Oscar body given Hepburn effects

Hepburn was a double-act with Spencer Tracy on and off the screen

Photographs, letters and scrapbooks belonging to the late actress Katharine Hepburn have been donated to the organisers of the Oscar awards.

Hepburn, who won four Oscars during her 60-year career, meticulously stored items documenting her life.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said the collection ranks among the most comprehensive devoted to any single performer.

The legendary star of The African Queen died aged 96 in June 2003.

Film researchers

The collection, which was donated to the Academy's Margaret Herrick Library, includes thousands of photos and Hepburn's personal copies of scripts.

Hepburn's Oscar record has not yet been matched

Letters between Hepburn and numerous directors, including George Cukor, John Huston and David Lean, have also been donated.

There are also mementos of Hepburn's ties with Hollywood legends such as Cary Grant, Tennessee Williams, Laurence Olivier, John Ford, Peter O'Toole, Henry Fonda, Vivien Leigh, Stanley Kramer, John Wayne and the love of her life, Spencer Tracy.

Once catalogued, the Hepburn collection will be accessible to qualified researchers.

Hepburn, who was nominated for 12 Oscars during her career, starred in award-winning films including The Lion in Winter and Guess Who's Coming to Dinner.

But she was notoriously private and rarely even attended the Oscars ceremonies.