Journey where no man has gone before, when UCLA Library Performing Arts Special Collections curator Peggy Alexander presents highlights from UCLA’s Gene Roddenberry Star Trek Collection on Wednesday, March 11, noon-1 p.m. in the Charles E. Young Research Library presentation room.
Donated to the UCLA Library decades ago by “Star Trek” creator and producer Gene Roddenberry, the collection features story outlines, treatments and various drafts of scripts; shooting schedules; cast lists; title sheets; photographic lists; budget reports; and memoranda from the famed TV show. Yet to this day, Alexander noted, very few fans or scholars have delved into this treasure trove of primary sources documenting a series that continues to influence science fiction TV programs and movies.
The contents reveal the personalities of many of those responsible for making the show come to life, including Roddenberry and many of the main characters that viewers have come to know so well, including Mr. Spock, Captain Kirk and Lieutenant Uhura. Fan mail in the collection shows how women in particular reacted to the half-human, half-Vulcan Mr. Spock. Other materials disclose how — in an era that predated digitally enhanced special effects — characters were “beamed” through space to alien planets. And correspondence brings to light how the censors of the day sought to spare contemporary viewers from scenes that they deemed sexually explicit. See a listing of items in the collection on this catalog page at the Online Archive of California.
Seating at the event is limited, so an RSVP is required; email UCLA Library Development at rsvp@library.ucla.edu. You're welcome to bring your lunch; coffee and cookies will be served.
