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Spearman (Arthur D., S.J.) Papers
MSS.2014.08.18
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Archives & Special Collections, Santa Clara University Library
Title: Arthur D. Spearman, S.J. Papers
creator:
Spearman, Arthur D.
Identifier/Call Number: MSS.2014.08.18
Identifier/Call Number: 104
Physical Description:
35.68 linear feet
(57 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1824-1977 (bulk 1955-1975)
Physical Location: This collection is located in Santa Clara University's Archives and Special Collections.
Language of Material: English
Abstract: The Arthur D. Spearman, S.J. Papers, 1824-1977 (1955-1975), documents the life of priest, author, and former University Archivist
Father Arthur D. Spearman, S.J. The bulk of the collection consists of subject files and photographs used by Fr. Spearman
for his historical research. Fr. Spearman was an avid collector of materials related to his many research interests, including
mission history, the history of Santa Clara Valley, Santa Clara University, Native Americans, Jesuits, and his family genealogy.
The collection contains numerous newspaper clippings, informational literature, research notes, as well as various manuscripts
for published and unpublished articles written by Fr. Spearman. This collection is arranged into thirteen series: Series I.
Biographical and Personal Papers, 1920-1977 (1958-1972);
Series II. Family Materials, 1824-1977 (1945-1960); Series III. Subject Files, 1856-1975 (1955-1970); Series IV. Publications
and Manuscripts about Mission Santa Clara and Santa Clara University, 1948-1970 (1955-1967); Series V. Research on Jesuits
and Other Religious, 1873-1975 (1945-1965); Series VI. Research Materials and Manuscripts on John Joseph Montgomery, 1920-1977
(1955-1970); Series VII. Writings on Religious and Patriotic Themes, c. 1920-c. 1970 (1959-1967); Series VIII. Correspondence,
1927-1975 (1960-1972); Series IX. Collection and Research Index, undated; Series X. Artifacts, c. 1850-1975; Series XI. Audio
Recordings, 1963-1973; Series XII. Photographs, 1865-1974 (1950-1970); Series XIII. Oversize Materials, 1843-1973 (1955-1964).
The Arthur D. Spearman, S.J. Papers document the life of Father Spearman through his personal and biographical papers, family
papers, writings, research files, photographs, audio recordings, correspondence, and artifacts. The bulk of the collection
consists of subject files and photographs related to various aspects of local and California history. The topics covered by
the subject files include the history of Mission Santa Clara; the history of Santa Clara Valley, including the early settlers
of the area; the history of Santa Clara University; California history, with an emphasis of the various missions throughout
the state; and Native Americans with particular focus on the local Ohlone population. Though the majority of the subject files
relate to aspects of local and California history, some coverage is given to other topics such as the history of the railroad
and Catholic education in the U.S.
The collection contains manuscripts written by Fr. Spearman, including materials related to the books and various articles
Spearman authored. Research and correspondence for Spearman's monograph,
The Five Franciscan Churches of Mission Santa Clara: 1777-1825, can be found in the subject and correspondence files. Research notes, correspondence and publishing materials for the biography,
John Joseph Montgomery, 1858-1991: Father of Basic Flying are located in Series XI.
The oversize material in this collection covers many of the same topics that can be found elsewhere in the collection. The
formats in this series include maps, photographs, drawings, clippings, certificates and diplomas.
Santa Clara University was founded in 1851 by the Society of Jesus as Santa Clara College and is California's oldest operating
institution of higher learning. It was established on the grounds of Mission Santa Clara de Asìs, the eighth of the original
21 California missions. The college originally operated as a preparatory school and did not offer courses of collegiate rank
until 1853. The institution became known as the University of Santa Clara in 1912, when the schools of engineering and law
were added. For 110 years, Santa Clara University was an all-male school. In 1961, women were accepted as undergraduates and
Santa Clara University became the first coeducational Catholic university in California. The number of students and faculty
tripled over the next decade and the university began the largest building program in school history with eight residence
halls, a student union, and an athletic stadium. In the early 1970s, the Board of Trustees voted to limit the size of the
undergraduate population, an action that was intended to preserve the character and ensure the quality of the university for
generations to come. In 1985, the university adopted Santa Clara University as its official name. Bibliography: Santa Clara
University. "About SCU – History." www.scu.edu/about/history.cfm (Accessed Nov. 23, 2010) McKevitt, Gerald, S.J. The University
of Santa Clara: A History, 1851-1977. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 1979.
This collection is arranged into thirteen series: Series I. Biographical and Personal Papers, 1920-1977 (1958-1972);
Series II. Family Materials, 1824-1977 (1945-1960); Series III. Subject Files, 1856-1975 (1955-1970); Series IV. Publications
and Manuscripts about Mission Santa Clara and Santa Clara University, 1948-1970 (1955-1967); Series V. Research on Jesuits
and Other Religious, 1873-1975 (1945-1965); Series VI. Research Materials and Manuscripts on John Joseph Montgomery, 1920-1977
(1955-1970); Series VII. Writings on Religious and Patriotic Themes, c. 1920-c. 1970 (1959-1967); Series VIII. Correspondence,
1927-1975 (1960-1972); Series IX. Collection and Research Index, undated; Series X. Artifacts, c. 1850-1975; Series XI. Audio
Recordings, 1963-1973; Series XII. Photographs, 1865-1974 (1950-1970); Series XIII. Oversize Materials, 1843-1973 (1955-1964).
Materials in Archives and Special Collections may be subject to copyright. All requests for permission to publish from manuscripts
must be submitted in writing to the University Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Archives and Special
Collections as the owner of the physical materials, and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder,
which must also be obtained. Copyright restrictions also apply to digital reproductions of the original materials.
Arthur D. Spearman, S.J. Papers, MSS.2014.08.18, Santa Clara University Library, Archives and Special Collections.
Arthur Dunning Spearman, S.J. served as University Archivist at Santa Clara from 1957-1977. He was a prolific writer, producing
books, essays and articles on the history of Mission Santa Clara and Santa Clara University, his family history, religion,
and Native Americans. His first major book was
The Five Franciscan Churches of Mission Santa Clara, 1777-1825, published in 1963. In 1967 he published a biography of local aviation pioneer John J. Montgomery titled,
John Joseph Montgomery, Father of Basic Flying.
Spearman was born on August 26, 1899 in Wheaton, Illinois. His father, Frank Hamilton Spearman, was a well-known author of
Western novels and short stories. He was the sixth child of Frank and Eugenie Amelia Lonergan Spearman. The six children listed
in his genealogical table are Thomas Clark, Thomas Lonergan, Eugene, Elaine, Frank Hamilton and Arthur Dunning, however, Thomas
Lonergan and Elaine do not appear anywhere else in his papers or photographs.
The Spearman family moved from Wheaton, Illinois to Hollywood in 1905 after Frank Hamilton Spearman's best-selling novel,
Whispering Smith, was purchased by early filmmakers for adaptation to the big screen. The Spearman family was quite well-travelled.
In 1906, they spent a year in Rome and Florence. During this time, an audience with the Pope made a deep impression on Spearman.
The family spent summers on Nantucket, perhaps also visiting relatives in Maryland.
Spearman's education began at parochial schools in Rome, Evanston and Chicago (Loyola). He attended Saint Vincent's Preparatory
School in Los Angeles, before entering the Society of Jesus at the University of Santa Clara in 1918. Spearman spent two years
as a scholastic at Santa Clara before continuing his studies at Gonzaga. In 1921, constant insomnia and headaches forced a
break from his studies at Gonzaga. He was sent home to live with his parents for a year. Subsequently Spearman was stationed
at St. Ignatius Mission, Montana. There he began to write stories, which were related to him by the missionaries, and these
stories were published regularly in the Western Jesuit. During this period, he became increasingly interested in Native American
culture.
Spearman returned to Gonzaga and completed his BA in Theology in 1926 and his MA in English in 1927. In 1927-28 he taught
high school English and history as a scholastic at Gonzaga. Spearman began studies for the Sacred Theology Licentiate (STL)
in 1928 at Wheaton College in Illinois. The rector at Wheaton thought he was "too meticulous" to be ordained; Spearman was
transferred to St. Louis and ordained a week later on June 25, 1931. He was awarded the STL at St. Louis University in l932.
After ordination Spearman suffered a physical breakdown from which he never fully recovered. He attributed this to the "over-intensity
and mild friction" of 13 years of novitiate and difficult study. It is unclear how long this illness lasted, or where he was
when it overtook him. Spearman returned to Santa Clara in 1933-34 to teach English and religion, before moving to Los Angeles
to become director of the Loyola University library from 1935 to 1947. He was transferred to San Diego in 1947 to work in
Spanish-speaking and African American parishes. During the 1949 to 1954 period, he began his research in the history of early
Maryland and Delaware, and he compiled a four-volume family history.
In 1954 Spearman returned to Loyola University in Los Angeles and began his research on the early years of Mission Santa Clara
and Santa Clara University. He returned to Santa Clara in 1957 to serve as University Archivist and continue his historical
research. From 1957 to 1971 Spearman also served as chaplain of the Santa Clara Carmelite nuns and of the Catholic Daughters
of San Jose. He was chairman of the Historical Landmarks Commission for the city of Santa Clara from 1960 to 1964, and was
curator of Mission exhibits at the de Saisset Museum from 1960 to 1971. Spearman suffered a stroke in 1971, which sharply
curtailed his involvement in local history and research, although he continued to serve as University Archivist. Spearman
died in Santa Clara on April 9, 1977.
The biographical information provided here is an edited version of the Biographical History section of a legacy finding aid
at our institution.
This collection is open for research.
Collection processed and finding aid written and EAD encoded by Andrea Hoff in 2018.
Arthur D. Spearman, S. J., Autograph Collection, 009, Department of Archives and Special Collections, William H. Hannon Library,
Loyola Marymount University: http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8qf8tpf/
Magín Catalá, O.F.M. Collection, MSS.1994.01.03, Santa Clara University Library Archives and Special Collections: http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c82f7rr7/
Mission Santa Clara Manuscript Collection, Record Group 1, Santa Clara University Library Archives and Special Collections:
http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c85d8v2g/
John J. Montgomery Collection, Santa Clara University Library Archives and Special Collections: http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/tf5j49n7wp/
Santa Clara Valley Local History Collection, Record Group 102, Santa Clara University Library, Archives and Special Collections:
http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8b85dr3/
Fray Magín Catalá Digital Collection: http://content.scu.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/catala
SCU Maps Digital Collection: http://content.scu.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/maps
John J. Montgomery Collection Digital Collection: http://content.scu.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/montgomery
Mission Santa Clara Manuscripts Digital Collection: http://content.scu.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/msc
From College to University - SCU's first 150 years Digital Collection: http://content.scu.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/college
William M. Tipton Digital Collection: http://content.scu.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/tipton
The Beautiful Sacrifice of the Mass by Arthur D. Spearman, S.J. Link to bibliographic record: https://sculib.scu.edu/record=b1843605
Essays by Arthur D. Spearman, S.J. Link to bibliographic record: https://sculib.scu.edu/record=b1843529
Essays and Stories by Arthur D. Spearman, S.J. Link to bibliographic record: https://sculib.scu.edu/record=b1842734
The Five Franciscan Churches of Mission Santa Clara: 1777-1825 by Arthur D. Spearman, S.J. Link to bibliographic record: https://sculib.scu.edu/record=b1249769
Frank Hamilton Spearman, 1859-1937 : A General Bibliography by Arthur D. Spearman, S.J. Link to bibliographic record: https://sculib.scu.edu/record=b1325893
History of Devotion to the Sacred Heart by Arthur D. Spearman, S.J. Link to bibliographic record: https://sculib.scu.edu/record=b1843588
John Joseph Montgomery, 1858-1991: Father of Basic Flying by Arthur D. Spearman, S.J. Link to bibliographic record: https://sculib.scu.edu/record=b1148368
Magín Catalá, O.F.M.: The Holy Man of Santa Clara by Aloysius S. Stern, S.J. Link to bibliographic record: https://sculib.scu.edu/record=b1130264
Mission Santa Clara by Henry L. Walsh, S.J. Link to bibliographic record: https://sculib.scu.edu/record=b1789833
Notes for a History of Mission Santa Clara by Arthur D. Spearman, S.J. Link to bibliographic record: https://sculib.scu.edu/record=b1842642
Our Lady, Patroness of the Californias by Arthur D. Spearman, S.J. Link to bibliographic record: https://sculib.scu.edu/record=b1094338
Rails to the West: the Life, Family and Letters of Frank Hamilton Spearman, Dean of Railroad Story Writers, 1859-1937 by Arthur D. Spearman, S.J. Link to bibliographic record: https://sculib.scu.edu/record=b1821094
The Spanish-English Confessor's Guide by Arthur D. Spearman, S.J. Link to bibliographic record: https://sculib.scu.edu/record=b1522271
Thoughts for the Bicentennial by Arthur D. Spearman, S.J. Link to bibliographic record: https://sculib.scu.edu/record=b1843590
Two Padres from Nootka: A Memorial to Aloysius Stanislaus Stern, S.J. by Arthur D. Spearman, S.J.Link to bibliographic record: https://sculib.scu.edu/record=b1786605
A Visit to Early Santa Clara by Arthur D. Spearman, S.J. Link to bibliographic record: https://sculib.scu.edu/record=b1786656
Two photo albums, the Bond Family Photograph Album and The Cora Fremont Older Photograph Album, were separated from this collection
in order to aid accessibility.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Santa Clara University -- History
Indians of North America -- Missions -- California -- Archival resources
Ohlone Indians -- Missions -- California
Missions -- California
Santa Clara Valley (Santa Clara County, Calif.)
Jesuits -- History
Pioneers -- California
Californios
Aeronautics
Franciscans -- California
Spearman, Arthur D.
Santa Clara University (Calif.)
University of Santa Clara (Calif.)
Santa Clara College (Calif.)
Santa Clara Mission
Catalá, Magín