Eugene Manlove Rhodes Papers, 1892-1955

Summary

Creators:

Rhodes, Eugene Manlove, 1869-1934

Abstract:

The collection contains the literary and personal papers of Eugene Manlove Rhodes (1869-1934), a California novelist and short-story writer known as the "cowboy chronicler."

Extent:

Approximately 2,270 items in 13 boxes

Language:

The records are in English .

Background

Scope and content:

The collection contains literary manuscripts, family papers, business papers, correspondence, clippings and photographs by or related to Eugene Manlove Rhodes. Some manuscripts are on microfilm reels, and portions of the correspondence are photostatic copies. Significant correspondents include Witter Bynner, Bernard DeVoto, Albert Bacon Fall, Houghton Mifflin Company, Rupert Hughes, Stuart N. Lake, Conrad Richter, Charles Vincent Emerson Starrett and William Allen White. The addenda consists of correspondence from Eugene Rhodes and May Davison Rhodes to Rhoda Williams Marshall, Harold D. Carew, and Gordon Young, among others.

The collection consists of 11 boxes. Contents are arranged alphabetically by author unless otherwise noted.

Biographical / historical:

Eugene Manlove Rhodes (1869-1934) was a novelist and short-story writer known as the “cowboy chronicler.” He was born in Tecumseh, Nebraska, but moved with his parents to New Mexico in 1881. Although mainly self-educated as a young man, Rhodes attended the University of the Pacific in California from 1888, although financial difficulties forced him to withdraw by 1890. He had begun publishing anonymous pieces in the school newspaper, and from 1910-1934 published seven novels and a number of short stories. Rhodes’ novels include Good men and true (1910), West is west (1917), Copper streak trail (1922) and Beyond the desert (1934), and of his several novelettes, Paso por aqui (1926) has been singled out as his masterpiece.He married Mary Louisa Davison Purple in 1899 and lived in California and New York before returning to New Mexico in 1926. For a time Rhodes lived in a house at White Mountain given to him by Albert Bacon Fall. By 1930 the Rhodes had moved to Pacific Beach, California, due to Eugene’s failing health. He died in 1934 and was buried in the San Andres Mountains.

Acquisition information:

Gift of William Henry Hutchinson in May 1951 and February 1954. Addenda was transferred to the Manuscripts Department by M. Bliss on February 3, 1969. Some of the addenda was a gift of Mrs. Henry S. A. Alexander in 1953.

Rules or conventions:

Finding Aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:

American literature--New Mexico.
Authors, American--20th century--Correspondence.
Authors, American--20th century--Manuscripts.
Authors, American--West (U.S.)--Archives.
Western stories.
Family papers--West (U.S.)--20th century.
Letters (correspondence)--West (U.S.)--19th century.
Letters (correspondence)--West (U.S.)--20th century.
Manuscripts--West (U.S.)--20th century.
Photographs--West(U.S)--20th century.

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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