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William Randel Research Papers: Finding Aid
mssRandel research papers
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Title: William Randel Research Papers
Dates (inclusive): 1872-1992
Bulk dates: 1975-1983
Collection Number: mssRandel research papers
Creator:
Randel, William Peirce, 1909-.
Extent: 1,440 items in 7 boxes
Repository:
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
Manuscripts Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2129
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract: The bulk of this collection consists of research materials, notes, and correspondence created and compiled by American English
professor William Randel (1909-1996)
for an unfinished book on Mormon gold miner and journalist Samuel Brannan (1819-1889), as well as drafts of chapters of Randel's
book.
Language: English.
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services
Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to
quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such
activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is
one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
[Identification of item]. William Randel Research Papers, The Huntington Library,
San Marino, California.
Gift of the Dyer Library, July 8, 2005.
William Peirce Randel (1909-1996) was a professor of English who, later in his career,
engaged in full-time writing. Randel was a Professor of English Emeritus for the
University of Maine and was also a professor of English and director of American
Studies at Florida State University. Randel was an Edward Eggleston Scholar who
studied with Ralph Leslie Rusk and Lionel Trilling in the 1940’s. He was the author
of notable books about history, which include
The Ku-
Klux-Klan: A Century of Infamy,
The Evolution of American Taste,
The American Revolution: Mirror of a People, and a
biography of Edward Eggleston. Before his death, Randel was working on a
biographical book on the life of Samuel Brannan, Mormon, gold miner and journalist.
This collection contains correspondence, manuscripts, notes,
photographs, and ephemera. The bulk of the collection consists of William Randel’s notes and
study materials used to write the chapters of his book on Samuel Brannan. These
materials consist of handwritten notes regarding useful information found in books
and articles; reference and material notations and locations; photocopied articles
and texts of interest; newspaper clippings; and photocopied pictures. The notes and
study materials cover Chapters 1 through 7 of Randel’s book and include additional
notes and materials researched by Randel for the purpose of adding to his previous
notes. Notable chapter subjects include Sam Brannan’s childhood (Ch. 1); Joseph
Smith and Mormonism (Ch. 2); Lola Montez (Ch. 4); Gold Rush in California (Ch. 4 &
5); Sam Brannan vs. Central Pacific Railroad (the Big Four including Collis
Huntington) court case (Ch. 5); Brannan’s divorce (Ch. 6); Mexico territory issues
(Ch. 7); and the death of Sam Brannan (Ch. 7). William Randel’s research notes have
been organized according to their original order as received by the cataloger.
The papers also contain correspondence from and to Randel by various libraries,
historical societies, publishers, television and movie companies, and his literary
agent, Bertha Klausner. The correspondence covers a variety of subject matters such
as Randel’s requests for information on Brannan from different institutions;
business letters that reveal Randel’s book and television proposals; and the
rejection of Randel’s proposals by publishers and production studios. The bulk of
the collection’s correspondence consists of letters to and from various libraries
and research facilities. These include The Huntington Library, New-York Historical
Society, Louisiana State Library, Tulane’s Howard-Tilton Memorial Library, UCLA
Special Collections, and the Bancroft Library. The correspondence is organized
chronologically and it should be noted that some folders contain letters written by
William Randel and their corresponding return correspondence.
A portion of the collection consists of Randel’s unfinished manuscripts for his book
on Samuel Brannan. The collection contains several different versions and revisions
of the story of Brannan. Titles include “The Sam Brannan Story,” “Sam Brannan Saga,”
and “A Thousand a Day.” The manuscripts are organized according to their respective
titles. Each manuscript is about the life of Sam Brannan.
The photographs in the collection consist of photographs of Brannan, photographs of
locations and residences related to Brannan, and pictures of artwork associated with
Brannan. The collection also contains slides of material associated with Brannan and
the city of Calistoga, and also included in the collection are microfilm rolls that
contain Randel’s research materials on Brannan.
The ephemera contains photocopies of
articles, newspaper clippings, and several publications; also arranged
chronologically.
Arranged in the following series:
- Correspondence (Box 1)
- Book and Television Manuscripts (Box 2)
- Book Notes; Additional Notes; Reference Cards (Boxes 3-5)
- Photographs and Microfilm (Box 6)
- Ephemera (Box 7)
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
Huntington Library's Online Catalog.
Randel, William Peirce,
1909- -- Archives.
Central Pacific
Railroad Company.
Brannan, Sam,
1819-1889.
Gold mines and mining --
California.
Mormon Church -- California --
History.
Mormon Church -- History -- 19th
century -- Sources.
California -- Gold
discoveries.
California -- History
-- 19th century.
Maine -- History --
19th century -- Sources.
Letters (correspondence) -- United
States -- 20th century.
Manuscripts for publication -- United
States -- 20th century.
Research notes -- United States --
20th century.
Klausner, Bertha.
Bancroft Library.
Henry E. Huntington Library and Art
Gallery.
Howard-Tilton Memorial Library.
Louisiana State Library.
New-York Historical Society.
University of California, Los
Angeles. Library. Dept. of Special Collections.