Finding Aid to the William Lawton Wright Manuscript and Papers MS.215
Holly Rose Larson
Library and Archives at the Autry
2012 August 23
210 South Victory Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91502
rroom@theautry.org
Contributing Institution:
Library and Archives at the Autry
Title: William Lawton Wright Manuscript and Papers
Creator:
San Diego Historical Society
Creator:
Moore, Bertram B.
Creator:
Wright, William Lawton (Bill)
Creator:
Westerners. Los Angeles Corral
Creator:
MacMullen, Jerry
Creator:
Ruhlen, George
Identifier/Call Number: MS.215
Physical Description:
3.9 Linear Feet
(3 boxes; 1 oversized folio)
Date (inclusive): 1931-1962
Abstract: William "Bill" Lawton Wright (1902 March 23 - 1962 September 2) was a newspaper reporter in San Diego and San Francisco in
the 1920s and 1930s. He pursued an interest in San Diego County history and discovered that the location of the Butterfield
Stagecoach station on Warner's Ranch was incorrectly identified. Wright's 1961 publication on the topic
The Warner's Ranch Butterfield Station Puzzle resulted in a National Historic Landmark designation from the National Park Service of the United States Department of the
Interior in 1962. This collection of papers from 1931-1962 includes Wright's research on the topic, correspondence, and manuscript
drafts, as well as a portfolio of evidence Wright constructed for proving his case to any pertinent board or committee.
Language of Material:
English
.
Scope and Contents
This collection includes correspondence, manuscripts, and research materials collected or created by William Lawton Wright
from 1931 to 1962, mostly in relation to the history of the Butterfield Overland Stagecoach station at Warner's Ranch in San
Diego County, California. Included in these materials are financial records and invoices, index card notes, newspaper clippings,
notes from and photocopies of historical documents, and letters of response to the mailing of the independent booklet
The Warner's Ranch Butterfield Station Puzzle, which includes a postcard of receipt from the Southwest Museum Research Library, now the Braun Research Library Collection.
The papers regarding donation of these papers to the Southwest Museum are also included in this collection.
These materials include a portfolio of exhibit materials Wright created for presenting his case.
The collection also includes an extensive 2-volume history of the San Diego River and water usage policy, apparently commissioned
by the
San Diego Union-Tribune, but never published.
Conditions Governing Access
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright has not been assigned to the Autry Museum of the American West. All requests for permission to publish or quote
from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Research Services and Archives. Permission for publication is
given on behalf of the Autry Museum of the American West as the custodian of the physical items and is not intended to include
or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.
Preferred Citation
William Lawton Wright Manuscript and Papers, 1931-1962, Braun Research Library Collection, Autry Museum of the American West, Los Angeles; MS.215; [folder number] [folder
title][date].
Related Archival Materials
Notes on the Butterfield Stage itinerary, BANC MSS C-R 79, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.
Processing History
Initial processing by Braun Library Staff. Additional processing and finding aid completed by Holly Rose Larson, NHPRC Project
Archivist, 2012 August 23, made possible through grant funding from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission
(NHPRC).
Biographical Note
William "Bill" Lawton Wright was born in Omaha, Nebraska on 1902 March 23. Wright moved to California when he attended Stanford
University in San Francisco. At Stanford, Wright met Katherine Frances Capell, and the two were wed in 1926 on Wright's 24th
birthday. Wright was the editor of the
Stanford Daily before he and Katherine relocated to San Diego in 1929, where Wright was a columnist for the
San Diego Union until 1937. While in San Diego, Wright was heavily involved with the San Diego Historical Society and passionately studied
the history of San Diego County, specifically the Butterfield Overland Stagecoach station at Warner's Ranch. The Wrights moved
to Glendale, California in 1943, and William continued his research on the Butterfield Overland route and San Diego County.
Warner's Ranch is located in Warner Springs in San Diego County, which is land originally populated by Cupeño Native Americans.
The land passed through many hands as Mexico and the United States battled for the territory, but the deed for the land was
finally granted to Juan Jose (Jonathon Trumble) Warner in 1844. Warner's Ranch was right in the middle of the overland migration
route to California during the 19th century, and it provided an excellent pasture for livestock. Warner opened his ranch to
travelers and built a trading post to accommodate his visitors. Warner's home and trading post were noted as a stopping place
for the Butterfield Overland Stagecoaches in 1858.
The Butterfield Overland Mail Company was awarded the first contract for transcontinental mail to California in 1857. Stations
were erected every 20 miles along the route. The Warner ranch house was the fifth station on the route through San Diego County.
Approximately 1 ½ miles east of those two structures is another adobe building, the Kimble-Wilson store, which was designated
by the Native Daughters and Native Sons of the Golden West as the Butterfield Overland Stage station in 1930.
Wright started researching the history of Warner's Ranch in 1935, and over time, discovered that the wrong building was being
memorialized. Wright published and distributed his findings in an article titled "The Warner's Ranch – Butterfield Station
Puzzle," included in the
Westerners Brand Book #9 (1961) published by the Los Angeles Corral of the Westerners, and reprinted as a standalone publication in 1961. Warner's
house, the correct Butterfield Overland Stagecoach station, was registered as a National Historic Landmark by the United States
Department of the Interior in 1962.
William Wright remained active in the Westerners Los Angeles Corral until his death on 1962 September 3. Katherine stayed
in their Glendale, California home until her death on 2000 October 11. Katherine Capell Wright was a prominent political activist,
former Republican Woman of the Year, and a freelance magazine photographer.
Resources:
Hoover, Mildred Brooke, Hero Eugene Rensch, and Ethel Grace Rensch.
Historic Spots in California, Third Edition. San Francisco: Stanford University Press, 1966.
Los Angeles Westerners Corral. "Vaya Con Dios."
The Branding Iron 62 (1962): 1-2.
Acquisition
Donation by the author to the Southwest Museum, 1961 December 21.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Financial records
Correspondence
Butterfield Overland Trail -- History
Butterfield Overland Stage Line
Warner's Ranch (Calif.)
Corrizo Corridor (Calif.)
San Diego River (Calif.)
San Diego River (Calif.) -- History
Manuscripts
San Diego (Calif.)
Rancho Santa Margarita (Calif.)
Clippings
E Clampus Vitus (Fraternal Order)
box 1, folder 1
Packet of note cards
undated
box 1, folder 2
"Working copy" completed manuscript "The Butterfield Station at Warner's Ranch"
1960
box 1, folder 3
"Suggested Tax Valuation of Rancho Santa Margarita y Las Flores" by Charles J. Husband
1931
box 1, folder 4
Correspondence stuck in
Westways articles
1961, undated
box 1, folder 5
Extra copies of data
undated
box 1, folder 6
Early road data excerpts
undated
box 1, folder 7
Miscellaneous notes, especially regarding distances
1957, undated
box 1, folder 8
Testimonials on research and conclusions
1959-1960
box 1, folder 9
Early research correspondence
1958-1960
box 1, folder 10
Research correspondence
1960-1961
box 1, folder 11
Newspaper account of research done
1960
box 1, folder 12
Material for Westerner's Brand Book Version (Folder A)
1960-1961
box 1, folder 13
Correspondence regarding Brand Book Version (Folder B)
1960-1961
box 1, folder 14
McKinstry material and other notes
1958
box 1, folder 16
Continued controversy
1935, 1960
box 1, folder 17
Correspondence with Bertram B. Moore
1958-1961
box 1, folder 18
Some mileages taken in 1958
1958
box 1, folder 19
"Press Argus" Volume 100, Van Buren, Arkansas
1958 September 19
box 1, folder 20
Requests for copies of the monograph
undated
box 1, folder 21
Mailing label lists
undated
box 1, folder 22
Letters of response to booklet's mailing
1961-1962
box 1, folder 23
Accounts and receipts-also Photostat of 1861 tax book and the first draft monograph
1958-1961
box 1, folder 24
The investigation, step by step
1958
box 1, folder 25
Working copy of the monograph
undated
box 1, folder 26
Regarding the mailing and distribution
1961-1962
box 1, folder 27
Correspondence regarding replacing the "landmark" historical marker (Folder A)
1960
box 1, folder 28
Correspondence regarding controversy regarding historical landmark (Folder B)
1960
box 1, folder 29
Call slips UC Library
undated
box 2, folder 30
Land preemption clause Butterfield contract copy and Christmas card
undated
box 2, folder 31
Details as to preparation of the "landmark"
1960
box 2, folder 32
Correspondence regarding Forster-Helm grave
1962
box 2, folder 33
Donation of manuscript material to Southwest Museum
1960-1962
box 2, folder 34
San Diego-Los Angeles stage road log
1936
box 2, folder 35
Pamphlets regarding the district by Rensch & Conckling
1957-1958
box 2, folder 36
Correspondence in appreciation of the monographs
1957-1962
box 2, folder 37
Correspondence with George Ruhlen
1958-1959
box 2, folder 38
Correspondence with Bertram Moore
1958-1959
box 2, folder 39
Miscellaneous Correspondence and E Clampus Vitus material, San Diego Historical Society
1958-1959
box 2, folder 40
Correspondence largely with Jerry MacMullen
1958-1959
box 2, folder 41
Comments on the evidence
1960
box 2, folder 42
Editing comments and correspondence
1958-1959
box 2, folder 43
Early articles and correspondence on the Butterfield Trail 1943-on
1938-1959
box 2, folder 44
Correspondence with "Parky"
1958-1961
box 2, folder 45
Miscellaneous clippings
1960
box 2, folder 46
Notes copied from diaries and documents
1958-1961
box 2, folder 47
Notes copied from early newspapers
1958
box 2, folder 48
Notes copied from San Diego Country records
undated
Scope and contents
Materials studied are dated 1855-1875.
box 2, folder 49
Notes copied from San Diego tax records for 1855-1863
undated
Scope and contents
Materials studied are dated 1855-1863.
box 2, folder 50
Information regarding Jonathan Rains
1959
box 2, folder 51
Miscellaneous early notes
1958
box 2, folder 52
Correspondence regarding the monograph
1960
box 2, folder 53
Correspondence regarding news coverage of release of monograph
1960
box 2, folder 54
Responses to publication
1960
box 2, folder 55
Correspondence after completion of manuscript
1960
box 2, folder 56
San Diego County tax assessment on Overland Mail Co.
undated
Scope and contents
Materials studied are dated 1859-1861.
box 2, folder 57
Work sheet details of the study
1958
box 2, folder 58
Clippings, et cetera, regarding OM centennial
1958
box 2, folder 59
Copies of notes and some correspondence
1958
box 2, folder 60
Notes on the Mexican section of the Butterfield trail
1947
box 2, folder 61
Notes on the trail made in 1947-1948
1947-1948
box 2, folder 62
Miscellaneous photos and statistics
1937, undated
box 2, folder 63
The Brand Book - the finished product
1961
Physical Description: 2 copies
box 2, folder 64
Correspondence regarding side issues
1961
box 2, folder 65
Miscellaneous correspondence
1961
box 2, folder 66
Clippings and articles, some by William Wright
1934-1935
1948
box 2, folder 67
Tracing of Warner's ranch house
undated
Physical Description: 3 carbon copies
box 2, folder 68
Correspondence regarding the Westerners
1959-1962
box 2, folder 69
1500 word version of Butterfield Station paper
undated
box 2, folder 70
Correspondence regarding San Diego Historical Society (Folder A)
1961
box 2, folder 71
Correspondence regarding San Diego Historical Society (Folder B)
1961
box 2, folder 72
Westerners Directory Galley proofs
1961
box 2, folder 73
Glossary of Mexican and other Localisms of the Southwest from "Coronado's Children" by J. Frank Dobie
undated
box 2, folder 74
Rebuttals: William Lawton Wright to B.B. Moore
1961
box 3, folder 75
Emory's Reconnaissance and Desert Water-Holes
undated
General note
Dr. Munk also had a facsimile/carbon copy (new missing) June 1986
Scope and contents
Emory's Military Reconnaissance (1848), incomplete; and Brown's "Routes to Desert Watering Places," (1920). These are photostatic
copies bound in non-professional hard cover.
box 3, folder 76
Diaries of the Great Southern Overland
undated
Physical Description: 1 binder folio
Scope and contents
Notes from various memoirs published from 1865-1931.
box 3, folder 77
History of the San Diego River, volume 1
1933
Physical Description: 2 binder folios
Scope and contents
History recorded is from 1773 through September 10, 1924.
box 3, folder 78
History of the San Diego River, volume 2
1933
Scope and contents
History recorded is from September 10, 1924 through February 1933.
box 4
Wright's "Exhibit" presented in the debate
undated
General Physical Description note: Oversize folio
Scope and contents
Includes Wright's personal copy of his manuscript and eight posterboards with items pasted on for exhibit. The label on the
portfolio reads: Presented to SOUTHWEST MUSEUM 12/21/61 by William L. Wright, with the proviso that he shall be permitted
to borrow this material on request, for display to any Board or Committee which has jurisdiction over the placement of a truthful
Plaque at Warner's Ranch.
