Guide to the Ralph Hewins Collected Papers for Biography of J. Paul Getty, circa 1890s-1973, 1984 and undated
Finding aid prepared by Sue Luftschein and Cyndi Shein
Descriptive Summary
Title: Collected papers for biography of J. Paul Getty
Date (inclusive): Circa 1890s-1973, 1984, undated (bulk 1957-1973)
Number: IA20012
Creator/Collector:
Hewins, Ralph
Physical Description:
2.6 linear feet
(5 boxes, 1 flat file)
Repository:
The Getty Research Institute
Institutional Records and Archives
1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 1100
Los Angeles, California, 90049-1688
(310) 440-7390
archives@getty.edu
Abstract: The collection comprises material created or collected by Ralph Hewins in the course of researching and writing the biography
The Richest American: J. Paul Getty (1960). The material dates from around the 1890s to 1973 and includes correspondence that
discusses Hewins' writings about Getty, a number of unpublished manuscripts, personal photographs given to Hewins by Mr. Getty,
and other related photographs, clippings, and ephemera belonging to Hewins.
Request Materials: To access physical materials at the Getty, go to the
library catalog record for this collection and click "Request an Item." Click here for
general library access policy . See the Administrative Information section of this finding aid for access restrictions specific to the records described
below. Please note, some of the records may be stored off site; advanced notice is required for access to these materials.
Language: Collection material is in
English
Biography
Ralph Hewins (d. 1984) was a professional journalist largely concerned with the very wealthy. He was the author of
The Richest American: J. Paul Getty (1960). Hewins became a personal friend of Mr. Getty during the years he spent researching and writing Getty's biography.
Administrative Information
Restrictions on Access
The records described in accession 1986.IA.10 are available for use by qualified researchers.
The following types of records are permanently closed: records containing personal information, records that compromise security
or operations, legal communications, legal work product, and records related to donors. The J. Paul Getty Trust reserves the
right to restrict access to any records held by the Institutional Archives.
Publication Rights
Preferred Citation
[Cite the item and series (as appropriate)], Collected Papers for Biography of J. Paul Getty, circa 1890s-1973, 1984 and undated,
Ralph Hewins. The Getty Research Institute (IA20012).
Acquisition Information
The collection was donated to the Getty by Ralph Hewins in 1984 and subsequently assigned accession number 1986.IA.10.
Processing History
In 2005 Sue Luftschein rehoused the materials and created this finding aid based, in part, on the preliminary inventory. In
2010 Cyndi Shein arranged and described the photographs, and revised the finding aid.
Related Materials Note
The following materials are offered as possible sources of further information on the people, programs, and subjects covered
by the records. The listing is not exhaustive.
Publications
Hewins, Ralph.
The Richest American: J. Paul Getty.
New York: Dutton, 1960.
Archival Materials
Contributing Institution:
Getty Institutional Archives
Art and Real Estate Holding Companies Records, 1939-1982 and undated, J. Paul Getty. The Getty Research Institute (IA20011).
J. Paul Getty and the Ashby Sisters Papers, 1926-1992 and undated. The Getty Research Institute (IA20013).
J. Paul Getty Family Papers, circa 1880s-1989 and undated. The Getty Research Institute (IA20009).
J. Paul Getty Diaries, 1938-1946, 1948-1976. The Getty Research Institute (IA40009).
Scope and Content of Collection
The collection comprises material created or collected by Ralph Hewins in the course of researching and writing the biography
The Richest American: J. Paul Getty (1960). The material dates from around the 1890s to 1973 and 1984 and includes correspondence that discusses Hewins' writings
about Getty, a number of unpublished manuscripts, personal photographs given to Hewins by Mr. Getty, and other related photographs,
clippings, and ephemera belonging to Hewins. The collection has two main strengths: the unpublished material and the photographs.
The papers include a substantial body of correspondence between Hewins and Getty, as well as scattered letters received from
Allene Ashby, Penelope Kitson and other Getty family members and associates. The manuscripts comprise Hewins' published and
unpublished material about Getty, probably assembled as a potential update to the 1960 biography. These writings are mainly
anecdotal in nature; some relate to Getty's friendships and others to his business or recreational activities. A large file
of photocopied international clippings chronicle Getty's press coverage through the fifties, sixties and seventies, many of
these concerning the kidnapping of Getty's grandson.
The photographic prints and negatives contain over 200 unique images, ranging from approximately the 1890s to the late 1960s,
collected by Ralph Hewins. The images include an array of professional photographs and informal snapshots of Getty, his wives,
children, friends, associates, businesses, properties, projects, and residences. Some of the images were published in Hewins'
book.
Arrangement
These records are organized in three series:
Series I. Correspondence, 1957-1971, undated;
Series II. Manuscripts and background information, 1960-1973, 1984, undated;
Series III. Photographs, circa 1890s-1960s.
Indexing Terms
Subjects - Names
Ashby, Allene
Getty, J. Paul (Jean Paul), 1892-1976
Hewins, Ralph
Kitson, Penelope
Subjects - Topics
Art objects--Collectors and collecting
Billionaires--United States--20th century
Genres and Forms of Material
Clippings (information artifacts)
Correspondence
Ephemera
Manuscripts
Photographic prints
Series I.
Correspondence,
1957-1971, undated
Physical Description:
0.1 linear feet
(1 box)
Scope and Content Note
Records consist of correspondence, primarily to and from Ralph Hewins, a biographer and acquaintance of J. Paul Getty, 1957-1971
and undated. This correspondence largely relates to Hewins’ writings on Getty, and includes correspondence with Getty and
other individuals, including Maxwell Balfour, president of Getty's Spartan Aircraft Company. The letters discuss the publication
of Hewins' 1960 biography of Getty,
The Richest American, as well as personal events in Hewins' life related to his work on the biography.
See also Series III. Photographs, for related photographs.
Arrangement
These records are arranged in general chronological order.
Box 1986.IA.10-1, Folder 1-2
Correspondence,
1957-1966, undated
Physical Description:
[2 files]
Box 1986.IA.10-1, Folder 3-4
Correspondence,
1967-1971
Physical Description:
[2 files]
Box 1986.IA.10-1, Folder 5
J. Paul Getty cards to Hewins,
1961-1968, undated
Series II.
Manuscripts and background information,
1960-1973, 1984, undated
Physical Description:
2.0 linear feet
(3 boxes, 1 flat file)
Scope and Content Note
Records consist of typescript manuscripts, clippings, ephemera, and photographs, 1960-1973, 1984, and undated, written and
collected by Ralph Hewins about J. Paul Getty and comprising Hewins' published and unpublished material about Getty. Some
of the material seems to have been assembled as an update to his book,
The Richest American: J. Paul Getty (New York: 1960). The manuscripts are a set of short articles and two versions of the
manuscript for
The Zillionaire: Getty at 80 (unpublished); these contain Hewins' edits. The short works are anecdotal in nature; some relate
to Getty's friendships and others to his business or recreational activities. The ephemera consists of cards, invitations
and announcements relating to Getty and his companies.
Arrangement
These records are generally arranged in the order of accession. The larger manuscripts have been grouped together.
Box 1986.IA.10-1, Folder 6-9
"The Zillionaire: Getty at 80, Part I: The Man," edited manuscript,
1971
Physical Description:
[4 files]
Box 1986.IA.10-1, Folder 10-13
"Getty at 80, Part II: The Businessman," edited manuscript,
1971
Physical Description:
[4 files]
Box 1986.IA.10-1, Folder 14
"Getty at 80, Part III: The Whole Man," edited manuscript,
1971
Box 1986.IA.10-1, Folder 15-16
"Getty at 80," Hewins' notes and edits,
1971
Physical Description:
[2 files]
Box 1986.IA.10-1, Folder 17-18
The Zillionaire: early draft,
undated
Physical Description:
[1-2 of 5 files]
Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 1-3
The Zillionaire: early draft,
undated
Physical Description:
[3-5 of 5 files]
Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 4
Miscellaneous notes, manuscript pages,
1959-1960, 1963, 1966, 1973
Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 5
"The Mystery Wife of J. Paul Getty,"
1960
Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 6
"Getty's 'Mystery House,'"
undated
Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 7
"The World's Richest Sportsman: J. Paul Getty,"
undated
Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 8
"Mr. Getty to fly again,"
undated
Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 9
"Mr. Getty economises,"
undated
Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 10
"Mr. Getty's iron bars,"
undated
Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 11
"A Murder Shakes the Arabian Oilfields,"
undated
Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 12
"Rival Books About Paul Getty,"
1973
Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 13
"Mrs. Kitson's treat,"
1960
Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 14
"Mr. Getty's quick return,"
undated
Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 15
"Tanker Sickness,"
undated
Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 16
"Why I'm the Richest,"
1961
Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 17
"The New Mr. Getty," and letter,
1961
Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 18
"What I Think of Howard Hughes,"
undated
Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 19
Hewins letter to editor, London Daily Telegraph, re: Howard Hughes,
undated
Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 20
"The Unknown Giant,"
undated
Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 21
Hewins' notes and notebook,
undated
Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 22
Notes, clippings, card from George Getty,
1971-1972
Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 23
Getty-related ephemera collected by Hewins,
1960-1961, 1966, 1970
Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 24
Papers found in autographed copy of "How to be Rich" with dedication,
1962-1971
Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 25
Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 26-30
Hewins' clippings file,
undated
Physical Description:
[5 files]
Box 1986.IA.10-2, Folder 31
Clippings (photocopies), ephemera,
1984, undated
Box 1986.IA.10-5
Program for ceremony conferring honorary law degree to J. Paul Getty from Ohio Northern University,
August 21, 1966
Box 1986.IA.10-5
"Herculaneum and the Villa of the Papyri," Instituto Geographico de Agostini,
1963
Flatfile 1986.IA.10-6
"J. Paul Getty's Worldwide Empire" map,
undated
Series III.
Photographs,
circa 1890s-1960s and undated
Physical Description:
0.5 linear feet
(2 boxes)
Scope and Content Note
Materials consist of over 200 photographic prints and negatives, ranging from around the 1890s to the late 1960s, collected
by Ralph Hewins, depicting J. Paul Getty, family, friends, business associates, properties, and a reception for Hewins' book
The Richest American: J. Paul Getty (1960). The records also include photocopies of all photographs. Some of the photographs
were published in Hewins' book. The vast majority of the photographs are black-and-white.
See also Series I. Correspondence, for related items.
Arrangement
The photographs have been roughly arranged by subject. Within each subject the images are arranged numerically accoring to
the creator's original numbering system (some prints have numbers written in pencil on the verso). Some of the photographic
prints are accompanied by negatives, which are housed in neighboring sleeves.
Box 1986.IA.10-4
J. Paul Getty,
1890s-1960s
Physical Description:
(approximately 42 images)
Scope and Content Note
Material comprises formal portraits and casual snapshots featuring J. Paul Getty, including photographs of him as a child,
with family, with a couple of his wives, with friends, with business associates, with his Spartan aircraft staff, with English
Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and with his lion cub. Material also includes shots of Getty receiving the Legion of Honor,
receiving an honorary academic degree, standing in oil fields, standing on deck the tanker "George F. Getty," and visiting
archaeological sites. All but one of the photos is in black-and-white.
Box 1986.IA.10-4
Getty family and family history,
circa 1890-1960s
Physical Description:
(approximately 23 images)
Scope and Content Note
Material comprises images of J. Paul Getty's parents, George F. Getty I and Sarah C. Getty; sister, Gertrude Lois Getty; wives,
Jeannette McDermot, Allene Ashby, Ann Rork, Fini Helmly; children, Eugene Paul Getty II, Gordon Getty, George F. Getty, and
Timmy Getty; and young grandchildren, Anne, Caroline, Claire, and J. Paul Getty III. Photos of wife, Teddy are located with
the photos of J. Paul Getty. Photos of Ronald Getty are located with Ralph Hewins' book signing images. Persons listed above
may also appear in images of various events listed below. Images are black-and-white except for one hand-tinted photograph
of Allene Ashby.
Box 1986.IA.10-4
Getty residences,
1908 and undated
Physical Description:
(12 images)
Scope and Content Note
Material comprises images of Getty residences: South Kingsley Drive (Los Angeles); Sutton Place (England); exterior of the
Getty Ranch House (near Malibu, California) and its zoo; and La Posta Vecchia (Gaeta, Italy).
Box 1986.IA.10-4
People,
circa 1950s and 1960s
Physical Description:
(approximately 12 images)
Scope and Content Note
Material includes photographs of Ralph Hewins, Penelope Kitson, President Eisenhower, and others.
Box 1986.IA.10-4
Museum gallery and art objects,
undated
Physical Description:
(3 images)
Scope and Content Note
Materials include images of a museum gallery within the Getty Ranch House, the "Ardibil Carpet," and the "Medalllion and Tree
Carpet."
Box 1986.IA.10-4
Business: Japan,
1965 and undated
Physical Description:
(approximately 20 images)
Scope and Content Note
Material includes images of Japanese business associates, an oil tanker, Ralph Hewins, and others.
Box 1986.IA.10-4
Business: Spartan,
circa 1940s
Physical Description:
(7 images)
Scope and Content Note
Material includes an aerial view of the Spartan facility, and Spartan mobile home interiors, William F. Humphry, Maxwell W.
Balfour, and British Royal Air Force (RAF) student pilots at the Spartan School of Aeronautics. See also images of J. Paul
Getty for an additional photograph of Spartan employees.
Box 1986.IA.10-4
Business: various,
circa 1930s-1960s
Physical Description:
(approximately 82 images)
Scope and Content Note
Material comprises exterior shots of various Getty buildings and models of buildings; refineries; filling station; interior
of the Cotillion Room (Hotel Pierre, NY); aerial view of Hotel Pierre Marques (Alcapulco); and oil tankers, derricks, drilling
sites, pipelines, employees and other shots related to the petroleum business.
Box 1986.IA.10-4
Hotel Pierre event,
March 1960
Physical Description:
(26 8 x 10"; 27 3 x 5"; and 2 3 x 5" color)
Scope and Content Note
Materials comprise professional photographs stamped "Hotel Pierre Public Relations, Fifth Ave. & 61st Street, New York, N.Y."
and "Please credit Irwin Dribben, New York" on verso. Photographs feature Ralph Hewins, George F. Getty II, and Gloria Getty.
Box 1986.IA.10-4
Hewins' book signing,
1960
Physical Description:
(approximately 18 images)
Scope and Content Note
Material documents a reception held at the J. Paul Getty Museum (galleries and courtyard of the Ranch House) to commemorate
the publication of Ralph Hewins' biography of J. Paul Getty. Material includes images of Ralph Hewins; George F. Getty II
and his wife, Gloria Getty; Ronald Getty, and his mother, Fini Helmle; and others.
Box 1986.IA.10-3, Folder 1-7
Annotated photocopies of prints in the collection,
undated
