A large archive of correspondence related to the Russian-American screenwriter Sonya Levien, including approximately 50 Typed Letters Signed and 9 Autograph Letters Signed ("Sonya"), approximately 75 pp, 12mo to 8vo, mostly Los Angeles, 1949-58, on Metro Goldwyn Mayer, George Sidney Productions, and personal letterhead, most to Joseph and Mary Levine, regarding her work for the studios on films such as The Student Prince and The Merry Widow, Oklahoma, Bhowani Junction, and numerous others; news of her husband and children; travel; day to day life; etc. together with incoming correspondence from the Levines, from her son Serge, and her daughter Tamara, as well typed letters signed from her husband Carl Hovey and from Serge, also mostly to the Levines, approximately 75 pp.

Sonya Levien was one of the most prolific screenwriters in Hollywood in her day, credited with working on over seventy films from 1921 to 1960, including State Fair, The Merry Widow, and Oklahoma! She won an Academy Award in 1955 for her screenplay of Interrupted Melody. The bulk of the present correspondence is to Joseph Levine—musical director of the Philadelphia Chamber Opera Society—and his wife Mary, both close friends of Sonya and her husband Carl Hovey.