Finding Aid for the James Hugh Richardson Papers, 1917-1962

Processed by Manuscripts Division staff; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé
© 2004
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

Finding Aid for the James Hugh Richardson Papers, 1917-1962

Collection number: 1137

UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections

Manuscripts Division



Los Angeles, CA
Processed by:
Manuscripts Division staff
Encoded by:
Caroline Cubé
Online finding aid edited by:
Josh Fiala, April 2004
© 2004 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

Descriptive Summary

Title: James Hugh Richardson Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1917-1962
Collection number: 1137
Creator: Richardson, James Hugh, 1894-
Extent: 4 boxes (2 linear ft.) 5 oversize boxes
Repository: University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Dept. of Special Collections.
Los Angeles, California 90095-1575
Abstract: James Hugh Richardson (1912-1963) worked for the Winnipeg telegram (1912), and the Los Angeles evening herald (1913). He covered many of the celebrated crime and court cases of the 1920s, including the Frieda Lesser homicide and the William Desmond Taylor murder mystery. He became the city editor for the Los Angeles evening herald (1924-36), was the managing editor for the Post-record (1935-36), and city editor for the Los Angeles examiner (1937-57). The collection consists of manuscripts, correspondence, photographs, articles, and memorabilia related to Richardson's life and career.
Physical location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Language: English.

Administrative Information

Restrictions on Use and Reproduction

Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections. Literary rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.

Restrictions on Access

COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Advance notice required for access.

Provenance/Source of Acquisition

  • Gift of James H. Richardson, 1954.
  • Gift of Margaret Stimson Richardson, 1973.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], James Hugh Richardson Papers (Collection 1137). Department of Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

UCLA Catalog Record ID

UCLA Catalog Record ID: 2723087 

Biography

Richardson was born in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, on November 23, 1894; his family moved to Winnipeg, and in 1912 he became a Winnipeg telegram reporter; he became a Los Angeles evening herald reporter in 1913; he covered many of the celebrated crime and court cases of the 1920s, including the Frieda Lesser homicide and the William Desmond Taylor murder mystery; city editor, Los Angeles evening herald, 1924-36; managing editor, Post-record, 1935-36; city editor, Los Angeles examiner, 1937-57; died in Boulder City, Nevada, on September 30, 1963.

Scope and Content

Collection consists of manuscripts, correspondence, photographs, articles, and memorabilia related to the life and career of newspaperman James Hugh Richardson. Includes a corrected typescript and a printed copy of his book, For the life of me: memoirs of a city editor (1954). Correspondents include: Upton Sinclair, Richard Nixon, James Cagney, Hedda Hopper, and William Randolph Hearst, Jr.

Organization and Arrangement

Arranged in the following series:
  1. Correspondence and manuscripts (Box 1).
  2. Manuscripts and writings (Box 2).
  3. Articles and memorabilia (Box 3).
  4. Memorabilia (Box 4).
  5. Scrapbooks, poster, phonograph records, and oversize photographs of Richardson (Boxes 5-8).

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Richardson, James Hugh, 1894- --Archives.
Newspaper editors--California--Los Angeles--Archival resources.
Richardson, James Hugh, 1894- -- For the life of me.


 

Correspondence and Manuscripts

Box 1, Folder 1

Letters to Richardson from Harlan Ware. 1955-1957.

Physical Description: (50 items)
Box 1, Folder 2

Letters to Richardson, miscellaneous.

Physical Description: (13 items)

Scope and Content Note

Includes 1 letters from actor James Cagney; 2 letters from Mickey Cohen; 3 letters and a Christmas card from Upton Sinclair.
Box 1, Folder 3

Letters from Richardson to Mr. and Mrs. Ware and Mr. and Mrs. James Cagney. 1954-1955.

Physical Description: (31 items)
Box 1, Folder 4

Letters to the Wares and Cagneys. 1956.

Physical Description: (36 items)
Box 1, Folder 5

Letters to the Wares and Cagneys. 1957.

Box 1, Folder 6

Miscellaneous correspondence. 1954-1957.

Physical Description: (4 items)

Scope and Content Note

Includes 1 letter from vice President Richard Nixon to Edwin Louie.
 

Manuscripts and Writings by James Hugh Richardson

 

For The Life Of Me

Box 1, Folder 7

pp.1-175. Manuscript.

Physical Description: (typescript-carbon)
Box 1, Folder 8

pp.176-370. Manuscript.

Physical Description: (typescript-carbon)
Box 2, Folder 1

“Discarded chapters.”

Physical Description: (typescript-carbon). ca. 57 leaves.
Box 2, Folder 2

New York, Putnam's Sons. 1954.

Physical Description: 2 copies in dust jackets.
Box 2, Folder 3

“Laughter for the angels.”

Physical Description: 13 leaves (typescript).
Box 2, Folder 4

“The little lead soldiers.”

Physical Description: 7 leaves (typescript).
Box 2, Folder 5

“The part in the middle.”

Physical Description: 6 leaves (typescript).
Box 2, Folder 6

“Perhaps tomorrow.”

Physical Description: 11 leaves (typescript-carbon).
Box 2, Folder 7

Clippings of newspaper stories written by J.H. Richardson. ca. 1917-1919.

Physical Description: [In red scrapbook] Includes some photographs.
Box 2, Folder 8

Clippings of newspaper stories written by J.H. Richarson. ca. 1919-1923.

Physical Description: [In black scrapbook]

Scope and Content Note

Coverage of Fatty Arbuckle trial, William Desmond Morris case, the Overell yacht murder, and stories on Billy Sunday and Valentino, etc.
 

Articles by James Hugh Richardson, and Memorabilia

 

Articles by James Hugh Richardson

Box 3, Folder 1

“Covering the Black Dahlia,” Deadlines. March 1947.

Box 3, Folder 1

“Dahlia data.”

Physical Description: (typescript)

Scope and Content Note

Notes for use in above article.
Box 3, Folder 1

Memo to J.H. Richardson from T.J.D.

Box 3, Folder 1

“The king of the seagulls,” Guideposts. July 1959.

Box 3, Folder 1

“Spring Street.”

Physical Description: Dust jacket only.
Box 3, Folder 2

“Likely stories.”

Scope and Content Note

A column written by J.H. Richardson and wife (Maggie Richardson) for eight months for the Los Angeles Examiner, during 1959.
Box 3, Folder 3

Photographs of J.H. Richardson at work and play.

Physical Description: (26 photos)

Scope and Content Note

Includes stills with Burt Lancaster for Elmer Gantry movie.
Box 3, Folder 4

Argosy magazine. August 1950.

Physical Description: (2 copies)

Scope and Content Note

Contains article based on J.H. Richardson (“The last of terrible men”).

Note

[c.f. oversize package #1]
Box 3, Folder 5

Kelvin High School yearbook. 1955-1956.

Scope and Content Note

Contains a tribute to alumnus Richardson.
Box 3, Folder 6

Television tape of interview with J.H. Richardson (ca. 1950s).

Box 3, Folder 7

Time. August 19, 1957.

Scope and Content Note

Story regarding J.H. Richardson's retirement.
Box 3, Folder 8

Eight Ball Final. November 1957.

Scope and Content Note

Regarding retirement.
Box 3, Folder 9

Retirement memorabilia and clippings.

Note

[c.f. package #3]
 

Memorabilia.

Box 4, Folder 1

Scrapbook - regarding retirement.

Scope and Content Note

Includes articles and clippings about retirement party; photographs and some correspondence.
Box 4, Folder 1

1 rolled photograph of retirement dinner, Ambassador Hotel. October 9, 1957.

Box 4, Folder 2

Clippings regarding J.H. Richardson's post-retirement activities.

Box 4, Folder 3

Photograph album regarding the Winnepeg Press Club. 1958.

Box 4, Folder 4

Eight Ball Final. 1961. Issue edited by J.H. Richardson.

Physical Description: (2 copies)
Box 4, Folder 5

Clippings regarding folding of the Los Angeles Examiner. 1962.

Box 4, Folder 6

Eight Ball Final. 1962.

Box 4, Folder 7

Tributes/ condolences on J.H. Richardson's death. 1963.

Box 4, Folder 8

Miscellaneous memorabilia.

 

Oversize Packages

Box 5

#1: Scrapbook: The Last of the Terrible Men. 1950.

Scope and Content Note

Contains correspondence, photographs, and clippings relating to article in Argosy, August. 1950.

Note

[c.f. Box 3, folder 4]
Box 6

#2: Scrapbook: For the Life of Me testimonial dinner. Statler Hotel. October 13, 1954.

Scope and Content Note

Includes correspondence [including 1 letter from Upton Sinclair], photographs, clippings, etc. regarding publication of Richardson's book and the dinner.
Box 7

#3: One retirement poster. September 1957.

 

#4: 11 phonograph records.

Scope and Content Note

Recordings of television and radio interviews from 1955 and later, including folding of the Los Angeles Examiner in 1962.
Box 8

#5: Oversize photographs of J.H. Richarson.

Physical Description: (7 items)