The ultra rare March 2, 1949 AFRA contract between Marilyn Monroe and the William Morris agency in Beverly Hills, California.

She signed very few contracts in her lifetime, one in 1946, her rookie contract, and then this one, which was covered by four-parts. She signed each part personally, and then each part was to be offered to her, the agent and the agency. The other contracts she signed in her career were with movie studios as a contracted artist with William Morris. This contract here was the one that propelled her into stardom.

Acquired from the “100 Years of Marilyn” auction at Julien’s in Beverly Hills.

A two-page double-sided document; dated “2nd March 1949” executed in “Beverly Hills, California” outlining a “Standard AFRA Exclusive Agency” agreement with the then twenty-two year-old starlet, specifying that in addition to four agents, four others would be associated with her career including “William Morris / Abe Lastfogel / John Hyde / Nat Lefkowitz” beautifully signed in green fountain pen ink on March 9, 1949, on the last page “Marilyn Monroe” in a neat and legible fashion as she was still getting used to her new name; original fold marks evident. Arguably, this contract was the true start of Marilyn’s ascent to major Hollywood success; powerhouse agent Johnny Hyde became her professional (and personal) mentor and protector, ensuring that her career was on the right path.