The Motion Picture Association of America Hollywood Office files span the years 1932-1962 and encompass 27 linear feet. The collection consists of administrative files created by the Hollywood branch of the MPAA.

The subject files have five subseries, the first of which are the Association of Motion Picture Producers records. They include meeting agendas, minutes and correspondence with organizations and committees such as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Hollywood Armed Services Committee. Also included is one file of personal correspondence for Joseph and Mary Breen.

The complaint files subseries consists of voluminous correspondence from the general public, exhibitors and civic, professional and business organizations expressing concern over specific films such as DUEL IN THE SUN (1946) and FOREVER AMBER (1947), and allegedly offensive subjects such as drinking and smoking. Scattered throughout are preprinted response cards which were part of a nationwide anti-drinking campaign. Also in this subseries are several files of carbon copy response letters.

The Hollywood Coordinating Committee subseries documents requests from government and civilian agencies to publicize the war effort with personal and radio appearances by members of the Hollywood community, and contains correspondence, approval forms and several letters from actors regarding availability. Checks and vouchers for operating expenses are found here.

Notable material in the Hollywood Victory Committee subseries are records of appearances by requesting organization and participating entertainer. The volunteer files contain hundreds of typed cards for individual entertainers detailing appearances at home and abroad. The cards also denote race, occupation and address.

The bulk of the Production Code Administration subseries files are organized by production company and consist of correspondence, submittal forms and receipts for hundreds of films. Financial files are also found here.

The Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America (MPPDA) was formed in 1922, primarily to defend the film industry against censorship. The first president was Will Hays, who embarked on a vigorous campaign to improve the image of the motion picture industry. In 1930, Hays introduced the Production Code, a document designed to help the industry regulate itself by following certain moral principles and guidelines. There was no enforcement mechanism in place, however, and the studios often chose to ignore the Production Code staff’s advice and admonitions, leading to the release of many films that raised the ire of local censors and moral watchdogs. In 1934, after the newly formed Legion of Decency threatened to lead a boycott against Hollywood movies, Hays chose Joseph Breen to oversee the administration of the Code. Under Breen, the studios were required to submit all screenplays for approval and the Code was much more strictly enforced. In addition, all of the major motion picture exhibitors agreed that they would only screen films that had received a Production Code seal of approval from the MPPDA, making it much more difficult to release a film that had not been scrutinized by Breen and his staff. In 1946, the organization changed its name to the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and Hays retired and was succeeded by Eric Johnston. Although the Production Code went through several challenges and revisions over the years, it remained in force until November 1, 1968, when it was superseded by the MPAA ratings system, which is still in use today.