Donald Barker Papers, 1902-1922, bulk 1913-1914

Summary

Creators:

Barker, Donald, active 1913-1916.

Abstract:

This collection consists chiefly of legal papers dating between 1913 and 1914 that concern the film rights to The Seas Wolf, "A Piece of Steak," and other stories by American author Jack London. The materials originated from the firm of Donald Barker, London's attorney.

Extent:

197 items in 4 boxes

Language:

English.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of consists of manuscripts, correspondence (business letters), documents (mostly legal), and ephemera, originating from the firm of Donald Barker, the attorney of American writer Jack London. The papers concern the film rights to The Seas Wolf, "A Piece of Steak," and other stories by London. The materials chiefly date between 1913 and 1914 and include about twenty letters and telegrams by and to Jack and Charmian London, along with almost two hundred documents and pieces of correspondence by the other parties involved, including Hobart Bosworth, H.M. Horkheimer, Sydney Ayres, Arthur Train, Frank Garbutt, George P. Brett, and Hughes Massie.

Biographical / historical:

Donald Barker, a partner in the firm Flint, Gray & Barker, represented Bosworth Incorporated and Jack London in their suit against the Balboa Amusement Producing Company in 1913. In the suit, London, Frank A. Garbutt, and Hobart Bosworth accused the Balboa Amusement Producing Company, et. al., of infringing on London's copyrights by attempting to distribute a version of The Sea Wolf. Copyrights for all of London's other works were reviewed and their validity reestablished as well. Finally a compromise was proposed in December 1913 by which Garbutt would re-edit the Balboa version of The Sea Wolf to remove all traces of London's participation. The edited version would be distributed by Garbutt with all revenues returning to the Balboa Company and Bosworth Incorporated's version would not have to be held up any longer.

Acquisition information:

This collection was acquired as a purchase from Mary Farrington on November 11, 1994 (Accession 1726).

Arrangement:

Arranged in the following order:

• Manuscripts
• Correspondence
• Documents
• Ephemera

Rules or conventions:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Related resources

Related material:

• Jack London Papers (Call number: mssJL)

Other descriptive data:

Bayne, Hugh Aiken. Joint author in: Arthur Cheney Train, 1875-1945, and Hugh Aiken Bayne, 1870-1954, letter (1913, Dec. 15) to Donald Barker, L.S. HM 61575. Physical Description: (typewritten: 5 p. ).

London, Charmian. Joint author in: Jack London, 1876-1916, and Charmian London. First draft for the Affidavit of Charmian (Kittredge) London, in the case of The Balboa Amusement Producing Company v. Jack London, 1876-1916, Frank A. Garbutt, Hobart Bosworth, 1867-1943, H.T. Rudisill, and Bosworth, Inc., [1913], M.S. HM 61464. Physical Description: (typewritten: 4 p. ).

London, Jack. Addressee in: Daniel Sydney Ayres, 4 letters (1913) to Jack London, 1876-1916. HM 61468-61471.

London, Jack. Addressee in: Donald Barker, 12 letters(1913-1915) to Jack London, 1876-1916. HM 61491-61502.

London, Jack. Addressee in: Hobart Bosworth, 1867-1943, letter (1913, Sep. 8) to Jack London, 1876-1916. HM 61514.

London, Jack. Addressee in: Arthur Cheney Train, 1875-1945, letter (1913, Oct. 14) to Jack London, 1876-1916. HM 61576.

Restrictions:

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Location of this collection:

Huntington Library, Manuscript Collections

1151 Oxford Road

San Marino, CA 91108, US

Contact:

(626) 405-2191

reference@huntington.org

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