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Donald Barker Papers: Finding Aid
mssHM 61461-61657
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Title: Donald Barker Papers
Dates (inclusive): 1902-1922
Bulk dates: 1913-1914
Collection Number: mssHM 61461-61657
Creator:
Barker, Donald, active 1913-1916.
Extent:
197 items in 4 boxes
Repository:
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
Manuscripts Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2129
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract: This collection consists chiefly of legal papers dating between 1913 and 1914 that concern
the film rights to
The Seas Wolf, "A Piece of Steak," and other stories by American author Jack London. The materials originated from the firm
of Donald Barker, London's attorney.
Language:
English.
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services
Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.
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.
[Identification of item]. Donald Barker Papers, The Huntington Library, San
Marino, California.
This collection was acquired as a purchase from Mary Farrington on November 11, 1994
(Accession 1726).
Donald Barker, a partner in the firm Flint, Gray & Barker, represented Bosworth
Incorporated and Jack London in their suit against the Balboa Amusement Producing Company in
1913. In the suit, London, Frank A. Garbutt, and Hobart Bosworth accused the Balboa
Amusement Producing Company, et. al., of infringing on London's copyrights by attempting to
distribute a version of The Sea Wolf. Copyrights for all of London's other works were
reviewed and their validity reestablished as well. Finally a compromise was proposed in
December 1913 by which Garbutt would re-edit the Balboa version of The Sea Wolf to remove
all traces of London's participation. The edited version would be distributed by Garbutt
with all revenues returning to the Balboa Company and Bosworth Incorporated's version would
not have to be held up any longer.
This collection consists of consists of manuscripts, correspondence (business letters), documents (mostly legal), and ephemera,
originating from the firm
of Donald Barker, the attorney of American writer Jack London. The papers concern
the film rights to
The Seas Wolf, "A Piece of Steak," and other stories by London. The materials chiefly date between 1913 and 1914 and include about twenty
letters and telegrams by and to Jack and Charmian London, along with almost two hundred documents
and pieces of correspondence by the other parties involved, including Hobart Bosworth, H.M. Horkheimer, Sydney Ayres, Arthur
Train, Frank Garbutt, George P. Brett, and Hughes Massie.
Arrangement
Arranged in the following order:
- Manuscripts
- Correspondence
- Documents
- Ephemera
Related Materials in the Huntington Library
- Jack London Papers (Call number: mssJL)
Bayne, Hugh Aiken. Joint author in: Arthur Cheney Train, 1875-1945, and Hugh Aiken Bayne, 1870-1954, letter (1913, Dec. 15)
to Donald Barker, L.S. HM 61575. Physical Description: (typewritten: 5 p. ).
London, Charmian. Joint author in: Jack London, 1876-1916, and Charmian London. First draft for the Affidavit of Charmian
(Kittredge) London, in the case of The Balboa Amusement Producing Company v. Jack London, 1876-1916, Frank A. Garbutt, Hobart
Bosworth, 1867-1943, H.T. Rudisill, and Bosworth, Inc., [1913], M.S. HM 61464.
Physical Description: (typewritten: 4 p. ).
London, Jack. Addressee in: Daniel Sydney Ayres, 4 letters (1913) to Jack London, 1876-1916. HM 61468-61471.
London, Jack. Addressee in: Donald Barker, 12 letters(1913-1915) to Jack London, 1876-1916. HM 61491-61502.
London, Jack. Addressee in: Hobart Bosworth, 1867-1943, letter (1913, Sep. 8) to Jack London, 1876-1916. HM 61514.
London, Jack. Addressee in: Arthur Cheney Train, 1875-1945, letter (1913, Oct. 14) to Jack London, 1876-1916. HM 61576.