William Randel Research Papers: Finding Aid

Finding aid prepared by Brian Song, May 7, 2010.

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

Overview of the Collection

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.

Access

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Administrative Information

Publication Rights

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.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item]. William Randel Research Papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Provenance

Gift of the Dyer Library, July 8, 2005.

Biographical Note

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.

Scope and Content

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.

Arrangement

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)

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Huntington Library's Online Catalog.

Subjects

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.

Forms/Genres

Letters (correspondence) -- United States -- 20th century.

Manuscripts for publication -- United States -- 20th century.

Research notes -- United States -- 20th century.

Additional Contributors

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.

Correspondence

Box 1

Correspondence

Folder 1

[undated]. Nelms, Henning, 1900-1986. 1 letter to Bertha Klausner.

Folder 2

[undated]. Randel, William Peirce,1909- . 1 letter to Reva Scott, 1900-.

Folder 3

1975, Jan. Macmillan Publishing Company. 1 postcard to William Peirce Randel, 1909-.

Folder 4

1975, Nov. 29. Klausner, Bertha. 1 letter to William Peirce Randel, 1909-.

Folder 5

1975, Dec. 3. Randel, William Peirce, 1909- . 1 letter to California Historical Society. With document about California Historical Society. Addressed to Jay Williar.

Folder 6

1975, Dec. 3. Randel, William Peirce, 1909- . 2 letters to California State Archives. With a document about the California State Library. Addressed to Allan R. Ottley.

Folder 7

1975, Dec. 3. Randel, William Peirce, 1909- . 1 letter to Commonwealth Club of California. Addressed to Shelli Whitman.

Folder 8

1975, Dec. 3. Randel, William Peirce, 1909- . 2 letters to San Francisco Public Library. Addressed to Gladys Hansen.

Folder 9

1975, Dec. 9. Randel, William Peirce, 1909- . 1 letter to James Ernest Thorpe, 1915-.

Folder 10

1975, Dec. Randel, William Peirce, 1909- . 1 letter to the California State Archives. Includes letter by David L. Snyder to William Peirce Randel, 1909-, 1975, Dec. 9.

Folder 11

1975, Dec. Randel, William Peirce, 1909- . 1 letter to Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery. Includes letters by Noelle Jackson and Virginia Rust to William Peirce Randel, 1909-, 1975-1976.

Folder 12

1975, Dec. 3. Randel, William Peirce, 1909- . 1 letter to Society of California Pioneers. Addressed to Helen S. (Helen Smith) Giffen, 1893-. Includes letter by Irene Lichens to William Peirce Randel, 1909-, 1975, Dec. 16.

Folder 13

1975-1978. Randel, William Peirce, 1909- . 1 letter to Bancroft Library. Addressed to J. R. K. (James Roland Kristofer) Kantor, 1928-. Includes letters by J. R. K. (James Roland Kristofer) Kantor, 1928- and Irene Moran to William Peirce Randel, 1909-, 1975-1978.

Folder 14

1975-1982. Rejection letters from publishers and television studios. 78 items.

Folder 15

1976, Apr. 5. Randel, William Peirce, 1909- . 1 letter to Mrs. W.F. Mitchell.

Folder 16

1976, Apr. 13. Boitano, James D. 1 letter to William Peirce Randel, 1909-. Includes letter by William Peirce Randel, 1909- to James D. Boitano, 1976, Apr. 21.

Folder 17

1976, Apr. 22. Baeker, Susan. 1 letter to William Peirce Randel, 1909-. With note.

Folder 18

1976, Apr. 23. Caiger, Anne. 1 letter to William Peirce Randel, 1909-.

Folder 19

1976, Apr. 27. Randel, William Peirce, 1909- . 1 letter to Indiana Historical Society Library. Addressed to Caroline Dunn. Includes letter by Thomas A. Rumer to William Peirce Randel, 1909-, 1976, May 3.

Folder 20

1976, May 3. Morley Library. 1 letter to William Peirce Randel, 1909-. Signed by Josephine C. Sheffer. Includes two letters by William Peirce Randel, 1909-, to Alice E. Wright and Mrs. James C. Cooper, 1976.

Folder 21

1976, June 1. Louisiana State Library. 1 letter to William Peirce Randel, 1909-. Signed by Harriet Callahan. Includes letter by Louisiana State Museum to William Peirce Randel, 1909-, 1976, May 14 and two letters by Randel.

Folder 22

1976-1978. Randel, William Peirce, 1909- . 1 letter to James C. MacCampbell. Includes note and letter by James C. MacCampbell, 1976-1978.

Folder 23

1976-1978. Randel, William Peirce, 1909- . 1 letter to Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library. Includes two letters by Archibald Hanna to Randel and three items.

Folder 24

1976. Randel, Janet. 2 letters to publishing companies. Addressed to Exposition Press and Macmillan Publishing Company.

Folder 25

1978, May 6. Randel, William Peirce 1909-. 1 letter to Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints. Library. Includes letter by Glenn N. Rowe to William Peirce Randel, 1909-, 1978, May 15.

Folder 26

1978, May 15. Randel, William Peirce, 1909-. 1 letter to New Orleans Public Library. Addressed to Collin B. Hamer.

Folder 27

1978, June 12. Hamer, Collin B. 1 letter to William Peirce Randel, 1909-. With one item about New Orleans.

Folder 28

1978, July 11. Randel, William Peirce, 1909-. 1 letter to Howard-Tilton Memorial Library. Addressed to Connie Griffiths. Includes letter by Mary L. LeBlanc to William Peirce Randel, 1909-, 1978, July 31.

Folder 29

1978. Randel, William Peirce, 1909-. 3 letters to New-York Historical Society. Includes letter by Albert K. Baragwanath, 1917-2006 and another letter to Randel. Also includes pamphlet and notes. 12 items.

Folder 30

1984, Sep. 7. Shepherd, Paula M. 1 letter to William Peirce Randel, 1909-. Includes photocopies from reference source.

Folder 31

1983, Mar. 31. Randel, William Peirce, 1909-. 1 letter to Steve -----.

Folder 32

1985, June 4. Damron, Paul Edwards. 1 letter to William Peirce Randel, 1909-.

Folder 33

1988-1989. Gordon, Marjorie. 1 letter to Bertha Klausner. Includes letter by Bertha Klausner to Gordon, 1989, Jan. 17 and note.

Book and Television Manuscripts

Box 2

William Randel Book and Television Manuscripts

Folder 1

[undated]. Television mini-series proposals about Sam Brannan. 3 items.

Folder 2

[undated]. Book proposals for Sam Brannan story. 9 items.

Folder 3

[undated]. “The Sam Brannan Story” hand-written manuscripts. 11 items.

Folder 4

[undated]. “The Sam Brannan Story” typed manuscripts. 15 items.

Folder 5

[undated]. “Sam Brannan Saga” hand-written and typed manuscripts. 8 items.

Folder 6

[undated]. “A Thousand a Day” hand-written and typed manuscripts. 5 items.

Folder 7

[undated]. “Sam Brannan and Company” typed manuscripts. 8 items.

Book Notes; Additional Notes; Reference Cards

Box 3

Notes for Book-Chapters 1-3

Folder 1

[undated]. Notes and Manuscripts for Chapter 1 (Brannan: 1819-1832). 66 items.

Folder 2

[undated]. Notes and Manuscripts for Chapter 2 (Brannan: 1833-1845). 54 items.

Folder 3

[undated]. Notes for Chapter 3 (Brannan: 1845-1847). 103 items.

Folder 4

[undated]. Manuscripts for Chapter 3. 13 items.

Folder 5

[undated]. Notes and Manuscripts for Chapter 3 and 4. 19 items.

Box 4

Notes for Book-Chapters 4-7

Folder 1

[undated]. Notes for Chapter 4 (Brannan: 1847-1855). 66 items.

Folder 2

[undated]. Additional Notes for Chapter 4. 53 items.

Folder 3

[undated]. Additional Notes and Manuscripts for Chapter 4. 15 items.

Folder 4

[undated]. Notes for Chapter 5 (Brannan: 1856-1870). 70 items.

Folder 5

[undated]. Manuscripts for Chapter 5. 7 items.

Folder 6

[undated]. Notes for Chapter 6 (Brannan: 1871-1879). 15 items.

Folder 7

[undated]. Notes for Chapter 7 (Brannan: 1880-1889). 17 items.

Folder 8

[undated]. Unidentified Notes for Book. 38 items.

Box 5

Additional Notes and Reference Cards

Folder 1

[undated]. Additional Notes for Brannan Book. 69 items.

Folder 2

[undated]. Additional Notes for Brannan Book. 63 items.

Folder 3

[undated]. Reference Note Cards for Brannan Book. 425 items.

Folder 4

1970-1971. Materials for John White Geary Book. 16 items.

Folder 5

1976-1978. Materials regarding James Polk from the Library of Congress. 14 items.

Photographs and Microfilm

Box 6

Photographs and Microfilm

Folder 1

1976. Color and Black and White Slides of various artwork and locations. 15 items.

Folder 2

[undated]. Photographs of or related to Sam Brannan along with notes. 28 items.

Folder 3

1952. Microfilm of “A History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in California, 1846-1946” an unpublished Ph.D. dissertation by Eugene Edward Campbell provided by the University of Southern California. 1 item.

Folder 4

1962. Microfilm of manuscripts and letters from Mary G. provided by Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery. 1 item.

Folder 5

1976, Apr. 15. Microfilm of “The Messenger (N.Y.) 1845” and “The Prophet (N.Y.) 1844- 45” provided by The New York Public Library. 1 item.

Folder 6

[undated]. Microfilm of letters, receipts, and reports from Bancroft Library. 1 item.

Folder 7

[undated]. Microfilm of “Mormons at Kirtland” by Eva L. Pancoast from the Case Western Reserve. 1 item.

Ephemera

Box 7

Ephemera

Folder 1

[undated]. D.O. Mills and Co. 3 items.

Folder 2

1827-1867. Maine Temperance. 6 items.

Folder 3

1947. Americana Illustrated. 1 item.

Folder 4

1966-1992. Miscellaneous Ephemera. 15 items.

Folder 5

1974, Jan. Sutter County Historical Society News Bulletin. 1 item.

Folder 6

1975. Annals of the Sacramento Pioneer Association. 1 item.

Folder 7

1975. Sacramento Prospectus. 1 item.

Folder 8

1976-1978. Filcher-Brannan Press. 8 items.

Folder 9

1976-1978. Sam Brannon: Photocopies of articles and photographs. 5 items.

Folder 10

1976-1987. Sam Brannon: Newspaper Clippings. 14 items.

Folder 11

1983. Maine Historical Society Quarterly. 1 item.