Finding Aid to the Collection of Ambrose Bierce Papers, 1875-1925, bulk 1890-1913
Finding Aid written by Alison E. Bridger
The Bancroft Library
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California, 94720-6000
Phone: (510) 642-6481
Fax: (510) 642-7589
Email: bancref@library.berkeley.edu
URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/
© 2007
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Finding Aid to the Collection of Ambrose Bierce Papers, 1875-1925, bulk 1890-1913
Collection Number: BANC MSS C-H 62
The Bancroft Library
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California
- Finding Aid Written By:
- Alison E. Bridger
- Date Completed:
-
April 2007
© 2007 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Collection Summary
Collection Title: Collection of Ambrose Bierce papers
Date (inclusive): 1875-1925,
Date (bulk): bulk 1890-1913
Collection Number: BANC MSS C-H 62
Creators :
Bierce, Ambrose, 1842-1914?
Extent:
Number of containers: 2 boxes, 1 volume, and 1 oversize folder
Linear feet: 0.75
Repository: The Bancroft Library
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California, 94720-6000
Phone: (510) 642-6481
Fax: (510) 642-7589
Email: bancref@library.berkeley.edu
URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/
Abstract: Contains outgoing correspondence, including letters to his daughter Helen D. Cowden, a young friend Amy L. Wells, fellow writers
William Chambers Morrow and James Tufts, and publisher Walter Neale. See container list for a complete listing of correspondents.
Also includes a sketch of Bierce by Wells, clippings about and by Bierce, writings by Amy L. Wells, a letter to Wells asking
for information pertaining to Bierce's disappearance, and poems by brother Albert Sherwood Bierce. The album of letters to
Helen D. Cowden includes two photographs of Ambrose Bierce, a copy of a poem, and transcriptions of Bierce's letters to his
daughter.
Languages Represented: Collection materials are in English
Physical Location: Many of the Bancroft Library collections are stored offsite and advance notice may be required for use. For current information
on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Information for Researchers
Access
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from, or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the
Head of Public Services, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, 94270-6000. Consent is given on behalf
of The Bancroft Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission from the copyright
owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright owner. See:
http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/reference/permissions.html .
Restrictions also apply to digital representations of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research
and educational purposes.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Collection of Ambrose Bierce Papers, BANC MSS C-H 62, The Bancroft Library, University of California,
Berkeley.
Alternate Forms Available
Part of the collection is available on microfilm, see container list for details. (BANC FILM C-H 62 and BANC FILM 2166)
Related Collections
Ambrose Bierce papers. (BANC MSS 75/57)
Herman George Scheffauer papers. (BANC MSS C-H 89; BANC MSS 73/87; BANC MSS 84/22)
Ina Donna Coolbrith collection of letters and papers. (BANC MSS C-H 23)
Partington family papers: additions. (BANC MSS 81/143)
Ambrose Geinett Bierce papers at Stanford University.
Papers of Ambrose Bierce at the Clifton Waller Barrett Library, the University of Virginia.
Separated Material
Bierce Cartoon of the "Aviator Second Trip" has been transferred to the Pictorial Collections of The Bancroft Library. (BANC
PIC 19xx.067--C)
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Bierce, Ambrose, 1842-1914?
Bierce, Ambrose, 1842-1914?--Correspondence
Bierce, Ambrose, 1842-1914?--Portraits
Cowden, Helen D. --Correspondence
Wells, Amy L. --Correspondence
Morrow, W. C. (William Chambers), 1853-1923--Correspondence
Tufts, James--Correspondence
Neale, Walter, 1873-1933--Correspondence
Bierce, Albert Sherwood--Poetic works
Authors, American--19th century--Correspondence
Satirists--Correspondence
Letters
Clippings
Poems
Photographs
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
The Collection of Ambrose Bierce Papers were given to and purchased by The Bancroft Library from various sources over many
years. Items in the collection are identified with respect to provenance on folders.
Accruals
No additions are expected.
System of Arrangement
Arranged to the folder level.
Processing Information
Re-Processed by Alison E. Bridger in 2007.
Biographical Information
Ambrose Bierce, born June 24, 1842 in Meigs County, Ohio, was an American author best known for his satire and supernatural
stories. Many of his stories also came from his experiences serving in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
After the war, Bierce moved to San Francisco, where he worked on several publications including
Overland Monthly, the San Francisco
Argonaut, the
Wasp, and the
San Francisco Examiner. In 1896, he moved to Washington, D.C. where he lobbied for William Randolph Hearst while still contributing to many newspapers
and magazines.
Bierce married Mollie Day, a wealthy miner's daughter, in 1871, and they had two sons, Day and Leigh, and a daughter, Helen.
The couple separated in 1888, then divorced in 1905.
Late in 1913, Ambrose Bierce joined Pancho Villa in the Mexican Revolution, where all trace of Bierce was lost. It is believed
that Bierce probably died in the battle of Ojinaya on January 11, 1914.
Scope and Content of Collection
Contains outgoing correspondence, including letters to his daughter Helen D. Cowden, a young friend Amy L. Wells, fellow writers
William Chambers Morrow and James Tufts, and publisher Walter Neale. See container list for a complete listing of correspondents.
Also includes a sketch of Bierce by Wells, clippings about and by Bierce, writings by Amy L. Wells, a letter to Wells asking
for information pertaining to Bierce's disappearance, and poems by brother Albert Sherwood Bierce. The album of letters to
Helen D. Cowden includes two photographs of Ambrose Bierce, a copy of a poem, and transcriptions of Bierce's letters to his
daughter.
Series 1
Correspondence
1875-1925
Physical Description:
Box 1, folders 1-18; box 2, folders 1-5; volume 1
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically.
Scope and Content Note
Contains outgoing correspondence including letters to his daughter Helen D. Cowden, a young correspondent Amy L. Wells, other
writers including William Chambers Morrow and Bierce's publisher Walter Neale. Includes only one incoming letter. For more
correspondence written by and to Bierce see related collections list.
Box 1, Folder 1
Blaire, James D.
1908
Alternative Form of Materials Available
Also available on microfilm BANC FILM 2166.
Box 1, Folder 3
Chisholm, Joseph F.
1903
Alternative Form of Materials Available
Also available on microfilm BANC FILM 2166.
Volume 1
Cowden, Helen D.
1885-1912
Scope and Content Note
Also includes transcriptions of letters; a poem by Bierce; two photographs of Bierce. Has John Francis Neylan bookplate.
Alternative Form of Materials Available
Also available on microfilm BANC FILM 2166.
Box 1, Folder 4
Jones, F. A.
1909
Alternative Form of Materials Available
Also available on microfilm BANC FILM 2166.
Box 1, Folder 7
Maxwell, Mr.
1907
Alternative Form of Materials Available
Also available on microfilm BANC FILM 2166.
Box 1, Folder 8
Morrow, William Chambers
1894-1897
Alternative Form of Materials Available
Also available on microfilm BANC FILM 2166.
Box 1, Folder 9
Neale, Walter
1909-1913
Alternative Form of Materials Available
Portions also available on microfilm BANC FILM 2166.
Box 1, Folder 10
Nieto, Rose Frankel
circa 1897
Box 1, Folder 11
Pollard, Percival
1893-1897
Alternative Form of Materials Available
Also available on microfilm BANC FILM 2166.
Box 1, Folder 12
Rearden, Timothy H.
1875
Alternative Form of Materials Available
Also available on microfilm BANC FILM 2166.
Box 1, Folder 13
Robertson, Alexander M.
1909
Alternative Form of Materials Available
Also available on microfilm BANC FILM 2166.
Box 1, Folder 14
Rowell, Joseph Cummings
undated
Alternative Form of Materials Available
Also available on microfilm BANC FILM 2166.
Box 1, Folder 15
Sargent, H. H.
1909
Alternative Form of Materials Available
Also available on microfilm BANC FILM 2166.
Box 1, Folder 16
Schearer, Flora
1894-1896
Alternative Form of Materials Available
Also available on microfilm BANC FILM 2166.
Box 1, Folder 17
Tufts, James
1893-1899
Alternative Form of Materials Available
Also available on microfilm BANC FILM 2166.
Box 2, Folder 1-5
Wells, Amy L.
1893-1913
Alternative Form of Materials Available
Also available on microfilm BANC FILM C-H 62.
Box 1, Folder 18
Danziger, Adolphe (incoming)
1900
Alternative Form of Materials Available
Also available on microfilm BANC FILM 2166.
Series 2
Amy L. Wells miscellany
undated
Physical Description:
Box 2, folders 6-10; oversize folder 1A
Arrangement
Arranged hierarchically.
Scope and Content Note
Contains other papers of Amy L. Wells that came with her correspondence from Bierce relating to Bierce and her writing. Includes
a sketch of Bierce by Wells, manuscript and printed copies of Wells writings, and clippings about and by Bierce.
Box 2, Folder 6
Sketch of Ambrose Bierce
undated
Alternative Form of Materials Available
Also available on microfilm BANC FILM C-H 62.
Box 2, Folder 7
Clippings of Ambrose Bierce writings
undated
Alternative Form of Materials Available
Also available on microfilm BANC FILM C-H 62.
Box 2, Folder 8
Clippings about Ambrose Bierce
undated
Alternative Form of Materials Available
Also available on microfilm BANC FILM C-H 62.
Box 2, Folder 9
Amy L. Wells writings
undated
Alternative Form of Materials Available
Also available on microfilm BANC FILM C-H 62.
Oversize Folder 1 A
Amy L. Wells writings
undated
Alternative Form of Materials Available
Also available on microfilm BANC FILM C-H 62.
Box 2, Folder 10
Amy Wells collection miscellaneous
undated
Alternative Form of Materials Available
Also available on microfilm BANC FILM C-H 62.
Series 3
Miscellaneous papers related to Ambrose Bierce
undated
Physical Description:
Box 1, folders 19-20
Arrangement
Arranged hierarchically.
Scope and Content Note
Contains poems written by Albert Sherwood Bierce, Ambrose's brother and other miscellaneous items.
Box 1, Folder 19
Bierce, Albert Sherwood poems
undated
Alternative Form of Materials Available
Also available on microfilm BANC FILM 2166.
Box 1, Folder 20
Miscellaneous
1910,
undated
Alternative Form of Materials Available
Also available on microfilm BANC FILM 2166.
