Finding Aid to the Collection of Bret Harte Letters and Papers,
1857-1959, bulk 1857-1901
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/
© 2006
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Finding Aid to the Collection of Bret Harte Letters and Papers, 1857-1959,
bulk 1857-1901
Collection Number: BANC MSS C-H 57
The Bancroft Library
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California
- Finding Aid Written By:
- Alison E. Bridger
- Date Completed:
-
July 2006
© 2006 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Collection Summary
Collection Title: Collection of Bret Harte letters and papers
Date (inclusive): 1857-1959,
Date (bulk): , bulk 1857-1901
Collection Number: BANC MSS C-H 57
Creators :
Harte, Bret, 1836-1902.
Extent:
Number of containers: 2 boxes, 1 oversize volume, and 1 roll.
Linear feet: 1.25
Repository: The Bancroft Library
Berkeley, California 94720-6000
Abstract: Contains correspondence and writings. Correspondence includes
outgoing letters, one incoming letter and several letters about Bret Harte. Correspondents
include John H. Carmany, Harte's wife, Anna Griswold Harte, James Osgood, Elisha Bliss, Jr.,
Thomas Starr King and Lady Gregory. Writings include a diary from 1857-1858 and manuscripts
including,
The Heathen Chinee. Also includes a United
States flag put together by Harte and his sister during the American Civil War, clippings,
papers relating to Harte's employment in the U.S. Branch Mint, San Francisco and some
miscellaneous papers and items relating to Harte.
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, with the following exceptions: the United States Flag in
Roll 1 is RESTRICTED.
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], Collection of Bret Harte Letters and Papers, BANC MSS C-H 57,
The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.
Alternate Forms Available
Part of the collection is also available on microfilm, see call numbers BANC MSS C-H 57
FILM, BANC FILM 2165 and BANC FILM 2693, reel 1.
Related Collections
Bret Harte papers, 1869-1895. (BANC MSS 76/192)
Bret Harte papers, 1870-1898. (BANC MSS 77/166)
Bret Harte papers, circa 1869-1897. (BANC MSS 79/47)
Bret Harte letter to Ralph Keeler. (BANC MSS 88/34)
Bret Harte letters to his wife in London. (BANC MSS 88/146)
Bret Harte letters to his family. (BANC MSS 88/181)
Bret Harte letter, Washington, D.C., to E.A. Buck. (BANC MSS 91/55)
Bret Harte correspondence on microfilm. (BANC FILM 2693)
J. Ross (John Ross) Browne papers. (BANC MSS 78/163)
Ina Donna Coolbrith collection of letters and papers. (BANC MSS C-H 23)
George Davidson papers. (BANC MSS C-B 490)
Charles Warren Stoddard collection of papers. (BANC MSS C-H 53)
Overland Monthly records. (BANC MSS C-H 97)
Mark Twain Papers at The Bancroft Library, UC Berkeley.
Separated Material
Drawings transferred to the Pictorial Collections of The Bancroft Library (BANC PIC
1960.008--A)
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
library's online public access catalog.
Harte, Bret,
1836-1902--Correspondence
Harte, Bret,
1836-1902--Manuscripts
Harte, Bret, 1836-1902 --
Heathen Chinee
Mints--California--San Francisco
Flags--United States
Authors, American
Manuscripts (for publication)
Poems
Diaries
Cards
Clippings
Carmany, John H
Harte, Anna Griswold
Osgood, James R. (James Ripley), 1836-1892
Bliss, Elisha, 1822-1880
Gregory, Lady, 1852-1932
King, Thomas Starr, 1824-1864
Honeyman, Robert B. Collection
Norris, Thomas W. (Thomas Wayne).
Collection
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
The Collection of Bret Harte Letters and Papers were given to and purchased by The
Bancroft Library over many years including items from the Thomas W. Norris collection and
the Robert B. Honeyman collection.
Accruals
No additions are expected.
Processing Information
Reprocessed by Alison E. Bridger in 2006.
Biographical Information
Francis Bret Harte (August 25, 1836-May 6, 1902) was an American author and poet, best
remembered for his accounts of pioneering life in California. Born in Albany, New York, he
moved to California in 1854, later working there in a number of capacities, including miner,
teacher, messenger, and journalist.
-From "Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia," 2006 June.
Scope and Content of Collection
Contains correspondence and writings. Correspondence includes outgoing letters, one
incoming letter and several letters about Bret Harte. Correspondents include John H.
Carmany, Harte's wife, Anna Griswold Harte, James Osgood, Elisha Bliss, Jr., Thomas Starr
King and Lady Gregory. Writings include a diary from 1857-1858 and manuscripts including,
The Heathen Chinee. Also includes a United States flag
put together by Harte and his sister during the American Civil War, clippings, papers
relating to Harte's employment in the U.S. Branch Mint, San Francisco and some miscellaneous
papers and items relating to Harte.
Series 1
Correspondence
1863-1901
Physical Description:
Box 1, folders 1-11
Arrangement
Arranged hierarchically and chronologically.
Scope and Content Note
Contains one incoming letter, outgoing, including a few transcripts, and letters
discussing Harte.
Box 1, Folder 1
Incoming
circa 1863
Scope and Content Note
-also available on microfilm BANC FILM 2693, reel 1
Box 1, Folder 2
Outgoing
1866-1869
Scope and Content Note
-also available on microfilm BANC FILM 2693, reel 1
Box 1, Folder 3
Outgoing
1870-1872
Scope and Content Note
-also available on microfilm BANC FILM 2693, reel 1
Box 1, Folder 4
Outgoing
1875-1878
Scope and Content Note
-also available on microfilm BANC FILM 2693, reel 1
Box 1, Folder 5
Outgoing
1880-1884
Scope and Content Note
-also available on microfilm BANC FILM 2693, reel 1
Box 1, Folder 6
Outgoing
1885-1889
Scope and Content Note
-also available on microfilm BANC FILM 2693, reel 1
Box 1, Folder 7
Outgoing
1890-1894
Scope and Content Note
-also available on microfilm BANC FILM 2693, reel 1
Box 1, Folder 8
Outgoing
1895-1901
Scope and Content Note
-also available on microfilm BANC FILM 2693, reel 1
Box 1, Folder 9
Outgoing
undated
Scope and Content Note
-also available on microfilm BANC FILM 2693, reel 1
Box 1, Folder 10
Outgoing - transcripts
1870-1895
Scope and Content Note
-also available on microfilm BANC FILM 2693, reel 1
Box 1, Folder 11
About Bret Harte
circa 1876-1880
Series 2
Writings
circa 1857-1875
Physical Description:
Box 1, folder 12; Box 2
Arrangement
Arranged hierarchically and alphabetically.
Scope and Content Note
Contains a diary from 1857-1858, and manuscripts of his writings, some of which have
been bound.
Box 1, Folder 12
Diary
1857-1858
Scope and Content Note
-also available on microfilm BANC FILM 2165
Box 2, Folder 1
Concerning California and the Mercantile Library of San
Francisco
circa 1870
Box 2, Folder 2
The Heathen Chinee or
On the Sinfulness of Ah Sin as reported by Truthful
James
circa 1870-1875
Box 2, Folder 3
The Idyll of Red Gulch
1869
Box 2, Folder 4
The Mystery of Hacienda
undated
Box 2, Folder 5
The Story of an Ornithologist
circa 1867,
1877
Box 2, Folder 6
Miscellaneous manuscripts
circa 1864-1874
Box 2, Folder 7
Book reviews of other author's works
undated
Series 3
Miscellaneous
1863-1951
Physical Description:
Box 1, folders 13-15; Roll 1; Oversize volume 1.
Arrangement
Arranged hierarchically.
Scope and Content Note
Contains papers relating to Harte's employment as a superintendents clerk at the U.S.
Branch Mint, San Francisco, a flag made during the American Civil War by Harte and his
sister, clippings, and other miscellaneous items including a lock of hair.
Oversize Volume 1
U.S. Branch Mint, San Francisco
1863,
1868
Roll 1
United States Flag
circa 1861
Box 1, Folder 13
Documents relating to Harte's U.S. Flag
circa 1944-1959
Box 1, Folder 14
Clippings
circa 1914-1951
Box 1, Folder 15
Miscellaneous
circa 1870-1890
Microfilm BANC MSS C-H 57 FILM
Receipts, from Bret Harte for Mrs. Harte's services as choir singer at First
Unitarian Church of San Francisco
1863
Scope and Content Note
-only available on microfilm.