Descriptive Summary
Biography
Administrative Information
Related Materials Note
Scope and Content of Collection
Indexing Terms
Descriptive Summary
Title: Collected papers for biography of J. Paul Getty
Date (inclusive): Circa 1890s-1973, 1984, undated (bulk 1957-1973)
Number: IA20012
Creator/Collector:
Hewins, Ralph
Physical Description:
2.6 linear feet
(5 boxes, 1 flat file)
Repository:
The Getty Research Institute
Institutional Records and Archives
1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 1100
Los Angeles, California, 90049-1688
(310) 440-7390
archives@getty.edu
Abstract: The collection comprises material created or collected by Ralph Hewins in the course of researching and writing the biography
The Richest American: J. Paul Getty (1960). The material dates from around the 1890s to 1973 and includes correspondence that
discusses Hewins' writings about Getty, a number of unpublished manuscripts, personal photographs given to Hewins by Mr. Getty,
and other related photographs, clippings, and ephemera belonging to Hewins.
Request Materials: To access physical materials at the Getty, go to the
library catalog record for this collection and click "Request an Item." Click here for
general library access policy . See the Administrative Information section of this finding aid for access restrictions specific to the records described
below. Please note, some of the records may be stored off site; advanced notice is required for access to these materials.
Language: Collection material is in
English
Biography
Ralph Hewins (d. 1984) was a professional journalist largely concerned with the very wealthy. He was the author of
The Richest American: J. Paul Getty (1960). Hewins became a personal friend of Mr. Getty during the years he spent researching and writing Getty's biography.
Administrative Information
Restrictions on Access
The records described in accession 1986.IA.10 are available for use by qualified researchers.
The following types of records are permanently closed: records containing personal information, records that compromise security
or operations, legal communications, legal work product, and records related to donors. The J. Paul Getty Trust reserves the
right to restrict access to any records held by the Institutional Archives.
Publication Rights
Preferred Citation
[Cite the item and series (as appropriate)], Collected Papers for Biography of J. Paul Getty, circa 1890s-1973, 1984 and undated,
Ralph Hewins. The Getty Research Institute (IA20012).
Acquisition Information
The collection was donated to the Getty by Ralph Hewins in 1984 and subsequently assigned accession number 1986.IA.10.
Processing History
In 2005 Sue Luftschein rehoused the materials and created this finding aid based, in part, on the preliminary inventory. In
2010 Cyndi Shein arranged and described the photographs, and revised the finding aid.
Related Materials Note
The following materials are offered as possible sources of further information on the people, programs, and subjects covered
by the records. The listing is not exhaustive.
Publications
Hewins, Ralph.
The Richest American: J. Paul Getty.
New York: Dutton, 1960.
Archival Materials
Contributing Institution:
Getty Institutional Archives
Art and Real Estate Holding Companies Records, 1939-1982 and undated, J. Paul Getty. The Getty Research Institute (IA20011).
J. Paul Getty and the Ashby Sisters Papers, 1926-1992 and undated. The Getty Research Institute (IA20013).
J. Paul Getty Family Papers, circa 1880s-1989 and undated. The Getty Research Institute (IA20009).
J. Paul Getty Diaries, 1938-1946, 1948-1976. The Getty Research Institute (IA40009).
Scope and Content of Collection
The collection comprises material created or collected by Ralph Hewins in the course of researching and writing the biography
The Richest American: J. Paul Getty (1960). The material dates from around the 1890s to 1973 and 1984 and includes correspondence that discusses Hewins' writings
about Getty, a number of unpublished manuscripts, personal photographs given to Hewins by Mr. Getty, and other related photographs,
clippings, and ephemera belonging to Hewins. The collection has two main strengths: the unpublished material and the photographs.
The papers include a substantial body of correspondence between Hewins and Getty, as well as scattered letters received from
Allene Ashby, Penelope Kitson and other Getty family members and associates. The manuscripts comprise Hewins' published and
unpublished material about Getty, probably assembled as a potential update to the 1960 biography. These writings are mainly
anecdotal in nature; some relate to Getty's friendships and others to his business or recreational activities. A large file
of photocopied international clippings chronicle Getty's press coverage through the fifties, sixties and seventies, many of
these concerning the kidnapping of Getty's grandson.
The photographic prints and negatives contain over 200 unique images, ranging from approximately the 1890s to the late 1960s,
collected by Ralph Hewins. The images include an array of professional photographs and informal snapshots of Getty, his wives,
children, friends, associates, businesses, properties, projects, and residences. Some of the images were published in Hewins'
book.
Arrangement
These records are organized in three series:
Series I. Correspondence, 1957-1971, undated;
Series II. Manuscripts and background information, 1960-1973, 1984, undated;
Series III. Photographs, circa 1890s-1960s.
Indexing Terms
Subjects - Names
Ashby, Allene
Getty, J. Paul (Jean Paul), 1892-1976
Hewins, Ralph
Kitson, Penelope
Subjects - Topics
Art objects--Collectors and collecting
Billionaires--United States--20th century
Genres and Forms of Material
Clippings (information artifacts)
Correspondence
Ephemera
Manuscripts
Photographic prints