Photographs

File — Box: 2562.002, Folder: 1

Scope and Contents

From the Collection: The collection contains two scrapbooks created by and featuring Mary Dees, a native of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Hollywood actress of the 1930s. The larger scrapbook of photos and newspaper clippings is related to Dees' work in the Hollywood movie Saratoga. Because of her striking resemblance to Jean Harlow, Dees had been her stand-in and double even before the famous actress' death. When Harlow died before finishing Saratoga, Dees filled in to complete the film in her place. There is also a videocassette of the movie, Saratoga.

The smaller scrapbook of photos and newspaper clippings is related to Mary Dees' appearance in the Australian stage production of The Women. She appeared with Irene Purcell, Marjorie Crossland, Arden Young, Doris Packer, Christine Maple, Jessica Rogers, Suzanne Jackson, and Debbie Dare. The collection also has twenty photographs, newspaper clippings and playbills, and a photocopy of the 2004 death certificate. The photographs are mainly 8" x 10" souvenir photos from various nightclubs in New York City, including the Versailles, the Stork Club, the Embassy, and the Copacabana, although there are several studio portraits and candids included. The newspaper articles deal mainly with Dees' career after her work on Saratoga. The death certificate indicates she was 93 when she died in West Palm Beach, Florida, of respiratory arrest due to heart disease, on 4 August 2004.

Dates

1933-2004

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. 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. Due to the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access to certain materials may require additional advance notice.