Guide to the Jesse Shepard Papers
MS 55
Finding aid prepared by Alison Hennessey
Collection processed as part of grant project supported by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) with generous
funding from The Andrew Mellon Foundation.
San Diego History Center Document Collection
1649 El Prado, Suite 3
San Diego, CA, 92101
619-232-6203
January 23, 2012
Title: Jesse Shepard Papers
Identifier/Call Number: MS 55
Contributing Institution:
San Diego History Center Document Collection
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
1.5 Linear feet
(3 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1868-1959
Language of Materials: Collection materials are in English, French, and Spanish.
Abstract: The collection contains materials related to the musical and literary activities of Jesse Shepard, who wrote under the pen
name Francis Grierson, and his long-time friend and assistant Waldemar Tonner.
creator:
Grierson, Francis, 1848-1927
Processing Information
Collection processed by Alison Hennessey on January 23, 2012.
Collection processed as part of grant project supported by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) with generous
funding from The Andrew Mellon Foundation.
Preferred Citation
Jesse Shepard Papers, MS 55, San Diego History Center Document Collection, San Diego, CA.
Separated Materials
Original photographs separated to the SDHC Photograph Collection, OP14160/0-14160/35. Photographs accessible by copy negatives.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research. Access to “Anecdotes and Episodes: An Autobiography” is restricted to copy of original.
Original photographs separated to the SDHC Photograph Collection are accessible by copy negatives.
Conditions Governing Use
The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply. All
materials identified as copies from the Illinois State Historical Library are restricted to research use only with no further
reproductions permitted.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Accession numbers 730702 and 730816.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into three series:
Series I: Jesse Shepard/Francis Grierson Papers
Series II: Waldemar Tonner Papers
Series III: Research
Items within each series are arranged by subject.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
“Anecdotes and Episodes: An Autobiography” is very fragile and access is restricted to copy of original only. (January 23,
2012)
Biographical / Historical Notes
Benjamin Henry Jesse Francis Shepard (1848-1927) was a musician, author, lecturer, spiritualist, and self-proclaimed seer.
While living in London in 1896, Jesse Shepard took the pen name Francis Grierson (Grierson being his mother’s maiden name),
to which many of his works are credited. Shepard was born in Birkenhead, England on September 18, 1848. When he was six month
old his parents immigrated to America and in 1849 settled in Sangamon County, Illinois. In 1858, while living in Alton, Illinois,
Shepard was present at the last of the Lincoln-Douglas debates. From 1859 to 1862 he lived in St. Louis and served as a page
for General John C. Fremont. While living in Niagara Falls with his family in 1863, Shepard had the opportunity to play the
piano and discovered his musical talents. Prior to 1887, Shepard traveled extensively performing throughout the United States
and Europe at the patronage of his admirers who were often prominent writers, artists, intellectuals and politicians. Shepard
received notoriety as a master of piano improvisation performing at famous salons and for European royalty. While in St. Petersburg,
Russia in 1871 Shepard received instruction in holding séances furthering his interest in mysticism and Spiritualism.
In 1887, Shepard and his close friend and personal assistant Waldemar Tonner moved to San Diego and, with the financial support
of William and John High, built a Queen Anne style mansion they named Villa Montezuma. While living at Villa Montezuma, Shepard
hosted many of his own salons entertaining prominent guests and fellow Spiritualists with his musical talents.
Shepard left San Diego for Europe in 1890 to focus on his writing. While living in London, he wrote poetry and eight books
including "Modern Mysticism" (1899), "The Celtic Temperament" (1901), "Parisian Portraits" (1910), "The Humor of the Underman"
(1911), "The Invincible Alliance" (1913) and his most famous work, "The Valley of Shadows" (1909). Shepard contributed poems,
articles, and essays to various publications during this time. In addition to Francis Grierson, Shepard also used the pen
name Judah P. Benjamin at least once for the publication of his poetry.
In 1919, Shepard lectured on Theosophy in Toronto. In 1920 Shepard settled in Los Angeles where he lived with Waldemar Tonner
for the remainder of his life. On May 29, 1927 at the age of 79, he died while giving a piano recital at his home.
Much research has been done on Shepard. Harold Simonson conducted research at the Illinois State Historical Society and Library
for his biography of Jesse Shepard titled, "Francis Grierson" (1966). Other research on Shepard’s life was undertaken by Clare
Crane during the restoration of Villa Montezuma in the 1970s.
Scope and Content
The collection includes writings, correspondence, and articles by and about Jesse Shepard’s literary and musical activities.
Shepard’s unpublished autobiography and the 1966 edition of The Valley of Shadows are included in the collection as well as
articles and poems written by Shepard. Correspondence regarding Shepard’s literary projects, including a poetry anthology,
is included in the collection, as well as a large amount of correspondence from prominent writers and intellectuals of his
day, such as Sully Prudhomme and Mary Austin. In addition to correspondence, the collection holds copies of photographs and
calling cards sent to Shepard, often with notes and/or signatures, as souvenirs from admirers and friends.
Materials related to Waldemar Tonner, Shepard's assistant, include biographical and employment information, including letters
of recommendation. Of particular interest are Tonner’s passport issued in England by Robert Lincoln, son of Abraham Lincoln,
and a letter of recommendation for Tonner from Herbert Hoover.
The collection also includes research materials from Harold Simonson, for his biography on Shepard, Villa Montezuma Curator
Clare Crane’s research on the Villa, previously owned by Shepard, and correspondence of Leetha Journey Probst Hofeller, a
writer and friend of Shepard.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Abemelik, Princess
Ahna, Pauline de
Alden, Ada
Austin, Mary Hunter, 1868-1934
Bazalgette, Leon, 1873-1928
Begas, Mrs.
Behymer, L. E.
Bell, Edward Price, 1869-1943
Berkow, Karl
Biedma, Patrocinio
Bleichroeder, Harriet
Bonaparte, Marie, Princess, 1882-1962
Bonaparte, Roland, prince, 1858-1924
Bornier, Henri de, vicomte, 1825-1901
Bourget, Paul, 1852-1935
Bragdon, Claude Fayette, 1866-1946
Broglie, Duc de
Calcar, Elise van, 1822-1904
David, Samuel
Dawson, Miles
Delaporte, V. (Victor), 1846-1910
Diane, comtesse, 1829-1899
Dunbar, William
Dyck, Ernest van
Grierson, Benjamin Henry, 1826-1911
Grierson, Francis, 1848-1927
Herron, George
Holmes, Augusta Mary Anne, 1847-1903
Hoover, Herbert, 1874-1964
Howe, Edith
James, William, 1842-1910
La Follette, Fola, 1882-1970
La Roche-Guyon , Duc de
La Rochefoucauld, Antoine de, Comte
La Rouche-Guyon, Douairiere de, duchess
Lavedan, Henri, 1859-1940
Lindsey, Ben B. (Ben Barr), 1869-1943
Loyson, Hyacinthe, 1827-1912
Lytton, Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron, 1803-1873
MacKenzie, Cathinka, Madame
Macleod, Fiona, 1855-1905
Maeterlinck, Maurice, 1862-1949
Mailhac, Pauline
Mallarme, Stephane, 1842-1898
Markham, Edwin, 1852-1940
Mason, J. W. T.
Meschi, Edward
Miranda, Comtesse
Mistral, Fredric
Nilsen, Laurvik
Nilsson, Christine, 1843-1921
O'Shaughnessy, Edith, 1870-1939
Petrie, Ronald
Picard, Elise
Pius X, Pope, 1835-1914
Roberts, 1892-1976
Roux, Joseph
Scheffauer, Ethel Talbot
Scheffauer, Herman George, 1878-1927
Schure, 1841-1929
Sharp, William, 1855-1905
Shepard, Letitia
Simon, Jules, 1814-1896
Simonson, Harold Peter, 1926-
Sinclair, May
Spencer, Lilian White, 1876-1953
Sterling, 1869-1926
Suin, Diane Marie de
Sully Prudhomme, 1839-1907
Thackara , 1859-1915
Theuriet, Andre, 1833-1907
Thomas, Edith Matilda, 1854-1925
Tonner, Lauritz Waldemar
Van Noppen, Leonard Charles, 1868-1935
Vannutelli, Vincenzo, 1836-1930
Verlaine, Paul, 1844-1896
Wagner, Richard, 1813-1883
Walter, Clark, 1846-1924
Waterman, Robert
Watterson, Henry, 1840-1921
Wendelstadt, La Baronne de
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924
Wiszniewska, Princess
Wiszniewska, Prince
Wolsley, Lord
Illinois
Improvisation (Music)
Literature
London (England)
Los Angeles (Calif.)
Mysticism
Paris (France)
Piano
Poetry
San Diego (Calif.)
Sangamon County (Ill.)
Spiritualism
Theosophy
Villa Montezuma (San Diego, Calif.)
Writing
Series I:
Jesse Shepard / Francis Grierson Papers
Box-folder 1:1
Original: “Anecdotes and Episodes: An Autobiography” by Francis Grierson with introduction by Waldemar Tonner,
undated
Box-folder 1:2
Copy 1: “Anecdotes and Episodes: An Autobiography” by Francis Grierson with introduction by Waldemar Tonner,
undated
Box-folder 1:3
Copy 2: “Anecdotes and Episodes: An Autobiography” by Francis Grierson with introduction by Waldemar Tonner
undated
Box-folder 1:4
Copy 3: “Anecdotes and Episodes: An Autobiography” by Francis Grierson with introduction by Waldemar Tonner
undated
Box-folder 1:5
Autobiography correspondence,
1926 March 6
Box-folder 1:6
Autobiography notes,
undated
Box-folder 1:7
Book: “The Valley of Shadows” (first published in 1909),
1966
Box-folder 1:8
Articles and reviews on “The Valley of Shadows,”
undated
Box-folder 1:9
Illustrations for “The Valley of Shadows,”
undated
Box-folder 2:1
“Francis Grierson’s Compilation of Poems for Anthology,”
undated
Box-folder 2:2
Poetry Anthology correspondence,
1927 January 17–August 8
Includes:
Letters from poets and publishing companies granting Grierson and Tonner permission to publish works in a poetry compilation.
Box-folder 2:3
Articles by Francis Grierson,
1910 March 24–1917 June 21 and undated
Box-folder 2:4
Publication correspondence,
1891 August 18–1927 April 18
Includes:
Correspondence requesting articles for publication or thanking Grierson or Tonner for the works submitted.
Box-folder 2:5
General correspondence (some in French),
1888 February 8–1898 October 18
Includes:
Letters to Shepard/Grierson or Tonner praising Shepard/Grierson on his writing and musical abilities from prominent writers
of the day and other admirers.
Box-folder 2:6
General correspondence (some in French),
1901 November 3–1927 July 13 and undated
Includes:
Letters to Shepard/Grierson or Tonner praising Shepard/Grierson on his writing and musical abilities from prominent writers
of the day and other admirers.
Letter from President Woodrow Wilson.
Box-folder 2:7
Correspondence: Mary Austin,
1911 July 25–1927 July 11
Box-folder 2:8
Correspondence: Léon Bazalgette (some in French),
1911 October–1920 June 3
Box-folder 2:9
Correspondence: Patrocinio Biedma (Spanish),
1889 July 27–1902 October 14
Box-folder 2:10
Correspondence: Claude Bragdon,
1916 October 17–1929 August 16
Box-folder 2:11
Correspondence: Sir William C. Dunbar,
1912 September 16–1928 February 2
Box-folder 2:12
Correspondence: Hyacinthe Loyson (French),
1893 November 21–November 22
Box-folder 2:13
Correspondence: Fiona Macleod,
1899 May 29–1901 November 23
Box-folder 2:14
Correspondence: Maurice Maeterlinck (French),
1890 September 20–1901 December 8
Box-folder 2:15
Correspondence: Stéphane Mallarmé (French),
1892 December 27–1898 April 15
Box-folder 2:16
Correspondence: Edwin Markham,
1913 September 7–1916 December 31
Box-folder 2:17
Correspondence: J.W.T Mason,
1926 February 10–1927 June 3
Box-folder 2:18
Correspondence: R.H.D.,
1913 September 9–1918 June 4
Box-folder 2:19
Correspondence: Ronald Petrie,
1927 November 16–1928 February 15
Box-folder 2:20
Correspondence: Sully Prudhomme (French),
1891 June 7–1898 April 21 and undated
Box-folder 2:21
Correspondence: Cecil Roberts,
1916 August 16–1919 October 13
Box-folder 2:22
Correspondence: Duchess Douairiere de la Roche Guyon (French),
1889 August 1–1911 August 11 and undated
Box-folder 2:23
Correspondence: Joseph Roux (French),
1889 July 24-1898 March 8
Box-folder 2:24
Correspondence: George Sterling,
1913 June 30–1924 December 2
Box-folder 2:25
Correspondence: Edith Thomas,
1924 April 12–December 19
Box-folder 2:26
Correspondence: Henry Watterson,
1914 October 13-1915
Box-folder 2:27
Correspondence: Lilian White Spencer,
1927 June 23–August 3
Box-folder 2:28
Correspondence: select translations,
undated
Includes:
Translations from French to English for letters sent by: Stephan Mallarme, Maurice Maeterlinck, Duke and Duchess de la Roche
Guyon, Fredric Mistral, Mr. V. Delaporte, Henry of Orleans, Paul Bourget, Henri de Bornier, Samuel David, Andre Theuriet.
Box-folder 2:29
Contact cards and photographs,
1887 March–1915 and undated
Scope and Content
Contact cards and photographs (copies) with messages to Jesse Shepard/Francis Grierson from friends in Europe and the United
States including: Augusta Holmes, Edouard Schuré, Monseigneur Vincent Vannutelli, Karl Berkow, Countess de Sauteiron de St
Clement, Pauline Mailhac, Edward Price Bell, Princess Abemelik, Frau Begas, Pauline de Ahna, Lord Bulwar Lytton, Princess
Bonaparte, Elise Picard, Ethyl Scheffauer, Herman Scheffauer, Pope Pius X, Letitia Shepard, Diane Marie de Suin, Ernest van
Dyck, Paul Verlaine, Richard Wagner, Lord Wolseley, Marie Letizia Wyse y Bonaparte de Rute, Le Prince Roland Bonaparte, Duc
de Broglie, Andre Cheuriet, L’Ambassadeur d’Angleterre, Henri Lavedan, la Baronne de Wendelstadt, Samuel David, Lady Hardy.
Box-folder 3:1
Events,
1913 December 5–1919 October 16 and undated
Includes:
Pamphlets, flyers, brochures and other printed materials for Grierson/Shepard’s lectures, recitals and readings.
Box-folder 3:2
Articles about Jesse Shepard / Francis Grierson,
1892 November 13-1948 September 18 and undated
Includes:
Articles in various publications discussing Shepard/Grierson’s literary and musical abilities.
Box-folder 3:3
Scrapbook of newspaper clippings,
1915–1948 July 5 and undated
Box-folder 3:4
Album 1 of newspaper clippings,
1888 February 15–1912 November 5 and undated
Box-folder 3:5
Album 2 of newspaper clippings,
1909 April 2–1913 November 12 and undated
Box-folder 3:6
Miscellanea,
1916 October 24–1920 June 7 and undated
Includes:
Passes granting Shepard/Grierson access to the National Press Club of Washington, Chevy-Chase Club and The University Club,
Washington D.C.
Christmas cards sent by Waldemar Tonner and Francis Grierson.
Series II:
Waldemar Tonner Papers
Box-folder 3:7
Biographical information and passport,
1892 June 8 and undated
Includes:
Passport for Tonner signed by Robert Lincoln, then U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom (in Oversize Collections D4).
Box-folder 3:8
Employment materials,
1917 November 5–1924 July 30 and undated
Includes:
Letter recommending Waldemar Tonner for a position with the Bureau of Public Information from Herbert Hoover, then Head of
the Food Administration.
Letter of recommendation from Francis Grierson.
Box-folder 3:9
Program for Waldemar Tonner funeral services and obituary,
1947 May 28–June 8
Box-folder 3:10
Miscellanea,
1916 October 24–1920 June 7 and undated
Includes:
Business card
Passes granting Tonner access to the National Press Club of Washington, Chevy-Chase Club and The University Club, Washington
D.C.
Box-folder 3:11
Book: “Francis Grierson” by Harold Simonson,
1966
Box-folder 3:12
Copies of correspondence from the Illinois State Historical Library,
1858 January 29–1889 October and undated
Includes:
Copies of correspondence between Shepard and his family in Illinois.
Box-folder 3:13
Copies of correspondence from the Illinois State Historical Library,
1864 May 7–1889 October and undated
Includes:
Copies of correspondence between Shepard and his family in Illinois.
Box-folder 3:14
Copies of correspondence from the Illinois State Historical Library,
1888 September 6–1927 June 5 and undated
Includes:
Copies of correspondence between Shepard and his family in Illinois.
Box-folder 3:15
Villa Montezuma: history of owners and court ordered sales,
1983 February 5 and undated
Box-folder 3:16
Villa Montezuma correspondence,
1958 May 19–1973 October 25 and undated
Includes:
Correspondence between an owner of Villa Montezuma and the San Diego Historical Society.
Correspondence between Clare Crane, Curator for Villa Montezuma in the 1970s during restoration, regarding research Crane
conducted on the house and Jesse Shepard.
Box-folder 3:17
Leetha Journey Probst Hofeller,
1956 June 8–1959 May 8 and undated
Includes:
Correspondence and pamphlet regarding Leetha J. Probst Hofeller.
