Jump to Content

Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Finding Aid for the Harold Bell Wright Papers, 1900-1944
868  
View entire collection guide What's This?
Search this collection
 
 
Table of contents What's This?

Container List

Box 1

Photographs. n.p., n.d.

Physical Description: 101 items.

Scope and Content Note

The photographs are filed in 4 folders and consist of pictures of Wright, several friends, his desert writing places, and publicity photos from his 1919 silent movie, The Shepherd of the Hills.
 

Personal Photographs

Physical Description: (16 items):
Box 1, Folder 1

View of back of Wright on horse.

Physical Description: 2 × 3.
Box 1, Folder 1

Small faded photograph of two matching framed portraits, one of a man, the other of a woman.

Physical Description: 2.5 × 3.875.
Box 1, Folder 1

Wright and others sitting on ground in desert on picnic.

Physical Description: 3.25 × 5.125.
Box 1, Folder 1

Printed copy of desert picnic described above.

Box 1, Folder 1

Portrait of Wright seated in wooden chair.

Physical Description: 4 × 6.
Box 1, Folder 1

Printed card with Wright family portrait on front, and biographical sketch of Wright and family on back. Dated 1914.

Physical Description: The picture is 5.625 × 3.75.
Box 1, Folder 1

Wright sitting with two guests outside arrow-weed study, on his ranch, Tecolote Rancho, near El Centro, California. ca. 1910-1915.

Physical Description: 3 × 5.
Box 1, Folder 1

Signed portrait of woman whose first name is Ella, and whose last name begins with a B. May be Bradshaw.

Physical Description: 6.5 × 8.5.
Box 1, Folder 1

Portrait of Wright with retouched shirt, tie, jacket. This photo is used on front of brochure advertising his 1919 movie, The Shepherd of the Hills.

Physical Description: 6 × 8.
Box 1, Folder 1

Duplicate of retouched portrait above.

Box 1, Folder 1

Unretouched original of above portrait. ok EWR pencilled on back.

Physical Description: 6 × 8.
Box 1, Folder 1

Print of unretouched portrait above in folder. Signed, Sincerely yours, Harold Bell Wright.

Physical Description: 5.75 × 8.
Box 1, Folder 1

Striking portrait of Wright with very stylish city clothes and hat.

Physical Description: 7.5 × 9.5.
Box 1, Folder 1

Portrait of Wright looking very serious.

Physical Description: 7.5 × 9.5.
Box 1, Folder 1

Wright fishing in stream (Publicity photo).

Physical Description: 7.25 × 9.25.
Box 1, Folder 1

Wright fishing (duplicate).

 

Movie Publicity Photographs

Physical Description: 73 items

Scope and Content Note

From 1919, 10-reel, silent movie, The Shepherd of the Hills, produced by The Harold Bell Wright Story-Picture Corporation of which E.W.Reynolds was President. The pictures are numbered (2-105), but some numbers are difficult or impossible to read, and at least 35 are missing.
Box 1, Folder 2

2 Shepherd by sheep corral.

Box 1, Folder 2

4 Pete and Shepherd (?).

Note

In this photo and no.8, the shepherd looks very different from other photos of Shepherd. He has longer hair and beard and rolled up pants. May be someone else.
Box 1, Folder 2

5 Mr. and Mrs. Matthews bending over dying daughter, Maggie. Mr. Matthews vowing revenge.

Box 1, Folder 2

6 Artist (Shepherd's son) talking to Maggie.

Box 1, Folder 2

7 Pete and sheep.

Box 1, Folder 2

8 Shepherd (?), Pete, Matt, and Sammy.

Box 1, Folder 2

9 Mr. Matthews talking to Pete and Shepherd.

Box 1, Folder 2

10 Sammy, Shepherd, Pete, and dog in front of cabin.

Box 1, Folder 2

11 Mr. Matthews swearing revenge at Maggie's grave.

Box 1, Folder 2

14 Shepherd reading to Sammy on porch.

Box 1, Folder 2

15 Shepherd, Pete, Sammy, with injured sheep.

Box 1, Folder 2

16 Shepherd, Pete, Sammy, with injured sheep. From distance.

Box 1, Folder 2

18 Sammy and Pete.

Box 1, Folder 2

20 Matt preparing to draw gun outside Shepherd's cabin.

Box 1, Folder 2

21 Pete and Shepherd.

Box 1, Folder 2

22 Shepherd on porch of his cabin.

Box 1, Folder 2

23 Jim Lane and woman in covered wagon by cabin.

Box 1, Folder 2

24 Mrs. Matthews in cabin mending socks.

Box 1, Folder 2

25 Shepherd, Mr. Matthews, Pete.

Box 1, Folder 2

26 Shepherd showing flowers to Sammy. Pete watches.

Box 1, Folder 2

26 Shepherd showing... (duplicate of above).

Box 1, Folder 2

28 Artist painting picture of Maggie at spring by cabin.

Box 1, Folder 2

28 Artist painting... (duplicate of above).

Box 1, Folder 2

30 Wash Gibbs and 7 bad friends approaching Matt whom they have just shot and Shepherd who is bending over Matt.

Box 1, Folder 2

31 Mr. Matthews.

Box 1, Folder 2

32 Jim Lane and Shepherd attending to Matt after Wash Gibbs and friends tried to hang Matt and Shepherd.

Box 1, Folder 2

34 Shepherd visiting with Mrs. Matthews on her porch.

Box 1, Folder 2

38 Wash Gibbs and two bad friends sneaking up to cabin.

Box 1, Folder 2

40 Old Matt and Shepherd on porch. Shepherd hangs head after Mr. Matthews tells him what Shepherd's son did to Maggie.

Box 1, Folder 2

43 Pete giving flower to Shepherd.

Box 1, Folder 2

45 Young Matt standing with Shepherd by sheep corral.

Box 1, Folder 2

50 Possibly Jed Holland, the first person the Shepherd met. Jed directed Shepherd to Matthews' for lodging.

Box 1, Folder 2

51 Mr. and Mrs. Matthews looking down trail with smiles.

Box 1, Folder 2

52 Sammy and Jim Lane.

Box 1, Folder 2

54 Matt and Sammy.

Box 1, Folder 2

55 Matt chopping wood.

Box 1, Folder 2

56 Matt helping Sammy dismount from horse.

Box 1, Folder 2

56 Matt helping... (duplicate of above).

Box 1, Folder 2

57 Mr. and Mrs. Matthews, Matt, Sammy, Shepherd at Matthews' house.

Box 1, Folder 2

58 Matt chopping wood.

Box 1, Folder 3

59 Maggie breaking stick, unhappy after artist left.

Box 1, Folder 3

60 Artist putting flower in Maggie's hair.

Box 1, Folder 3

61 Shepherd praying in Matthews' attic bedroom after being told what his son did to Old Matt's daughter.

Box 1, Folder 3

63 Artist and Maggie by cabin and sheep corral.

Box 1, Folder 3

64 Uncle Ike outside Post Office.

Box 1, Folder 3

65 Sammy setting table for Jim Lane.

Box 1, Folder 3

66 Shepherd and Dr. Coughlan talking in Shepherds's cabin.

Box 1, Folder 3

67 Uncle Ike in front of Post office.

Box 1, Folder 3

68 Jim Lane in cabin with gun drawn.

Box 1, Folder 3

69 Dr. Coughlan knocking on Shepherd's cabin door.

Box 1, Folder 3

71 Sammy eating with Jim Lane.

Box 1, Folder 3

72 Wash Gibbs approaching frightened Sammy in Cabin.

Box 1, Folder 3

73 Sammy eating with Jim Lane.

Box 1, Folder 3

74 Shepherd and Dr. Coughlan and Pete in cabin.

Box 1, Folder 3

75 Pete leads Shepherd and Dr. Coughlan to Howard's cabin in Dewey cave.

Box 1, Folder 3

77 Shepherd teaching Sammy in cabin while Jim Lane watches.

Box 1, Folder 3

78 Matt standing over fallen Wash Gibbs.

Box 1, Folder 3

81 Uncle Ike handing letter to Sammy.

Box 1, Folder 3

85 Ollie at Matthews' mill with Sammy.

Box 1, Folder 3

86 Wash Gibbs' friend waiting on wagon. Sammy and Ollie on horses at Matthews' Mill. Wash Gibbs and Matt standing next to horses.

Box 1, Folder 3

89 Sammy and Pete in Shepherd's cabin with Shepherd.

Box 1, Folder 3

91 Sammy and well-dressed Ollie in her cabin.

Box 1, Folder 3

92 Sammy and plain Ollie arguing in cabin.

Box 1, Folder 3

94 Shepherd, Sammy, Jim Lane.

Box 1, Folder 3

95 Plain Ollie pleading with unresponsive Sammy in cabin.

Box 1, Folder 3

96 Ragged Sammy and well-dressed Ollie in her cabin.

Box 1, Folder 3

98 Jim Lane in cabin playing violin.

Box 1, Folder 3

100 Jim Lane in cabin.

Box 1, Folder 3

102 Jim Lane and Sammy in cabin.

Box 1, Folder 3

103 Sammy leaning on sheep fence by cabin.

Box 1, Folder 3

104 Jim Lane and Sammy in Texas by grave of Mrs. Lane.

Box 1, Folder 3

105 Jim Lane and Sammy beside grave of Sammy's mother in Texas.

Box 1, Folder 3

? Young artist (Howard, Shepherd's son) appealing to Maggie (Matthews' daughter).

Box 1, Folder 3

? Matt and Mr. Matthews ready to chop wood.

 

Photographs of Camp Hole-in the Mountain, on the south slope of the Santa Catalina Mountain foothills near Tucson, Arizona.

Abstract: Wright wrote When A Man's A Man at Camp Hole-in the Mountainin 1916.
Physical Description: 15 items:
Box 1, Folder 4

Arizona desert scenery. Corner fencepost in foreground.

Box 1, Folder 4

Arizona desert scenery.

Box 1, Folder 4

Arizona desert scenery.

Box 1, Folder 4

A desert canyon.

Box 1, Folder 4

Wright in tent at Camp Hole-in the Mountain.

Box 1, Folder 4

Camp Hole-in-the-Mountain with additional tents.

Box 1, Folder 4

Camp Hole-in-the-Mountain, three tents.

Box 1, Folder 4

Camp Hole-in-the-Mountain, five tents.

Box 1, Folder 4

Camp Hole-in-the-Mountain from distance.

Box 1, Folder 4

Camp Hole-in-the-Mountain. Close shot showing large shade tarp and several hammocks.

Box 1, Folder 4

Camp Hole-in-the-Mountain.

Box 1, Folder 4

Camp Hole-in-the-Mountain, showing tents.

Box 1, Folder 4

Camp Hole-in-the-Mountain desert scenery with saguaro.

Box 1, Folder 4

Man (possibly Wright) wearing Smokey hat at Camp Hole-in-the-Mountain with two horses.

Box 1, Folder 4

Close-up of Wright writing at outdoor shaded table at Camp Hole-in-the-Mountain, Arizona. He is dressed in all white clothes including hat and shoes.

Box 1

Illustrations for Their Yesterdays, n.p., n.d.

Physical Description: 29 items.

Scope and Content Note

Several duplicates of each of the 4 illustrations by F. Graham Cootes used in Wright's 6th book, Their Yesterdays. Chicago, 1912. Printed in same way and on same paper as in book. Several copies of each illustration are untrimmed and have no titles printed on them. Several additional copies of each illustration are trimmed to book size and have titles, but not the same titles as used in the book. (Listed in the order they appear in book.)
Box 1

Dreams of Womanhood.

Physical Description: 3 trimmed, 4 untrimmed.
Box 1

Blessed Yesterdays.

Physical Description: 3 trimmed, 4 untrimmed.
Box 1

Led by a Little Child.

Physical Description: 3 trimmed, 6 untrimmed, including one untrimmed black and white.
Box 1

Giving all that was given.

Physical Description: 3 trimmed, 3 untrimmed.
 

Ephemera. n.p., n.d.

Physical Description: 16 items.
Abstract: The material is filed in two folders:
Box 1, Folder 1

A permit for a minor (Edward Peil) under the age of 18 to work in the production of motion pictures for Wright.

Abstract: Permit good only for September 6, 1922.
Box 1, Folder 1

A copy of a contract (in 6 exhibits) dated September 6, 1922.

Scope and Content Note

Wherein Elsberry W. Reynolds, sells to M. Rosenberg and Sol Lessing the exclusive universal motion picture and spoken stage rights... together with the exclusive and universal right to use the titles and themes... and to adapt, arrange, change, transpose, add to or subtract from the themes and title... to such extent as the purchasers may deem expedient - to make movies from Wright's first 9 books. Wright is named as a witness.
Box 1, Folder 1

Wright's signature Harold for The Recreation of Brian Kent, p.5:

Note

Filed in folder 1 of this manuscript, see p.11.
Box 1, Folder 1

A photocopy of that portion of Frank Luther Mott's book, Golden Multitudes, which deals critically with Wright.

Box 1, Folder 2

Newspaper clippings about Wright.

Physical Description: 12 items.
Box 1, Folder 2

Allentown, Pennsylvania Democrat, September 7, 1911.

Box 1, Folder 2

Baltimore News, September 9, 1911.

Box 1, Folder 2

Birmingham News, September 9, 1911.

Box 1, Folder 2

Brooklyn Daily Eagle, September 9, 1911.

Box 1, Folder 2

Anderson Indiana Herald, September 17, 1911.

Box 1, Folder 2

Ansonia, Connecticut Evening Sentinel, September 12, 1911.

Box 1, Folder 2

Burlington Iowa Hawkeye, September 13, 1911.

Box 1, Folder 2

Bismark Herald, September 17, 1911.

Box 1, Folder 2

Allentown, Pennsylvania Morning Call, n.d.

Box 1, Folder 2

Indianapolis News, Sept 12, 1914.

Box 1, Folder 2

Rochester Herald, Sept. 12, 1914.

Box 1, Folder 2

Riverside, California Press Enterprise, March 3, 1963.

Physical Description: Photocopy.
 

Letters from Harold Bell Wright

Box 1

1 Letter to E.W. Reynolds. From Redlands, California, May 4, 1910.

Scope and Content Note

Holograph. Wright tells E.W. Reynolds he is sending to him the autograph manuscript of the Uncrowned King (Included in this collection). Pleads with Reynolds to not change a single word for publication.
Box 1

1 letter to H.G. Cory. From California. February 26, 1913.

Scope and Content Note

Comments on article Cory wrote and sent to Wright. Holograph.
Box 1

1 unused postcard.

Physical Description: Blank on one side.

Scope and Content Note

Photo on part of other side showing Wright and wife sitting in living room in front of huge bookcase. Carved elephants on pedestal, huge dog on floor.
 

The Uncrowned King. Redlands, California, 1910

Box 1

1 hardbound copy.

Physical Description: Worn and dirty.

Scope and Content Note

Identical to published first edition except notice printed inside says, This prospectus dummy is the property of The Book Supply Company and is not for sale. There is also a notice glued inside entitled, Vital Facts For Every Bookseller.
Box 1

1 crudely bound volume.

Physical Description: Manuscript is written with pen and ink.

Scope and Content Note

The one described in the letter to E.W. Reynolds of May 4, 1910 - that includes the autograph manuscript of The Uncrowned King, and a typescript copy. Both have extensive changes throughout.
Box 1

The Uncrowned King.

Physical Description: Typescript. 1 vol. in crude canvas binding.
 

Original Ink Drawing By Harold Bell Wright

Box 1

1 ink drawing of arrow-weed studio at Tecolote Rancho, near El Centro, California. Dated 1916.

Physical Description: Framed and under glass. Frame is 8.5 × 14. Outline of picture is 5.75 × 11.25.

Scope and Content Note

Signed with author's initials.
Box 2

That Printer of Udell's.

Physical Description: 432 leaves. Typescript. Filed in 2 folders. Each chapter is seperately bound with string near left margin. There are extensive drawings on almost every page on top, bottom, and side margins, and over the typed copy. Drawings are mostly in blue ink with red ink accents.

Scope and Content Note

Appears that it could be Wright's personal copy from which he read, one chapter per week, to his congregation in Pittsburg, Kansas, ca. 1901.
Box 2

The Shepherd of the Hills. Chicago, 1907.

Physical Description: 306 leaves. Typescript with many holographic changes and corrections and a few holographic notes.

Scope and Content Note

Every leaf has the title The Strength of the Hills, printed at the top. On every leaf the title is lined through with a pencil. On the title page and on the preceeding page that has only the title on it, the title, The Strength of the Hills, is typed. In both instances each letter of the word, Strength' is thoroughly crossed out and the word, Shepherd, is holographically written above the line.
Box 2

The Recreation of Brian Kent. California, 1919.

Physical Description: 315 leaves. Typescript with holographic corrections and a few holographic notes to the publishers. Filed in two folders.
Box 3

The Calling of Dan Matthews. Chicago, 1909.

Physical Description: 351 leaves. Typescript with extensive holographic corrections and notations to publisher. Crudely bound with string in a brown cloth cover.
Box 3

Their Yesterdays. Chicago, 1912.

Physical Description: ca. 255 leaves. Manuscript and typescript with various notations and corrections pasted in, with corrected pages inserted.
Box 3

The Eyes of the World. Chicago, 1914.

Physical Description: 455 leaves. Typescript with extensive holographic corrections. Loosely laced in paper cover.
Box 4

Their Yesterdays. Chicago, 1912.

Physical Description: 248 leaves. Typescript with holographic notations, and instructions to the publisher. Filed in modern manila envelope.
Box 4

The Winning of Barbara Worth. n.p, n.d.

Physical Description: 521 leaves. Typescript with holographic corrections and notations to publisher. Filed in 4 folders.
Box 5

When a Man's a Man. n.p., 1916.

Physical Description: Manuscript. This is a holograph written entirely with a pencil. Many holographic changes and corrections. Filed in 4 folders.
Box 5

When a Man's a Man. n.p., 1916.

Physical Description: Typescript. This appears to be the same version with a few pencilled corrections.