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Finding Aid to the Collection of Joaquin Miller Papers, 1871-1967, bulk 1871-1913
BANC MSS C-H 58  
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Collection Details
 
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  • Collection Summary
  • Information for Researchers
  • Administrative Information
  • Biographical Information
  • Scope and Content of Collection

  • Collection Summary

    Collection Title: Collection of Joaquin Miller Papers
    Date (inclusive): 1871-1967,
    Date (bulk): , bulk 1871-1913
    Collection Number: BANC MSS C-H 58
    Creator : Miller, Joaquin, 1837-1913
    Extent: Number of containers: 5 boxes and 2 cartons Linear feet: 4.5
    Repository: The Bancroft Library
    Berkeley, California 94720-6000
    Abstract: Contains correspondence, to and from Miller; manuscripts of writings, including poetry; clippings by and about Miller, many about his death. Also includes a small amount of legal and financial records, tributes, programs and souvenirs, and other miscellaneous items. Some correspondents include Andrew Carnegie, Ina D. Coolbrith, Jack London, James D. Phelan, George Sterling and Charles Warren Stoddard.
    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.

    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 Joaquin Miller Papers, BANC MSS C-H 58, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.

    Alternate Forms Available

    There are no alternate forms of this collection.

    Related Collections

    Joaquin Miller papers: to various individuals, (BANC MSS 88/36 c)
    Joaquin Miller letters and manuscripts, (BANC MSS 2005/250 c)
    Ina Donna Coolbrith Collection of Letters and Papers, (BANC MSS C-H 23)
    Ina Donna Coolbrith Papers: Additions, (BANC MSS 70/117 c)
    Yone Noguchi Papers: Additions, (BANC MSS 71/39 c)
    Charles Warren Stoddard Collection of Papers, (BANC MSS C-H 53)
    Partington Family Papers (BANC MSS C-H 84)
    Partington Family Papers: Additions (BANC MSS 81/143 c)
    Juanita Joaquina Miller Papers (BANC MSS C-H 147)

    Separated Material

    Photographs have been transferred to the Pictorial Collections of The Bancroft Library. (BANC PIC 1963.014-.015)

    Indexing Terms

    The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
    Miller, Joaquin, 1837-1913--Archives
    Cook, Ina Peterson--Correspondence
    Wagner, Harr, 1857-1936--Correspondence
    Carnegie, Andrew, 1835-1919--Correspondence
    Coolbrith, Ina D. (Ina Donna), 1842?-1928--Correspondence
    London, Jack, 1876-1916--Correspondence
    Phelan, James D. (James Duval), 1861-1930--Correspondence
    Sterling, George, 1869-1926--Correspondence
    Stoddard, Charles Warren, 1843-1909--Correspondence
    Rossetti, Dante Gabriel, 1828-1882--Correspondence
    Boughton, George Henry, 1834-1905--Correspondence
    Poets, American--19th century
    American poetry--California
    Authors, American--19th century
    Poems
    Manuscripts for publication
    Honeyman, Robert B.--Robert B. Honeyman, Jr. collection
    Norris, Thomas W. (Thomas Wayne).--Thomas W. Norris collection

    Administrative Information

    Acquisition Information

    The Collection of Joaquin Miller Papers were given to and/or purchased by The Bancroft Library at various times. Some folders are annotated with information with respect to provenance. Most of the original materials were acquired in the T.W. Norris Collection and the Robert B. Honeyman Collection. Additions were made in October 1962, a gift of his daughter, Juanita Miller. Additions in the form of purchases were made in February 2006.

    Accruals

    No additions are expected.

    Processing Information

    Processed by Alison E. Bridger and Brian Plimley in 2006.

    Biographical Information

    Born Cincinnatus Heine (or Hiner) Miller on September 8, 1837, near Liberty, Indiana. In 1852, his family moved to the Oregon Territory and two years later at the age of 17 he went to the California gold fields. At the urging of Ina D. Coolbrith, he changed his name to Joaquin Miller sometime around 1870.
    Best know as a poet, Miller also worked as a mining camp cook, a lawyer and a judge, a newspaper writer, a conservationist, and a Pony Express rider. Miller proclaimed himself the "Poet of the Sierras," and the "Byron of the Rockies."
    Miller took poetic license to heart and stretched many of the facts of his life, sometimes even claiming to be younger than he was. He found fame in England with many of his "tall truths."
    In 1886, Joaquin began buying land above Oakland, using poetic license and naming it "The Hights." The land was later sold by his family in 1919 to the City of Oakland and named Joaquin Miller Park.
    Joaquin Miller died February 17, 1913.

    Scope and Content of Collection

    Contains correspondence, to and from Miller; manuscripts of writings, including poetry; clippings by and about Miller, many about his death. Also includes a small amount of legal and financial records, tributes, programs and souvenirs, and other miscellaneous items. Some correspondents include Andrew Carnegie, Ina D. Coolbrith, Jack London, James D. Phelan, George Sterling and Charles Warren Stoddard.