Collection Summary
Information for Researchers
Administrative Information
Biographical Information
Scope and Content of Collection
Collection Summary
Collection Title: John Francis Neylan papers
Date (inclusive): circa 1911-1960
Collection Number: BANC MSS C-B 881
Creators :
Neylan, John Francis, 1885-1960
Extent:
Number of containers: 202 boxes, 2 volumes, 12 cartons and 4 oversize folders
Linear feet: 96.4
Repository: The Bancroft Library
Berkeley, California 94720-6000
Abstract: Contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, speeches, articles, clippings, scrapbooks and printed material relating to: his
work as chairman of the California State Board of Control during Hiram Johnson's administration; as publisher of the
San Francisco Call; Neylan's work on the Board of Regents for the University of California, including the Loyalty Oath Controversy, the Committee
on Atomic Energy Commission Projects, and the Committee on Finance; his association and handling of the business affairs of
William Randolph Hearst; his involvement in the Charlotte Anita Whitney case; his involvement in the Baugh and Abbott vs.
Examiner Printing Co. cases; his interest in political matters and economic problems; his support of patriotic organizations
and encouragement of the study of American history; his views on major domestic and international issues; his speaking engagements;
and his important friendships.
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
Copyright has not been assigned to The Bancroft Library. All requests for permission to publish or reproduce must be submitted
in writing to the Head of Public Services, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-6000. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of The Bancroft Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include
or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.
Copyright 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], John Francis Neylan Papers, BANC MSS C-B 881, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.
Alternate Forms Available
Upton Sinclair correspondence is available on microfilm, (BANC FILM X-X Film 5).
Separated Material
Some of the printed materials have been transferred to the book collection of The Bancroft Library.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Neylan, John Francis, 1885-1960--Archives
Hearst, William Randolph, 1863-1951
Whitney, Anita, 1867-1955--Trials, litigation, etc.
California. State Board of Control
University of California (System), Regents
University of California (System), Regents, Committee on Atomic Energy Commission Projects
University of California (System), Regents, Finance Committee
Hearst Corporation
San Francisco Call (Firm)
San Francisco Examiner (Firm)
San Francisco Examiner (Firm)--Trials, litigation, etc
International Monetary Fund
Loyalty oaths--California
Journalism--California
History--Study and teaching
Patriotic societies
Lawyers--California
Nuclear energy--Research--California
California--Politics and government
Addresses
Scrapbooks
Clippings
Memoirs
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
The John Francis Neylan Papers were given to The Bancroft Library by Gertrude Neylan, wife of John Francis Neylan, in June
1963.
Accruals
No additions are expected.
Processing Information
Processed by Bancroft Library staff.
Biographical Information
John Francis Neylan, lawyer, journalist, political and educational figure, was born in New York City on November 6, 1885.
After graduation from Seton Hall College in New Jersey in 1903, he came West. California was his destination, but he stopped
off in Arizona and worked there for several years as a teamster, bank teller and reporter. The desire for a newspaper career
brought him to San Francisco and, eventually, a job with the
Bulletin. One of his first assignments was to cover Hiram Johnson's first gubernatorial campaign. Johnson was impressed with the young
reporter, and after he was elected, appointed Neylan Chairman of the newly created State Board of Control. The Board installed
an accounting system and drew up the state's first budget, and was so successful in regulating the state's finances, that
the $2,000,000 deficit, which was Johnson's inheritance, was converted into an $8,000,000 surplus at the end of six years.
In his spare time in Sacramento, Neylan studied law, and he passed the bar examination in 1916. After Governor Johnson went
to Washington as U.S. Senator, Neylan moved to San Francisco to practice law, and he became one of the best known and important
lawyers in the state. His talents attracted the attention of William Randolph Hearst, and in 1919 Neylan negotiated Hearst's
purchase of the
Call newspaper and became its publisher. By 1925 the lawyer was Hearst's trusted advisor and became general counsel for all his
enterprises. Although their professional relationship ended in 1937, the two remained good friends.
In 1928 Governor Clement C. Young appointed Neylan to the Board of Regents of the University of California, where he served
for 27 years. Neylan was an influential member of the Board's Finance Committee and was in great measure responsible for the
University's role in the development of atomic research. In 1949-1950 he was a central figure in the bitter controversy over
the loyalty oath. He resigned his regency in October 1955. Shortly thereafter he went into semi-retirement. He removed his
law practice from San Francisco to Palo Alto, to be nearer to his ranch, Corte Madera, and planned to write his memoirs. He
died on August 19, 1960.
Scope and Content of Collection
Contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, speeches, articles, clippings, scrapbooks and printed material relating to: his
work as chairman of the California State Board of Control during Hiram Johnson's administration; as publisher of the
San Francisco Call; Neylan's work on the Board of Regents for the University of California, including the Loyalty Oath Controversy, the Committee
on Atomic Energy Commission Projects, and the Committee on Finance; his association and handling of the business affairs of
William Randolph Hearst; his involvement in the Charlotte Anita Whitney case; his involvement in the Baugh and Abbott vs.
Examiner Printing Co. cases; his interest in political matters and economic problems; his support of patriotic organizations
and encouragement of the study of American history; his views on major domestic and international issues; his speaking engagements;
and his important friendships.
Neylan's files were kept in groups as they were found in his office and home. The only materials that needed arrangement were
those of the State Board of Control, which had been in storage. When Neylan was planning to write his memoirs, he removed
many papers from their original locations and created a separate file for his convenience. No attempt was made to return these
papers to their original locations.
The collection consists of 23 Series: California State Board of Control; Personal and General Files; Historical Files; Memoirs;
William Randolph Hearst General Correspondence Files; General Subject Files; Speeches; Bretton Woods Agreement; American History
Interests; Politics and Campaigns; Patriotic Interests; Charlotte Anita Whitney Case; Baugh and Abbott vs. Examiner Printing
Co. cases; Miscellaneous; Scrapbooks; Miscellaneous publications and clippings; University of California Regents and Committee
on Finance Meeting Minutes; University of California General Files; University of California Regents' Committee on Atomic
Energy Commission Projects; University of California Loyalty Oath Controversy; University of California Publications; Hearst
Consolidated Publications Stockholders' Suit; William Randolph Hearst's Business and Financial Affairs Records.