William Hempstead Porterfield Scrapbooks and Ephemera, 1898-1929

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Summary

Creators:
Porterfield, William Hempstead, 1872-1927
Abstract:
William H. Porterfield (1872-1927) was a reporter and subscription solicitor for the San Diego Sun before purchasing a half interest in the paper. He also founded, purchased, or ran various newspapers throughout California, and wrote a daily column in the San Diego Sun from 1919 until his death. The collection consists of four scrapbooks containing biographical items of Mrs. Lottie (Buck) Porterfield's activities as a vocalist, clippings of articles by William H. Porterfield, items by Porterfield from the Mediterranean, clippings from the San Diego Sun on his death and a personal scrapbook, An adventure in pyramids.
Extent:
1 box (0.5 linear ft.) 1 oversize box
Language:
English.

Background

Scope and content:

Collection consists of four scrapbooks containing biographical items of Mrs. Lottie (Buck) Porterfield's activities as a vocalist, 1898-1916; clippings of articles by William H. Porterfield when United Press reporter in the Orient in 1927; items by Porterfield from the Mediterranean; clippings from the San Diego Sun on the death of William H. Porterfield; and a personal scrapbook, An adventure in pyramids.

Biographical / historical:

Porterfield was born on April 26, 1872 in Vinton, Iowa; briefly attended University of South Dakota at Mitchell; moved to San Diego in 1891; married Lottie Buck in 1892; became a reporter and subscription solicitor for the San Diego Sun; in 1901 purchased a half interest in the paper; in 1903 he represented the Pacific coast group of Scripps-McRae newspapers as advertising manager; founded the Sacramento Star in 1904, and became president of its publicity company; took over Fresno Tribune (1906), Los Angeles Record (1909) and San Francisco Record (1910) as publisher under Scripps-McRae control; backed California Governor Hiram Johnson and the Progressive Movement; wrote daily column in San Diego Sun from 1919 until his death; founded the Ventura County Star in 1925; in addition to a syndicated story of his foreign travels he published a novel of newspaper life, An Adventure in Pyramids (1927); he died on September 2, 1927 in San Diego.

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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