Collection Guide
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Guide to the Walker A. Tompkins Collection
SBHC Mss 19
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Table of contents
Description
The bulk of the collection was donated by Barbara H. Tompkins, widow of Walker A. Tompkins, with the remainder donated by
Eric Hvolboll. The collection consists mainly of Tompkins writings (local/regional history and historical fiction) and related
research files, but also some historical manuscripts donated by others to Tompkins. Much of the subject matter relates to
the Santa Barbara and Goleta areas. Included in the collection are manuscripts, monographs, serials, newspapers, clippings,
b/w photographs and albums, b/w negatives, audiotapes, scrapbook, maps, and artifacts.
Background
Walker A. Tompkins was born on July 10, 1909 in Prosser, Yakima County, Washington. He was the son of Charle E. and Bertha
Tompkins who had moved to Washington from Missouri. Tompkins grew up on a wheat farm in Walla Walla County before moving with
his family to Turlock, California in 1920. He began his writing career in Turlock, at the age of fourteen, as a reporter for
the Daily Journal. At the age of 21, he sold his first western novel to Street and Smith of New York, just before beginning college at Washington
State. He also attended Modesto (California) Junior College.
Extent
30 linear feet
(8 records containers, 17 document boxes, 4 oversize boxes, 1 map cabinet drawer, 110 open reel audio tapes, and 7 audio cassettes)
Restrictions
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.
Availability
Financial Records restricted; see Head of Special Collections for further information.