Call Number:

Ms. Coll. 1159

Repository:

University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts

Extent:

2 boxes

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

Rod McKuen Miss America Pageant judge's binder, 1982, Ms. Coll. 1159, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania

Date:

1982 (inclusive)

Creator:

McKuen, Rod

Form:

Programs (documents), Photographs, and Manuscripts, American -- 20th century

Abstract:

A three-ring binder supplied to Rod McKuen as one of the judges for the 1982 Miss America Pageant. The contents of the binder provides an inside look at judge's evaluations of the Miss America contestants. Annotations with McKuen's opinions and criticisms are written on the biographical sheet for each contestant and on the judge's work sheets.

Born Rodney Marvin McKuen on January 29, 1933, in Oakland, California. He was a prolific and commercially successful American songwriter and poet of popular works. McKuen wrote Oscar-nominated songs for films and cover songs for other artists. He died in Beverly Hills, California on January 29, 2015.

This three-ring binder was supplied to Rod McKuen as one of the judges for the 1982 Miss America Pageant. McKuen's name and the pageant's emblem are printed in white on the cover. The binder provides an inside look at judge's evaluations of the Miss America contestants and contains all the information necessary for the judges during the pageant. These items include schedules, instructions for judges, work sheets, and each contestant's photograph along with a biographical sheet, referred to as a fact sheet. Each category of the competition is represented in the binder. Annotations with McKuen's opinions and criticisms are written on the biographical sheet for each contestant and appear to be related to the private interview portion of the competition. The fifty pageant contestants were divided into three units: Mu group, Alpha group, and Sigma group. The ten semi-finalists of the pageant were separated from the original groupings by McKuen and placed at the front of the binder following the judge's work sheets. The first three leaves in the binder are entitled "Judge's work sheet." Each work sheet represents one of the three contestant groups--Mu, Alpha, and Sigma--with five columns as follows: contestants, private interview, evening gown, talent, and swimsuit. McKuen's notes and comments are filled in for each category. Separate sheets with notes and numerical scores by McKuen for the finalists are included. The program for the Miss America Pageant's awards ball following the conclusion of the pageant is included. The binder is housed separately from its contents.