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 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