Don Blanding Papers: Finding Aid mssHM 62960-63160

Finding aid prepared by Alison Dinicola, December 11, 2001.

The Huntington Library

1151 Oxford Road

San Marino, California 91108

Business Number: (626) 405-2191

reference@huntington.org

URL: http://www.huntington.org

Note

Last updated on August 14, 2023 by Suzanne Oatey.

Contributing Institution: The Huntington Library

Title: Don Blanding Papers

Identifier/Call Number: mssHM 62960-63160

Physical Description: 11 Linear Feet ( 3 boxes, 5 oversize folders )

Date (inclusive): 1948-1958

Date (bulk): 1948-1953

Abstract: This collection chiefly contains correspondence related to American author and illustrator Don Blanding (1894-1957).The majority of the correspondence is by Arthur J. Babcock, Blanding's literary representative with Dodd, Mead and Company, related to scheduling autograph tours.

Language of Material: English.

Access

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

Publication Rights

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]. Don Blanding Papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Provenance

Gift of Arthur J. Babcock, November 1982.

Related Materials in the Huntington Library

Photograph of Don Blanding and Charmian London is found in the Jack London Collection Album 21 (JLP 459). View digitized image: Link

Biographical Note

Don Blanding (1894-1957) was an author and illustrator. He was born on November 7, 1894, in Kingfisher, Oklahoma. He married Dorothy Binney Putnam on June 13, 1940 and later divorced her in 1945. He was a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army from 1942-1943. His work include Vagabond's House, 1928; Virgin of Waikiki, 1929; Hula Moons, 1930; Songs of the Seven Senses, 1931; Stowaways in Paradise, 1931; The Rest of the Road, 1937; Drifter's Gold, 1939; Floridays, 1940; Pilot Bails Out, 1943; Today Is Here, 1946; Mostly California, 1948; A Grand Time Living, 1950; Joy Is an Inside Job, 1953; Hawaii Says Aloha, 1955. He lived both in California and in Hawaii. He died on June 9, 1957.

Scope and Content

The collection contains correspondence to, from, and about Don Blanding. The correspondence is arranged alphabetically. The correspondence covers the years of 1948-1958, with the majority in 1948 and 1953. The majority of the correspondence is by Arthur J. Babcock, Don Blanding's literary representative with Dodd, Mead and Company. Arthur J. Babcock wrote to Don Blanding, Dodd, Mead and Company, and several bookshops in California. The majority of the correspondence deals with scheduling autograph book tours for Don Blanding in 1948 for the book Mostly California and 1953 for the book Joy Is an Inside Job .

The collection also has 11 photographs and ephemera.

Arrangement

Correspondence arranged alphabetically, followed by photographs and ephemera.

Indexing: Subjects

Blanding, Don, 1894-1957. A "Blanding Bulletin" in Arthur J. Babcock, letter to Dodd, Mead and Company, 1953, Sept. 21. HM 63016.

Blanding, Don, 1894-1957. 4 photographs in Edythe Hope Genee, letter to Arthur J. Babcock, 1953, Nov. 4. HM 63129.

Indexing: Added Entries

Babcock, Arthur J. Letter sent to Carl K. Wilson Co. In Arthur J. Babcock, letter to Dodd, Mead and Company, 1953, Sept. 10. HM 63013.

Broadway Department Store, Inc. Letter sent to Dodd, Mead and Company. In Dodd, Mead and Company, letter to Arthur J. Babcock, 1953, Sept. 3. HM 63113.

Dodd, Mead and Company. Letter sent to booksellers on cooperative advertising. In Dodd, Mead and Company, letter to Arthur J. Babcock, 1953, Aug. 20. HM 63109.

Dodd, Mead and Company. Letter sent to Don Blanding, 1894-1957. In Don Blanding, letter to Arthur J. Babcock, 1953, Nov. 6. HM 63067. Catalogued separately.

Dodd, Mead and Company. Letter sent to Don Blanding, 1894-1957. In Don Blanding, letter to Arthur J. Babcock, 1955, Aug. 29. HM 63073.

Dodd, Mead and Company. Letter sent to Security-First National Bank. In Dodd, Mead and Company, letter to Arthur J. Babcock, 1957, Dec. 27. HM 63123.

The Harris Company. Letter sent to Arthur J. Babcock. On Arthur J. Babcock, letter to Harris Company, 1948, Sept. 7. HM 63023.

Mercury Book Store. Letter sent to Dodd, Mead and Company. In Dodd, Mead and Company to Arthur J. Babcock, 1953, Aug. 4. HM 63108.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Authors, American -- 20th century -- Archives

Illustrators -- United States

Letters (correspondence) -- United States -- 20th century

Photographs -- United States -- 20th century

Ephemera -- United States -- 20th century

Correspondence, Photographs, and Ephemera

Box 1

Correspondence, A-Babcock

A.C. Vroman, Inc. 1 letter to Arthur J. Babcock, L.S. (typewritten: 1p.), 1953, Sept. 29, Pasadena. HM 62960

Babcock, Arthur J. Itinerary of book tour for Don Blanding, MS and A.MS. (partly carbon copy, typewritten: 3p.), 1948, Los Angeles. HM 62961

Babcock, Arthur J. Itinerary of book tour for Don Blanding, MS. (carbon copy, typewritten: 5p.), 1948, Oct. 8, Los Angeles. HM 62962

Babcock, Arthur J. Itinerary of book tour for Don Blanding, MS. (carbon copy, typewritten: 1p.), 1948, Oct. 11, Los Angeles. HM 62963

Babcock, Arthur J. Itinerary for book tour for Don Blanding, MS. (carbon copy, typewritten: 1p.), 1948. HM 62964

Babcock, Arthur J. Note on photograph distribution of Don Blanding, MS. and A. MS. (partly carbon copy, typewritten: 1p.), 1953, Aug. 27. HM 62965

Babcock, Arthur J. Schedule of book tour for Don Blanding, MS. and A.MS. (partly typewritten: 1p.), 1953. HM 62966-62967

Babcock, Arthur J. 13 letters to Don Blanding, 1948-1955. HM 62968-62980

Babcock, Arthur J. 2 letters to The Bon Marche (Firm), 1953. HM 62981-62982

Babcock, Arthur J. 3 letters to The Book Nook, 1948. HM 62983-62985

Babcock, Arthur J. 2 letters to Brentano's (Firm), 1948. HM 62986-62987

Babcock, Arthur J. 1 letter to Broadway Department Store, Inc, Carbon copy (L., typewritten: 1p.), 1953, July 21. HM 62988

Babcock, Arthur J. 3 letters to Carl K. Wilson Co., 1953. HM 62989-62991

Babcock, Arthur J. 1 letter to Cavalcade of Books, Carbon copy (L., typewritten: 1p.), 1953, July 21. HM 62992

Babcock, Arthur J. 1 letter to Chancellor Hotel, Carbon copy (L., typewritten: 1p.), 1948, Oct. 5. HM 62993

Babcock, Arthur J. 2 letters to Corrick's (Firm), 1948. HM 62994-62995

Babcock, Arthur J. 25 letters to Dodd, Mead and Company, 1948-1956. HM 62996-63020

Box 2

Correspondence, Babcock (continued)-C

Babcock, Arthur J. 1 letter to Estrellita's Books, Carbon copy (L., typewritten: 1p.), 1948, Nov. 6. HM 63021

Babcock, Arthur J. 1 letter to Fran Howell books, Carbon copy (L., typewritten: 1p.), 1953, Oct. 6. HM 63022

Babcock, Arthur J. 3 letters to The Harris Company, 1948. HM 63023-63025

Babcock, Arthur J. 2 letters to Hobson's (Firm), 1948. HM 63026-63027

Babcock, Arthur J. 1 letter to Hotel Stockton, 1948. HM 63028

Babcock, Arthur J. 2 letters to The J. K. Gill Company, 1953. HM 63029-63030

Babcock, Arthur J. 1 letter to Meier & Frank Co., Carbon copy (L., typewritten: 1p.), 1953, Oct 6. HM 63031

Babcock, Arthur J. 1 letter to Olds and King (Firm), Carbon copy (L., typewrirtten: 1p.), 1953, Oct 19. HM 63032

Babcock, Arthur J. 7 letters to Evelyn Ollson, 1948. HM 63033-63039

Babcock, Arthur J. 1 letter to Personal Book Shop, Carbon copy (L., typewritten: 1p), 1948, Oct. 5. HM 63040

Babcock, Arthur J. 1 letter to Rouse's Inc., Carbon copy (L., typewritten: 1p.), 1948, Nov. 4. HM 63041

Babcock, Arthur J.> 1 letter to Sacramento Hotel, Carbon copy (L., typewritten: 1p.), 1948, Oct. 5. HM 63042

Babcock, Arthur J. 1 letter to Sainte Claire Hotel, Carbon copy (L., typewritten: 1p.), 1948, Oct. 5. HM 63043

Babcock, Arthur J. 3 letters to Spencer's House of Cards, 1948. HM 63044-63046

Babcock, Arthur J. 1 letter to The Wold Book Shop, Carbon copy (L., typewritten: 1p.), 1948, Sept. 4. HM 63047

Blanding, Don, 1894-1957. 32 letters and postcards to Arthur J. Babcock, 1948-1956. HM 63048-63079

Scope and Contents

Twelve letters are oversize and 4 are extra-oversize.

Blanding, Don, 1894-1957. 1 letter to Book and Author Luncheons, L.S. (typewritten: 1p.), 1948, Aug.25. HM 63080

Blanding, Don, 1894-1957. 1 letter to …, N. (typewritten: 1p.), 1948. HM 63081

Scope and Contents

Message typewritten below photograph of Winkie the Super-Cat.

The Bon Marche (Firm). 1 letter to Arthur J. Babcock, A.L.S. (1p.), 1953, Oct. 7, Seattle. HM 63082

Book and Author Luncheons. 2 letters to Arthur J. Babcock, 1948. HM 63083-63084

The Book Nook (Firm). 2 letters to Arthur J. Babcock, 1948. HM 63085-63086

Brentano's (Firm). 1 letter to Arthur J. Babcock, L.S. (typewritten: 1p.), 1948, Oct. 9, San Francisco. HM 63087

Broadway Department Store, Inc. 1 letter to Arthur J. Babcock, A. L. S. (1p.), 1953, July 22, Los Angeles. HM 63088

Carl K. Wilson Co. Miscellaneous notes on Don Blanding book tour, Carbon copy (A.N.S., 1p), 1948, Seattle. HM 63089

Carl K. Wilson Co. 5 letters to Arthur J. Babcock, 1953, Seattle. HM 63090-63094

Carl K. Wilson Co. 1 letter to Dodd, Mead and Company, Carbon copy (L., typewritten: 1p.), 1953, Sept. 15, Seattle. HM 63095

Cavalcade of Books. 1 letter to Dodd, Mead and Company, Carbon copy (L., typewritten: 1p.), 1953, July 11, Los Angeles. HM 63096

Church of Truth. 1 letter to Arthur J. Babcock, L. S. (typewritten: 1p.), 1953, Oct. 15, Sacramento. HM 63097

Corrick's (Firm). 4 letters to Arthur J. Babcock, 1948,Santa Rosa. HM 63098-63101

Box 3

Correspondence (D-W), Photographs, and Ephemera

Correspondence, D-W

Dodd, Mead and Company. 22 letters to Arthur J. Babcock, 1948-1957, New York. HM 63102-63123

Dodd, Mead and Company. 2 letters to Don Blanding, 1953, New York. HM 63124- 63125

Dodd, Mead and Company. 1 letter to Carl K. Wilson Co., Carbon copy (L. typewritten: 1p.), 1953, Sept. 8, New York. HM 63126

Dodd, Mead and Company. 1 letter to "Dear Friend" form letter, L.S. (typewritten: 1p.), 1953, New York. HM 63127

Estrellita's Books. 1 letter to Arthur J. Babcock, L.S. (typewritten: 1p.), 1948, Nov. 4, Santa Ana. HM 63128

Genee, Edythe Hope. 2 letters to Arthur J. Babcock, 1953-1956, Hollywood. HM 63129-63130

Scope and Contents

One folder contains 4 photographs of Don Blanding.

Harris Company. 2 letters to Arthur J. Babcock, 1948. HM 63131-63132

H.E. Hattuck Institute of Religious Science. 1 telegram to Arthur J. Babcock, 1953, Aug. 13, San Francisco. HM 63133

Hobson's (Firm). 1 letter to Arthur J. Babcock, L.S. (typewritten: 3p.), 1948, Nov. 15, Phoenix. HM 63134

The J. K. Gill Company. 1 letter to Arthur J. Babcock, L. S. (typewritten: 1p.), 1953, Sept. 2, Portland. HM 63135

Kahn's (Firm). 1 letter to Arthur J. Babcock, A.L.S. (1p.), 1953, Jan. 12, Oakland. HM 63136

Kisselburg, N. 1 letter to Arthur J. Babcock, A.L.S. (1p.), 1948, Oct. 29, Riverside. HM 63137

Meier & Frank Company, Inc. 1 letter to Arthur J. Babcock, A.L.S. (1p.), 1953, Sept. 31, Portland. HM 63138

Olds and King (Firm). 2 letters to Arthur J. Babcock, 1953, Portland. HM 63139- 63140

Ollson, Evelyn. 3 letters to Arthur J. Babcock, 1948, Oakland. HM 63141-63143

Personal Book Shop. 1 letter to Arthur J. Babcock, L.S. (typewritten: 1p.), San Francisco HM 63144

Rhodes Brothers (Firm). 1 letter to Arthur J. Babcock, A.L.S. (1p.), 1953, Nov. 4, Tacoma HM 63145

Rolleri, Kay Walsh. 1 letter to Don Blanding, L.S. (typewritten: 1p.), 1953, Oct. 9, Alameda. HM 63146

Rouse's Inc. 1 letter to Arthur J. Babcock, L.S. (typewritten: 1p.), 1948, Sept. 13, Riverside. HM 63147

Security-First National Bank. 1 letter to Arthur J. Babcock, L.S. (typewritten: 1p.), 1958, Jan. 9, Los Angeles. HM 63148

Security-First National Bank. 2 letters to Dodd, Mead and Company, 1958, Los Angeles. HM 63149-63150

Spencer's House of Cards. 2 letters to Arthur J. Babcock, 1948 and 1953, Carmel. HM 63151-63152

The Wold Book Shop. 1 letter to Arthur J. Babcock, L.S. (typewritten: 1p.), 1948, Aug. 31, Oakland. HM 63153

Photographs

----. Autograph photograph of Don Blanding to Arthur J. Babcock, 1948, Dec. 23. HM 63154

----. Photograph of Don Blanding surrounded by fans. HM 63155

----. Photograph of Don Blanding signing a book for a fan. HM 63156

----. Photograph of Don Blanding surrounded by female fans. HM 63157

----. Photograph of Don Blanding in his office. HM 63158

----. Photograph of Don Blanding and Arthur J. Babcock. HM 63159

Scope and Contents

Two similar photos are with the photographs Edythe Hope Genee sent in HM 63129.

----. Photograph of Don Blanding signing the book Joy Is an Inside Job. HM 63160

Scope and Contents

Enclosed: The 2 negatives used to create this image.

Ephemera

Flyers

Oversize

Don Blanding Correspondence to Arthur J. Babcock (HM 63057-63059, 63062)

Folder Oversize 2

Blanding, Don, 1894-1957. 1 letter to Arthur J. Babcock. HM 63057 1953 May 31

Folder Oversize 3

Blanding, Don, 1894-1957. 1 letter to Arthur J. Babcock [98 cm, handwritten notes interspersed within typewritten letter]. HM 63058 1953 July 15

Folder Oversize 4

Blanding, Don, 1894-1957. 1 letter to Arthur J. Babcock [99 cm, typewritten with envelope]. HM 63059 1953 July 15

Folder Oversize 5

Blanding, Don, 1894-1957. 1 letter to Arthur J. Babcock [63 cm, typewritten letter]. HM 63062 1953 September 1

Folder Oversize 1

Don Blanding Correspondence to Arthur J. Babcock (HM 63049-63051, 63053, 63064-63066, HM 63069-63070, HM 63073-63074, HM 63076) 1948-1955

Folder Oversize 1

Newspaper clipping from the Saturday Star-Bulletin, 1953 December 5.