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Guide to the Ralph Hewins Collected Papers for Biography of J. Paul Getty, circa 1890s-1973, 1984 and undated
IA20012  
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Table of contents What's This?

Container List

 

Series I. Correspondence, 1957-1971, undated

Physical Description: 0.1 linear feet (1 box)

Scope and Content Note

Records consist of correspondence, primarily to and from Ralph Hewins, a biographer and acquaintance of J. Paul Getty, 1957-1971 and undated. This correspondence largely relates to Hewins’ writings on Getty, and includes correspondence with Getty and other individuals, including Maxwell Balfour, president of Getty's Spartan Aircraft Company. The letters discuss the publication of Hewins' 1960 biography of Getty, The Richest American, as well as personal events in Hewins' life related to his work on the biography.
See also Series III. Photographs, for related photographs.

Arrangement

These records are arranged in general chronological order.
Box 1986.IA.10-1, Folder 1-2

Correspondence, 1957-1966, undated

Physical Description: [2 files]
Box 1986.IA.10-1, Folder 3-4

Correspondence, 1967-1971

Physical Description: [2 files]
Box 1986.IA.10-1, Folder 5

J. Paul Getty cards to Hewins, 1961-1968, undated

 

Series II. Manuscripts and background information, 1960-1973, 1984, undated

Physical Description: 2.0 linear feet (3 boxes, 1 flat file)

Scope and Content Note

Records consist of typescript manuscripts, clippings, ephemera, and photographs, 1960-1973, 1984, and undated, written and collected by Ralph Hewins about J. Paul Getty and comprising Hewins' published and unpublished material about Getty. Some of the material seems to have been assembled as an update to his book, The Richest American: J. Paul Getty (New York: 1960). The manuscripts are a set of short articles and two versions of the manuscript for The Zillionaire: Getty at 80 (unpublished); these contain Hewins' edits. The short works are anecdotal in nature; some relate to Getty's friendships and others to his business or recreational activities. The ephemera consists of cards, invitations and announcements relating to Getty and his companies.

Arrangement

These records are generally arranged in the order of accession. The larger manuscripts have been grouped together.
Box 1986.IA.10-1, Folder 6-9

"The Zillionaire: Getty at 80, Part I: The Man," edited manuscript, 1971

Physical Description: [4 files]
Box 1986.IA.10-1, Folder 10-13

"Getty at 80, Part II: The Businessman," edited manuscript, 1971

Physical Description: [4 files]
Box 1986.IA.10-1, Folder 14

"Getty at 80, Part III: The Whole Man," edited manuscript, 1971

Box 1986.IA.10-1, Folder 15-16

"Getty at 80," Hewins' notes and edits, 1971

Physical Description: [2 files]
Box 1986.IA.10-1, Folder 17-18

The Zillionaire: early draft, undated

Physical Description: [1-2 of 5 files]
Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 1-3

The Zillionaire: early draft, undated

Physical Description: [3-5 of 5 files]
Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 4

Miscellaneous notes, manuscript pages, 1959-1960, 1963, 1966, 1973

Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 5

"The Mystery Wife of J. Paul Getty," 1960

Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 6

"Getty's 'Mystery House,'" undated

Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 7

"The World's Richest Sportsman: J. Paul Getty," undated

Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 8

"Mr. Getty to fly again," undated

Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 9

"Mr. Getty economises," undated

Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 10

"Mr. Getty's iron bars," undated

Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 11

"A Murder Shakes the Arabian Oilfields," undated

Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 12

"Rival Books About Paul Getty," 1973

Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 13

"Mrs. Kitson's treat," 1960

Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 14

"Mr. Getty's quick return," undated

Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 15

"Tanker Sickness," undated

Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 16

"Why I'm the Richest," 1961

Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 17

"The New Mr. Getty," and letter, 1961

Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 18

"What I Think of Howard Hughes," undated

Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 19

Hewins letter to editor, London Daily Telegraph, re: Howard Hughes, undated

Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 20

"The Unknown Giant," undated

Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 21

Hewins' notes and notebook, undated

Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 22

Notes, clippings, card from George Getty, 1971-1972

Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 23

Getty-related ephemera collected by Hewins, 1960-1961, 1966, 1970

Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 24

Papers found in autographed copy of "How to be Rich" with dedication, 1962-1971

Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 25

Clippings, undated

Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 26-30

Hewins' clippings file, undated

Physical Description: [5 files]
Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 31

Clippings (photocopies), ephemera, 1984, undated

Box 1986.IA.10-5

Program for ceremony conferring honorary law degree to J. Paul Getty from Ohio Northern University, August 21, 1966

Box 1986.IA.10-5

"Herculaneum and the Villa of the Papyri," Instituto Geographico de Agostini, 1963

Flatfile 1986.IA.10-6

"J. Paul Getty's Worldwide Empire" map, undated

 

Series III. Photographs, circa 1890s-1960s and undated

Physical Description: 0.5 linear feet (2 boxes)

Scope and Content Note

Materials consist of over 200 photographic prints and negatives, ranging from around the 1890s to the late 1960s, collected by Ralph Hewins, depicting J. Paul Getty, family, friends, business associates, properties, and a reception for Hewins' book The Richest American: J. Paul Getty (1960). The records also include photocopies of all photographs. Some of the photographs were published in Hewins' book. The vast majority of the photographs are black-and-white.
See also Series I. Correspondence, for related items.

Arrangement

The photographs have been roughly arranged by subject. Within each subject the images are arranged numerically accoring to the creator's original numbering system (some prints have numbers written in pencil on the verso). Some of the photographic prints are accompanied by negatives, which are housed in neighboring sleeves.
Box 1986.IA.10-4

J. Paul Getty, 1890s-1960s

Physical Description: (approximately 42 images)

Scope and Content Note

Material comprises formal portraits and casual snapshots featuring J. Paul Getty, including photographs of him as a child, with family, with a couple of his wives, with friends, with business associates, with his Spartan aircraft staff, with English Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and with his lion cub. Material also includes shots of Getty receiving the Legion of Honor, receiving an honorary academic degree, standing in oil fields, standing on deck the tanker "George F. Getty," and visiting archaeological sites. All but one of the photos is in black-and-white.
Box 1986.IA.10-4

Getty family and family history, circa 1890-1960s

Physical Description: (approximately 23 images)

Scope and Content Note

Material comprises images of J. Paul Getty's parents, George F. Getty I and Sarah C. Getty; sister, Gertrude Lois Getty; wives, Jeannette McDermot, Allene Ashby, Ann Rork, Fini Helmly; children, Eugene Paul Getty II, Gordon Getty, George F. Getty, and Timmy Getty; and young grandchildren, Anne, Caroline, Claire, and J. Paul Getty III. Photos of wife, Teddy are located with the photos of J. Paul Getty. Photos of Ronald Getty are located with Ralph Hewins' book signing images. Persons listed above may also appear in images of various events listed below. Images are black-and-white except for one hand-tinted photograph of Allene Ashby.
Box 1986.IA.10-4

Getty residences, 1908 and undated

Physical Description: (12 images)

Scope and Content Note

Material comprises images of Getty residences: South Kingsley Drive (Los Angeles); Sutton Place (England); exterior of the Getty Ranch House (near Malibu, California) and its zoo; and La Posta Vecchia (Gaeta, Italy).
Box 1986.IA.10-4

People, circa 1950s and 1960s

Physical Description: (approximately 12 images)

Scope and Content Note

Material includes photographs of Ralph Hewins, Penelope Kitson, President Eisenhower, and others.
Box 1986.IA.10-4

Museum gallery and art objects, undated

Physical Description: (3 images)

Scope and Content Note

Materials include images of a museum gallery within the Getty Ranch House, the "Ardibil Carpet," and the "Medalllion and Tree Carpet."
Box 1986.IA.10-4

Business: Japan, 1965 and undated

Physical Description: (approximately 20 images)

Scope and Content Note

Material includes images of Japanese business associates, an oil tanker, Ralph Hewins, and others.
Box 1986.IA.10-4

Business: Spartan, circa 1940s

Physical Description: (7 images)

Scope and Content Note

Material includes an aerial view of the Spartan facility, and Spartan mobile home interiors, William F. Humphry, Maxwell W. Balfour, and British Royal Air Force (RAF) student pilots at the Spartan School of Aeronautics. See also images of J. Paul Getty for an additional photograph of Spartan employees.
Box 1986.IA.10-4

Business: various, circa 1930s-1960s

Physical Description: (approximately 82 images)

Scope and Content Note

Material comprises exterior shots of various Getty buildings and models of buildings; refineries; filling station; interior of the Cotillion Room (Hotel Pierre, NY); aerial view of Hotel Pierre Marques (Alcapulco); and oil tankers, derricks, drilling sites, pipelines, employees and other shots related to the petroleum business.
Box 1986.IA.10-4

Hotel Pierre event, March 1960

Physical Description: (26 8 x 10"; 27 3 x 5"; and 2 3 x 5" color)

Scope and Content Note

Materials comprise professional photographs stamped "Hotel Pierre Public Relations, Fifth Ave. & 61st Street, New York, N.Y." and "Please credit Irwin Dribben, New York" on verso. Photographs feature Ralph Hewins, George F. Getty II, and Gloria Getty.
Box 1986.IA.10-4

Hewins' book signing, 1960

Physical Description: (approximately 18 images)

Scope and Content Note

Material documents a reception held at the J. Paul Getty Museum (galleries and courtyard of the Ranch House) to commemorate the publication of Ralph Hewins' biography of J. Paul Getty. Material includes images of Ralph Hewins; George F. Getty II and his wife, Gloria Getty; Ronald Getty, and his mother, Fini Helmle; and others.
Box 1986.IA.10-3, Folder 1-7

Annotated photocopies of prints in the collection, undated