Arthur D. Spearman, S. J., Autograph Collection
Finding aid prepared by Clay Stalls
Department of Archives and Special Collections, Loyola Marymount University
One LMU Drive, MS 8200
Los Angeles, CA, 90045-2659
(310) 338-5710
Special.Collections@lmu.edu
February 2013
Title: Arthur D. Spearman, S. J., Autograph Collection
Identifier/Call Number: 009
Contributing Institution:
Department of Archives and Special Collections, Loyola Marymount University
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
1.0 Box
Date (inclusive): 1925-1947
Abstract: The Arthur D. Spearman, S. J., Autograph Collection (1925-1947) consists of 1 box (.2 linear feet) of autographed letters
and cards that Father Spearman collected.
Series Arrangement
The Arthur D. Spearman, S.J., Autograph Collection consists of two series:
- Series 1: Correspondence
- Series 2: Photographs and Clippings
Biography
The son of the novelist, author, and convert to Roman Catholicism, Frank Spearman, Arthur D. Spearman was born on 26 August
1899 in Wheaton, Illinois.
Arthur D. Spearman entered the Society of Jesus on 15 June 1918 and was ordained on 25 June 1931. His studies took him to
Loyola University of Chicago and Saint Louis Univeristy, but most of his priestly life was spent in the California Province.
He was an author and teacher, but his principal assignments were as Prefect of Libraries.
His career was concentrated at Satna Clara with side posts at various California facilities, notably the librarianship of
the then Loyola University of Los Angeles from 1937 to 1948. It was during this period that Father Spearman acquired the collection
of autographs in this collection and also a library of bound works from Spanish presses of the 1940s.
From Loyola, Father Spearman eventually returned to Santa Clara where he died on 9 May 1977.
Conditions Governing Use note
Materials in the Department of Archives and Special Collections may be subject to copyright Unless explicitly stated otherwise,
Loyola Marymount University does not claim ownership of the copyright of any materials in its collections The user or publisher
must secure permission to publish from the copyright owner Loyola Marymount University does not assume any responsibility
for infringement of copyright or of publication rights held by the original author or artists or his/her heirs, assigns, or
executors
Conditions Governing Access note
Collection is open to research under the terms of use of the Department of Archives and Special Collections
Preferred Citation note
[Identification of item], Series number, Box and Folder number, Arthur D. Spearman , S. J., Autograph Collection, 009, Department
of Archives and Special Collections, William H. Hannon Library, Loyola Marymount University.
Collection Description
According to information in the accession file,
Father Arthur D. Spearman, S. J., corresponded with literary celebrities because of his own background in literature. From this correspondence, as well as
a general pursuit of collecting autographs, Father Spearman, while serving as librarian at Loyola University and other places,
created this collection, the majority of which he then left with Father Theodore Marshall, S. J., his successor as librarian
at Loyola, after leaving for Santa Clara.
The collection consists of some correspondence collected during the course of Father Spearman's work at Loyola, such as the
1940 letter found in folder 3 from
Joseph Breen, the famous head of the Motion Production Code, which announces the gift of a silver papal medal to Loyola. Others are more
vague, eg, the letter from Roman Catholic priest
Ronald A. Knox concerning translation from Greek (folder 8). In addition, there are stray autographs attributed to
Booker T. Washington, the sources of which are unknown.
In folders eighten through twenty, there is gathering of photographs and clippings of portraits of personages, such as William
Cullen Bryant.
The dates of the collection are 1925 through 1947.
Series 1: Correspondence.
1925-1947
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
17.0 Folder
Series Description
Unless otherwise noted, the correspondence is to Father Arthur D. Spearman, S. J. Names of note in this series include
John Steven McGroarty,
Barry Fitrzgerald,
Ramon Navarro, and
Ronald A. Knox.
Box 1, Folder 1
Arguello Den, Ysabel. Christmas card. Ysabel Arguello Den was a direct descendent of José Dario Arguello of the Presidio
of San Francisco.
undated
Box 1, Folder 2
Armstrong, Robert, Bishop of Sacramento. Announces a gift book on the history of Sacramento.
5 March 1946
Box 1, Folder 3
Breen, Joseph I., Director of the Motion Picture Production Code. Announces the gift of a silver Papal Medal to the university
library.
19 January 1940
Box 1, Folder 4
Connolly, Myles, Catholic writer and scenarist.
21 October (no year)
Box 1, Folder 5
Field, Charlotte E. Mentions her father and promises her autograph collection to Loyola.
1 May 1938
Box 1, Folder 6
Fitzgerald, Barry. Hollywood. Under the signature is pencilled, "Father Fitzgibbon of Going My Way."
23 February 1934
Box 1, Folder 7
Jeffers, William M. (two short notes). The first one is addressed to Spearman at Weston College, Weston Massachusetts. The
notes are on the letterhead of the Union Pacific Rail Road.
9 January 1931, 24 April 1937
Box 1, Folder 8
Knox, Ronald A. Beaufort Castle, Beauly, Scotland.
31 August 1925
Box 1, Folder 9
Lavery, Emmet, Catholic writer and scenarist. Los Angeles.
16 January 1937
Box 1, Folder 10
McGroarty, John Steven, Catholic lawyer and writer. Tujunga, California. Lists his choices for the best entries in a literary
contest at Mount St. Mary's.
18 March 1940
Box 1, Folder 11
Miles, Marion Hamilton. Hollywood.
31 July 1938
Box 1, Folder 12
Milward, Anita.
9 May 1938
Box 1, Folder 13
Murphy, Bernadine. Los Angeles. Addressed to Spearman at Manresa Hall, Port Townsend, Washington.
5 February 1935
Box 1, Folder 14
Novarro, Ramon, Catholic film star. "Christmas greetings to "The Company of Jesus Under Loyola's Roof."
24 December 1940
Box 1, Folder 15
Orena de Koch, Serena. Invitation to tea from the grand-daughter of José de la Guerra Noriega, the last Spanish Royal governor
of California.
22 August 1937
Box 1, Folder 16
Walsh, Rev. H. L., S.J. Walsh, from the University of Santa Clara, asks for information on the earthquake of 1868.
13 March 1947
Box 1, Folder 17
Washington, Booker T. Signatures only (2)
undated
Series 2: Photographs and Clippings.
1938
Physical Description:
3.0 Folder
Series Description
This small series is based on format, either photographs or clippings from newspapers or magazines of personages, eg, former
Secretary of State Cordell Hull. The materials are undated, except for one item that bears the date 1938.
Box 1, Folder 18
Photograph, mounted. 7 1/2 x 4 3/4 inches. J. G. Whittier.
undated
Box 1, Folder 19
Photograph, mounted. 7 1/2 x 4 3/4 inches. William Cullen Bryant.
undated
Box 1, Folder 20
Clippings: magazine clipping with two full-length silhouette portraits, one of Millard Fillmore and the other of John C. Calhoun;
newspaper clipping depicting "America's only queen--Queen Liliuokalani--Ruler of Hawaii...."; cover of Literary Digest showing
a photograph of Secretary of State Cordell Hull; slip of paper with oval portraits of seven American presidents from Grant
to Theodore Roosevelt.
undated