The Golden Library Archives and Special Collections at Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU) has loaned items from the Leigh Brackett Collection to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in California. These materials will be featured in an upcoming exhibit called "Screenwriting: Takes on L.A. Noir."
Leigh Brackett, a screenwriter known for her work on films such as "Rio Bravo," "El Dorado," "Rio Lobo," "The Long Goodbye," and "The Empire Strikes Back," donated her professional papers to ENMU in the 1970s. The collection includes drafts, correspondence, contracts, and other documents related to her career. Among these is an original draft of what would become the screenplay for "The Empire Strikes Back." Brackett was a friend of Jack Williamson, a science fiction writer who was also an alumnus and professor at ENMU.
For this exhibit, the Academy Museum specifically requested materials connected to Brackett's writing process for "The Long Goodbye."
"It's a tremendous honor for the ENMU Golden Library Archives and Special Collections to have items on display at the prestigious Academy Museum," said Laura Wright, director of the Golden Library. "Our collection of science fiction materials truly has something for everyone and is open for public use."
The exhibit will take place in Los Angeles from December 13, 2025, through January 10, 2027. Additional details about the museum and exhibit can be found at www.academymuseum.org.
