Thorp (N. Howard) Papers, 1908-1999

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Summary

Title:
N. Howard Thorp Papers
Dates:
1908-1999
Creators:
Thorp, N. Howard (Nathan Howard), 1867-1940.
Abstract:
This collection constitutes the literary archive of New Mexico author N. Howard (Nathan Howard) "Jack" Thorp (1867-1940). It includes original manuscripts of Thorp's stories, as well as songs, correspondence, a diary, photographs and related publications.
Extent:
870 pieces. 7 boxes.
Language:
English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. N. Howard Thorp Papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection constitutes the literary archive of New Mexico author N. Howard (Nathan Howard) “Jack” Thorp. It includes original manuscripts of Thorp’s stories, as well as songs, correspondence, a diary, photographs, and related publications.

Of note is the complete manuscript of Thorp’s unpublished Cowland, various pack trip descriptions written for the New Mexico Federal Writers’ Program, and the extensive files of cowboy songs written and collected by Thorp. In the oversize box are some journals kept by Thorp, correspondence (including 2 letters from Eugene Manlove Rhodes and 4 from Frank Dobie), 3 photographs and printed materials. There is some correspondence which concerns Thorp’s unsuccessful attempts to obtain and retain copyright for his song, “Little Joe the Wrangler.”

The collection also includes some materials by and related to Thorp’s wife, Annette Heslop Thorp (found in Box 7). Mrs. Thorp’s papers contain some original manuscripts, many of which reflect Southwestern folklore, history and traditions.

Biographical / historical:

Howard (Nathan Howard) “Jack” Thorp was born on June 10, 1867, the youngest of three sons of a New York City lawyer and real estate investor. He spent summers on his brother’s ranch in Nebraska, and at the age of nineteen he moved to Nebraska and then to New Mexico. Over the years he worked as a cowboy, operated ranches, worked as a civil engineer, raised cattle and sheep, and served as cattle inspector for the state of New Mexico. Thorp married Annette Hesch in December 1903, and the two of them lived in Palma and Santa Fe before moving to Alameda, New Mexico in 1935.

Thorp began collecting and writing cowboy songs in 1889, and in 1908 his Songs of the Cowboys was published in Estancia, New Mexico. An expanded version of Songs of the Cowboys was published by Houghton Mifflin in 1921, and Thorp’s later publications included Tales of the Chuck Wagon (1926) and Pardner of the Wind: Story of the Southwestern Cowboy (published posthumously in 1941 with Neil M. Clark). His fiction and poetry also appeared in New Mexico Magazine, The Cattleman, The Atlantic Monthly, Poetry, and Literary Digest. His book-length story targeted towards a younger audience, Cowland, remains unpublished. Thorp also worked for the Works Progress Administration’s (WPA) New Mexico Federal Writers’ Program from 1936-1939.

Thorp died at his Alameda, New Mexico, home on June 4, 1940.

Acquisition information:
Gift of John and Joyce Stauffer, June 1999.
Arrangement:

Arranged in the following series: 1. Manuscripts (Boxes 1-4); 2. Songs (Box 5); 3. Oversize materials (Box 6); 4. Annette H. Thorp (Box 7).

Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Jennifer L. Martinez, May 21, 2001.
Date Prepared:
© 2001
Date Encoded:
Machine readable finding aid encoded by Diann Benti in May 2017 from PDF finding aid originally in the Huntington Digital Library.

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Terms of access:

John and Joyce Stauffer retain the literary rights of N. Howard (Nathan Howard) “Jack” and Annette Thorp. Please refer all inquiries regarding permission to publish or quote from their writings to the curator of the collection.

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]. N. Howard Thorp Papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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