Series VII.A Time-Life Films: Television Division Records, 1939-1985, inclusive

Beverly Smith's Files focus on the production of the G.I. Diary series and concentrates heavily on the acquisition and use of externally acquired films and stills. Included in this subsubseries are notes, lists of film sequences, preliminary viewing notes, clippings, photocopies of books, shipping orders, film depository forms, lists of contacts, conference notes, first draft outlines, film overviews, production schedules, continuation sheets, veteran interview notes, reel lists, footage and scene lists, lists of captions, photographs, lists of footage, scripts, shot lists, film reproduction forms, shipping forms, negatives and transparencies, stock footage lists, delivery schedules, indexes of army motion pictures for public non-profits use, history center pamphlets, marine corps historical program newsletters, historical publication catalogs, and correspondence. The correspondence in this subsubseries discuss episode writers, footage, reviews and responses, filming plans, photographs, research, film use, veteran interview questions, expenses, lunch meetings, WWII combat art collections, consultants, film orders, and screenings. Early materials consist of clippings and photocopies.

The Producers' Files contain materials that were mainly created by Mary Freet, production secretary; Beverly (Bev) Smith, associate producer; Janis Klein, producer, and Arthur Holch, executive producer, who were all working on the G.I. Diary series. An array of Time-Life Television staff also worked on the production of the series and appear in the files. The focus of this subseries is on the recording, mixing, and editing work that went into creating and producing the G.I. Diary series as well as the casting process. Included in this subsubseries are notes, clippings, actor information and contact sheets, character break downs, commercial and promotion scripts, audition scripts, pilot scripts, music cue sheets, recording notes, episode synopses, citizen review panel reports, interview guidelines, expense reports, daily production and editing schedules, audition schedules, travel itineraries, program budget reports, lists of consultants, lists of editing rooms, television broadcast schedules, film delivery schedules, production progress reports, research summaries, and correspondence. The correspondence discuss audience responses to the show, audience demographics, scripts, voice over recordings, travel, title card edits, contact information, requests for film and stills, staff lists, job responsibilities, USO and Christmas shows, schedules, and consultants. Especially interesting are the daily schedules, which outline meetings the production staff needed to attend and production deadlines, and the audition scripts which provide details about who was being considered for doing voice over for the series.

The Letter Files contain materials from 1946 and 1973 to 1978. The bulk of the materials cover the period of 1977 to 1979. While it is unclear who these files belong to, Janis Klein, a producer for the series, and Beverly Smith, an associate producer for the series, were both involved in placing ads for veteran stories in military magazines and publications. It is unclear if they were also receiving and reviewing the letters as well. This subsubseries mainly contains correspondence from military veterans describing their experiences in World War II. The titles of the folders reflect the titles that the veterans or Time-Life Films Television staff assigned to the stories. There is a limited amount of other materials including clippings, notes, veteran response sheets, enlistment and separation forms from the United States military, and copies service member diaries.

The Research Files contain materials from 1939 to 1947 and 1955 to 1978 with the bulk of the materials covering the period of 1978. This subsubseries mainly contains materials used for background research when creating episodes of G.I. Diary. Materials from 1945 to 1973 are mainly photocopies of pages from books and clippings. Included in this subsubsubseries are photocopies of books, clippings, veteran newsletter with WW2 stories, episode overviews, pamphlets, speech transcripts, air force historical society directories, historical overviews, lists of articles, research reports, lists of soldiers, lists of possible narrators, document request forms, scripts, book catalogs, book order forms, lists of squadrons, dispatches about veterans, and correspondence. Correspondence discuss book production, veteran letters about military experience, background research, show ideas for season 2, requests for interviews, book overviews, and episode ideas.