Finding Aid for the Harold Bell Wright Papers, 1900-1944
Processed by Gerry Chudleigh; machine-readable finding aid created by Alight Tsai
UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections
Manuscripts Division
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
Email: spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
URL: http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/special/scweb/
© 2002
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Finding Aid for the Harold Bell Wright Papers, 1900-1944
Collection number: 868
UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections
Manuscripts Division
Los Angeles, CA
Contact Information
- Manuscripts Division
- UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections
- Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
- Box 951575
- Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
- Telephone: 310/825-4988 (10:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., Pacific
Time)
- Email: spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
- URL: http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/special/scweb/
- Processed by:
- Gerry Chudleigh, 25 April 1990
- Encoded by:
- Alight Tsai
- Encoding supervision by:
- Caroline Cubé
- Text converted and initial container list EAD tagging by:
- Apex Data Services
- Online finding aid edited by:
- Josh Fiala, June 2003
© 2002 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Harold Bell Wright Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1900-1944
Collection number: 868
Creator:
Wright, Harold Bell, 1872-1944
Extent:
5 boxes (2.5 linear ft.)
Repository:
University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Department of Special Collections.
Los Angeles, California 90095-1575
Abstract: Harold Bell Wright (1872-1944) was a painter and decorator (1887-92) and a landscape painter (1892-97) before becoming a pastor
serving the midwest and Redlands, California (1897-08). He retired from the ministry in 1908 and became a novelist. His published
works include
That printer of Udell's (1903),
The shepherd of the hills (1907),
The uncrowned king (1910),
The winning of Barbara Worth (1911),
A son of his father (1925), and
The man who went away (1942). The collection consists of manuscripts of Wright's first 9 novels, some correspondence, clippings, other ephemera,
a large group of photographs, reproductions of illustrations to some of his books, and original ink drawings.
Physical location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library, Department
of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Language:
English.
Administrative Information
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections. Literary rights, including
copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds
the copyright and pursue the
copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
Restrictions on Access
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Advance notice required for access.
Additional Physical Form Available
A copy of the original version of this online finding aid is available at the UCLA Department of Special Collections for in-house
consultation and may be obtained for a fee. Please contact:
- Public Services Division
- UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections
- Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
- Box 951575
- Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
- Telephone: 310/825-4988 (10:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., Pacific
Time)
- Email: spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
- Dawson's Book Shop, purchase, 1965.
- Ex-libris Elsberry W. Reynolds.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Harold Bell Wright Papers (Collection 868). Department of Special Collections, Charles E. Young
Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
UCLA Catalog Record ID
Biography
Wright was born on May 4, 1872 in Rome, New York; educated in the student preparatory department of Hiram College; worked
as a painter and decorator (1887-92) and as a landscape painter (1892-97); became a pastor in the Christian (Disciples) Church,
Pierce City, Missouri, (1897-98), and at churches in Pittsburg, Kansas (1898-1903), Kansas City, Missouri (1903-05), Lebanon,
Missouri (1905-07), and Redlands, California (1907-08); retired from the ministry in 1908; became a novelist whose published
works include
That printer of Udell's (1903),
The shepherd of the hills (1907),
The calling of Dan Matthews (1909),
The uncrowned king (1910),
The winning of Barbara Worth (1911),
A son of his father (1925),
To my sons (1934), and
The man who went away (1942); he died on May 24, 1944.
Scope and Content
Collection consists of manuscripts of Wright's first 9 novels, including
The shepherd of the hills and
The winning of Barbara Worth, some correspondence, clippings, other ephemera, a large group of photographs of and relating to Wright, reproductions of
illustrations to some of his books, as well as original ink drawings by Wright. Collection was originally in possession of
Elsberry W. Reynolds, Wright's publisher from 1902-19, and his partner in movie production until at least 1922.
Organization and Arrangement
Arranged in the following series:
- Photographs, illustrations, ephemera, letters,
The uncrowned king, ink drawing (Box 1).
-
That printer of Udell's,
The shepherd of the hills,
The recreation of Brian Kent (Box 2).
-
The calling of Dan Matthews,
Their yesterdays,
The eyes of the world (Box 3).
-
Their yesterdays (typescript),
The winning of Barbara Worth (Box 4).
-
When a man's a man (Box 5).
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Wright, Harold Bell, 1872-1944--Archives.
Authors, American--20th century--Archival resources.
Manuscripts for publication.
Note
Note: This entire five box collection is evidently from the personal and professional collection of Elsberry W. Reynolds,
Wright's publisher from 1902 until 1919 and Wright's partner in movie production until at least 1922. The collection consists
mostly of material Wright sent to Reynolds' employer, The Book Supply Company, for publication, in addition to a few things
sent to Reynolds personally.
The only materials in the collection that date later than 1922 are a modern photocopy of a part of a book that talks about
Wright, and a newspaper clipping from 1963. Both of these items are so much newer than the rest of the collection that I assume
they were added after the collection came to the library.
This register is compiled by Gerry Chudleigh a collector of Wright's books and author of
Harold Bells Wright's Books: A Field Guide and Checklist (Self-published, 1990).
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
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
20
Matt preparing to draw gun outside Shepherd's cabin.
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
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
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 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
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
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.
