Finding Aid to the Turbesé Lummis Fiske and Frances Douglas Papers, 1890-1967 MS.240

Finding aid prepared by Holly Rose Larson
Autry National Center, Braun Research Library
234 Museum Drive
Los Angeles, CA, 90065-5030
323-221-2164
rroom@theautry.org
September 30, 2011


Title: Turbesé Lummis Fiske and Frances Douglas papers
Identifier/Call Number: MS.240
Contributing Institution: Autry National Center, Braun Research Library
Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 8.2 Linear feet (16 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1890-1967
Abstract: The Turbesé Lummis Fiske and Frances Douglas papers are mostly personal documents, with some manuscripts and realia, spanning from 1890-1967. They include the papers of Henry Herbert Knibbs from 1929-1945, and include correspondence from, to, and about Charles Fletcher Lummis.
creator: Douglas, Frances
creator: Fiske, Turbese Lummis.
creator: Knibbs , Henry Herbert, 1874-1945
creator: Lummis, Charles Fletcher, 1859-1928.
creator: Lummis, Eve
creator: Rhodes, May Division
creator: Van der Veer, Judy, b. 1912

Scope and Contents

The papers of Turbesé Lummis Fiske, Henry Herbert Knibbs, and Frances Douglas are mostly personal documents, with some manuscripts and realia.
Turbesé’s papers include correspondence, diaries, manuscripts, notes, newspaper clippings, ephemera, legal documents, drawings, her husband Frank’s school notebook, and post-mortem clippings and notes about Turbesé. The correspondence sub-series includes large portions of correspondence with and regarding her father, Charles Fletcher Lummis, as well as large portions of correspondence with May Rhodes and Judy Van Der Veer. The correspondence with Judy Van Der Veer also includes a manuscript by and about Van Der Veer. Fiske’s manuscripts include short stories, plays, poetry, and a biography of her father, Charles Fletcher Lummis.
Turbesé and Henry Herbert Knibbs lived together until Knibbs’s death, and Turbesé was the executor of his estate. His papers are included in her series of the archive. The papers of Henry Herbert Knibbs include correspondence, manuscripts, notes, newspaper clippings, ephemera, drawings, and realia. Some of the correspondence in his series is addressed to both he and Turbese. His manuscripts include drafts of his autobiography.
The papers of Frances Douglas include correspondence, diaries, reprints of some of her published material, a published paper by her husband Courtenay DeKalb, and legal papers regarding her former husband Charles Fletcher Lummis.

Access

Collection is open for research. Appointments to view materials are required. To make an appointment please visit http://theautry.org/research/research-rules-and-application or contact library staff at rroom@theautry.org A box-level inventory is available from library staff.

Use

Copyright has not been assigned to the Braun Research Library at the Autry National Center. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Library Director. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Braun Research Library as the custodian of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.

Preferred Citation

Turbesé Lummis Fiske and Frances Douglas Papers, 1890-1967, Braun Research Library, Autry National Center, Los Angeles; MS.240; [folder number] [folder title][date].

Acquisition

bequest from Fiske, Turbesé Lummis; Keith Lummis; donation; 1984, 1991-1992.

Biographical/Historical note

Turbesé Lummis Fiske (June 8, 1892-May 1967) was the daughter of Charles Fletcher Lummis, an anthropologist, writer, photographer, editor of the Los Angeles Times, "Land of Sunshine" and "Out West" magazines and the founder of the Southwest Museum. Fiske was an author in her own right, editing some of her father's texts and later acting as editor and collaborator with author Henry Herbert Knibbs. Her literary works were published in journals such as the L.A. Times and Ladies' Home Journal. Some of her plays were produced by local theater companies.
Frances Eve Douglas (November 19, 1870-March 1969) was Charles Lummis’s second wife and was known as Eve Lummis during their marriage. After their divorce in 1911, she returned to using her maiden name of Douglas. When she remarried Courtenay DeKalb in 1913, she adopted his surname. She also sometimes went by the name Eva rather than Eve. Frances was also a literary figure, publishing many articles, but mostly known for her extensive body of translations of Spanish language texts.

Processing History

Initial processing performed by Braun Research Library staff. Additional processing and cataloging was performed by Holly Rose Larson, Project Archivist, funded by a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission in 2011.

Arrangement

  • Series 1: Turbesé Lummis Fiske Papers, 1895-1967
  • Series 2: Eva (Eve) Frances Douglas DeKalb (formerly Lummis) correspondence and diaries, 1890-1958

Related Archival Materials

Charles Fletcher Lummis Papers, 1888-1928, Braun Research Library Collection, Autry National Center, Los Angeles, Ca.; MS.1
Frances Douglas papers (MS 037). Special Collections, University of Arizona Libraries.
Henry Herbert Knibbs Papers, M0188, Dept. of Special Collections, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
Turbese Lummis Fiske Papers, M0189, Dept. of Special Collections, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Biography.
Clippings.
Correspondence
Diaries.
Drawings.
Legal documents.
Plays
Poetry.
Short stories.

Box 1-14

Turbesé Lummis Fiske Papers, Series 1:  1895-1967

Box 1-4

Correspondence, 1896-1966

Box 8-9

Manuscripts and notes, 1908-1929, undated

Box 5-7

Diaries, 1910-1967

Box 10

Newspaper clippings, 1904-1965

Box 11

Personal papers, 1895-1967

Scope and Contents note

This sub-series includes legal documents, ephemera, drawings, husband Frank Friske's Logic class notebook, Turbesé's obituary, and other personal papers.
Box 12-14

Henry Herbert Knibbs papers, 1922-1948, undated

Biographical/Historical note

Henry Herbert Knibbs (1874-1945) was an associate of Charles Lummis and had a business and romantic relationship with Turbesé from 1929 until his death in 1945. His wife, Ida Julia Pfeifer, never granted him a divorce so Fiske and Knibbs’s relationship was never officially recognized. Despite this, Knibbs made Fiske executor of his estate and his papers are included in her collection. Knibbs is best known for his western-themed fiction and cowboy poetry.

Scope and Contents note

Henry Herbert Knibbs's papers include business and personal correspondence, fan mail, drafts of his autobiography, a resolution by the California Assembly to name him Poet Laureate of California in 1933, newspaper clippings, business papers, drawings, statement of will, and instructions for constructing a violin.
Box 12

Correspondence, 1922-1945

Box 13-14

Manuscripts and notes, 1932-1947, undated

Box 14

Newspaper clippings, 1933

Box 14

Personal papers, 1929-1944

Box 15-16

Frances Douglas correspondence and diaries, Series 2:  1890-1958

Box 15

Correspondence, 1890-1954

Box 15

Manuscripts and notes, 1930-1934

Box 15

Personal papers, 1906-1958

Box 16

Diaries, 1934-1963