Finding Aid to the Collection of Bret Harte Letters and Papers, 1857-1959, bulk 1857-1901

Finding Aid written by Alison E. Bridger
The Bancroft Library
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California, 94720-6000
Phone: (510) 642-6481
Fax: (510) 642-7589
Email: bancref@library.berkeley.edu
URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/
© 2006
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

Finding Aid to the Collection of Bret Harte Letters and Papers, 1857-1959, bulk 1857-1901

Collection Number: BANC MSS C-H 57

The Bancroft Library



University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, California
Finding Aid Written By:
Alison E. Bridger
Date Completed:
July 2006
© 2006 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

Collection Summary

Collection Title: Collection of Bret Harte letters and papers
Date (inclusive): 1857-1959,
Date (bulk): , bulk 1857-1901
Collection Number: BANC MSS C-H 57
Creators : Harte, Bret, 1836-1902.
Extent: Number of containers: 2 boxes, 1 oversize volume, and 1 roll. Linear feet: 1.25
Repository: The Bancroft Library
Berkeley, California 94720-6000
Abstract: Contains correspondence and writings. Correspondence includes outgoing letters, one incoming letter and several letters about Bret Harte. Correspondents include John H. Carmany, Harte's wife, Anna Griswold Harte, James Osgood, Elisha Bliss, Jr., Thomas Starr King and Lady Gregory. Writings include a diary from 1857-1858 and manuscripts including, The Heathen Chinee. Also includes a United States flag put together by Harte and his sister during the American Civil War, clippings, papers relating to Harte's employment in the U.S. Branch Mint, San Francisco and some miscellaneous papers and items relating to Harte.
Languages Represented: Collection materials are in English
Physical Location: Many of the Bancroft Library collections are stored offsite and advance notice may be required for use. For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the library's online catalog.

Information for Researchers

Access

Collection is open for research, with the following exceptions: the United States Flag in Roll 1 is RESTRICTED.

Publication Rights

Copyright has not been assigned to The Bancroft Library. All requests for permission to publish or reproduce must be submitted in writing to the Head of Public Services, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-6000. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Bancroft Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.
Copyright restrictions also apply to digital representations of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational purposes.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Collection of Bret Harte Letters and Papers, BANC MSS C-H 57, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.

Alternate Forms Available

Part of the collection is also available on microfilm, see call numbers BANC MSS C-H 57 FILM, BANC FILM 2165 and BANC FILM 2693, reel 1.

Related Collections

Bret Harte papers, 1869-1895. (BANC MSS 76/192)
Bret Harte papers, 1870-1898. (BANC MSS 77/166)
Bret Harte papers, circa 1869-1897. (BANC MSS 79/47)
Bret Harte letter to Ralph Keeler. (BANC MSS 88/34)
Bret Harte letters to his wife in London. (BANC MSS 88/146)
Bret Harte letters to his family. (BANC MSS 88/181)
Bret Harte letter, Washington, D.C., to E.A. Buck. (BANC MSS 91/55)
Bret Harte correspondence on microfilm. (BANC FILM 2693)
J. Ross (John Ross) Browne papers. (BANC MSS 78/163)
Ina Donna Coolbrith collection of letters and papers. (BANC MSS C-H 23)
George Davidson papers. (BANC MSS C-B 490)
Charles Warren Stoddard collection of papers. (BANC MSS C-H 53)
Overland Monthly records. (BANC MSS C-H 97)
Mark Twain Papers at The Bancroft Library, UC Berkeley.

Separated Material

Drawings transferred to the Pictorial Collections of The Bancroft Library (BANC PIC 1960.008--A)

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Harte, Bret, 1836-1902--Correspondence
Harte, Bret, 1836-1902--Manuscripts
Harte, Bret, 1836-1902 -- Heathen Chinee
Mints--California--San Francisco
Flags--United States
Authors, American
Manuscripts (for publication)
Poems
Diaries
Cards
Clippings
Carmany, John H
Harte, Anna Griswold
Osgood, James R. (James Ripley), 1836-1892
Bliss, Elisha, 1822-1880
Gregory, Lady, 1852-1932
King, Thomas Starr, 1824-1864
Honeyman, Robert B. Collection
Norris, Thomas W. (Thomas Wayne). Collection

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information

The Collection of Bret Harte Letters and Papers were given to and purchased by The Bancroft Library over many years including items from the Thomas W. Norris collection and the Robert B. Honeyman collection.

Accruals

No additions are expected.

Processing Information

Reprocessed by Alison E. Bridger in 2006.

Biographical Information

Francis Bret Harte (August 25, 1836-May 6, 1902) was an American author and poet, best remembered for his accounts of pioneering life in California. Born in Albany, New York, he moved to California in 1854, later working there in a number of capacities, including miner, teacher, messenger, and journalist.
-From "Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia," 2006 June.

Scope and Content of Collection

Contains correspondence and writings. Correspondence includes outgoing letters, one incoming letter and several letters about Bret Harte. Correspondents include John H. Carmany, Harte's wife, Anna Griswold Harte, James Osgood, Elisha Bliss, Jr., Thomas Starr King and Lady Gregory. Writings include a diary from 1857-1858 and manuscripts including, The Heathen Chinee. Also includes a United States flag put together by Harte and his sister during the American Civil War, clippings, papers relating to Harte's employment in the U.S. Branch Mint, San Francisco and some miscellaneous papers and items relating to Harte.

 

Series 1 Correspondence 1863-1901

Physical Description: Box 1, folders 1-11

Arrangement

Arranged hierarchically and chronologically.

Scope and Content Note

Contains one incoming letter, outgoing, including a few transcripts, and letters discussing Harte.
Box 1, Folder 1

Incoming circa 1863

Scope and Content Note

-also available on microfilm BANC FILM 2693, reel 1
Box 1, Folder 2

Outgoing 1866-1869

Scope and Content Note

-also available on microfilm BANC FILM 2693, reel 1
Box 1, Folder 3

Outgoing 1870-1872

Scope and Content Note

-also available on microfilm BANC FILM 2693, reel 1
Box 1, Folder 4

Outgoing 1875-1878

Scope and Content Note

-also available on microfilm BANC FILM 2693, reel 1
Box 1, Folder 5

Outgoing 1880-1884

Scope and Content Note

-also available on microfilm BANC FILM 2693, reel 1
Box 1, Folder 6

Outgoing 1885-1889

Scope and Content Note

-also available on microfilm BANC FILM 2693, reel 1
Box 1, Folder 7

Outgoing 1890-1894

Scope and Content Note

-also available on microfilm BANC FILM 2693, reel 1
Box 1, Folder 8

Outgoing 1895-1901

Scope and Content Note

-also available on microfilm BANC FILM 2693, reel 1
Box 1, Folder 9

Outgoing undated

Scope and Content Note

-also available on microfilm BANC FILM 2693, reel 1
Box 1, Folder 10

Outgoing - transcripts 1870-1895

Scope and Content Note

-also available on microfilm BANC FILM 2693, reel 1
Box 1, Folder 11

About Bret Harte circa 1876-1880

 

Series 2 Writings circa 1857-1875

Physical Description: Box 1, folder 12; Box 2

Arrangement

Arranged hierarchically and alphabetically.

Scope and Content Note

Contains a diary from 1857-1858, and manuscripts of his writings, some of which have been bound.
Box 1, Folder 12

Diary 1857-1858

Scope and Content Note

-also available on microfilm BANC FILM 2165
 

Manuscripts

Box 2, Folder 1

Concerning California and the Mercantile Library of San Francisco circa 1870

Box 2, Folder 2

The Heathen Chinee or On the Sinfulness of Ah Sin as reported by Truthful James circa 1870-1875

Box 2, Folder 3

The Idyll of Red Gulch 1869

Box 2, Folder 4

The Mystery of Hacienda undated

Box 2, Folder 5

The Story of an Ornithologist circa 1867, 1877

Box 2, Folder 6

Miscellaneous manuscripts circa 1864-1874

Box 2, Folder 7

Book reviews of other author's works undated

 

Series 3 Miscellaneous 1863-1951

Physical Description: Box 1, folders 13-15; Roll 1; Oversize volume 1.

Arrangement

Arranged hierarchically.

Scope and Content Note

Contains papers relating to Harte's employment as a superintendents clerk at the U.S. Branch Mint, San Francisco, a flag made during the American Civil War by Harte and his sister, clippings, and other miscellaneous items including a lock of hair.
Oversize Volume 1

U.S. Branch Mint, San Francisco 1863, 1868

Roll 1

United States Flag circa 1861

Box 1, Folder 13

Documents relating to Harte's U.S. Flag circa 1944-1959

Box 1, Folder 14

Clippings circa 1914-1951

Box 1, Folder 15

Miscellaneous circa 1870-1890

Microfilm BANC MSS C-H 57 FILM

Receipts, from Bret Harte for Mrs. Harte's services as choir singer at First Unitarian Church of San Francisco 1863

Scope and Content Note

-only available on microfilm.