Collection includes: manuscript drafts of novels, stories, radio and television scripts, plays, and screenplays; plot outlines, summaries, and synopses; published versions of stories (most in the form of tear sheets extracted from magazines, many of them pulps); research notes; a small amount of correspondence, personal materials (including some material from Perkins' student days at the University of California), newspaper clippings, and ephemera.

Kenneth Taylor Perkins was born on May 16, 1890 in Kodaikanal, India, the son of American missionaries. After his mother's death in 1897, his father remarried and sent him and his brother to live in San Francisco with their grandparents. He attended the University of California as part of the Class of 1914, where he wrote plays for student productions and earned a degree in English literature. While at Berkeley, Perkins became acquainted with future authors Frederick Schiller Faust (Max Brand), Sidney Howard, and Aubrey Drury. After earning a Master's degree in 1915, he became an English instructor at Pomona College at Claremont, California. During World War I, Perkins served with the US Army as a 2nd lieutenant in the field artillery. After the war, encouraged by Faust, Perkins began publishing stories and novels. Some of these works were mysteries and some -- those written under the pseudonym J.O. Quinliven -- were horror; most, however, were westerns. Several of Perkins' stories and novels were adapted for stage and film. His novel "Ride Him, Cowboy" (1923) was filmed twice, the second time (1932) with John Wayne in the lead role. Two of his plays, "Creoles" (1927) and "Dance With Your Gods" (1934) were produced on Broadway. Perkins also contributed scripts for radio and television, including episodes of "The Range Rider," "The Gene Autry Show," "Zane Grey Theater," and "Alfred Hitchcock Presents." In the 1940s, he wrote numerous episodes of the "Hawk Larabee" radio drama. Over his career, Perkins submitted scores of short stories (mostly westerns) for publication in magazines and newspapers. In addition to the Quinliven pseudonym, Perkins published under the pen names Randolph Hale, King Phillips, Kim Knight, and Charles Dustin. Perkins died in Los Angeles on June 7, 1951.

11 linear feet (3 cartons, 11 boxes, 14 oversize boxes, 2 cardfile boxes)

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Collection is open to researchers.