Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Finding Aid to the James Ralston Caldwell Papers, 1925-1988, bulk 1925-1965
BANC MSS 67/97 c
No online items
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Collection Title: James Ralston Caldwell papers
Date (inclusive): 1925-1988,
Date (bulk): , bulk 1925-1965
Collection Number: BANC MSS 67/97 c
Creators :
Caldwell, James Ralston, 1900-1965
Extent:
Number of containers: 3 boxes
Linear feet: 1.0
Repository: The Bancroft Library
Berkeley, California 94720-6000
Abstract: The James Ralston Caldwell papers include materials relating to the Loyalty Oath
Controversy on the University of California and the University of Nevada campuses, a small amount of material
relating to Caldwell's writing, and personal papers containing correspondence and materials concerning
Caldwell's death. Correspondents include Reginald Francis Arragon, George Boas, Arthur H. Brayfield, the
University of California Board of Regents, Robert G. Sproul, Group for Academic Freedom, Charlton Laird, and
personal correspondence between James Caldwell and his wife Katherine Field (Katherine Ehrgott Caldwell) and
with Caldwell's sister Josephine Caldwell.
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.
Collection is open for research.
Copyright has not been assigned to The Bancroft Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from
manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Public Services. 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.
[Identification of item], James Ralston Caldwell Papers, BANC MSS 67/97 c, The Bancroft Library, University
of California, Berkeley.
There are no alternate forms of this collection.
Printed materials have been transferred to the book collection of The Bancroft Library.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public
access catalog.
Caldwell, James Ralston, 1900-1965--Archives
Field, Katherine--Correspondence
University of California (1868-1952)
University of Nevada
Oaths--California
Oaths--Nevada
Authors, American--California--Berkeley
Minutes.
Faculty papers.
Poems.
Reviews.
Manuscripts for publication.
Brayfield, Arthur H
Arragon, Reginald Francis
Boas, George, 1891-
Laird, Charlton Grant, 1901-
Sproul, Robert Gordon, 1891-1975
Field, Katherine
Caldwell, Josephine
University of California (1868-1952). Regents
Group for Academic Freedom
The James Ralston Caldwell papers were given to The Bancroft Library by Katherine Field Caldwell on January
9, 1967. Additions were made by Dan Caldwell on May 5, 2004.
No additions are expected.
Processed by Alison E. Bridger in 2004.
| 1900 | Born on Jan. 20 in Hastings, Minnesota. |
| 1922 | Received baccalaureate from Princeton University, major in philosophy. |
| 1925 | Received A.M. from University of Wisconsin, in English. |
| 1929 | On September 1, married Katherine Field Ehrgott. |
| 1930 | Awarded Ph.D. from Harvard. |
| Joined University of California faculty in Berkeley, California, as assistant professor of English. | |
| 1946 | Attained professorship at the University of California. |
| 1950-1951 | Loyalty Oath Controversy at the University of California. |
| 1965 | Died on April 4. |
Scope and Content of Collection
The James Ralston Caldwell papers include materials relating to the Loyalty Oath Controversy on the University
of California and the University of Nevada campuses, a small amount of material relating to Caldwell's writing,
and personal papers containing correspondence and materials concerning Caldwell's death. Correspondents include
Reginald Francis Arragon, George Boas, Arthur H. Brayfield, the University of California Board of Regents,
Robert G. Sproul, Group for Academic Freedom, Charlton Laird, and personal correspondence between James Caldwell
and his wife Katherine Field (Katherine Ehrgott Caldwell) and with Caldwell's sister Josephine Caldwell.
The Loyalty Oath Controversy began when Universities around the country insisted on faculty and staff to sign
oath of loyalty to the United States and state that they did not belong or believe in any organizations
advocating the overthrow of the United States government including the Communist Party. In 1949 the University
of California instituted such an oath and 31 professors and many university employees were dismissed for not
signing. A Loyalty Oath was also instituted at the University of Nevada where professor Frank Richardson was
fired for refusing to sign and took the University to court. The Caldwell papers include correspondence relating
to the controversy at the University of California as well as other campuses across the United States, different
University of California committee papers relating to the controversy, and documents and clippings about the
dismissal proceedings by the University of Nevada against Frank Richardson.
Materials relating to Caldwell's writing includes letters of praise for his work John Keats Fancy,
correspondence about his poetry and to his wife about publishing an unfinished work after his death. Manuscripts
include, "Consider the Source," "What to Tell the Emperor," other essays and some poems. Also included are some
reviews of Caldwell's work as well as reviews done by Caldwell and a list of publications by Caldwell from early
in his career in 1939.
The personal papers of James Caldwell include correspondence, and items relating to his death. Correspondence
is between Caldwell and his wife, most during their years of courtship while Caldwell was still in Wisconsin and
Katherine was in Cambridge, Mass., and while Katherine was traveling in Italy and Greece. Also includes
correspondence with Caldwell's sister, Josephine Caldwell, and a small amount of correspondence from other
family members.