The collection contains the literary and personal papers of Eugene Manlove Rhodes (1869-1934), a California novelist and short-story writer known as the "cowboy chronicler."

Eugene Manlove Rhodes (1869-1934) was a novelist and short-story writer known as the “cowboy chronicler.” He was born in Tecumseh, Nebraska, but moved with his parents to New Mexico in 1881. Although mainly self-educated as a young man, Rhodes attended the University of the Pacific in California from 1888, although financial difficulties forced him to withdraw by 1890. He had begun publishing anonymous pieces in the school newspaper, and from 1910-1934 published seven novels and a number of short stories. Rhodes’ novels include Good men and true (1910), West is west (1917), Copper streak trail (1922) and Beyond the desert (1934), and of his several novelettes, Paso por aqui (1926) has been singled out as his masterpiece.He married Mary Louisa Davison Purple in 1899 and lived in California and New York before returning to New Mexico in 1926. For a time Rhodes lived in a house at White Mountain given to him by Albert Bacon Fall. By 1930 the Rhodes had moved to Pacific Beach, California, due to Eugene’s failing health. He died in 1934 and was buried in the San Andres Mountains.

Approximately 2,270 items in 13 boxes

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