William Hope Hodgson papers

Finding aid prepared by Eric Milenkiewicz, Manuscripts Curator.

Special Collections & University Archives

The UCR Library

P.O. Box 5900

University of California

Riverside, California 92517-5900

Phone: 951-827-3233

Fax: 951-827-4673

Email: specialcollections@ucr.edu

URL: http://library.ucr.edu/libraries/special-collections-university-archives

Descriptive Summary

Title: William Hope Hodgson papers

Date (inclusive): circa 1890-2013

Date (bulk): 1903-1918

Collection Number: MS 024

Creator: Hodgson, William Hope, 1877-1918

Creator: Moskowitz, Sam

Extent: 3.75 linear feet (9 boxes)

Repository: Rivera Library. Special Collections Department.

Riverside, CA 92517-5900

Abstract: This collection contains publications, typescripts, photographs, correspondence, and other material regarding the life and literary work of William Hope Hodgson, an English author of science fiction, horror, and fantastic fiction. Materials in the collection primarily consist of published and unpublished short stories and poetry by Hodgson as well as a selection of personal photographs. The correspondence of Sam Moskowitz with Arthur Dudley and others pertaining to Moskowitz' research on Hodgson is also included as is the correspondence between Hodgson's family and August Derleth, amongst others, regarding publication permissions for Hodgson's literary works.

Languages: The collection is in English.

Access

This collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

Copyright Unknown: Some material in this collection 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.

Preferred Citation

[identification of item], [date if possible]. William Hope Hodgson papers (MS 024). Special Collections & University Archives, University of California, Riverside.

Acquisition Information

This collection was originally compiled by Sam Moskowitz, editor and science fiction historian, and was later acquired by Jane and Howard Frank.

The William Hope Hodgson papers were acquired as a gift from Jane and Howard Frank in 2013 and 2018.

Processing History

Processed by Eric Milenkiewicz, Manuscripts Curator, in 2014, and updated by Jessica Geiser, Collections Management Librarian, in 2018.

Biographical Note

William Hope Hodgson was an English novelist, short story writer, poet, photographer, lecturer, sailor, and soldier. He was born in Blackmore End, Essex, England on November 15, 1877 to Samuel Hodgson, an Anglican priest, and Lissie Sarah Brown. In 1891 he began a four-year apprenticeship as a cabin boy and in 1895 began two years of study in Liverpool which led him to acquire his mate's certificate. For the next few years Hodgson worked as a sailor and while at sea he became interested in physical fitness and body development.

Hodgson returned home in 1898 and in 1899 opened W.H. Hodgson's School of Physical Culture in Blackburn, England. Eventually realizing that he could not earn a living in personal training he began writing articles which first focused on exercise. Hodgson found the market for such articles to be limited so he turned his attention to fiction, publishing his first short story in 1904. He continued to write fiction for American and British magazines for the remainder of his career mainly in the science fiction, horror, and fantasy fiction genres. Many of his short horror stories were associated with the ocean as he relied upon his experiences at sea for his writings. Hodgson also wrote poetry, though few of his poems were published during his lifetime.

In 1912, Hodgson married Betty Farnsworth and they settled in the south of France. When war broke out in Europe, the couple returned to England where Hodgson became a Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery. In April 1918, Hodgson was killed by an artillery shell at Ypres.

Collection Scope and Contents

This collection contains publications, typescripts, photographs, correspondence, and other material regarding the life and literary work of William Hope Hodgson, an English author of science fiction, horror, and fantastic fiction. Primarily includes published and unpublished short stories and poetry by Hodgson as well as a selection of personal photographs. The correspondence of Sam Moskowitz with Arthur Dudley and others pertaining to Moskowitz' research on Hodgson is also included as is the correspondence between Hodgson's family and August Derleth, amongst others, regarding publication permissions for Hodgson's literary works.

Collection Arrangement

This collection is arranged into five series as follows:

Series 1. Publications, circa 1900-2013, undated
Series 2. Typescripts, circa 1913-1918, undated
Series 3. Legal and financial documents, circa 1898-1974, undated
Series 4. Photographic materials, circa 1890-2003, undated
Series 5. Correspondence, circa 1949-1988, undated

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects

Fantasy fiction

Horror tales

Merchant mariners

Sailing ships

Science fiction

Science fiction -- Authorship

Genres and Forms of Materials

Correspondence

Manuscripts

Lantern slides

Photographs

Poems

Publications

Short stories

Series 1. Publications circa 1900-2013, undated

Series Scope and Contents

This series contains publications featuring the short stories of William Hope Hodgson. In most cases, the complete publication is not included, only those pages containing Hodgson's short stories (photocopies are present). Select typescripts are also contained in this series.

Series Arrangement

This series is arranged sequentially according to box and folder number.

Box 1, Folder 1

Publications, A-B circa 1900-1920, undated

Box 1, Folder 2

Publications, C circa 1900-1920, undated

Box 1, Folder 3

Publications, D-G circa 1900-1920, undated

Box 1, Folder 4

Publications, H-L circa 1900-1920, undated

Box 2, Folder 1

Publications, M-P circa 1900-1920, undated

Box 2, Folder 2

Publications, R-T circa 1900-1920, undated

Box 2, Folder 3

Publications, U-Z circa 1900-1920, undated

Box 6, Folder 3

Publications, various 1984-1998, undated

Box 6, Folder 4

Publications, various 2003-2013, undated

Series 2. Typescripts circa 1913-1918, undated

Series Scope and Contents

This series contains the typescripts of William Hope Hodgson's published and unpublished short stories and poems. A diary and log from Hodgon's expedition at sea is also included in this series.

Series Arrangement

This series is arranged sequentially according to box and folder number.

Box 2, Folder 4

Short stories, A-Ch undated

Box 2, Folder 5

Short stories, Co undated

Box 2, Folder 6

Short stories, Cy-D circa 1918, undated

Box 3, Folder 1

Short stories, E-J circa 1915-1917, undated

Box 3, Folder 2

Short stories, L-P circa 1916-1918, undated

Box 3, Folder 3

Short stories, S-Z circa 1913, undated

Box 3, Folder 4

Poems, primarily unpublished undated

Box 3, Folder 5

Poems, various undated

Box 3, Folder 6

Diary and log pertaining to an expedition at sea taken by William Hope Hodgson undated

Series 3. Legal and financial documents circa 1898-1974, undated

Series Scope and Contents

This series contains documents, contracts, wills, and other material regarding permissions and rights to the literary works of William Hope Hodgson. Material regarding the property and estate of William Hope Hodgson and family is also included.

Series Arrangement

This series is arranged sequentially according to box and folder number.

Box 4, Folder 1

Documents and contracts regarding permissions and rights to the literary works of William Hope Hodgson circa 1931-1974, undated

Box 4, Folder 2

Wills, correspondence, and other material regarding the property and estate of William Hope Hodgson and family circa 1898-1974, undated

Box 7, Folder 1

Log detailing the publication status and sales of William Hope Hodgson's literary works circa 1903-1921

Series 4. Photographic materials circa 1890-2003, undated

Series Scope and Contents

This series contains prints, negatives, picture postcards, and other material regarding William Hope Hodgson and family. Also included is a notebook comprised of prints and poems related to an expedition at sea taken by William Hope Hodgson, and 29 glass lantern slides created by Hodgson created during his time as a merchant marine sailor in the late 1890's.

Series Arrangement

This series is arranged sequentially according to box and folder number.

Box 4, Folder 3

Prints and negatives regarding William Hope Hodgson and family circa 1903-1918, undated

Box 4, Folder 4

Picture postcards regarding William Hope Hodgson and family undated

Box 4, Folder 5

Digital images and correspondence from the National Library of New Zealand regarding a publication on William Hope Hodgson 2003

Box 7, Folder 2

Notebook containing prints and poems pertaining to an expedition at sea taken by William Hope Hodgson undated

Box 8, Items 1-29

Glass lantern slides from the merchant marine circa 1890

Box 9, Item 1

Original glass slide box circa 1890

Series 5. Correspondence circa 1949-1988, undated

Series Scope and Contents

This series contains the correspondence of Sam Moskowitz, editor and science fiction historian, with Arthur Dudley and others pertaining to Moskowitz' research on Hodgson. Also contains the correspondence between Hodgson's family and August Derleth, of Arkham House, amongst others, regarding publication permissions for Hodgson's literary works.

Series Arrangement

This series is arranged sequentially according to box and folder number.

Box 4, Folder 6

Correspondence, A-B circa 1957-1983, undated

Box 5, Folder 1

Correspondence, C-De circa 1949-1968, undated

Box 5, Folder 2

Correspondence, Du circa 1959-1988, undated

Box 5, Folder 3

Correspondence, F-Hodge circa 1920-1972, undated

Box 5, Folder 4

Correspondence, Hodgson circa 1959-1984

Box 5, Folder 5

Correspondence, J-K circa 1957-1971, undated

Box 6, Folder 1

Correspondence, L-Sh circa 1959-1983, undated

Box 6, Folder 2

Correspondence, Sm-W circa 1957-1979, undated