Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- George Sterling collection
- Dates:
- 1901-1926
- Creators:
- Sterling, George, 1869-1926
- Abstract:
- A collection of material related to the California poet, George Sterling.
- Extent:
- 1.2 Linear Feet (1 box)
- Language:
- Materials are in English.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item]. George Sterling collection, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
A collection of approximately 70 poems and sonnets and three letters written by George Sterling. The poems and sonnets are typewritten and autograph, many are signed and some are incomplete. The poems and sonnets deal with, among other subjects, World War I, love, revenge, change, Carmel, California, and Jack London. One of the poems, "The northern star, the northern wind..." was found on the floor beside Sterling's deathbed and was possibly his last poem. The letters are written to Ambrose Bierce and Edwin Markham.
- Biographical / historical:
-
George Sterling (1869-1926) was born December 1, 1869, in Sag Harbor on Long Island, New York; he moved to California in September 1890. On February 7, 1896, Sterling married Caroline "Carrie" Eugenie Rand. During his thirty-year career as a writer, Sterling wrote songs, plays, movies, short stories, essays, and more than a thousand poems. His works were published in nearly all American literary magazines, in more than a hundred newspapers, in anthologies, and in his own books; he earned several literary awards. In addition, Sterling played a major role in the growth of the California cities of Oakland, Piedmont, and Carmel-by-the-Sea. Sterling was also a proponent of Bohemianism during the first quarter of the twentieth century and was good friends with Jack London, Charmian London, and Ambrose Bierce. In 1926, Sterling, ill and despondent over the death of Carrie Sterling, died by suicide in his room at the Bohemian Club, San Francisco, California.
- Acquisition information:
- Purchased from American Art Association, Conant sale, Lot 25, November 1923 (mssHM 13890); Gift of Mrs. Denis S. Dimond, May 1930 (mssHM 12021-12075); Purchased from Jackson Berger, April 1932 (mssHM 13493); Gift of Albert Bender, January 1936 (mssHM 447, 1427, 1666, 1684, 2064, 2073, 2082); Gift of Harwood A. White, February 1948 (mssHM 34909); Gift of Marshall M. Levis, December 1955 (mssHM 45976-45982); Provenance unknown, in library, January 1967 (mssHM 30944); Purchased from Dawson's Book Shop July 1973 (mssHM 39353).
- Processing information:
-
Processed by Huntington Library staff in approximately 1925-1977; in April 2025, Gayle M. Richardson created the finding aid. This collection includes multiple acquisitions acquired and assembled by Huntington Library staff over many years.
- Arrangement:
-
Arranged alphabetically by title and addressee.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
About this collection guide
- Date Encoded:
- This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-05-27 14:01:58 -0700 .
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.
- Terms of access:
-
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]. George Sterling collection, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
- Location of this collection:
-
1151 Oxford RoadSan Marino, CA 91108, US
- Contact:
- (626) 405-2191