenience. All works in this series, whether published or unpublished, can be found in the same numbered range. The extant material begins with entry no. LP 1.
Series IV, Class LP, 1950-1977. Descriptive material for published motion picture photoplays that were registered for copyright in the period 1950-1977. Published motion picture photoplays in this period were given registration numbers with the prefix LP and ranging from 1-51870. Beginning in 1966, foreign works were given the prefix LF. The extant material begins with entry no. LP 1.
Series V, Class LF, 1966-1977. Descriptive material for foreign motion picture photoplays that were registered for copyright in the period 1966-1977. Foreign motion picture photoplays in this period were given registration numbers with the prefix LF and ranging from 1-396. The extant material begins with entry no. LF 1.
Series VI, Class LFO, 1965-1977. Descriptive material for foreign motion picture photoplays that were deposited without fee in the period 1965-1977. Foreign motion picture photoplays in this period, for which the registration fee was waived, were given registration numbers with the prefix LFO and ranging from 1-8. The extant material begins with entry no. LFO-1.
Series VII. Class LU, 1950-1977. Descriptive material for unpublished motion picture photoplays that were registered for copyright in the period 1950-1977. Unpublished motion picture photoplays in this period were given registration numbers with the prefix LU and ranging from 2974-3852 and beyond. The numbering sequence is a continuation of the Class L series found in Series III. The extant material begins with entry no. LU 2974.