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Finding Aid to the Melvin M. Belli papers, 1939-1989 (bulk 1955-1980) Bancroft Library staff The Bancroft Library University of California, Berkeley Berkeley, CA 94720-6000 Phone: (510) 642-6481 Fax: (510) 642-7589 Email: [email protected] URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/ © 2013 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

Finding Aid to the Melvin M. Belli papers, 1939-1989 (bulk 1955-1980)

BANC MSS 2012/185

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Finding Aid to the Melvin M. Belli papers, 1939-1989 (bulk 1955-1980) Collection number: BANC MSS 2012/185 The Bancroft Library University of California, Berkeley Berkeley, CA 94720-6000 Phone: (510) 642-6481 Fax: (510) 642-7589 Email: [email protected] URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/ Finding Aid Author(s): Bancroft Library staff Date Completed: September 2013 Finding Aid Encoded By: GenX © 2013 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

Collection Summary Collection Title: Melvin M. Belli papers Date (inclusive): 1939-1989 Date (bulk): 1955-1980 Collection Number: BANC MSS 2012/185 Creator: Belli, Melvin M. Extent: 12 cartons, 2 boxes, 1 oversize folder16 linear feet Repository: The Bancroft Library. University of California, Berkeley Berkeley, CA 94720-6000 Phone: (510) 642-6481 Fax: (510) 642-7589 Email: [email protected] URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/ Abstract: The Belli papers include the correspondence, working papers and personal papers of Melvin M. Belli. The materials have generally been kept in the order in which they were received and have been broken down into nine series following that arrangement: Correspondence; Case Files; Professional Files; Writings; Speaking Engagements; Television/Radio/Film; Press; Subject Files; and Personal. Languages Represented: Collection materials are in English Access Information Collection is open for research. Preferred Citation [Identification of item], Melvin M. Belli Papers, BANC MSS 2012/185, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley Indexing Terms The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog Belli, Melvin M., 1907-1996--Archives Lawyers -- California -- San Francisco. Lawyers -- United States. Trial practice--United States.

Finding Aid to the Melvin M. Belli papers, 1939-1989 (bulk 1955-1980)

BANC MSS 2012/185

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The Melvin M. Belli Papers were given to The Bancroft Library by Robert L. Lieff in 2012. No additions are expected. Processing Information Processed by Bancroft Library staff in 2013. Biography/Organization History Melvin Mouron Belli was born in Sonora, California in 1907. he was raised in Sonora and Stockton, graduating from Stockton High School in 1925. He went on to graduate from the University of California Berkeley and Boalt Law School, from which he graduated in 1933. Belli quickly gained noteriety in the field of personal injury law due in part to his dramatic courtroom style. Christened the "King of Torts" by Life Magazine in 1954, Belli was known for securing large monetary awards for his personal injury clients. Belli rose to national prominence in 1964 when he defended Jack Ruby in the murder of Lee Harvey Oswald. Other famous clients over the years of his practice included Lenny Bruce, Mario Savio, and Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker. Belli died in 1996 at the age of 88. Scope and Content Note The Belli papers include the correspondence, working papers and personal papers of Melvin M. Belli. The materials have generally been kept in the order in which they were received and have been broken down into nine series following that arrangement: Correspondence; Case Files; Professional Files; Writings; Speaking Engagements; Television/Radio/Film; Press; Subject Files; and Personal.

 

Series 1 Correspondence 1953-1982 Physical Description: cartons 1-2; carton 3, folders 1-24 Arrangement Arranged chronologically. Scope and Content Note Consists primarily of copies of outgoing correspondence and memos authored by secretarial staff under Belli's signature.

  Carton 1, folders 1-38 carton 2, folders 1-35

  Correspondence 1953-1973 Correspondence 1973-1976

carton 3, folders 1-24

Correspondence 1976-1982

 

Series 2 Case Files 1950-1974 Physical Description: carton 3, folders 25-31; cartons 4-7; carton 8, folders 1-4 Arrangement Arranged hierarchically. Scope and Content Note Contains correspondence and legal documents relating to Belli's first divorce (from Elizabeth B. Belli); his actions against Cutter Laboratories; actions by the American Bar Association against him and his responding lawsuits; actions by the California State Bar Association against him and his responding lawsuits; and his defense of Jack Ruby.

  carton 3, folders 25-31 carton 4, folders 1-9 carton 4, folders 10-18 carton 5, folders 1-18

  Elizabeth B. Belli v. Melvin M. Belli 1950-1960 Elizabeth B. Belli v. Melvin M. Belli 1950-1960 Cutter Labs 1955-1964 American Bar Association 1964-1968

Finding Aid to the Melvin M. Belli papers, 1939-1989 (bulk 1955-1980)

BANC MSS 2012/185

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Series 2Case Files 1950-1974

carton 6, folders 1-15 carton 7, folders 1-11

California State Bar v. Belli 1966-1974

carton 8, folder 1 carton 8, fodlers 2-4 carton 8, folders 5-13

California State Bar v. Belli 1966-1974 State of Texas v. Jack Rubenstein, alias Jack Ruby circa 1964

California State Bar v. Belli 1966-1974

Series 3 Professional Files 1956-1977 Arrangement Arranged alphabetically. Scope and Content Note Primarily consists of topical files regarding various professional organizations.

    carton 8, folder 5 carton 8, folders 6-10

Closed Cases 1970-1971 International Academy of Trial Lawyers 1959-1972

carton 8, folder 11 carton 8, folder 12

Kentucky State Bar Association 1958-1960 National Association of Claimants' Compensation Attorneys 1956

carton 8, folder 13  

Washington Office 1974-1977 Series 4 Writings 1939-1987 Physical Description: carton 8, folders 14-20; carton 9 Arrangement Arranged hierarchically. Scope and Content Note Contains correspondence, contracts, drafts and other materials regarding Belli's writings, including the books, Ready for the Plaintiff and Modern Trials.

  carton 8, folders 14-19

  Ready for the Plaintiff 1953-1970

carton 8, folder 20 carton 9, folders 1-6

Modern Trials 1954-1960 Modern Trials 1954-1960

carton carton carton carton carton carton carton carton carton carton carton carton carton

9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9,

folder 7 folder 8 folders 9 folder 10 folder 11 folder 12 folder 13 folder 14 folder 15 folder 16 folder 17 folder 18 folder 19

The Voice of Modern Trials 1959 Belli's Law 1987 Articles- correspondence The Assault on the Death Penalty undated Class Actions... The Small Claimant's Right to Justice 1970 Divorce- Love that Spouse! undated It's a Better World than Barnum's undated Law of Necessity 1939 Making Eight the Hard Way circa 1982 No Fault Article 1972 Pardon Article 1974 Punitive Damages Article 1977 Suing Fever Article 1977

carton carton carton carton carton carton carton carton

9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9,

folder folder folder folder folder folder folder folder

Virginia Law Weekly 1955 Book Reviews 1958-1959 Kemp's- Quantum of Damages in Personal Injury Cases 1955-1956 Killer: A Journal of Murder- review undated Potential Writings 1957-1958 Writings Pending 1955-1960 Literary General 1957-1958 Contracts and Correspondence 1969-1972

20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27

carton 9, folder 28

Central Book Company 1956-1959

Finding Aid to the Melvin M. Belli papers, 1939-1989 (bulk 1955-1980)

BANC MSS 2012/185

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Series 5Speaking Engagements 1953-1987

 

Series 5 Speaking Engagements 1953-1987 Physical Description: carton 10, folders 1-32 Arrangement Arranged chronologically. Scope and Content Note Includes drafts of speeches, correspondence regarding speaking engagements and other materials regarding requests for Belli to speak at various events.

    carton 10, folder 1 carton 10, folder 2 carton 10, folders 3-4 carton carton carton carton carton carton 10 carton 11 carton 12 carton 13 carton 14 carton 15 carton 16 carton 17 carton 18 carton 19 carton 20 carton 21 carton 22 carton 23

10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10,

folder folder folder folder folder folder

5 6 7 8 9

Speeches 1953 Medico- Legal Seminar 1958 Belli Lectures 1958 Yale University 1959 Canadian Tour 1961 Speeches 1970-1971 Jake Ehrlich Memorial 1972-1973 The Wonderful World of Torts 1973 Harvard Law School Forum 1975

10, folder

University of Guam 1975

10, folder

South Bay Press Club 1975-1976

10, folder

National College of Advocacy 1976

10, folder

Sacramento Barristers Club 1976

10, folder

International First Aid and Rescue Organization 1977

10, folder

Lectures 1973-1977

10, folder

San Diego Trial Lawyers Association 1975-1977

10, folder

Junior League of San Francisco 1977

10, folder

San Francisco Dental Forum 1977

10, folder

Ivy League Lectures 1977, 1980

10, folder

Mensa 1980

10, folder

Speaking Engagements 1982-1985

10, folder

Potential Lectures 1957-1958

carton 10, folders 24-32  

Belli Seminars 1960-1987 Series 6 Television/ Radio/ Film 1967-1985 Physical Description: carton 10, folders 33-34; carton 11, folders 1-7 Arrangement Arranged chronologically. Scope and Content Note Includes correspondence, contracts and other materials regarding television, film and radio appearances made by Belli.

 

 

Finding Aid to the Melvin M. Belli papers, 1939-1989 (bulk 1955-1980)

BANC MSS 2012/185

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Series 6Television/ Radio/ Film 1967-1985

carton 10, folder 33

Wild in the Streets 1967

carton 10, folder 34

KEMO-TV Belli Show 1968

carton 11, folders 1-2

KEMO-TV Belli Show 1968

carton carton carton carton

Film- Burton Moss Agency 1970 Television- Ashman 1974 CBS Pilot 1978 The Belli File 1981

11, 11, 11, 11,

folder folder folder folder

3 4 5 6

carton 11, folder 7  

The World According to Belli 1985 Series 7 Press 1954-1989 Physical Description: carton 11, folders 8-18 Arrangement Arranged chronologically. Scope and Content Note Includes various press clippings about Belli.

  carton 11, folder 8-18  

  Press 1954-1989 Series 8 Subject Files 1954-1980 Physical Description: carton 11, folders 19-35; carton 12, folders 1-7; box 2 Arrangement Arranged alphabetically.

  carton 19 carton 20 carton 21-22 carton 23 carton 24 carton 25 carton 26 carton 27 carton 28 carton 29

  11, folder

Advertising undated

11, folder

Ashman, Chuck 1974-1979

11, folders

Belli portrait 1960

11, folder

Bonanza 1959

11, folder

Celebrity Pumpkin Carve-in 1980

11, folder

Civilian Restriction of Military Criminal Jurisdiction undated

11, folder

Curtis, Tony 1961-1962

11, folder

Europe- Japan Trip 1974

11, folder

Federal Bar Association 1958-1959

11, folder

Germany Trip 1975

box 2 carton 11, folder 30 carton 11, folder 31

Habush-Stich Matter- VHS tape 1979 Haley, Alex- Belli Biography 1967-1970

box 2 carton 11, folder 32

Jensen Case- KGO Footage undated The Jonathan Club 1966

carton 11, folder 33

Jury Selection- Senate 1967

Insurance Broker undated

Finding Aid to the Melvin M. Belli papers, 1939-1989 (bulk 1955-1980)

BANC MSS 2012/185

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Series 8Subject Files 1954-1980

carton 11, folder 34 carton 11, folder 35

KQED Auction 1978

carton 1-3 carton carton carton

12, folders

Life and Limb 1955-1956

12, folder 4 12, folder 5 12, folder 6

Million Dollar Roundtable 1974 Mrs. America Pageant 1980 Publicity undated

carton 12, folder 7  

Life and Limb 1954-1956

World Trip 1957 Series 9 Personal 1954-1986 Physical Description: carton 12, folders 8-39; box 1; oversize folder 1 Arrangement Arranged hierarchically. Scope and Content Note The first part of this series consists of papers relating to the numerous parties hosted by Belli over the years, from his annual office Christmas Party, to cocktail parties during professional meetings and celebrations of personal milestones such as weddings and birthdays. Other materials regarding his personal life are organized alaphabetically by topic and include correspondence, photographs, Christmas cards and materials pertaining to his family.

    carton 12, folders 8-38 carton 12, folder 39 box box box box

1, 1, 1, 1,

folder folder folder folder

1 2 3 4-5

Parties 1968-1982 Appointment Diary 1980 Burglaries 1969-1970 Biographical File undated Calendar 26 March 1969 Christmas Cards

box 1, folder 6 box 1, folder 7 box 1, folder 8 box 1, folder 9 box 1, folder 10 box 1, folder 11 oversize-unit A, folder 1

King Ranch 1973-1975 Loans 1986 Personal Correspondence 1959 Toni Belli 1954-1955 Family 1978 Photographs undated Photographs undated

box 1, folder 12

Negatives undated

Finding Aid to the Melvin M. Belli papers, 1939-1989 (bulk 1955-1980)

BANC MSS 2012/185

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