Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Gene Fowler papers
MS 086
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Title: Gene Fowler papers
Date (inclusive): 1927-1975, undated
Date (bulk): 1940-1953
Collection Number: MS 086
Creator:
Fowler, Gene, 1890-1960
Extent:
2.5 linear feet
(6 boxes)
Repository:
Rivera Library. Special Collections Department.
Riverside, CA 92517-5900
Abstract: Collection contains correspondence, manuscripts, photographs, drawings, media, and other materials collected and created by
American journalist and author Gene Fowler. This includes his correspondence with Ben Hecht, S. Jay Kaufman, Sadakichi Hartman,
Robert Hillyer, John Barrymore and general correspondence.
Languages: The collection is in English.
This collection is open for research.
Copyright Unknown: Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction,
and/or commercial use, of some materials may be restricted by gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and
publicity rights, licensing agreement(s), and/or trademark rights. Distribution or reproduction of materials protected by
copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. To the extent other restrictions
apply, permission for distribution or reproduction from the applicable rights holder is also required. Responsibility for
obtaining permissions, and for any use rests exclusively with the user.
[identification of item], [date if possible]. Gene Fowler papers (MS 086). Special Collections & University Archives, University
of California, Riverside.
Purchased in 1978.
Processed by Ashley Franklin, 2011.
Gene Fowler was born Eugene Devlan March 8, 1890 in Denver Colorado. After his father abandoned his mother she remarried
and Gene was adopted by his stepfather giving him the name Fowler. After a failed career in taxidermy, Fowler moved on to
writing. He attended the University of Colorado where he took his first writing job for the Denver Post and interviewed Buffalo
Bill Cody. He then went on to work for the New York Daily Mirror and eventually became a newspaper syndication manager for
King Features. He was known to be drinking buddies with artist John Decker, W.C. Fields, Sadakichi Hartmann, and John Barrymore
who were referred to a the "Buddy Drive Boys" for their drinking antics at Decker's house on Buddy Drive. Barrymore and Fowler
had first met while Fowler was a reporter for the New York American in 1918. Fowler wrote a book title "Minutes of the Last
Meeting" on his friends which had originally started out as a biography on Sadakichi Hartmann. He also wrote many books and
screenplays, most notably a biography on John Barrymore "Good Night, Sweet Prince" and 1935's "Call of the Wild" staring Clark
Gable. Fowler also worked with Barrymore and director David O. Selznick on the movie "State's Attorny" in 1931. Fowler Married
Agnes Hubbard in 1916 and had 3 children. He died July 2, 1960 in Los Angeles, California.
Collection contains correspondence, manuscripts, photographs, drawings, media, and other materials collected and created by
American journalist and author Gene Fowler. This includes his correspondence with Ben Hecht, S. Jay Kaufman, Sadakichi Hartman,
Robert Hillyer, John Barrymore and general correspondence.
This collection is arranged into five series as follows:
- Series 1. Articles, notes, and other material, 1936-1972, undated
- Series 2. Correspondence, 1927-1964, undated
- Series 3. Manuscripts, 1940-1944, undated
- Series 4. Media, 1952-1960, undated
- Series 5. Photographs and drawings, 1931-1975, undated
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
library's online public access catalog.
Barrymore, John, 1882-1942
Decker, John, 1895-1947
Hartmann, Sadakichi, 1867-1944
Hillyer, Robert, 1895-1961
Authors
Journalism
Correspondence
Manuscripts
Notes
Photographs