Overview of the Collection
Access
Administrative Information
Biographical Note
Scope and Content
Arrangement
Indexing: Subjects
Indexing Terms
Overview of the Collection
Title: Elza Ivan Edwards Papers
Dates (inclusive): 1948-1997
Bulk dates: 1966-1980
Collection Number: mssHM 65769-65811
Creator:
Edwards, E. I. (Elza Ivan), 1897-1984.
Extent: 53 items in 1 box
Repository:
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
Manuscripts Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2129
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract: This small collection contains correspondence and some ephemera of Elza Ivan “Eddie” Edwards (1897-1984), who authored
several books on the history of Death Valley, California. The letters primarily date from the late 1960s to 1980 and are chiefly
personal in nature though some discuss history-related activities.
Language: English.
Access
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services
Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.
Administrative Information
Publication Rights
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to
quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such
activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is
one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item]. Elza Ivan Edwards Papers, The Huntington Library, San
Marino, California.
Provenance
Gift of Earl F. Nation, September 8, 2000.
Biographical Note
Elza Ivan “Eddie” Edwards (1897-1984) was born in Idaho in 1897. Later he moved to
California where he opened an accounting advisory service for medical offices.
Edwards‟ hobby was Death Valley history and he was the author of several books
including
The Valley Whose Name is Death, Desert Voices: A Descriptive Bibliography,
and
The Enduring Desert. He was an active member of the Los Angeles Corral of the
Westerners and served as Sheriff in 1966. In 1964, he and his wife, Beryl, retired
and moved to Yucca Valley, California. Edwards died in 1984.
Scope and Content
The majority of the 43 pieces of correspondence are written by Elza Ivan Edwards and
are personal in nature; however, several of the letters discuss in detail the
activities and publications of the Los Angeles Corral of the Westerners and the
Death Valley '49ers. The letters also discuss Edwards‟ various books on Death Valley
as well as the publications of George Koenig, Anthony Kroll, and Earl F. Nation
(fellow Westerners and the addressees of Edwards‟ letters). One letter by Edwards
recounts a hiking trip in Nevada and provides a good description of the area around
Dayton, Nevada, as well as the ghost towns Delamar and Genoa. The ten pieces of
ephemera include biographical information about Edwards and newspaper clippings.
Arrangement
Correspondence arranged alphabetically by author, followed by ephemera.
Indexing: Subjects
Death Valley '49ers
- lza Ivan Edwards, 1897-, letter (1976, Aug. 20) to Anthony Kroll. HM 65783.
- lza Ivan Edwards, 1897-, letter (1977, Jan. 29) to Anthony Kroll. HM 65784.
- lza Ivan Edwards, 1897-, letter (1970, Oct. 21) to Earl F. Nation, 1910-. HM 65797.
Nevada – Description and travel
- lza Ivan Edwards, 1897-, letter (1966, Aug. 31) to George Koenig. HM 65774.
Westerners. Los Angeles Corral
- rthur H. (Arthur Henry) Clark, 1912 -, letter (1966, May 31) to Earl F. Nation, 1910-. HM 65770.
- lza Ivan Edwards, 1897-, letter (1964, Oct. 28) to George Koenig. HM 65773.
- lza Ivan Edwards, 1897-, letter (1966, May 14) to Earl F. Nation, 1910-. HM 65788.
- lza Ivan Edwards, 1897-, letter (1966, June 12) to Earl F. Nation, 1910-. HM 65790.
- lza Ivan Edwards, 1897-, letter (1969, Nov. 17) to Earl F. Nation, 1910-. HM 65791.
- lza Ivan Edwards, 1897-, letter (1969, Dec. 30) to Earl F. Nation, 1910-. HM 65794.
- verett Gordon Hager letter (1966, May 26) to Earl F. Nation, 1910-. HM 65808.
Westerners. San Bernardino Corral
- lza Ivan Edwards, 1897-, letter (1976, Feb. 22) to Anthony Kroll. HM 65782.
- lza Ivan Edwards, 1897-, letter (1975, July 22) to Earl F. Nation, 1910-. HM 65798.
- lza Ivan Edwards, 1897-, letter (1975, July
Indexing Terms
Subjects
Edwards, E. I. (Elza
Ivan), 1897-1984.
Death Valley
'49ers.
Westerners. Los Angeles
Corral.
Westerners. San
Bernardino Corral.
Authors, American -- 20th century --
Archives.
Deserts -- Anecdotes.
Deserts -- United States.
Ghost towns -- Nevada.
California --
Description and travel.
Death Valley (Calif.
and Nev.) -- Description and travel.
Nevada -- Description
and travel.
Forms/Genres
Letters (correspondence) -- West (U.S.)
-- 20th century.
Additional Contributors
Koenig, George, correspondent.
Kroll, Anthony, correspondent.
Nation, Earl F., 1910-.,
correspondent.