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Edgar Rice Burroughs papers, 1875-1950
2263  
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Container List

 

Series 1: Binders. 1893-1950.

Scope and Content

Series comprises primarily the personal and professional correspondence of Edgar Rice Burroughs, compiled into binders. Records pertain to Burroughs’ time in California, Hawaii, and the broader South Pacific. Other materials include promotional materials, financial records, internal memos, press clippings, and photographs. These records pertain to the growth of the Tarzan brand, Burroughs’ personal life and political opinions, and his experiences as a wartime correspondent.

Organization and Arrangement

Resources arranged chronologically; original binders retained.
Box 1, Folder 1

Binder One. March 31, 1893 - September 22, 1925.

Scope and Content

Contains correspondence from beginnings of Edgar Rice Burroughs Inc. Items of Interest: Autographed promotional materials, membership with The Breakfast Club, Burroughs’ thoughts on Roman Catholicism, references to UCLA, and letters from Emma Hulbert Burroughs.
Box 1, Folder 2

Binder Two. February 22, 1926 - December 3, 1927.

Scope and Content

Contains correspondence from beginnings of Edgar Rice Burroughs Inc. Items of Interest: Autographed promotional materials, membership with The Breakfast Club, Burroughs’ thoughts on Roman Catholicism, references to UCLA, and letters from Emma Hulbert Burroughs.
Box 1, Folder 3

Binder Three. January 24, 1928 - December 27, 1929.

Scope and Content

Contains correspondence from beginnings of Edgar Rice Burroughs Inc. Items of Interest: Autographed promotional materials, membership with The Breakfast Club, Burroughs’ thoughts on Roman Catholicism, references to UCLA, and letters from Emma Hulbert Burroughs.
Box 1, Folder 4

Binder Four. January 8, 1930 - December 28, 1931.

Scope and Content

Contains correspondence from beginnings of Edgar Rice Burroughs Inc. Items of Interest: Autographed promotional materials, membership with The Breakfast Club, Burroughs’ thoughts on Roman Catholicism, references to UCLA, and letters from Emma Hulbert Burroughs.
Box 2, Folder 1

Binder Five. January 7, 1932 - December 6, 1932.

Scope and Content

Contains Burroughs' correspondence with his children on their professional and artistic pursuits and correspondence on how best to market the Tarzan brand. Items of Interest: Discussion of Hulbert’s military camp training, autographed promotional materials, and letters from Emma Hulbert Burroughs.
Box 2, Folder 2

Binder Six. January 18, 1933 - August 16, 1933.

Scope and Content

Contains Burroughs' correspondence with his children on their professional and artistic pursuits and correspondence on how best to market the Tarzan brand. Items of Interest: Discussion of Hulbert’s military camp training, autographed promotional materials, and letters from Emma Hulbert Burroughs.
Box 2, Folder 3

Binder Seven. September 9, 1933 - November 13, 1933.

Scope and Content

Contains Burroughs' correspondence with his children on their professional and artistic pursuits and correspondence on how best to market the Tarzan brand. Items of Interest: Discussion of Hulbert’s military camp training, autographed promotional materials, and letters from Emma Hulbert Burroughs.
Box 2, Folder 4

Binder Eight. January 4, 1934 - December 28, 1934.

Scope and Content

Contains Burroughs' correspondence with his children on their professional and artistic pursuits and correspondence on how best to market the Tarzan brand. Items of Interest: Discussion of Hulbert’s military camp training, autographed promotional materials, and letters from Emma Hulbert Burroughs.
Box 3, Folder 1

Binder Nine. January 4, 1935 - December 27, 1935.

Scope and Content

Chronicles the growing Tarzan brand. Items of Interest: Contains personal correspondence regarding the police altercation with Burroughs' eldest son, Hulbert (“Hully”) Burroughs, and the Burroughs family's complaint against the LAPD (including op-ed to the Los Angeles Times); also contains Burroughs’ thoughts on Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt and on the Republican Party.
Box 3, Folder 2

Binder Ten. January 2, 1936 - December 25, 1936.

Scope and Content

Chronicles the growing Tarzan brand. Items of Interest: Contains personal correspondence regarding the police altercation with Burroughs' eldest son, Hulbert (“Hully”) Burroughs, and the Burroughs family's complaint against the LAPD (including op-ed to the Los Angeles Times); also contains Burroughs’ thoughts on Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt and on the Republican Party.
Box 3, Folder 3

Binder Eleven. January 2, 1937 - December 27, 1937.

Scope and Content

Chronicles the growing Tarzan brand. Items of Interest: Contains personal correspondence regarding the police altercation with Burroughs' eldest son, Hulbert (“Hully”) Burroughs, and the Burroughs family's complaint against the LAPD (including op-ed to the Los Angeles Times); also contains Burroughs’ thoughts on Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt and on the Republican Party.
Box 3, Folder 4

Binder Twelve. January 4, 1938 - December 24, 1938.

Scope and Content

Chronicles the growing Tarzan brand. Items of Interest: Contains personal correspondence regarding the police altercation with Burroughs' eldest son, Hulbert (“Hully”) Burroughs, and the Burroughs family's complaint against the LAPD (including op-ed to the Los Angeles Times); also contains Burroughs’ thoughts on Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt and on the Republican Party.
Box 4, Folder 1

Binder Thirteen. January 6, 1939 - December 25, 1939.

Scope and Content

Contains personal and professional correspondence detailing Burroughs' first and second divorce, his journey to Hawaii, and the beginning of World War II. Items of Interest: Continuing correspondence on the incident between LAPD and Hulbert (“Hully”) Burroughs, Burroughs' discovery of Tarzan translations into native Hawaiian, Burroughs' 1940 visit to Pearl Harbor, Hulbert’s time in the armed forces, and jokes about wartime censorship.
Box 4, Folder 2

Binder Fourteen. March 1, 1940 - December 29, 1940.

Scope and Content

Contains personal and professional correspondence detailing Burroughs' first and second divorce, his journey to Hawaii, and the beginning of World War II. Items of Interest: Continuing correspondence on the incident between LAPD and Hulbert (“Hully”) Burroughs, Burroughs' discovery of Tarzan translations into native Hawaiian, Burroughs' 1940 visit to Pearl Harbor, Hulbert’s time in the armed forces, and jokes about wartime censorship.
Box 4, Folder 3

Binder Fifteen. January 3, 1941 - December 31, 1941.

Scope and Content

Contains personal and professional correspondence detailing Burroughs' first and second divorce, his journey to Hawaii, and the beginning of World War II. Items of Interest: Continuing correspondence on the incident between LAPD and Hulbert (“Hully”) Burroughs, Burroughs' discovery of Tarzan translations into native Hawaiian, Burroughs' 1940 visit to Pearl Harbor, Hulbert’s time in the armed forces, and jokes about wartime censorship.
Box 4, Folder 4

Binder Sixteen. January 29, 1942 - December 31, 1942.

Scope and Content

Contains personal and professional correspondence detailing Burroughs' first and second divorce, his journey to Hawaii, and the beginning of World War II. Items of Interest: Continuing correspondence on the incident between LAPD and Hulbert (“Hully”) Burroughs, Burroughs' discovery of Tarzan translations into native Hawaiian, Burroughs' 1940 visit to Pearl Harbor, Hulbert’s time in the armed forces, and jokes about wartime censorship.
Box 5, Folder 1

Binder Seventeen. January 16, 1943 - January 31, 1944.

Scope and Content

Chronicles Burroughs' beginning research into the "Japanese Question" of what to do with Japanese Americans during after the war. Items of Interest: Examples of anti-Japanese rhetoric, Burroughs' thoughts on New Deal policies, an elaboration on his vision of "Americanism," references to the Johnny Roselli case, and notes on Burroughs' experiences as a columnist and wartime correspondent.
Box 5, Folder 2

Binder Eighteen. February 7, 1944 - April 29, 1944.

Scope and Content

Chronicles Burroughs' beginning research into the "Japanese Question" of what to do with Japanese Americans during after the war. Items of Interest: Examples of anti-Japanese rhetoric, Burroughs' thoughts on New Deal policies, an elaboration on his vision of "Americanism," references to the Johnny Roselli case, and notes on Burroughs' experiences as a columnist and wartime correspondent.
Box 5, Folder 3

Binder Nineteen. May 3, 1944 - July 31, 1944.

Scope and Content

Chronicles Burroughs' beginning research into the "Japanese Question" of what to do with Japanese Americans during after the war. Items of Interest: Examples of anti-Japanese rhetoric, Burroughs' thoughts on New Deal policies, an elaboration on his vision of "Americanism," references to the Johnny Roselli case, and notes on Burroughs' experiences as a columnist and wartime correspondent.
Box 5, Folder 4

Binder Twenty. August 1, 1944 – October 30, 1944.

Scope and Content

Chronicles Burroughs' beginning research into the "Japanese Question" of what to do with Japanese Americans during after the war. Items of Interest: Examples of anti-Japanese rhetoric, Burroughs' thoughts on New Deal policies, an elaboration on his vision of "Americanism," references to the Johnny Roselli case, and notes on Burroughs' experiences as a columnist and wartime correspondent.
Box 6, Folder 1

Binder Twenty One. November 3, 1944 - February 10, 1945.

Scope and Content

Chronicles Burroughs' ambivalent advocacy efforts for Japanese Americans and his worsening health. Items of Interest: Reference to article "What Price Intolerance," correspondence on censoring Tarzan's G-string, correspondence between Burroughs and the Japanese American Citizens League, correspondence with Jean O’Hara on her book Honolulu Harlot about vice conditions, and correspondence on surrender of Germany and Japan.
Box 6, Folder 2

Binder Twenty Two. February 10, 1945 - April 29, 1945.

Scope and Content

Chronicles Burroughs' ambivalent advocacy efforts for Japanese Americans and his worsening health. Items of Interest: Reference to article "What Price Intolerance," correspondence on censoring Tarzan's G-string, correspondence between Burroughs and the Japanese American Citizens League, correspondence with Jean O’Hara on her book Honolulu Harlot about vice conditions, and correspondence on surrender of Germany and Japan.
Box 6, Folder 3

Binder Twenty Three. May 1, 1945 - July 31, 1945.

Scope and Content

Chronicles Burroughs' ambivalent advocacy efforts for Japanese Americans and his worsening health. Items of Interest: Reference to article "What Price Intolerance," correspondence on censoring Tarzan's G-string, correspondence between Burroughs and the Japanese American Citizens League, correspondence with Jean O’Hara on her book Honolulu Harlot about vice conditions, and correspondence on surrender of Germany and Japan.
Box 6, Folder 4

Binder Twenty Four. August 1, 1945 - November 30, 1945.

Scope and Content

Chronicles Burroughs' ambivalent advocacy efforts for Japanese Americans and his worsening health. Items of Interest: Reference to article "What Price Intolerance," correspondence on censoring Tarzan's G-string, correspondence between Burroughs and the Japanese American Citizens League, correspondence with Jean O’Hara on her book Honolulu Harlot about vice conditions, and correspondence on surrender of Germany and Japan.
Box 7, Folder 1

Binder Twenty Five. December 1, 1945 - January 29, 1946.

Scope and Content

Chronicles Burroughs' worsening health and the effects of World War II. Items of Interest: Discussion of wartime rationing and Burroughs' references on the decolonization of the British Empire.
Box 7, Folder 2

Binder Twenty Six. February 9, 1946 - May 31, 1946.

Scope and Content

Chronicles Burroughs' worsening health and the effects of World War II. Items of Interest: Discussion of wartime rationing and Burroughs' references on the decolonization of the British Empire.
Box 7, Folder 3

Binder Twenty Seven. June 8, 1946 - December 17, 1946.

Scope and Content

Chronicles Burroughs' worsening health and the effects of World War II. Items of Interest: Discussion of wartime rationing and Burroughs' references on the decolonization of the British Empire.
Box 7, Folder 4

Binder Twenty Eight. January 3, 1947 - June 2, 1947.

Scope and Content

Chronicles Burroughs' worsening health and the effects of World War II. Items of Interest: Discussion of wartime rationing and Burroughs' references on the decolonization of the British Empire.
Box 8, Folder 1

Binder Twenty Nine. June 3, 1947 - December 31, 1947.

Scope and Content

Burroughs' discharge from the army and return to California. Items of Interest: Correspondence with and about Minna Diack, the widow of Charles Diack who published Burroughs’ novels in German; references to heart condition and army discharge.
Box 8, Folder 2

Binder Thirty. January 5, 1948 - June 22, 1948.

Scope and Content

Burroughs' discharge from the army and return to California. Items of Interest: Correspondence with and about Minna Diack, the widow of Charles Diack who published Burroughs’ novels in German; references to heart condition and army discharge.
Box 8, Folder 3

Binder Thirty One. July 21, 1948 - March 19, 1950.

Scope and Content

Burroughs' discharge from the army and return to California. Items of Interest: Correspondence with and about Minna Diack, the widow of Charles Diack who published Burroughs’ novels in German; references to heart condition and army discharge.
 

Series 2: Photographs and Other Media. 1875-1950.

Scope and Content

Series comprises photographs of Edgar Rice Burroughs and his family, promotional materials (photographs, lobby cards, and) for the Tarzan films, video recordings of the Burroughs family in America and Hawaii 1939-1940, and audio recordings of the Tarzan radio program, 1951-1952.

Organization and Arrangement

Resources arranged by media type.

Conditions Governing Access

COLLECTION CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: Audiovisual materials in this collection require the production of reference surrogates. To access audiovisual materials you must notify the reference desk in advance of your visit.
Box 9

The New Adventures of Tarzan Promotional Materials. 1935.

Box 10

Tarzan and the Green Goddess Promotional Materials. 1938.

Box 11

Cassette Audio Recording: Tarzan Radio Program, "Tarzen and the Killer," "Jungle Legacy". 1951.

Box 11

Cassette Audio Recording: Tarzan Radio Program, "Tarzen, Lord of the Jungle: Congo Murder," "Across a Continent". circa 1951.

Box 11

Cassette Audio Recording: Tarzan Radio Program, "Tarzen, Lord of the Jungle: Tarzen and the Lypagor," "Tarzen and the Hot Rod Kid". circa 1951.

Box 11

Cassette Audio Recording: Tarzan Radio Program, "Tarzen and the Long Journey," "Tarzen and the Decoy". circa 1951.

Box 11

Cassette Audio Recording: Tarzan Radio Program, "Tarzen and the Long Journey," "Tarzen and the Decoy". circa 1951.

Box 11

Cassette Audio Recording: Tarzan Radio Program, "Tarzen and the Coward," "The Female of the Species". 1951.

Box 11

Cassette Audio Recording: Tarzan Radio Program, "Gold Coast Robbery," "The Siren of Omduh Mara". 1952.

Box 11

Cassette Audio Recording: Tarzan Radio Program, "End of the World," "Jungle Smoke". circa 1952.

Box 11

Cassette Audio Recording: Tarzan Radio Program, "Killer at Large," "None So Blind". circa 1952.

Box 11

Cassette Audio Recording: Tarzan Radio Program, "Life or Death," "Jungle Heat". 1952.

Box 11

VHS Video Recording: "Film by and of Edgar Rice Burroughs, America and Hawaii". 1939-1940.

Box 12, Folder 1

Photograph Negatives: Boating. 1933.

Box 12, Folder 2

Photograph Negatives: Photos of Burroughs. 1900-1935.

Box 12, Folder 3

Photograph Negatives: Burroughs family. 1920-1940.

Box 12, Folder 4

Photograph Negatives: Family at Tarzana Ranch. 1919-1932.

Box 12, Folder 5

Photograph Negatives: Family trips. 1926-1933.

Box 12, Folder 6

Photograph Negatives: Illinois. 1915-1933.

Box 12, Folder 7

Photograph Negatives: Malibu home. 1932-1934.

Box 12, Folder 8

Photograph Negatives: Tarzan set. 1919-1922.

Box 12, Folder 9

Photograph Negatives: Unlabeled. undated.

Box 12, Folder 10

Photograph Negatives: Unlabeled, people in costume. undated.

Box 12, Folder 11

Photograph Negatives: Misc.. 1895-1989.

Box 12, Folder 12

Photograph Prints: Burroughs and family in uniform. undated.

Box 12, Folder 13

Photograph Prints: Personal. circa early 1900s.

Box 13, Folder 1-5

Photographs and Promotional Materials. 1875-1950.

Scope and Content

Contains head shots, set photos, family photographs, souvenir tickets, and photo negatives.
 

Series 3: Manuscripts and Notes. 1908-1947.

Scope and Content

Series comprises personal and professional correspondence before and during World War II, press and magazine clippings, reporter’s notes and war reports, a daily diary (1946), a financial ledger, ephemera, and manuscripts for Burroughs’ wartime “Laugh It Off” column in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, his coverage of Japanese Americans in Hawaii, You Lucky Girl (unpublished, 1927), and The War Chief (1927).

Organization and Arrangement

Resources arranged by type of work or writing.
Box 14, Folder 8

Personal: Better Homes and Gardens Containing Article on Burroughs Home. 1931.

Box 14, Folder 9

Personal: Book of the Month Club Issues and Requests. 1945-1946.

Box 14, Folder 7

Personal: Correspondence and Sketches, Copies. 1900s-1940s.

Box 14, Folder 6

Personal: Correspondence with Joan Burroughs. 1940s.

Box 14, Folder 11

Personal: Daily Diary. 1946.

Box 15, Folder 12

Personal: Financial Ledger Documenting Personal Expenses. 1939-1946.

Box 14, Folder 10

Personal: Handwritten Notes. 1942-1943.

Box 14, Folder 13

Personal: Legal and Medical Documents. 1940-1945.

Scope and Content

Contains social security card, prescriptions and doctor’s medical notes, certificates and bills of sale, insurance receipts, and county clerk certification of Burroughs’ birth records.
Box 14, Folder 12

Personal: Press Clippings for Personal and Research Purposes. 1947.

Box 14, Folder 1

Published Articles: “Entertainment is Fiction’s Purpose” in Writer’s Digest. 1930.

Box 14, Folder 2

Published Articles: “Laugh It Off” Column for Honolulu Star-Bulletin. 1940s.

Box 14, Folder 3

Published Articles: “Laugh It Off” Correspondence. 1940s.

Box 14, Folder 4

Published Novel: The War Chief Index and Outline. 1927.

Box 14, Folder 5

Published Play: You Lucky Girl Manuscript. 1927.

Box 15, Folders 1-4

World War II Writings: War Reports for Businessmen's Military Training Corps, Radio KGMB, and United Press. 1942-1945.

Scope and Content

Burroughs became the public relations officer for the BMTC, a civilian home defense organization, in 1942. The creation of the BMTC was partly in response to the fear among many whites on the island that the Japanese Hawaiians (Nisei) would rise up and fight for Japan. Over the course of his reports, Burroughs shifts from suspicion of Japanese Americans to frustration at the lack of support and respect they were given from the armed forces.
Box 15, Folder 5

World War II Writings: Military Cipher. 1942.

Box 15, Folder 6

World War II Writings: Manuscripts and Correspondence Regarding Wartime Reporting. 1942-1944.

Box 15, Folders 5-7

World War II Writings: Wartime Correspondence and Research. 1943-1945.

Box 15, Folders 10-11

World War II Writings: "Japanese Question" Correspondence and Research. 1943-1945.

Scope and Content

Press clippings and materials regarding Emergency Services and the treatment of Japanese Americans during wartime for research purposes, and correspondence regarding Burroughs’ reporting on the question of what to do with people of Japanese descent after the war.
 

Series 4: Books. 1875-1964.

Scope and Content

Series comprises books written or used by Edgar Rice Burroughs, 1875-1964. It encompasses research books, a dictionary, a thesaurus, books by Burroughs’ family and friends, and books by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

Organization and Arrangement

Books arranged chronologically.

Physical Characteristics

Thesaurus (pub. 1875) is in very delicate condition.
Box 16

Thesaurus. 1875.

Box 16

Jungle Trails and Jungle People by Caspar Whitney. 1905.

Box 16

The Squaw Man by Julie Opp Faversham. 1906.

Box 16

Memoirs of a War Bride by Mary Evaline Burroughs. 1914.

Box 16

An Auto-Biography (2) by Edgar Rice Burroughs. 1917.

Box 16

Pearls and Savages by Captain Frank Hurley. 1924.

Box 16

The Autocrats of the Breakfast Club by Frederick Courtenay Barber. 1930s.

Box 16

Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary . 1943.

Box 16

The War Chief by Edgar Rice Burroughs. 1964.