Finding Aid to the Alameda County Library California literature research project records, 1934-1942

Finding Aid written by Lara Michels
The Bancroft Library
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California, 94720-6000
Phone: (510) 642-6481
Fax: (510) 642-7589
Email: bancref@library.berkeley.edu
URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/
© 2007
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

Finding Aid to the Alameda County Library California literature research project records, 1934-1942

Collection Number: BANC MSS C-R 35

The Bancroft Library



University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, California
Finding Aid Written By:
Lara Michels
Date Completed:
August 2012
© 2012 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

Collection Summary

Collection Title: Alameda County Library California literature research project records
Date (inclusive): 1934-1942
Collection Number: BANC MSS C-R 35
Creators : Alameda County Free Library
Extent: Number of containers: 29 cartons Linear feet: 36.25
Repository: The Bancroft Library
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California, 94720-6000
Phone: (510) 642-6481
Fax: (510) 642-7589
Email: bancref@library.berkeley.edu
URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/
Abstract: The eight series in this collection consist primarily of files created by Works Progress Administration workers while conducting research for a California literature project sponsored by the Alameda County Library. The project resulted in eight volumes of reference works on California literature published between 1938 and 1942.
Languages Represented: Collection materials are in English
Physical Location: Many of the Bancroft Library collections are stored offsite and advance notice may be required for use. For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.

Information for Researchers

Access

Collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Head of Public Services, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, 94720-6000. Consent is given on behalf of The Bancroft Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright owner. See: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/reference/permissions.html. 
Restrictions also apply to digital representations of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational purposes.Materials in this collection may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction of some materials may be restricted by terms of University of California gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from, or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Head of Public Services, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley 94720-6000. See: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/reference/permissions.html .

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Alameda County Library California literature research project records, BANC MSS C-R 35, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.

Alternate Forms Available

There are no alternate forms of this collection.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Authors, American-California--Biography
Poets, American--California--Biography
Dramatists, American--Biography
American literature-California--Biography
Authors, American-California--Bibliography
Poets, American-California--Bibliography
Dramatists, American-California--Bibliography
American literature-California--Bibliography
Public service employment--California
Public works--California
Hinkel, Edgar J. (Edgar Joseph), b. 1903, editor
Gaer, Joseph, 1897-1969, editor
United States. Work Projects Administration
California. State Relief Administration

Administrative Information

Accruals

No additions are expected.

System of Arrangement

Arranged to the folder level.

Processing Information

Processed by Lara Michels in 2012.

Biographical Information

During the Great Depression, State Emergency Relief Administration (SERA) and Works Progress Administration (WPA) workers undertook a range of literary research projects in California. The Alameda County Library, using WPA funds, sponsored and oversaw the research and publication of eight volumes of reference works on California literature between 1936 and 1942.
Edited by Edgar J. Hinkel, these reference works included three volumes entitled "Bibliography of California Literature: Fiction, Poetry, Drama" (1938); three volumes entitled "Criticism of California Literature, a Digest and Bibliography" (1940); and two volumes entitled "Biographies of California Authors and Indexes of California Literature" (1942). These works, intended to be the definitive bibliography of California literature, were distributed as gifts to libraries around the United States.
This project was preceded by a SERA-supported project entitled California Literary Research. Under the supervision of University of California, Berkeley professor Joseph Gaer, this project produced ten monographs on California authors and literature as well as multiple indexes to fiction and non-fiction works relating to life in California from the Gold Rush forward. Monographs included ones on Mary Austin, Ambrose Bierce, California in Juvenile Fiction, California Literature--Pre-Gold Rush Period, California Literature--Gold Rush Period, Bret Harte, Jack London, Frank Norris, Theatre of the Gold Rush Decade in San Francisco, and Upton Sinclair.
Between twenty and twenty-five workers, including librarians, journalists, writers, and unemployed recent college graduates, were employed on the projects. Workers consulted sources from a range of San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles libraries.

Scope and Content of Collection

The eight series in this collection consist primarily of files created by Works Progress Administration workers while conducting research for a California literature project sponsored by the Alameda County Library. The project resulted in eight volumes of reference works on California literature. Series 1 consists of biographical research files for the 1942 publication of "Biographies of California Authors." These files are arranged alphabetically by author's surname and include filled-out standardized forms intended to collect biographical data and genealogical information. These files may also include longer biographical narratives and some bibliographical information. Series 2 through 4 consist of files created in the course of researching the three-volumes of "Bibliography of California Literature: Fiction, Poetry, Drama," published in 1938. Series 5 and 7 consist of files for what appears to be a never completed volume on non-fiction and a never completed geographical index. Series 6 includes files created in the course of researching the three-volumes of "Criticism of California Literature, a Digest and Bibliography." Series 8 consists of miscellaneous files, files on sources, a manuscript of "Biographies of California Authors and Indexes of California Literature," some files relating the monographs and indexes published by the California Literary Research Project in 1935, and lists of workers who were employed on the projects.

 

Series 1 Biographical files 1936-1942

Carton 1

A -- Benjamin, M.

Carton 2

Benjamin, W. -- Cendrars

Carton 3

Chaflin -- Decker

Carton 4

Deering -- Foster

Carton 5

Fox -- Hart, F.

Carton 6

Hart, J. -- Jerome

Carton 7

Jessop -- Lyons, F.

Carton 8

M -- Moyer

Carton 9

Muir -- Pratt

Carton 10

Pratt, H. -- Skinner

Carton 11

Siple -- Tuttle

Carton 12

U -- Wolf, E.

Carton 13, Folder 1-35

Wood -- Zimmerman

 

Series 2 Fiction files 1936-1942

Carton 13, Folder 36-55

Abbott -- Frost

Carton 14

Gallagher -- Sinclair

Carton 15, Folder 1-12

Skinner -- Ziegler

Carton 15, Folder 13-15

Fiction master files

Carton 15, Folder 16-17

Fiction errata and addenda

 

Series 3 Poetry Files 1936-1942

Carton 15, Folder 18-28

A Californian -- Cozzens

Carton 16

Crabb -- Ozohne

Carton 17, Folder 1-13

Pacific Coast -- Zur

Carton 17, Folder 14-19

Poetry master files and sources

 

Series 4 Drama Files 1936-1942

Carton 17, Folder 20-26

A -- E

Carton 18, Folder 1-15

F -- Y

Carton 18, Folder 16

Drama master file

Carton 18, Folder 17

Drama errata and addenda

 

Series 5 Non-Fiction Files 1936-1942

Carton 18, Folder 18-29

Adams -- Purdy

Carton 19, Folder 1-3

Randall -- Zweig

 

Series 6 Review Files 1936-1942

 

Subseries 6.1 Alphabetical by author

Carton 19, Folder 4-30

Abbott -- Bierce

Carton 20

Bierce -- Dickie

Carton 21

Dickinson -- Harte

Carton 22

Isley -- Masters

Carton 23

Mathews -- Saroyan

Carton 24

Satterlee -- Wiggin

Carton 25, Folder 1-8

Wildman -- Zimmerman

 

Subseries 6.2 Book Review Digest (BRD)

Carton 25, Folder 9-43

BRD reviews from 1905 to 1939

 

Subseries 6.3 Periodicals containing reviews

Carton 25, Folder 44-45

Academy -- Athenaeum

Carton 26, Folder 1-25

Atlantic Monthly - World's Work

Carton 26, Folder 26

List of Periodicals

 

Series 7 Geographical Files 1936-1942

Carton 26, Folder 27-33

Geographical files

Carton 27, Folder 1-28

Geographical files

 

Series 8 Sources, Manuscripts, and Miscellaneous circa 1934-1942

Carton 27, Folder 29-30

Sources master file, A-D

Carton 28, Folder 1-7

Sources master file, E-Z and to-be-filed

Carton 28, Folder 8-11

Anthology sources used

Carton 28, Folder 12

Library catalogs on Californiania

Carton 28, Folder 13

Songs

Carton 28, Folder 14

Anonymous works

Carton 28, Folder 15

San Francisco Public Library list

Carton 28, Folder 16

Chinese writers

Carton 28, Folder 17

Pseudonyms and collaborators

Carton 28, Folder 18

Bohemian Club members

Carton 28, Folder 19

Gold Rush poetry and fiction

Carton 28, Folder 20

Pen women, poet residences, book locales,

Carton 28, Folder 21

P. Sam Meaney correspondence on Neutrality, 1939

Carton 28, Folder 22-27

Manuscript of Biographies of California Authors and Indexes and California Literature

Carton 28, Folder 28-35

SERA California Literary Research index and monograph project files

Carton 29, Folder 1-13

SERA California Literary Research index and monograph project files

Carton 29, Folder 14

SERA California Literary Research project workers