During the Cold War, the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) conducted investigations into potential communist activity. While investigating the motion picture industry, ten screenwriters, producers, and directors, deemed the “Hollywood Ten,” took a defiant stand against HUAC and jeopardized their careers.
The Hollywood Ten were jailed for contempt of Congress. Each sued his employer for breach of contract from prison.
This case file is a result of the legal battle that ensued for one of the ten men, Dalton Trumbo. The selected documents include an introduction to the case, a letter accusing Trumbo of conduct unbecoming, newspaper clippings that reveal public reactions, a political cartoon, and letters and telegrams from various organizations both in support of and in opposition to the HUAC’s judgment.
Included are pages 1-7, 48, 707-708, 756, 1190, 1208, 1230, and 1237. The entire case file can be found in the National Archives online catalog.
