Christy Marx papers

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: 117.5436

Staff Only

The Christy Marx papers contain materials from 1978 through 2018, with the bulk of the papers dated between 1990 and 2002. This collection contains materials related to Christy Marx’s writings for books, comics, and animated and live action television shows, as well as game design. Physical material contents include game design documentation, correspondence, financial papers, writings, clippings, printed material, photographs, and digital media. Floppy disk contents include graphics, scripts, outlines, memos, correspondence, and other design documentation.

The Christy Marx papers have been arranged into five series, one of which has been divided into further subseries. This collection is housed in three archival document boxes, two oversized folders, and one additional archival media box. Digital files imaged from the floppy disks are accessible on-site at The Strong via access hard drive.

Dates

1978 - 2018
Majority of material found within 1990 - 2002

Creator

Marx, Christy (Person)

Language

The materials in this collection are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

Digital files migrated from the original 3.5” floppy disks in this collection are available to on-site researchers only.

Please see The Strong's Digital Games Files Access Policy here .

Conditions Governing Use

This collection is open for research use by staff of The Strong and by users of its library and archives. Though the donor has not transferred intellectual property rights (including, but not limited to any copyright, trademark, and associated rights therein) to The Strong, she has given permission for The Strong to make copies in all media for museum, educational, and research purposes.

Extent

2.5 Linear Feet (4 boxes)

964 Megabytes (Digital files) : Accessible on-site at The Strong.

Additional Description

Abstract

The Christy Marx papers compile the breadth of Marx’s authorship and design across many genres, including video games, books, comics, and both live action and animated television shows. The bulk of the materials are dated between 1994 and 2002.

Biographical Note

Christy Marx is an American scriptwriter, author, narrative designer, and game designer. She is best known for her work on various television series (including Jem, G.I. Joe, and Hypernauts), comic books, and computer adventure games.

Marx’s creative career spans several decades and originally stemmed from her obsession with comic books. She grew up in Danville, Illinois, devouring comic books. Her parents opposed her reading these publications due to the perceived bad influence of comics on juveniles during the 1950s; instead, Marx learned to write and draw her own comic books. After graduating high school, Marx attended the University of Illinois for one year, then moved to Los Angeles (but initially worked in medical insurance instead of the creative fields she aspired to join). Marx began taking night classes on screenplay writing at the Sherman Oaks Experimental College. Hoping to break into writing comics, she became a member of the Comic Art Professional Society. Marx got her first big break when she pitched Roy Thomas a story for Savage Sword of Conan. She soon wrote for animated and live action television programs. Marx then landed a role as head writer and developer of Jem and the Holograms, a popular 1980s animated series (and subsequent toy line). Marx also collaborated with fellow sci-fi lover Katherine Lawrence on several shows, including Mighty Max.

Marx’s first job in games was at Sierra On-Line in Oakhurst, California; she and her husband, Peter Ledger, were hired as a writer/artist team in 1988, with Marx doing the design and writing, Ledger creating the art. Employing her passion for fantasy and strong female characters, Marx wrote and designed Arthurian legend Conquests of Camelot: The Search for the Grail (1990) and Robin Hood story Conquests of the Longbow (1991). She won four game design awards for her adventure games. Marx left Sierra in 1991 to pursue other writing positions, and she freelanced for more than a decade. After joining Zynga in 2010 as Principal Game Designer and Narrative Designer, she incorporated creative stories into social games such as CastleVille Legends and FarmVille: Tropic Escape.

Marx is the author of Writing for Animation, Comics, and Games. As of 2021, Marx continues to work as a freelance writer and narrative designer.

System of Arrangement

Series I: Games, 1990-2002, 2010

Subseries A: Games with contributions from Marx, 1990-2002

Subseries B: Games judged by Marx, 2010

Series II: Animation/live action television, 1985-2004

Series III: Books/comic books, 1997-2001

Series IV: Publications, 1978-2003

Series V: Reference materials and miscellaneous disks, 1986-1997

Series VI: Digital files from floppy disks, 1985-2004

Custodial History

The Christy Marx papers were donated to The Strong in July 2017 as a gift from Christy Marx. The papers were accessioned by The Strong under Object ID 117.5436 and were received from Marx along with additional museum objects (under Activity ID 13239).

Related Materials

The Strong houses action figures, toys, dolls, board games, and ephemera from Christy Marx. The International Center for the History of Electronic Games also holds video games designed by Marx.

Processed by

Primary processing completed by Nicole Pease, April-May 2018; floppy disks imaged by Lauren Phillips, May 2018; additional assistance from Andrew Borman and Julia Novakovic, June-July 2018.