Arrangement
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Conditions Governing Access
Conditions Governing Use
Biographical
Scope and Contents
Processing Information
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
California State University, Monterey Bay Archives and Special Collections
Title: Ric and Billie Barbara Masten papers
Creator:
Masten, Ric
Creator:
Masten, Billie Barbara
Identifier/Call Number: MS.7
Physical Description:
15.73 Linear Feet
(7 record Cartons, 4 file boxes, 1 half file box, 2 flat boxes, and 1 oversize folder)
Date (inclusive): 1894-2008
Date (bulk): 1929-2008
Abstract: Writings, correspondence, clippings, photographs, business records, recordings, publications, fliers, posters, artwork, notes,
scrapbooks and other personal papers of Carmel poet Ric Masten and his wife, poet Billie Barbara Masten, from 1894, 1929-2008.
The bulk of the collection documents Ric’s career as a traveling poet and folk singer. Additional items include materials
documenting Billie Barbara’s work as a poet, artist, and performer.
Arrangement
Materials are arranged in 8 series:
Series 1: Music and Sun Ink Publishing, 1959-2007
Series 2: Performances, 1959-2008
Series 3: Billie Barbara Masten, 1932-2008
Series 4: Personal, 1894, 1929-2008
Series 5: Clippings, 1952-2008
Series 6: Publications, 1970-2007
Series 7: Audiovisual, 1970-2001
Series 8: Oversize and artifacts, 1947-2008
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Billie Barbara Masten and April F. Masten, 2010.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is available for research by appointment only. Please contact Archives and Special Collections staff in advance
to request access.
Conditions Governing Use
California State University, Monterey Bay does not hold copyright to all materials in this collection. Archives and Special
Collections recognizes that it is incumbent upon the researcher to procure permission to publish information from this collection
from the owner of copyright.
Biographical
Ric Masten was an artist, songwriter, folksinger, poet and Unitarian minister. He was born in Carmel, California on June 20,
1929. Ric graduated from Montezuma High School in Los
Gatos, California in 1946, and attended several colleges, but never received a degree. Ric studied painting in Paris at the
Institut des Beaux Arts, but upon returning to Carmel, began writing and producing musical comedies at the Forest Theater,
where he met his future wife, Billie Barbara. He settled with his family in Palo Colorado Canyon, the area of Big Sur which
was often the subject of his 23 books and other performance pieces. Ric started songwriting and eventually began performing
his own poetry. Beginning in 1966, he traveled extensively, performing at hundreds of conferences, colleges, schools, and
churches. Through the years, Ric received numerous awards and honors, both nationally and internationally. In 2007, he was
awarded an honorary doctorate from CSUMB. Ric Masten died May 9, 2008 of prostate cancer.
Billie Barbara Masten was an actress, poet and artist. She was born Billie Barbara Bolton in San Bernardino, California in
1932 and moved with her parents to Carmel five years later. Billie Barbara studied voice and theatre at Monterey Peninsula
College. An aspiring actress, Billie Barbara married Ric Masten after they met at Carmel’s Forest Theatre. After raising their
family, Billie Barbara joined her husband on tour in the mid-seventies and began performing with him and on her own at universities,
churches, prisons, women’s shelters, and retirement homes. Billie Barbara died December 4, 2012 from a stroke.
Scope and Contents
Writings, correspondence, clippings, ephemera, photographs, business records, notes, scrapbooks and other personal papers
of Ric and Billie Barbara Masten. The bulk of the collection documents Ric’s career as a poet and performer from 1959 until
his death in 2008 and includes photocopied sheet music of Ric’s songs, correspondence, business records from Sunflower Ink
Publishing, contracts, touring calendars, performance materials, promotional items, photographs, artwork, published works,
and audio recordings. The collection includes materials related to Ric’s early education and career, as well as materials
documenting Ric’s involvement with the Unitarian Universalist Association. It also contains personal documents, correspondence,
photographs, and a few items from Ric’s father and grandfather, which date back to 1894. Additional items include materials
documenting Billie Barbara’s work as a poet, author, artist, and performer, as well as more personal items of Billie Barbara’s,
such as her dream logs and journals.
Processing Information
This collection was processed based on its original organization at the time of its donation to CSUMB. This collection was
processed by Robin Guthrie, with the assistance of Josiah Peralta and Peter Alvarez.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Health
Middle age
Popular music -- Writing and publishing
Poetry
Monterey Peninsula (Calif.) -- Poetry
Wit and humor
Masten, Billie Barbara
Masten, April F.
Masten, Billie Barbara
Masten, Ric