Finding Aid of the Ambrose Bierce Letters C057714
Finding aid prepared by A. Sasan, K. Ransick, C. Miller
Society of California Pioneers
July 12, 2011
300 Fourth Street
San Francisco, CA, 94107-1272
(415) 959-1849
pkeats@californiapioneers.org
Title: Bierce, Ambrose, Letters
Identifier/Call Number: C057714
Contributing Institution:
Society of California Pioneers
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
1.0 folder
1 Folder
Date (inclusive): 1897-1934
Abstract: The folder contains Ambrose Bierce's correspondence with E.V. Matignon, an aspiring writer for the San Francisco Chronicle.
creator:
Bierce, Ambrose, 1842-1914?
Conditions Governing Access note
Collection is open for research
There are no restrictions on access
Ambrose Bierce Letters 1897-1934, The Society of California Pioneers
Donor and date of acquisition unknown
Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce (1842 – 1914) was an American editorialist, journalist, short-story writer and satirist. His short
stories are held among the best of the 19th century. He wrote realistically of the terrible things he had seen in the Civil
War in such stories as "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge", "Killed at Resaca", and "Chickamauga". In 1913, Bierce traveled
to Mexico to gain a firsthand perspective on that country's ongoing revolution. While traveling with rebel troops, the elderly
writer disappeared without a trace.
The folder contains three handwritten letters written by Ambrose Bierce addressed to E.V. Matignon. Along with the handwritten
letters are addressed envelopes and transcribed typewritten letters. E.V. Matignon was an aspiring writer working for the
San Francisco Chronicle who looked up to Ambrose Bierce. She wrote to Bierce asking for advice and for him to look over her
manuscripts. The other letters are correspondence between Bierce and Matignon concerning this meeting. The folder also contains
a handwritten letter by E.V. Matignon describing in detail these letters and her brief professional relationship with Bierce.
3 handwritten letters, each envelope and transcribed typed letter addressed to E.V. Matignon, dated June 8th, June 12th, and
June 19th 1897 1 handwritten letter by E.V. Matignon addressed to Mrs. Foster, dated October 5th, 1933 1 seven-page biographical
account of Ambrose Bierce’s life, dated November 28th, 1934, written by Louise E. Taber (newspaper article)
Existence and Location of Copies note
The Society of California Pioneers, 300 Fourth Street, San Francisco, CA, 94107
Related Archival Materials note
There are five photographs of Ambrose Bierce in the collection.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Oakland (Calif.)
San Francisco (Calif.) - Newspapers