Finding Aid for the Clifford Knight Papers, 1929-1950

Processed by Yvonne Schroeder; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé
UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections
Manuscripts Division
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
Email: spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
URL: http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/special/scweb/
© 2002
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

Finding Aid for the Clifford Knight Papers, 1929-1950

Collection number: 695

UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections

Manuscripts Division



Los Angeles, CA

Contact Information

  • Manuscripts Division
  • UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections
  • Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
  • Box 951575
  • Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
  • Telephone: 310/825-4988 (10:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., Pacific Time)
  • Email: spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
  • URL: http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/special/scweb/
Processed by:
Yvonne Schroeder, 4 November 1960
Encoded by:
Caroline Cubé
Text converted and initial container list EAD tagging by:
Apex Data Services
Online finding aid edited by:
Josh Fiala, April 2002
© 2002 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

Descriptive Summary

Title: Clifford Knight Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1929-1950
Collection number: 695
Creator: Knight, Clifford, 1886-
Extent: 5 boxes (2.5 linear ft.)
Repository: University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Department of Special Collections.
Los Angeles, California 90095-1575
Abstract: Clifford Knight (1886- ) contributed fiction and short stories to several magazines, including Collier's and Argosy, and wrote mystery novels. The collection consists of manuscripts, correspondence, and ephemera.
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.

Additional Physical Form Available

A copy of the original version of this online finding aid is available at the UCLA Department of Special Collections for in-house consultation and may be obtained for a fee. Please contact:
  • Public Services Division
  • UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections
  • Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
  • Box 951575
  • Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
  • Telephone: 310/825-4988 (10:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., Pacific Time)
  • Email: spec-coll@library.ucla.edu

Provenance/Source of Acquisition

Gift of Clifford Knight, 1950.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Clifford Knight Papers (Collection 695). Department of Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

UCLA Catalog Record ID

UCLA Catalog Record ID: 1973007 

Biography

Knight was born on December 7, 1886 in Fulton, Kansas; attended Washburn College and University of Michigan; assistant professor, Signal Corps Officers Training School, Yale University, 1918-19; subeditor, Kansas City Star, 1920-29; contributed fiction and short stories to several magazines, including Collier's and Argosy; wrote mystery novels, including Tommy of the Voices (1918), The Affair of the Scarlet Crab (1937), The Affair of the Heavenly Voice (1937), and The Affair of the Ginger Lei (1938).

Scope and Content

Collection consists of manuscripts, correspondence, and ephemera of mystery novelist Clifford Knight.

Organization and Arrangement

Arranged in the following series:
  1. The Affair of the Circus Queen, The Affair on the Painted Desert, The Affair of the Black Sombrero, The Affair at Palm Springs (Box 1).
  2. The Affair of the Scarlet Crab, Tommy of the Voices, The Yellow Cat, Dark Abyss (Box 2).
  3. Hangman's Choice, The Affair of the Limping Sailor, The Affair of the Splintered Heart, The Affair of the Fainting Butler (Box 3).
  4. The Affair of the Dead Stranger, The Affair of the Sixth Button, The Affair in Death Valley, The Affair of the Skiing Clown (Box 4).
  5. The Affair of the Crimson Gull, The Affair of the Jade Monkey, The Affair of the Corpse Escort, The Affair of the Golden Buzzard (Box 5).

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Knight, Clifford,--b. 1886--Archives.
Novelists, American--20th century--Archival resources.
Mystery and detective fiction.
Manuscripts for publication.


Box 1

The Affair of the Circus Queen. New York: Dodd, Mead & Company. 1940.

Physical Description: Typescript with ink and pencil corrections. 234 leaves.

Scope and Content Note

With this are the following items: 13 miscellaneous leaves of notes; 2 letters between Edward Dodd and Clifford Knight, 1940 and one postcard; 4 articles from newspapers dated 1929,1932,1933,1935.
Box 1

The Affair on the Painted Desert. New York: Dodd, Mead & Company. 1939.

Physical Description: Typescript with holograph corrections in ink and pencil. 238 leaves.

Scope and Content Note

With this are the following items: miscellaneous notes in holograph and typescript, 33 leaves; typescript titled Synop., 11 leaves; correspondence between Dodd and Knight, 1939, 3 items; related miscellaneous ephemera, 3 items.
Box 1

The Affair of the Black Sombrero. New York: Dodd, Mead & Company. 1939.

Physical Description: Typescript with holograph corrections in pencil. 230 leaves.

Scope and Content Note

Included are the following: 22 leaves of miscellaneous notes among which are pencilled maps and lists of Spanish phrases; letter dated November 14, 1938 from Dodd to Knight and letter dated December 2, 1938 from E.H. Dodd Jr. to Knight; miscellaneous ephemera, 6 items.
Box 1

The Affair at Palm Springs. New York: Dodd, Mead & Company. 1938.

Physical Description: Typescript with holograph corrections in ink. 231 leaves.
Box 2

The Affair of the Scarlet Crab. New York: Dodd, Mead & Company. 1937.

Physical Description: Typescript with holograph corrections in pencil and ink. 245 leaves bound together with brass staples.
Box 2

Tommy of the Voices.

Physical Description: Typescript with occasional corrections. 328 leaves. In blue, cloth slip case.

Scope and Content Note

In binder with the following written inside front cover: To be returned to/ Reynolds Knight/ 1723 Belmont Ave.,/ Parsons, Kansas/ via Wells Fargo & Company, Express/ or American Express Company/. Laid in back is The Dial, vol.65 no.773, September 19, 1918.
Box 2

The Yellow Cat. New York: E.P. Dutton & Company. 1950.

Physical Description: Typescript with holograph corrections in ink. 186 leaves.

Scope and Content Note

With this: holograph manuscript written in ink, 12 leaves, three columns per page, both sides used; letter, dated October 5, 1948 from John Schaffner to Knight; miscellaneous ephemera, 3 items.
Box 2

Dark Abyss. New York: E.P. Dutton & Company. 1949.

Physical Description: Typescript with holograph corrections in ink. 195 leaves.

Scope and Content Note

With this is a holograph manuscript of complete story, used on both sides of 19 leaves, three columns of writing on each side; and also 6 leaves of holograph notes, miscellaneous.
Box 3

Hangman's Choice. New York: E.P. Dutton & Company. 1949.

Physical Description: Typescript with holograph corrections in ink dated November 15, 1946. 197 leaves.
Box 3

Hangman's Choice.

Physical Description: Typescript with holograph corrections in ink. 114 leaves variously numbered.

Scope and Content Note

With this: Holograph manuscript, several columns per page, written on both sides, 23 sheets and 2pp. of holograph notes; letters dated 1948; and miscellaneous ephemera, 4 items.
Box 3

The Affair of the Limping Sailor. New York: Dodd, Mead & Company. 1941.

Physical Description: Typescript with holograph corrections in pencil. 207 leaves.

Scope and Content Note

Title at top of first page reads: The Affair of the Golden Plover with the last two words crossed out. Also with this, 3 miscellaneous letters, 1942 and a clipping from the Los Angeles Times.
Box 3

The Affair of the Splintered Heart. New York: Dodd, Mead & Company. 1942.

Physical Description: Typescript with holograph corrections in pencil. 212 leaves.

Scope and Content Note

Top of first leaf has crossed out title Waikiki. With this are 4 miscellaneous letters, 1942.
Box 3

The Affair of the Fainting Butler. New York: Dodd, Mead & Company. 1943.

Physical Description: Typescript with holograph corrections in ink. One sheet with pencil notes. 203 leaves.
Box 4

The Affair of the Dead Stranger. New York: Dodd, Mead & Company. 1944.

Physical Description: Typescript with holograph corrections in ink. 199 leaves.

Scope and Content Note

With this are 5 sheets of notes in ink and pencil.
Box 4

The Affair of the Sixth Button. Santa Barbara. 1945. Philadelphia: David McKay, 1947.

Physical Description: Typescript with holograph corrections in ink. 210 leaves.

Scope and Content Note

With this are 6 leaves of holograph notes in ink, 3 miscellaneous letters and 1 piece of ephemera.
Box 4

The Affair in Death Valley. New York: Dodd, Mead & Company. 1940.

Physical Description: Typescript with holograph corrections in ink. 230 leaves.

Scope and Content Note

Miscellaneous related ephemera included. 4 items.
Box 4

The Affair of the Skiing Clown. West Los Angeles. 1941. New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1941.

Physical Description: Typescript with holograph corrections in pencil. 214 leaves.

Scope and Content Note

The Affair of the Hanging Man typed at top of first leaf over holograph published title. Included are 4 pieces of paper with pencil notes, 5 newspaper clippings about skiing, and 1 letter dated July 2, 1941 from Dodd to Knight.
Box 5

The Affair of the Crimson Gull. New York: Dodd, Mead & Company. 1941.

Physical Description: Typescript with holograph corrections in ink and pencil. 212 leaves. Also, synopsis, typescript, corrections in pencil. 7 leaves.

Scope and Content Note

Included are 2 envelopes with pencilled notes, and 4 pieces of ephemera as well as copy of memo to E.H. Dodd, Jr.
Box 5

The Affair of the Jade Monkey. New York: Dodd, Mead & Company. 1943.

Physical Description: Typescript with holograph corrections in ink. 202 leaves.

Scope and Content Note

Some pages titled The Affair of the Pious Hiker, dated 1942. With this: 2 letters between A.M. Chase and Knight, 1943; 3 pieces of pencil notes; 22 brochures.
Box 5

The Affair of the Corpse Escort. Philadelphia: David McKay Company. 1946.

Physical Description: Typescript with holograph corrections in pencil. 198 leaves.

Scope and Content Note

First leaf has title The Affair of the Whispering Waiter with the last two words crossed out and Corpse Escort substituted. With this: 5 sheets of notes in pencil and 5 newspaper clippings.
Box 5

The Affair of the Golden Buzzard. Philadelphia: David McKay Company. 1946.

Physical Description: Typescript with holograph corrections in ink. 198 leaves.

Scope and Content Note

With this: 6 leaves of holograph notes in ink and 2 newspaper clippings.