William J. Hughes Papers MC 129
MC 129: Guide to the William J. Hughes PapersJames C. Scott
Sacramento Public Library
2024
Contributing Institution:
Sacramento Public Library
email: sacroom@saclibrary.org
phone: (916) 264-2795
Title: MC 129: Guide to the William J. Hughes Papers
Identifier/Call Number: MC 129
Identifier/Call Number: /repositories/31/resources/1277
Physical Description:
1 Linear Feet
1 acid-free box
Date (inclusive): 1986 to 2024
Abstract: Collection contains essays, poetry, editorial letters, and other written items – created between 1986 and 2024 – by Sacramento
writer William J. Hughes.
Language of Material:
English
.
William J. Hughes was born on July 19, 1946, in Rockville Center, New York, and grew up in East Rockaway, Long Island, New
York. He went on to graduate from East Rockaway High School in 1964. He joined the United State Marines in August of the same
year and was assigned to the First Marine Division. He served in Viet Nam in 1966 and 1967 in Quang Tri Province, Camp Carroll,
and Danang. His highest rank was Sergeant. Upon returning to New York, he worked as a police officer in Nassau County and
then entered college, graduating from the State University of New York at Stonybrook with a degree in American Literature
in 1974. From there, he came west to Yellowstone National Park, where he eventually became a ranger. He also spent time at
Everglades National Park. A friendship with a burgeoning politician brought him further west to California and Sacramento.
By the early 1980s, Hughes served as a staffer on his friend's staff at the State Capitol. He eventually served as a tour
guide within a restored Capitol building. Soon after that, he transitioned into writing full time, using his experiences from
East Rockaway to I Corps as influences. Major influences on his writing of short stories, plays, poems, and books are Jack
London, Emily Dickenson, Ernest Hemingway, Thomas McGuane, and Tom Wolfe.
Most of Hughes's writing falls under the umbrella of his American Mural series, a personal interpretation of the American
saga – history, culture, fame, memory, and other compelling topics. Day-to-Day Life in Sacramento, Yellowstone National Park,
Spanish Civil War, the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, Baseball, James Dean, the Oscars, and Hollywood acting scene are all recurring
themes in his writing. He adds that - within his poetic work - "the title is the kiss and hug and the poem is the love."
[Identification of item], William J. Hughes Papers, MC 129, Sacramento Room, Sacramento Public Library, Sacramento, California.
The collection is divided into three series: I. Essays; II. Poetry; and III. Miscellaneous. Series I is a compilation of both
fiction and non-fiction writing, distilled into short stories or works that take on the characteristics of new journalism.
Series II is the collection of poetic anthologies that have the look and rough timing of haiku but, to Hughes, are more reflective
of his own style of rhyme. The final series is composed of a miscellany of items relative to Hughes's life in Sacramento.
All requests to publish or quote from private collections held by the Sacramento Public Library must be submitted in writing
to sacroom@saclibrary.org. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Sacramento Public Library as the owner of
the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained
by the patron. No permission is necessary to publish or quote from public records.
Series I. Essays /repositories/31/archival_objects/129836
Material Specific Details:
Folder 1. City of Angeles; Marfa, TX, James Dean and Giant; Country Music; Jackson Pollock's Studio and Storm King Gallery (West Point).
Folder 2. Colony Tennis; The Flight of the Phoenix: Yellowstone After the Fires (1985); Rave On (Buddy Holly); The Angels Flight – Los Angeles (Bunker Hill funicular).
Folder 3. U.S. Open (Golf); New York, New York (following the path of Benedict Arnold).
Folder 4. The Getty; the Apple's Pie (New York); To Slough Creek (Yellowstone); Waveland Avenue (Wrigley Creek).
Folder 5. Tennis Hall of Fame (Newport, Rhode Island); James Dean and the Matador (personal experience giving James Dean materials to matador).
Folder 6. My 30th Reunion.
Folder 7. Dakota and the Doors (Listening to the Doors in the Badlands of Dakota).
Folder 8. The Morrison Hotel (Jim Morrison and the Doors); James Dean; Buddy (Holly) and Will (Rogers).
Folder 9. The Oscars; Out There (with Truman Capote in Kansas); National Indian Museum.
Folder 10. Jim (a play); At F and Poe; In the Wake of (Battle of Wake Island).
Folder 11. The Oscars (2007); Land Mine – Be Careful When You Look for Fiction; Dog Tags – Dog's Best Friend; Foster's Bighorn – Rio Vista – Head Hunter; Granada – Death of a Poet; Field of Dreams – Iowa; Twin Towers – Lovers Leap; Perception of the Doors – John Densmore L.A.
Folder 12. Pebble Beach – America Dream; Oscars – Again (2010); Indian Agent – Say it Ain't So in the Spirit of Geronimo; James Dean – Day Trip; James Dean – Torero – for Aficionados de Los Angeles; City Surf – More Los Angeles; Musicle (sic) Chairs – Albums I Prefer; Oscars (2011) – New and Improved; Tower Café – My Tribute; Smoke – Tower Pipes and Cigars, 45 Years in Business; Chuck Yeager – the Right Stuff; L.A. Woman – the Remains of the Doors and More; Oscars (2012) – Another Envelope Please.
Folders 13, 13.1, 13.2. Life and Death – the Sacrifice to Save the Earth; Hearing Footsteps – Ambush, Vietnam; Dishonor Before Death – A Patrol, A Truth, Vietnam; As Not – Welcome to Political Reality; War of Words – Running into Vietnam; A Winter's Tale – A World War II Idyll; A Good Couple – In Love, In Yellowstone; Blood Brothers – the Beginnings of the Bullfight; A Cock Crows – Denial in Crunch Time; It's Inevitable – War IS Hell; An Enchanted Evening – Ahh, South Pacific; Paris in an American – My Night in Residence in Shakespeare and Co., in Paris; A Place of Your Own – The Right Type of Coffee in the Right Place; My Find Farewell – So Long to the Suttertown News.
Folder 1. City of Angeles; Marfa, TX, James Dean and Giant; Country Music; Jackson Pollock's Studio and Storm King Gallery (West Point).
Folder 2. Colony Tennis; The Flight of the Phoenix: Yellowstone After the Fires (1985); Rave On (Buddy Holly); The Angels Flight – Los Angeles (Bunker Hill funicular).
Folder 3. U.S. Open (Golf); New York, New York (following the path of Benedict Arnold).
Folder 4. The Getty; the Apple's Pie (New York); To Slough Creek (Yellowstone); Waveland Avenue (Wrigley Creek).
Folder 5. Tennis Hall of Fame (Newport, Rhode Island); James Dean and the Matador (personal experience giving James Dean materials to matador).
Folder 6. My 30th Reunion.
Folder 7. Dakota and the Doors (Listening to the Doors in the Badlands of Dakota).
Folder 8. The Morrison Hotel (Jim Morrison and the Doors); James Dean; Buddy (Holly) and Will (Rogers).
Folder 9. The Oscars; Out There (with Truman Capote in Kansas); National Indian Museum.
Folder 10. Jim (a play); At F and Poe; In the Wake of (Battle of Wake Island).
Folder 11. The Oscars (2007); Land Mine – Be Careful When You Look for Fiction; Dog Tags – Dog's Best Friend; Foster's Bighorn – Rio Vista – Head Hunter; Granada – Death of a Poet; Field of Dreams – Iowa; Twin Towers – Lovers Leap; Perception of the Doors – John Densmore L.A.
Folder 12. Pebble Beach – America Dream; Oscars – Again (2010); Indian Agent – Say it Ain't So in the Spirit of Geronimo; James Dean – Day Trip; James Dean – Torero – for Aficionados de Los Angeles; City Surf – More Los Angeles; Musicle (sic) Chairs – Albums I Prefer; Oscars (2011) – New and Improved; Tower Café – My Tribute; Smoke – Tower Pipes and Cigars, 45 Years in Business; Chuck Yeager – the Right Stuff; L.A. Woman – the Remains of the Doors and More; Oscars (2012) – Another Envelope Please.
Folders 13, 13.1, 13.2. Life and Death – the Sacrifice to Save the Earth; Hearing Footsteps – Ambush, Vietnam; Dishonor Before Death – A Patrol, A Truth, Vietnam; As Not – Welcome to Political Reality; War of Words – Running into Vietnam; A Winter's Tale – A World War II Idyll; A Good Couple – In Love, In Yellowstone; Blood Brothers – the Beginnings of the Bullfight; A Cock Crows – Denial in Crunch Time; It's Inevitable – War IS Hell; An Enchanted Evening – Ahh, South Pacific; Paris in an American – My Night in Residence in Shakespeare and Co., in Paris; A Place of Your Own – The Right Type of Coffee in the Right Place; My Find Farewell – So Long to the Suttertown News.