Harold Bell Wright Papers, 1900-1944

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Summary

Creators:
Wright, Harold Bell, 1872-1944
Abstract:
Harold Bell Wright (1872-1944) was a painter and decorator (1887-92) and a landscape painter (1892-97) before becoming a pastor serving the midwest and Redlands, California (1897-08). He retired from the ministry in 1908 and became a novelist. His published works include That printer of Udell's (1903), The shepherd of the hills (1907), The uncrowned king (1910), The winning of Barbara Worth (1911), A son of his father (1925), and The man who went away (1942). The collection consists of manuscripts of Wright's first 9 novels, some correspondence, clippings, other ephemera, a large group of photographs, reproductions of illustrations to some of his books, and original ink drawings.
Extent:
5 boxes (2.5 linear ft.)
Language:
English.

Background

Scope and content:

Collection consists of manuscripts of Wright's first 9 novels, including The shepherd of the hills and The winning of Barbara Worth, some correspondence, clippings, other ephemera, a large group of photographs of and relating to Wright, reproductions of illustrations to some of his books, as well as original ink drawings by Wright. Collection was originally in possession of Elsberry W. Reynolds, Wright's publisher from 1902-19, and his partner in movie production until at least 1922.

Biographical / historical:

Wright was born on May 4, 1872 in Rome, New York; educated in the student preparatory department of Hiram College; worked as a painter and decorator (1887-92) and as a landscape painter (1892-97); became a pastor in the Christian (Disciples) Church, Pierce City, Missouri, (1897-98), and at churches in Pittsburg, Kansas (1898-1903), Kansas City, Missouri (1903-05), Lebanon, Missouri (1905-07), and Redlands, California (1907-08); retired from the ministry in 1908; became a novelist whose published works include That printer of Udell's (1903), The shepherd of the hills (1907), The calling of Dan Matthews (1909), The uncrowned king (1910), The winning of Barbara Worth (1911), A son of his father (1925), To my sons (1934), and The man who went away (1942); he died on May 24, 1944.

Acquisition information:
Dawson's Book Shop, purchase, 1965. Ex-libris Elsberry W. Reynolds.
Arrangement:

Arranged in the following series:

  1. Photographs, illustrations, ephemera, letters, The uncrowned king, ink drawing (Box 1).
  2. That printer of Udell's, The shepherd of the hills, The recreation of Brian Kent (Box 2).
  3. The calling of Dan Matthews, Their yesterdays, The eyes of the world (Box 3).
  4. Their yesterdays (typescript), The winning of Barbara Worth (Box 4).
  5. When a man's a man (Box 5).

Physical location:
Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.

Access and use

Location of this collection:
A1713 Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575, US
Contact:
(310) 825-4988
AskLSC@library.ucla.edu
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