The Barré Lyndon papers span the years 1930-1972 (bulk 1950s-1960s) and encompass 14 linear feet. The collection includes copies of most of Lyndon's screenplays, a fair sampling of his scripts for television, and a smattering of his stage plays. The dozen films represented cover a 16-year span and range from SUNDOWN (1941) to OMAR KHAYYAM (1957); there is no material on DARK INTRUDER (1965). Of special interest are the television scripts for two episodes of THE ALFRED HITCHCOCK HOUR, "Don't Look Behind You" and "The Sign of Satan." The stage files contain play scripts for several Lyndon theatrical productions. His three best-known plays, "The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse," "The Man in Half Moon Street," and "They Came by Night" are not represented by script material; however, theater programs are included for the trio. No information is available on the filmed adaptations of “The Man in Half Moon Street" and "They Came by Night" (there are clippings and reviews for the stage productions). The bulk of the collection is composed of Lyndon's often voluminous working papers for unrealized film, television, and stage projects, which provide a valuable insight into the writer's working methods. Among the unrealized film projects are scripts for BE STILL, MY LOVE (circa 1947), A DAY CALLED TOMORROW (circa 1954), THE HELL RAISERS (circa 1958), THE ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE STORY (circa 1949), and THE NIGHT HOUSE (intended for director John Brahm, circa 1963). Little correspondence is included, and there is not much in the way of working papers relating to Lyndon's produced screenplays.

Barré Lyndon (1896-1972), also known as Alfred Edgar, was born in London. Prior to coming to the United States, Lyndon had been a journalist, playwright, novelist, and short-story writer in England, with his best-known work being the 1936 play "The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse." In the early 1940s Lyndon established himself in Hollywood as a freelance screenwriter with SUNDOWN (1941). Shortly thereafter, THE MAN IN HALF MOON STREET (1944), based on his play, was filmed. Lyndon's best-known screenwriting credits include THE LODGER (1944), HANGOVER SQUARE (1945), THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH (1952), and THE WAR OF THE WORLDS (1953). Among his other films are SIGN OF THE PAGAN (1954), CONQUEST OF SPACE (1955), OMAR KHAYYAM (1957), and DARK INTRUDER (1965). In the 1960s he wrote episodes for such television series as THE ALFRED HITCHCOCK HOUR, DR. KILDARE, and THRILLER.