Finding Aid to the Albert M. Bender collection of George Sterling papers
circa 1880-1998
BASC 16
Finding aid composed by Freya Channing
Book Arts & Special Collections, San Francisco Public Library
2021
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco 94102
415-557-4560
bookarts@sfpl.org
Contributing Institution:
Book Arts & Special Collections, San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 557-4560
bookarts@sfpl.org
Title: Albert M. Bender collection of George Sterling papers
Creator:
Bender, Albert M. (Albert Maurice), 1866-1941
Identifier/Call Number: BASC 16
Physical Description:
9 manuscript boxes, 3 flat-boxes, 3 folders of photographs
(7 Cubic Feet)
Date (inclusive): circa 1880-1998
Date (bulk): 1880-1926
Abstract: This collection contains correspondence; manuscripts, typescripts, printed material, and photographs created by George Sterling
and others. The bulk of this collection is made up of George Sterling's manuscripts and typescripts, many with handwritten
notes by George Sterling and Ambrose Bierce.
Physical Location: The collection is stored on site.
Language of Materials: Collection materials are in
English.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research and is available for use during Book Arts & Special Collections hours, with photographs available
during Photo Desk hours. Collections that are stored offsite should be requested 48 hours in advance.
Publication Rights
Some materials are fragile and may not be photocopied. Copyright has not been assigned to the San Francisco Public Library.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from materials must be submitted in writing to Book Arts & Special Collections.
Permission for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], The Albert M. Bender collection of George Sterling papers. (BASC 16), Book Arts & Special Collections,
San Francisco Public Library.
Provenance
In 1934,
Albert M. Bender
headed a committee that selected books, manuscripts, and ephemera for the San Francisco Public Library through a bequest made
by James D. Phelan. Items collected through this effort include many first editions and manuscripts by California authors
and was first called the
Phelan Collection
and subsequently the
California Authors Collection. Some items were collected through purchases from book dealers or other sources. Some items have been donated by Albert. M.
Bender or other donors, and some Sterling material has been moved from other San Francisco Public Library collections.
Material Specific Details
notes contain information found on original library documentation.
Related materials
Conservation Note
During processing, the entire collection was re-foldered and re-housed in acid-free folders and boxes. Some metal staples
remain.
Materials Transferred
Biography
George Sterling was born in Sag Harbor, Long Island, New York, in 1869. He became exposed to poetry while studying for the
priesthood at St. Charles College, a Catholic college in Maryland. Sterling moved to Oakland, California in on September 30,
1890, and there met and became a pupil to Ambrose Bierce. Sterling's poetry was first published through the aid of Bierce,
who included some of Sterling's verse in his
San Francisco Examiner
column. Sterling was a member of the Bohemian Club and had friendships with many literary figures including Jack London and
Clark Ashton Smith. In 1905 Sterling moved to
Carmel-by-the-Sea
and many authors and artists followed him there. Sterling died by his own hand in
San Francisco
in 1926.
Albert M. Bender was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1866 and died in San Francisco, California in 1941. He was a major patron
of artists, museums, libraries, and performing arts organizations. He frequently commissioned limited edition books and pamphlets,
co-founded the
Book Club of California, chaired its publications committee for years, and donated rare books and fine printing to Stanford, UC Berkeley, Mills College,
the University of San Francisco, the San Francisco Public Library, and Trinity College Library, Dublin.
In 1934, Bender headed a committee that selected books, manuscripts, and ephemera for the San Francisco Public Library through
a bequest made by James D. Phelan.
Scope and Contents
This collection contains correspondence; manuscripts, typescripts, printed material, and photographs created by George Sterling
and others. The bulk of this collection is made up of George Sterling's manuscripts and typescripts, many with handwritten
notes by George Sterling and Ambrose Bierce. Of note are the original papers and manuscripts that appeared in the
Overland Monthly,
November-December, 1927, In Memoriam to George Sterling, edited by Albert M. Bender and including work from Edwin Markham,
Gertrude Atherton, Ina Coolbrith, and Upton Sinclair among others. This collection also contains the Sterling family bible
which has recorded marriages, deaths, births, and other important dates of George Sterling and his family.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in four series: Series 1: Correspondence; Series 2: Writings; Series 3: Printed material; Series
4: Miscellanea and photographs. Series 2: Writings is further subdivided into three subseries, 2.1: Writings by George Sterling;
2.2: Writings by others; 2.3: In memoriam.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
American poetry -- California -- San Francisco.
American poetry -- 20th century.
American literature -- 20th century.
Artist colonies -- Carmel (Calif.)
Memorials in literature.
Bohemianism--United States.
Authors, American -- 20th century.
Poets, American -- 20th century.
Sterling, George, 1869-1926
Bierce, Ambrose, 1842-1914?
Series 1
Correspondence
circa 1900-1926
Scope and Contents
This series contains a small amount of correspondence both to and from George Sterling.
Arrangement
This series is arranged by outgoing and then incoming correspondence in alphabetical order.
box 1, folder 1
Outgoing: Bland,Henry Meade
1918
box 1, folder 2
Outgoing: Coryell, Mabel Lloyd Jessup
1923
box 1, folder 3
Outgoing: Pratt, Harry Noyes
1924-1925
box 1, folder 4
Incoming: Hopper, James
circa 1914
Material Specific Details: Letter to George Sterling from France.
box 1, folder 5
Incoming: Jones, Graham
circa 1919
Material Specific Details: Letter from Graham Jones acknowledging reading and approving of Lilith.
box 1, folder 6
Incoming: Miller, Joaquin
1902
Material Specific Details: Envelope addressed to George Sterling in Joaquin Miller's handwriting.
box 1, folder 7
Incoming: Unknown
circa 1900
Material Specific Details: Page from a letter to Sterling by an unknown person quoting a 6-line poem by Ambrose Bierce, published under one of Bierce's
pseudonyms, Bashi-Bazouk.
Series 2
Writings
1870-1926
Scope and Contents
This series contains manuscripts, typescripts, and printed materials by George Sterling and others. Of note is Subseries 2.3:
In memoriam
which contains original material printed in the Overland Monthly in honor of George Sterling after his death. Albert M. Bender
was the editor of these two issues.
Arrangement
This series is further divided into three subseries: 2.1: Writings by George Sterling; 2.2: Writings by others; 2.3: In memoriam.
Subseries 2.1
Writings by George Sterling
Scope and Contents
Manuscripts and typescripts by George Sterling. Almost all are signed by George Sterling and many of the items contain handwritten
notes by George Sterling. Some contain notes written by Ambrose Bierce. Of note are a collection of 251 published and unpublished
poems by George Sterling found in [Poems by George Sterling] and George Sterling's own scrapbook of his poems that contain
a record of their publication in magazines.
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by title.
box 1, folder 16
The California condor
Material Specific Details: This was originally published as "The Condor" and was later published as "The Black Vulture". This copy has notes by Bierce.
box 1, folder 17
California missions
Material Specific Details: A description of five California missions: Soledad, Santa Ines, San Miguel, San Antonio, San Juan Bautista.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Nuestra Señora de la Soledad (Mission : Calif.)
Santa Inés Mission (Solvang, Calif.)
Mission San Miguel Arcangel (San Miguel, Calif.)
San Antonio de Pádua (Mission)
San Juan Bautista (Mission : San Juan Bautista, Calif.)
box 1, folder 19
Captain Shadrach, prophet
box 1, folder 25
Dedication to Ambrose Bierce
1901
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Bierce, Ambrose, 1842-1914?
box 1, folder 27
The dog / The far feet
Material Specific Details: Two poems written on either side of the same sheet.
box 1, folder 31
[Elder, we do not like their songs]
box 2, folder 2
The flight: A Grove Play for The Family
Material Specific Details: Copy of Cass Downing, composer of the music.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Family (San Francisco, Calif.)
box 2, folder 3
The folding bed
Material Specific Details: A one act play.
box 2, folder 5
The glory of the globe
Material Specific Details: Written on back: "Bologna" May 15, 1920 from George Sterling.
box 2, folder 8
Gran'ma Harrelson and the grizzly
box 2, folder 10
[I guard the chamber in her breast]
box 2, folder 11
I know that our ways are twain
box 2, folder 17
The man who came to Hereville
box 2, folder 18
Married for money
Material Specific Details: 65 sheets of ruled paper, 3.75 x 5.5 inches, written in pencil. "Refused by Century Metropolitan" written on back of the last
sheet.
box 2, folder 25
The morning star
Material Specific Details: This copy of Sterling's poem "The Morning Star" is missing the first page. First line starts with "Azures of twilight robe
the southern mountain".
box 2, folder 26
Music
Material Specific Details: Typescript with annotations; criticism in handwriting of Ambrose Bierce.
box 3, folder 2
The palace of the moon II, III
box 3, folder 6
[A play, first page missing. Characters: Dryad and man]
box 3, folder 8-10
[Poems by George Sterling]
Physical Description:
3 folders
Material Specific Details: 251 typewritten manuscripts of poems, published and unpublished, with corrections in ink by George Sterling.
Arrangement
Arranged in original order with a list of poem titles located in the first folder.
box 8
[Poems by George Sterling] Scrapbook of George Sterling poems
Material Specific Details: Scrapbook containing copies (all signed) of Sterling's poems with a record of their publication in magazines. Fly-page is
inscribed: "Property of George Sterling, Bohemian Club, San Francisco."
box 3, folder 11
The poetry of Robinson Jeffers
box 3, folder 12
Preface written for Clark Ashton Smith's poems
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Smith, Clark Ashton, 1893-1961
box 3, folder 13
The princess on the headlands
Material Specific Details: Gift of Felicia Blaettler.
box 4, folder 1
Revenge
Material Specific Details: Sterling's pseudonym, Gerald Scott, is signed to this.
box 4, folder 3
Saul
Material Specific Details: Printed sheet, signed.
box 4, folder 6
Sonnets of realization, I, II, and III
box 4, folder 7
Sonnets to Craig
Material Specific Details: Carbon copies of the typescript, apparently made by the publishers and not by Sterling.
box 4, folder 8
The sport (Attorney for the jewel)
Material Specific Details: Corrected on title page to
The attorney for the jewel
in Sterling's handwriting.
oversize-box 10, oversize-folder 1
The testimony of the suns
Material Specific Details: 3 Versions. Original manuscript with questions by Sterling and annotations by Ambrose Bierce.
box 4, folder 14
The thief of Bagdad
Material Specific Details: Complete set of titles for the
The thief of Bagdad
silent film.
box 4, folder 17
To a girl dancing
Material Specific Details: Inscribed: "For Albert, from George".
box 4, folder 19
To a sculptor [To Robert I. Aitken]
Material Specific Details: This was published as "To Robert I. Aitken". Written on an envelope addressed to Sterling by Ambrose Bierce and postmarked
Feb. 20, 1904.
box 4, folder 20
To critics asking lighter songs
box 4, folder 22
To the hun
Material Specific Details: The printing of this manuscript occurs on page 48 of
The binding of the beast
by George Sterling, 1917, published by A.M. Robertson.
box 4, folder 25
[unpublished sonnets]
Material Specific Details: 1. On the lateness of rent; 2. On the blindness to the time he wastes writing letters.
box 4, folder 30
A wine of wizardry
Material Specific Details: 3 versions. Original manuscripts with questions by Sterling and annotations by Ambrose Bierce.
box 4, folder 33
With the strength of dreams
Subseries 2.2
Writings by others
Scope and Contents
Manuscripts and typescripts from other writers.
box 5, folder 1-21
Poems sent to George Sterling for criticism
Creator:
Akins, Zoë, 1886-1958
Creator:
Bennett, Raine Edward
Creator:
Cooksley, S. Bert (Sidney Bert )
Creator:
Dewing, Andrew
Creator:
Dowd, Harrison, 1897-1964
Creator:
Huber, Emil Andrew
Creator:
Macomb, Catherine Sisk
Creator:
Middleton, Scudder , 1888 - 1959
Creator:
Noel, Joseph
Creator:
Phlegar, Thelma
Creator:
Putnam, Nina Wilcox, 1888-1962
Creator:
Shepherd, Morgan
Creator:
Taylor, Edward De Witt, 1871-1962
Creator:
Wallace, Grace
Creator:
Wandrei, Donald, 1908-1987
Creator:
Wolf, Robert L. (Robert Leopold), 1895-
Creator:
Wright, Greta
Physical Description:
21 folders
Material Specific Details: Papers found in George Sterling's effects. Copies of others' poems apparently sent to George Sterling for criticism or marketing.
Some contain handwritten notes and corrections. Typewritten and handwritten. Also contains two poems with no attribution.
box 5, folder 22
Sheffauer, Herman - Satire and the satirist
box 5, folder 23
Strickland, Dwight - Fruhlingslied in winter
box 5, folder 24
Taylor, Edward Robeson - George Sterling
1909
Creator:
Taylor, Edward Robeson, , 1838-1923
box 9
George Sterling's scrapbook of poems
Material Specific Details: George Sterling's scrapbook of pictures and poems by various authors. Some are printed and some written in long hand by Sterling.
Titles and authors' names of most are written in Sterling's hand.
Subseries 2.3
In memoriam
Scope and Contents
Original papers and manuscripts appearing in the Overland Monthly, Nov-Dec 1927, edited by Albert M. Bender.
box 5, folder 25
Overland Monthly, In memoriam: George Sterling; Editor: Albert M. Bender
November-December, 1927
Creator:
Bender, Albert M. (Albert Maurice), 1866-1941
Material Specific Details:
Overland Monthly
Vol. LXXXV, November, 1927;
Overland Monthly
Vol.LXXXV December, 1927
box 5, folder 26-44, box 6, folder 1-14
Original papers and manuscripts appearing in the Overland Monthly
November-December 1927
Creator:
Bender, Albert M. (Albert Maurice), 1866-1941
Creator:
Arnstein, Flora J.
Creator:
Atherton, Gertrude Franklin Horn, 1857-1948
Creator:
Austin, Mary, 1868-1934
Creator:
Bynner, Witter, 1881-1968
Creator:
Coleman, Louise Lord
Creator:
Coolbrith, Ina D.
Creator:
Clark, Donald B.
Creator:
De Ford, Miriam Allen, 1888-1975
Creator:
Dobie, Charles Caldwell, 1881-1943
Creator:
Douglas, George
Creator:
Dreiser, Theodore, 1871-1945
Creator:
Field, Charles K. (Charles Kellogg), 1873-1948
Creator:
Hopper, James, 1876-1956
Creator:
Irwin, Will, 1907-
Creator:
Jeffers, Robinson, 1887-1962
Creator:
Kellogg, Vernon L. (Vernon Lyman), 1867-1937
Creator:
London, Charmian
Creator:
Markham, Edwin, 1852-1940
Creator:
Masters, Edgar Lee, 1868-1950
Creator:
Mayhew, Joyce
Creator:
McWilliams, Carey, 1905-1980
Creator:
Mencken, H. L. (Henry Louis), 1880-1956
Creator:
Phelan, James D. (James Duval)
Creator:
Rorty, James, 1890-1973
Creator:
Sinclair, Upton, 1878-1968
Creator:
Smith, Clark Ashton, 1893-1961
Creator:
Smith, Rex
Creator:
Turner, Ethel
Creator:
Welch, Marie de L. (Marie de Laveaga), 1905-1974
Creator:
Wood, Charles Erskine Scott, 1852-1944
Physical Description:
32 folders
Series 3
Printed Material
1912-1998
1916-1940
Scope and Contents
Printed material by George Sterling and others.
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by title.
box 7, folder 1
The abalone song, printed for the friends of George Sterling, Albert Bender
1937
box 7, folder 2
The abalone song, a keepsake for the Joint Meeting of the Roxburge and Zamarano Clubs in the City of Angels
October 1998
box 7, folder 3
The cool grey city of love
1921
box 7, folder 4
The immortal, Greenwood Press
1948
box 7, folder 6
Remembrance, George Sterling 1869-1926
1940
Material Specific Details: Contains the
Song of friendship
and a mounted image of the death mask of Sterling by Haig Patigan. Printed by Rudolph Blaettler.
box 7, folder 7
The sailing of Keats
1942
box 7, folder 8
Songs by George Sterling and Lawrence Zenda
1928
box 7, folder 9
Strange waters
[1926]
Material Specific Details: Two copies. One copy inscribed to Ina Cowdery Bichman by author.
box 7, folder 10
To Serra of Carmel, Grabhorn Press
1934
box 7, folder 11
Together, Keesling Press
1930
oversize-box 10, oversize-folder 3
We're a-going, words and music by George Sterling
[1918]
box 7, folder 12
Austin, Mary; George Sterling at Carmel
1927
box 7, folder 13
Bender, Albert M.; An appreciation of George Sterling, The Fortnightly, September 11, 1931, Volume 1, Number 1
1931
box 7, folder 14
London, Charmian; George Sterling - As I knew him
[approximately 1927?]
box 7, folder 15
McWilliams; George Sterling-1927, The San Franciscan, November 1930, Volume V, Number 1
1930
box 7, folder 16
Romanes, Alva; To George Sterling
1930
box 7, folder 17
San Francisco Water, July 1928, Vol. VII, Number 3
1928
Creator:
Spring Valley Water Company (San Francisco, Calif.)
Material Specific Details: Entire issue devoted to George Sterling. Poems by Sterling and an appreciation of Sterling by authors Idwal Jones, Edward
F. O'Day, and Willard Huntington Wright.
box 7, folder 18
Stevenson, Lionel; George Sterling's Place in modern poetry
1929
Creator:
Stevenson, Lionel, 1902-1973
box 7, folder 19
Newspaper clippings
1912, 1921, 1926-1927, 1950
Series 4
Miscellanea and photographs
Scope and Contents
Ephemera and photographs related to George Sterling. Includes three books that belonged to Sterling, including a bible with
Sterling family marriages, deaths, births, and other important dates.
box 7, folder 20
Miscellanea
Material Specific Details: One folder containing four items: 1. Sag-Harbor, Hampton, and Shelter Island Fair Ground Association claim check; 2. Quotation
on the occasion of giving benediction of the Lord to the house of I.B.; 3. Memo re: confirmation and communion in Catholic
Church. 4. Two envelopes from photo developers: Royal Pharmacy and Karnell's Pharmacy.
box 11
Sterling family bible
1855
Material Specific Details: The
Holy Bible containing the Old and New Testaments, translated out of the original tongues; and with the former translations
diligently compared and revised. New York, American Bible Society,
1855. Heavy marginalia including verses. Includes list of marriages, deaths, births, and other important dates of the Sterling
family.
In memoriam to Mollie Sterling including two hand-written poems and an elm leaf (laid in). Annotations dated: June 26, 1838 to February
23, 1920.
box 11
Dictionary and alphabetical index to the Bible
[1823?]
Material Specific Details:
A complete concordance to the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, or, a dictionary and alphabetical index to the
Bible
. Octavo edition. Title page and other pages are missing. Present is a presentation inscription to George Sterling whose name
is crossed out with "James Sterling" written above.
box 12
English law book
circa 1680
Material Specific Details:
The first part of the Reports of Sr George Croke Kt. late one of the justices of the Court of Kings-Bench, and formerly one
of the justices of the Court of Common-Bench; of such select cases as were adjudged in the said courts, from the 24th to the
44th/45th of the late Queen Elizabeth.
Missing title page.
Photographs
circa 1900-1926
Creator:
Moulin, Gabriel, 1872-1945
Physical Description:
4 folders
Material Specific Details: Collection of photographs and negatives including some of George Sterling, Jack London, Carrie Sterling, Austin Lewis, Mary
Miles Minter, James Hopper, Harry Leon Wilson, and Robinson Jeffers and his family. Some scenes taken on location at a film
shoot and at Bohemian Grove. Some photographs by Gabriel Moulin.
Conditions Governing Access
Photographs and negatives are available during Photo Desk hours.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Sterling, George, 1869-1926
Sterling, Carrie (Caroline Rand), 1872-1918
Minter, Mary Miles, 1902-1984
Miller, Joaquin
Jeffers, Robinson, 1887-1962
Hopper, James, 1876-1956
London, Jack
Wilson, Harry Leon, 1867-1939
Lewis, Austin, 1865?-1944
Phelan, James D. (James Duval)
Markham, Edwin, 1852-1940
box 1 BASC Photos, folder 1-2, oversize-box 1 BASC Photos (Oversized), folder 1
box 2 BASC Photos (Negatives), folder 1