Finding Aid for the Margaret Collier Graham papers, 1877-1913
Processed by Gloria Chacon in the Center for Primary Research and Training (CFPRT), with assistance from Kelley Wolfe Bachli,
2009; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé.
UCLA Library Special Collections
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
Email: spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
URL: http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/special/scweb/
© 2010
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Margaret Collier Graham papers
Date (inclusive): 1877-1913
Collection number: 641
Creator:
Graham, Margaret Collier, 1850-1910.
Extent:
4 document boxes (2 linear feet)
Abstract: Margaret Collier Graham (1850-1910) is a California writer and a City of Pasadena pioneer. Graham began making a name for
herself by publishing stories about California life. The collection contains her earliest essay written in 1895, her first
printed book, as well as written work by her sister, Jane Collier. The collection also includes several drafts of essays,
speeches, short stories, book reviews, and a draft of an unpublished work, titled Idy. Some letters between Margaret Collier
Graham and her editors are also part of the collection.
Language: Finding aid is written in
English.
Repository:
University of California, Los Angeles. Library Special Collections.
Los Angeles, California 90095-1575
Physical location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library Special
Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Administrative Information
Restrictions on Access
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Library Special
Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library Special Collections. Literary rights, including copyright,
are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of
the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the
copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC
Regents do not hold the copyright.
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Gift of Mrs. Helen Raitt, June 16, 1955.
Processing Note
Processed by Gloria Chacon in the Center for Primary Research and Training (CFPRT), with assistance from Kelley Wolfe Bachli,
2009
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Margaret Collier Graham papers (Collection 641). Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research
Library, UCLA.
UCLA Catalog Record ID
Biography/History
Margaret Collier Graham (1850-1910) was born in Iowa. Collier Graham is considered a California writer and a City of Pasadena
pioneer. She attended Monmouth College in Illinois, and married former classmate Donald McIntyre Graham in 1873. Due to Donald
Graham's poor health, the couple made their way to California in 1876. In l883, Graham and his associates bought the l3,000-acre
Laguna Ranch which later became Lake Elsinore. Margaret chose the name Elsinore, and is considered one of the city's cofounders.
In 1887 the Grahams built the home of their dreams in South Pasadena. They called this mansion-now a historic site in South
Pasadena- by the Welsh name "Wynyate," which means vineyard. Wynyate became a meeting place for writers and lecturers. In
1888 Donald McIntyre Graham was elected first mayor of the new city of South Pasadena. California's climate helped McIntyre
Graham deal with his respiratory disease, but eventually he passed away prematurely in 1890. After his passing, Margaret
Collier focused more on her writing. During the so-called "Gay Nineties," she began making a name for herself by publishing
stories about California life. She published essays in the
Argonaut and the
Californian. Her stories appeared in the
Atlantic Monthly,
Century Magazine, and other periodicals as well as in her books,
Stories of the Foot-Hills and
The Wizard's Daughter And Other Stories published by Houghton, Mifflin Co. Margaret (Collier) Graham was active in the suffrage movement, and several social clubs.
She wrote passionately about women's rights, society, and literature. Margaret Collier Graham passed away on January 17, 1910.
Scope and Content
The collection contains the papers of California writer Margaret Collier Graham from the earliest essay written in 1895 to
her first printed book as well as written work by her sister, Jane Collier. The collection also includes several drafts of
essays, speeches, short stories, book reviews, and a draft of an unpublished work, titled
Idy. In addition, there are several notebooks, two scrapbooks and a ledger. One of the scrapbooks contains many family and
travel pictures, the other her printed articles. The ledger includes several property value estimates as well as journal entries
and pressed flowers.
Organization and Arrangement
Collection is arranged in chronological order within four subjects: drafts of work, printed work, scrapbooks, and other miscellaneous
including Jane Collier's (sister) essays.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Subjects
Graham, Margaret Collier, 1850-1910 --Archives.
Women authors, American --California --Archival resources.
Genres and Forms of Material
scrapbooks.
Box 1, Folder 1
Drafts and final printing of "Reform in Social Customs" essay
Box 1, Folder 2
Drafts of the "First Violin" review
1894
Box 1, Folder 3
Drafts of "Modern Fiction" essay
1895 May 14
Box 1, Folder 4
Short essay drafts and other miscellaneous writings
Box 1, Folder 5
Scrapbook of family and scenic photos
Box 1, Folder 6
Ledger with property appraisals, notes, sporadic journal entries, and pressed
flowers
1879 May
Box 2, Folder 1
Typed short stories and novella
Box 2, Folder 2
Stories of the Foothills in print (1st editions)
Box 2, Folder 3
Small note books (folder 1 of 2)
1898 - 1905
Box 2, Folder 4
Small note books (folder 2 of 2)
1898 - 1905
Box 3, Folder 1
Drafts of essays (folder 1 of 8)
Box 3, Folder 2
Drafts of essays (folder 2 of 8)
Box 3, Folder 3
Drafts of essays (folder 3 of 8)
undated
Box 3, Folder 4
Drafts of essays (folder 4 of 8)
undated
Box 3, Folder 5
Drafts of essays (folder 5 of 8)
Box 3, Folder 6
Drafts of essays (folder 6 of 8)
Box 3, Folder 7
Drafts of essays (folder 7 of 8)
1900 March 17 - 1907 October 25
Box 3, Folder 8
Drafts of essays (folder 8 of 8)
1900 March 17 - 1907 October 25
Box 4, Folder 1
Scrapbook of newspaper printed essays
Box 4, Folder 3
Jane E. Collier essays and other writing (folder 1 of 2)
1903 - 1913
Box 4, Folder 4
Jane E. Collier essays and other writing (folder 2 of 2)
