Guide to the Henry Clay Branson Salisbury Plain Typescript and Correspondence MS.L.018
Processed by Adrian Turner; machine-readable finding aid created by Adrian Turner
Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine Libraries
(cc) 2001
The UCI Libraries
P.O. Box 19557
University of California, Irvine
Irvine 92623-9557
spcoll@uci.edu
Note
Arts and Humanities--Literature--American Literature
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine Libraries
Title: Henry Clay Branson
Salisbury plain typescript and correspondence
Creator:
Branson, H.C. (Henry C.)
Identifier/Call Number: MS.L.018
Physical Description:
0.4 Linear Feet
(1 box)
Date (inclusive): circa 1962-1965
Abstract: This material comprises an unbound typescript of Branson's
Salisbury Plain and correspondence between Branson and author Kenneth Millar (also known by his pseudonym Ross Macdonald), consisting of
24 holograph and typescript letters written between 1963 and 1966. These letters concern Millar's revisions and editorial
comments, the subsequent publication of the book, and its reception by the public. The typescript contains Branson's holograph
annotations, incorporating Millar's editorial comments as detailed in 16 pages of holograph notes included with the correspondence.
Many of Millar's suggestions documented here were incorporated into the final text of
Salisbury Plain, first published in 1965. Branson composed this Civil War novel largely between 1958 and 1959. E.P. Dutton and Co., Inc.,
of New York accepted Branson's revised typescripts for publication in 1964.
Language of Material:
English
.
Collection is open for research.
Property rights reside with the University of California. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and
their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please contact the Head of Special Collections and Archives.
Henry Clay Branson
Salisbury Plain typescript and correspondence. MS-L018. Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries, Irvine, California. Date
accessed.
For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this
collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.
Gift of Donald A. Yates, 2001.
Processed by Adrian Turner in 2001.
Henry Clay Branson was the author of a number of crime novels written primarily during the 1940s and 1950s featuring detective
John Bent, including
The Pricking Thumb and
The Leaden Bubble.
Salisbury Plain was one of his later works. He was born in Battle Creek, Michigan in 1904, and received his B.A. from the University of Michigan
at Ann Arbor in 1937. He died in 1981.
His correspondent, Kenneth Millar (1915-1983), was well known by his pseudonym Ross Macdonald. He was the author of twelve
classic novels of detective fiction. His extensive writings include reviews, short stories, poetry, plays, screenplays, and
essays. In the 1940s, Millar met and befriended Branson and his wife Anna. The Bransons and Millar were active correspondents
through the 1970s.
Collection Scope and Content Summary
This material comprises an unbound typescript of Branson's
Salisbury Plain and correspondence between Branson and author Kenneth Millar (also known by his pseudonym Ross Macdonald), consisting of
24 holograph and typescript letters written between 1963 and 1966. These letters concern Millar's revisions and editorial
comments, the subsequent publication of the book, and its reception by the public. The typescript contains Branson's holograph
annotations, incorporating Millar's editorial comments as detailed in 16 pages of holograph notes included with the correspondence.
Many of Millar's suggestions documented here were incorporated into the final text of
Salisbury Plain, first published in 1965. Branson composed this Civil War novel largely between 1958 and 1959. E.P. Dutton and Co., Inc.,
of New York accepted Branson's revised typescripts for publication in 1964.
The donor to UC Irvine, Donald A. Yates, is a scholar of Latin American literature who was a close friend of the Bransons
and the Millars.
A copy of
Salisbury Plain (New York: E.P. Dutton & Co., Inc., 1965) with Branson's ownership inscription was cataloged separately.
A related collection of Branson's drafts of
Salisbury Plain is housed in the Special Collections Division of the Michigan State University Libraries. Numerous letters sent from Millar
to Branson from 1944 to 1974 can be found in the Kenneth Millar Papers (MS-L01), Special Collections and Archives, the UC
Irvine Libraries.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
American fiction -- 20th century -- Sources
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Fiction
Authors
Millar, Kenneth
Yates, Donald A.
Branson, H.C. (Henry C.)
box 1, folder 1-2
Correspondence
box 1, folder 1
1963
box 1, folder 2
1964-1965
box 1, folder 3-4
Salisbury Plain, unbound typescript, ca. 1962