Guide to the Steven Gilbar Collection

Arrangement and description by T. Lewis and D. Tambo

Department of Special Collections

Davidson Library

University of California, Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA 93106

Phone: (805) 893-3062

Fax: (805) 893-5749

Email: special@library.ucsb.edu

URL: http://www.library.ucsb.edu/speccoll/speccoll.html

Guide to the Steven Gilbar Collection, ca. 1840s-1990s [bulk dates 1980s-1990s]

Collection number: Mss 171

Department of Special Collections

Davidson Library

University of California, Santa Barbara

Processed by:: Arrangement and description by T. Lewis and D. Tambo
Date Completed:: July 22, 2008
Encoded by:: A. Demeter

Descriptive Summary

Title: Steven Gilbar Collection

Dates: ca. 1840s-1990s

Bulk Dates: 1980s-1990s

Collection number: Mss 171

Creator: Gilbar, Steven

Collection Size: 1.2 linear feet (3 boxes).

Repository: University of California, Santa Barbara. Library. Dept. of Special Collections

Santa Barbara, CA 93106

Abstract: Research files, including correspondence, articles, clippings, and photographs pertaining to Steven Gilbar and Dean Stewart's Tales of Santa Barbara (1994) and Literary Santa Barbara (1998).

Physical location: Del Sur.

Languages: English

Access Restrictions

None.

Publication Rights

Copyright has not been assigned to the Department of Special Collections, UCSB. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Department of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained.

Preferred Citation

Steven Gilbar Collection. Mss 171. Department of Special Collections, Davidson Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.

Acquisition Information

Multiple donations from Steven Gilbar, 2000-2006.

Biography

Steven Gilbar was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1941. Although he continued to live there until adulthood, a family vacation to Santa Barbara when he was a boy left a lasting impression on him. In 1963, he graduated from the University of Michigan and then went on to earn his J.D. from Detroit's Wayne State University Law School. After practicing law in Detroit for a few years, he moved to California in 1970. His lifelong interest in books led him to the San Francisco law book publishing firm Matthew Bender & Company, where he worked as senior managing editor.

In 1978, he moved to Santa Barbara and set up his own practice, which specialized in literary law. At this time he began putting together anthologies, starting with The Book Book, published in 1981. His earliest works were aimed at bibliophiles, with titles such as Good Books: A Booklover's Companion (1982) and The Open Door: When Writers First Learned to Read (1989).

In the 1990s, Gilbar turned his attention to the rich literary tradition of his adopted home town, producing Tales of Santa Barbara (1994) and Red Tiles, Blue Skies: More Tales of Santa Barbara (1996). He then collaborated with local historian Dean Stewart to produce Literary Santa Barbara (1998), which traces the history of the numerous writers and publishers who have made the area their home or their subject matter.

In 1996, he founded the non-profit organization Speaking of Stories, a professional theater company that reads short stories to live audiences. Since retiring from his law practice in 2002, Steven Gilbar has remained active in Santa Barbara's literary community, serving on the board of the Santa Barbara Book Council and launching the first "Santa Barbara Reads!" program. He also continues to put together anthologies of his favorite fiction, such as LA Shorts (2000) and Americans in Paris: Great Short Stories of the City of Light (2003).

Scope and Content Notes

The collection primarily contains research files related to Steven Gilbar and Dean Stewart's Tales of Santa Barbara (1994) and Literary Santa Barbara (1998). It includes correspondence, permissions to publish, articles, clippings, photographs (copy prints from various sources, mainly for use in the publications), excerpts, and notes about respective authors and publications. Printouts of related works in Special Collections have been inserted in appropriate folders.

Early items in the collection are primarily copies of printed materials.

This collection also contains monographs and serials donated by Steven Gilbar and Dean Stewart, which have been cataloged separately and can be searched using Pegasus, the UCSB Libraries online catalog.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Gilbar, Steven

Stewart, Dean

Authors and publishers--United States.

Santa Barbara (Calif.)

Box 1: 1

Addis, Yda - copy photos and notes

Box 1: 2

Albrecht, Abigail - 1 letter (ALS) and typescript poems, 1994

Box 1: 3

Anderson, Dame Judith - 2 b/w prints of Anderson with Robinson Jeffers, and in Jeffers' play Medea

Box 1: 4

Atherton, Gertrude - 1 copy photo and excerpts from The Doomswoman and Adventures of a Novelist

Box 1: 5

Bacon, Leonard - copy photo

Box 1: 6

Barnes, Joanna - newspaper clipping, 1985

Box 1: 7

Barre, Richard - publisher's advertisement for The Innocents, 1995

Box 1: 8

Bates, Julia - 1 note (ANS) agreeing to use of "Casa Dorinda" poem, 1994

Box 1: 9

Baudrillard, Jean - excerpt from America

Box 1: 10

Bell, Horace - copy photos of Bell and cover of Reminiscences of a Ranger

Box 1: 11

Bell, Katherine M. - copy photo

Box 1: 12

Berkman, Edward O. (Ted) - notes and newspaper clipping, n.d.

Box 1: 13

Blackburn, Tom - agreement with University of California Press

Box 1: 14

Bond, Marshall, Jr. - copy photo of cover of Adventures with Peons, Princes & Tycoons

Box 1: 15

Bottome, Phyllis - excerpt from The Goal, 1962

Box 1: 16

Bowers, Edgar - contract, 1994

Box 1: 17

Boyle, T. Coraghessan - includes 2 notes (TNS) from Boyle, Jan. 24, 1996 and Feb. 17, 1996

Box 1: 18

Brewer, William H. - notes

Box 1: 19

Browne, Francis Fisher - copy of poem

Box 1: 20

Bryant, Edwin - copy of account of encampment at Santa Barbara in 1846-1847

Box 1: 21

Buckley, Christopher - biography, copies of short works, and 1 letter (TLS), Apr. 13, 1994

Box 1: 22

Budd, Lillian - notes and 1 letter (TLS) to the Independent about Budd, 1988

Box 1: 23

Bunting, Basil - copy photo of drawing of Bunting

Box 1: 24

Butcher, Harry Cecil - copy of biographical entry

Box 1: 25

Butler-Evans, Elliott - Friends of English (UCSB) newsletter, with announcement re Butler-Evans, 1992

Box 1: 26

Caldwell, Erskine - 1 letter (TLS), Feb. 17, 1984

Box 1: 27

Cameron, Margaret - copy of poem and excerpt from John Dover

Box 1: 28

Cann, John Allen - copies of poems

Box 1: 29

Carothers, Alva - copies of Stevenson's Isles of Paradise title page and related material

Box 1: 30

Carver, Raymond - articles about Carver and 1 letter (TLS), Apr. 18, 1984

Box 1: 31

Chapparal Poets of California, Santa Barbara Chapter - copy of poem by Gabriela Mistral

Box 1: 32

Chase, J. Smeaton - quote from California Coastal Trails; includes list of possible titles for what became Gilbar's Red Tiles, Blue Skies

Box 1: 33

Clark, Tom - copies of poems, biographical and bibliographical information

Box 1: 34

Cone, Mary - excerpt from Two Years in California

Box 1: 35

Connexions - Autumn 1987 issue

Box 1: 36

Conrad, Barnaby - correspondence, photos, clippings, biographical notes

Box 1: 37

Corle, Edwin and Jean - photo

Box 1: 38

Cowles, Roger - copy photo of The San Felipians dust jacket

Box 1: 39

Craft, Gabrielle - copy of poem re Isla Vista life from Screwdriver

Box 1: 40

Cunningham, Julie - photo

Box 1: 41

Dahl, David - correspondence, 1985

Box 1: 42

Dana, Richard - copy photos

Box 1: 43

Diamond, Steve - notes

Box 1: 44

Dresser, Davis (Brett Halliday) - copy photos and biographical sketch

Box 1: 45

Duflot de Mofras, Eugene - excerpt from Exploration du territoire de L'Oregon, des Californies ...

Box 1: 46

Eastlake, William - copy photo and 1 letter (TLS), Apr. 4, 1984

Box 1: 47

Easton, Robert O. - correspondence, 1994

Box 1: 48

Eaton, Margaret Holden - copy photo and description of Diary of a Sea Captain's Wife

Box 1: 49

Ehrlich, Gretel - clippings

Box 1: 50

Ellerbe, Paul - copy photo

Box 1: 51

Emotions, v. 1, no. 1 (Winter 1989) - Santa Barbara magazine of poetry, short fiction, and art

Box 1: 52

Engelhardt, Zephyrin - excerpt from A Literary History of Southern California

Box 1: 53

Eunson, (John) Dale - clippings

Box 1: 54

Fielding, Daphne - biographical notes

Box 1: 55

Finck, Henry Theophilus - excerpt from The Pacific Coast Scenic Tour

Box 1: 56

Flagg, Fannie - clippings

Box 1: 57

Forbes, Gordon - clipping

Box 1: 58

Fraser, Meg - typescript copies of poems

Box 1: 59

Freedman, J. F. - review of House of Smoke

Box 1: 60

Gallo, Joseph - typescript of poem "Ranger," dated Nov. 1991

Box 1: 61

Galsworthy, John - copy photo of Galsworthy and copy of poem "'Ode' to San Ysidro"

Box 1: 62

Gault, William Campbell - copy photo, correspondence, clippings

Box 1: 63

Geiger, Maynard - letter, 1995

Box 1: 64

Gibbs, Tony - clipping

Box 1: 65

Gilbar, Steven - publicity and other items re Tales of Santa Barbara

Box 1: 66

Gilpatric, Guy - copy photo

Box 1: 67

Gnup-Kruip, Valentina - letter and poem, 1994

Box 1: 68

Grafton, Sue - copy photo, correspondence, biographical sketch, clippings

Box 1: 69

Hall-Wood, Mary C. F. - clipping re Hall-Wood's life in Santa Barbara

Box 1: 70

Hannon, Michael - notice re publication by Turkey Press

Box 1: 71

Harrington, John Peabody - copy photo of Harrington and excerpts from December's Child

Box 1: 72

Hazard, Caroline - copy photos

Box 1: 73

Hoffmann, Eleanor - copy photos

Box 1: 74

Hopkins, Prynce - copy photo of Hopkins

Box 1: 75

Howard, Maureen - excerpt from Facts of Life

Box 2: 1

Hunt, Edwin Arthur - copies of poem "Santa Barbara Springtime"

Box 2: 2

Hyde, Robert - copy photo of Hyde and correspondence, 1994

Box 2: 3

Isherwood, Christopher - photo of Isherwood with Jean Corle

Box 2: 4

Iyer, Pico - includes 1 document (TDS), Apr. 1994

Box 2: 5

Jarrell, Randall - correspondence re reprint rights for poem "In Montecito"

Box 2: 6

Jessup, Richard - copy photo

Box 2: 7

John Daniel and Company - correspondence and brochure

Box 2: 8

Johnson, A. W. - two quotes by Johnson, typed

Box 2: 9

Johnston, E. McD. - quote by Johnston, typed

Box 2: 10

Kenner, Hugh - copy photo

Box 2: 11

Kimberlin, Kyle - correspondence and poems, 1995

Box 2: 12

Kinnick, B. Jo - clipping

Box 2: 13

Kirsch, Robert R. - copy of entry in Contemporary Authors

Box 2: 14

Koeninger, Anthony - clipping

Box 2: 15

Korngold, Ralph - copy photos and clippings, ca. 1965

Box 2: 16

Krishnamurti, Jiddu - copy photo

Box 2: 17

La Puma, Salvatore - clippings

Box 2: 18

Laird, Carobeth - letter to Malki Museum Press re reprint rights for Laird excerpt

Box 2: 19

Lee, Mabel Barbee - quote by Lee, typed

Box 2: 20

Lehmann, Lotte - copy photos

Box 2: 21

Little Square Review - photos of various LSR covers

Box 2: 22

Loomis, Edward - includes 1 document (TDS), May 1994

Box 2: 23

Lowenkopf, Shelly Alan - copy of entry in Contemporary Authors

Box 2: 24

Ludwig, Emil - copy photo

Box 2: 25

Lynds, Dennis (Michael Collins) - clippings, pamphlets, and cover art

Box 2: 26

McChesney, L. Studdiford - photocopy of title page of Under Shadow of the Mission

Box 2: 27

McConnell, Frank - clipping

Box 2: 28

McGuire, Harry - photo of McGuire bookplate

Box 2: 29

McNally, William - notes

Box 2: 30

McWilliams, Carey - photocopy from Southern California Country

Box 2: 31

Manly, William Lewis - photocopy from Death Valley in '49

Box 2: 32

Marin, Peter - notes

Box 2: 33

Markham, Beryl - copy photos and review of The Lives of Beryl Markham

Box 2: 34

Maytag, Ken - copy of poem

Box 2: 35

Millar, Kenneth (Ross Macdonald; married to Margaret Millar) - copy photos, biographical sketch, and correspondence re permissions, 1994

Box 2: 36

Millar, Margaret (married to Kenneth Millar) - biographical sketch and note, 1994

Box 2: 37

Miller, Joaquin - copy of poem

Box 2: 38

Momaday, N. Scott - copy of newspaper article, ca. 1968

Box 2: 39

Monaghan, Jay - copy photos

Box 2: 40

Moore, Abd Al-Hayy - biographical sketches, articles, and notes

Box 2: 41

Morrow, Bradford - article from Publishers Weekly, 1991

Box 2: 42

Mudborn Press - photo of Rockbottom cover

Box 2: 43

Muller, Marcia - quotes from Beyond the Grave

Box 2: 44

Myrick, David - article in Santa Barbara Historical Society newsletter

Box 2: 45

Nesselrod, Piri Korngold - flyer for book signing

Box 2: 46

Nesset, Kirk - newsletter

Box 2: 47

Nordhoff, Charles - copy photos

Box 2: 48

Novas, Himilce - newspaper clipping

Box 2: 49

Noyes, Alfred - copy photos and biographical sketch

Box 2: 50

Odell, Joshua - includes 1 postcard (ALS), August 27, 1991

Box 2: 51

Pai, Kenneth - clippings

Box 2: 52

Parfit, Michael - copy photo and clippings

Box 2: 53

Peregrine-Smith Books - clipping

Box 2: 54

Perelman, S. J. - copies of printed correspondence, typed quote

Box 2: 55

Perry, Thomas - biographical sketch

Box 2: 56

Petracca, Michael - newsletter from Joshua Odell Editions

Box 2: 57

Poett, A. Dibblee - newsletters and mailings from Santa Barbara Historical Society

Box 2: 58

Portuges, Paul - includes 1 document (TDS), May 1994

Box 2: 59

Powell, Lawrence Clark - includes 1 ALS, April 10, 1984

Box 2: 60

Poynter, Dan - clipping

Box 2: 61

Rabe, Claire - correspondence

Box 2: 62

Read, Doris - clipping

Box 2: 63

Redmon, Michael - clipping

Box 2: 64

Rice, Cale Young - copy of poem

Box 2: 65

Richards, Jarrett T. - quote from Romance on El Camino Real

Box 2: 66

Richardson, William - copy of poem

Box 3: 1

Ridland, John - copies of poems; issues of Little Square Review, edited by Ridland

Box 3: 2

Roberts, Marguerite (married to John Sanford) - clipping

Box 3: 3

Robinson, Alfred - copy photos and excerpt from Life in California

Box 3: 4

Rogers, Robert Cameron - copy photo and excerpt from Santa Cruz Island

Box 3: 5

Russell, C. M. - copy photo of 1923 letter

Box 3: 6

Russell, William F. - clipping

Box 3: 7

Sanborn, Kate - copy photo

Box 3: 8

Sanchez, Thomas - correspondence, copy photo, clippings, and biographical information

Box 3: 9

Sanford, John - clipping and excerpts from Maggie

Box 3: 10

Santa Barbara Book Fair - 1995 and 1997 booklets

Box 3: 11

Santa Barbara Community Life - copy of Dec. 1922 cover

Box 3: 12

Santa Barbara Historical Society - issues of newsletter and Noticias

Box 3: 13

Santa Barbara Poetry Festival - flyer and clippings

Box 3: 14

Santa Barbara Press - historical background

Box 3: 15

Santa Barbara Public Library - historical background

Box 3: 16

Santa Barbara Review - clipping about the review

Box 3: 17

Santa Barbara Writers Conference - clippings about the conference

Box 3: 18

Santa Barbara Writer's Lunch - clipping

Box 3: 19

Sayles, John - copy photo, biographical information, clippings, and 1 letter (ALS), Apr. 24, 1984

Box 3: 20

Schaefer, Jack - clipping

Box 3: 21

Shelton, Ron - clipping, biographical information

Box 3: 22

Smith, Julie - clipping

Box 3: 23

Spacks, Barry - copy photo and clippings

Box 3: 24

Spaulding, Edward R. - letter of consent to publish, 1994

Box 3: 25

Spectrum - copy photo of Winter 1957 cover

Box 3: 26

Stegner, Wallace - copy photo and 1990 letter re Stegner

Box 3: 27

Stephens, Alan - letters of consent to publish, 1994

Box 3: 28

Stevenson, Mrs. Robert Louis - clippings, biographical notes

Box 3: 29

Stewart, Dean - typescript copies of poem "Night, Sycamore Canyon"

Box 3: 30

Storke, Thomas More - copy photo and excerpt from California Editor

Box 3: 31

Sturman, Douwe - obituary, 1991

Box 3: 32

Taylor, Bayard - notes re his visit to Santa Barbara

Box 3: 33

Teasdale, Sara - copy photo

Box 3: 34

Temple, Willard - copy photo, letter requesting permission to publish

Box 3: 35

Tervalon, Jervey - clipping

Box 3: 36

Thomas, Dylan - notes

Box 3: 37

Thomes, William Henry - copy photos

Box 3: 38

Thornburg, Newton Kendall - biographical information, letters re permissions

Box 3: 39

Thornton, Lawrence - clippings, biographical information, letter re permissions

Box 3: 40

Tomlinson, Kerry - copies of poem "old pair strolling in alameda park"

Box 3: 41

Tompkins, Walker - copy photo

Box 3: 42

Tourney, Leonard - clipping

Box 3: 43

Tree, Iris - copy photo, clippings, and biographical notes

Box 3: 44

Turner, Frederick - letters of consent to publish, 1994

Box 3: 45

Vidal, Gore - 1 letter (ALS), re Iris Tree, n.d.

Box 3: 46

Von Arnim, Elizabeth - copy photo

Box 3: 47

Walker, Franklin Dickerson - copy of excerpt from A Literary History of Southern California

Box 3: 48

Wardell, Tim - copy of poem

Box 3: 49

Whigham, Peter - typescript poem "Return to Santa Barbara," 1973

Box 3: 50

White, Stewart Edward - copy photos and clippings

Box 3: 51

Wiggin, Kate Douglas - copy photos and clipping

Box 3: 52

Wilkinson, Marguerite - copy of poem

Box 3: 53

Wilson, Edmund - copy photos and excerpt from Classics and Commercials

Box 3: 54

Wood, E. N. - notes

Box 3: 55

Young, Noel - includes 1 letter (TLS) to Young from Gilbar, and a clipping

Box 3: 56

Miscellany - includes notes and references to multiple authors; correspondence, draft pages, and other material relating to publication of Literary Santa Barbara; and unidentified items

[2006 additions - correspondence from authors]

Box 3: 57

Adams, Alice, Jan. 22, n.y.

Box 3: 57

Baker, Nicholson [copy], Oct. 8, 1997

Box 3: 57

Boyle, T. C. [Tom], Nov. 21, 1999

Box 3: 57

Coffman, Taylor, May 5, 1998

Box 3: 57

Grafton, Sue, Aug. 11, 1997 and June 22, 2000 (2 items)

Box 3: 57

Helprin, Mark, Dec. 30, 1998

Box 3: 57

Houston, James D., July 21, 1998

Box 3: 57

Hunter, Frederick, Oct. 14, 2000

Box 3: 57

Hyde, Catherine Ryan, Nov. 19, 1997-Dec. 1, 1998, n.d. (5 letters)

Box 3: 57

Kalpakian, Laura, May 12, 1999

Box 3: 57

Lynds, Gayle, Aug. 22, 1997

Box 3: 57

Nietzke, Ann, Dec. 22, 1999

Box 3: 57

Di Prima, Diane, [stamped] Feb. 3, 2003 and Apr. 19, 2003 (2 cards)

Box 3: 57

Ridland, John, July 9, 2003

Box 3: 57

Stahl, Jerry, June 24, 1999 and n.d. (2 items)

Box 3: 57

Tervalon, Jervey M., [1999]

Box 3: 57

Vaz, Katherine, May 26, 1999

Box 3: 57

Viramontes, Helena Maria, Dec. 23, 1998