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Caldwell (James Ralston) Papers
BANC MSS 67/97 c  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Access
  • Accruals
  • Acquisition Information
  • Alternate Forms Available
  • Chronology
  • Preferred Citation
  • Processing Information
  • Scope and Content of Collection
  • Separated Material
  • Publication Rights

  • Contributing Institution: The Bancroft Library
    Title: James Ralston Caldwell family papers
    Creator: Caldwell, James Ralston, 1900-1965
    Creator: Field, Katherine
    Creator: Wood, Charles Erskine Scott, 1852-1944
    Creator: Field, Sara Bard, 1882-1974
    Creator: Caldwell, Josephine
    Identifier/Call Number: BANC MSS 67/97 c
    Physical Description: 2 linear feet )1 carton, 2 boxes)
    Date (inclusive): 1925-2014
    Date (bulk): 1925-1965
    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.
    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.
    Language of Material: English , English .

    Access

    Collection is open for research.

    Accruals

    No additions are expected.

    Acquisition Information

    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. Additions were made by Sara Wood Smith in 2020-2021.

    Alternate Forms Available

    There are no alternate forms of this collection.

    Chronology

    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.
    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.

    Preferred Citation

    [Identification of item], James Ralston Caldwell Papers, BANC MSS 67/97 c, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.

    Processing Information

    Processed by Alison E. Bridger in 2004. Additions processed by Lara Michels in 2022.

    Scope and Content of Collection

    The James Ralston Caldwell family papers include both professional papers and correspondence and personal and family correspondence and photographs.
    Among the professional materials in the collection are some materials relating to the Loyalty Oath Controversy on the University of California and the University of Nevada campuses. 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. 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.
    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.
    Personal and family papers include correspondence, some family miscellany, and photographs. Correspondence includes letters exchanged between James Ralston Caldwell and his wife Katherine Field (Ehrgott) Caldwell; letters from James Ralston Caldwell to his sister, Josephine Caldwell; letters from Katherine Field (Ehrgott) Caldwell to Josephine Caldwell; letters exchanged between James Ralston Caldwell and C.E.S. Wood and Sara Bard Field (his in-laws); letters from C.E.S. Wood to Katherine Field (Ehrgott) Caldwell; letters exchanged between James Ralston Caldwell and Anna Hyatt Caldwell and between Katherine Field (Ehrgott) Caldwell and Anna Hyatt Caldwell. There are also a few letters to Sara Caldwell (daughter of James Ralston Caldwell and Katherine Field (Ehrgott) Caldwell).
    Other family materials include correspondence, obituaries and eulogies on the occasion of James Ralston Caldwell's death and a folder of poems by Sara Bard Field and C.E.S. Wood.
    Finally, the collection includes two folders of family photographs consisting of photographs of the Caldwell family as well as some photographs of Katherine Field (Ehrgott) Caldwell and her parents.

    Separated Material

    Printed materials have been transferred to the book collection of The Bancroft Library.

    Publication Rights

    Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction of some materials may be restricted by terms of University of California gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user. For additional information about the University of California, Berkeley Library's permissions policy please see: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/about/permissions-policies

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Caldwell, James Ralston, 1900-1965--Archives
    Field, Katherine--Correspondence
    University of California (1868-1952)
    University of Nevada
    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
    Oaths--California
    Oaths--Nevada
    Authors, American--California--Berkeley
    Minutes.
    Faculty papers.
    Poems.
    Reviews.
    Manuscripts for publication.