Conditions Governing Access
Conditions Governing Use
Preferred Citation
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Biographical / Historical
Scope and Contents
Processing Information
Arrangement
General
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Gene Frances McComas papers
Creator:
McComas, Gene Frances,
1886-1982
Identifier/Call Number: mssMS
Physical Description:
5.14 Linear Feet
(4 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1907-1952
Abstract: A collection of correspondence related
to the life and work of Gene Frances McComas, California artist.
Language of Material: Materials are in
English.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at
the Huntington Library for more information.
Conditions Governing Use
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from
or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The
responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining
necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item]. Gene Frances McComas papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino,
California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from Mrs. McComas, 1956.
Biographical / Historical
Eugenia Frances Baker McComas (1886-1982) was born in San Francisco, California on
September 6, 1886; her parents were both journalists. Eugenia, known as "Gene," worked as a
journalist before studying art at the California School of Arts and Crafts. She married the
artist Francis John McComas (1874-1938) in 1917, and they moved to Monterey, California,
though they traveled widely during their marriage. Gene McComas became known for her murals
but she also painted portraits and still lifes. She died in Monterey in March 1982.
Scope and Contents
A collection of 151 items from 1907 to 1952; it consists mainly of correspondence, but also
includes poems by George Sterling, and watercolors by Gouverneur Morris. Subjects discussed
in the letters include Sinclair Lewis, Gouverneur Morris, and Eugene O'Neill. There are also
a few miscellaneous letters addressed to Francis John McComas in the collection.
Correspondents include, among others, Grace Hegger Lewis, Sinclair Lewis, Ruth Wightman
Morris, Gouverneur Morris, Nicholas, Prince of Greece, Carlotta Monterey O'Neill, George
Sterling, Austin Strong, Alec Waugh, and Roland Young.
Processing Information
Processed by Huntington Library Staff, January 1957. In 2020, Gayle Richardson created the
finding aid derived from a legacy summary report.
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
General
Individual call numbers included in the collection: mssMS 1-151.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Artists -- United States
Authors, American
Women painters -- California -- San Francisco
Letters (correspondence) -- California -- 20th century
Personal papers -- California -- 20th century
Poems -- California -- 20th century
Watercolors (paintings) -- California -- 20th century
Lewis, Grace Hegger
Lewis, Sinclair, 1885-1951
McComas, Francis John,
1874-1938
Morris, Gouverneur, 1876-1953
Morris, Ruth Wightman, 1897-1939
Nikolaos, Prince of Greece,
1872-1936
O'Neill, Carlotta
O'Neill, Eugene, 1888-1953
Sterling, George,
1869-1926
Strong, Austin, 1881-1952
Waugh, Alec, 1898-1981
Young, Roland, 1887-1953