Wilshire Family Papers, 1898-1985

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Summary

Creators:
Wilshire family
Abstract:
Henry Gaylord Wilshire (1861-1927) was a real estate developer who helped turn Long Beach into a seaside resort and developed Wilshire Boulevard. He became known as the millionaire socialist, publishing The Challenge, which changed its name to Wilshire's Magazine. Gaylord stood as a congressional candidate for the 6th California district in 1890, for the British Parliament in 1894, for the Canadian Parliament in 1902, and for Congress from New York in 1904. The collection contains correspondence, manuscripts, notes, books, pamphlets, magazines, personal papers, photographs and printed materials relating to Henry Gaylord Wilshire, his wife Mary McReynolds, and their son Logan Gaylord.
Extent:
30 boxes (15.0 linear ft.) 4 oversize boxes
Language:
English.

Background

Scope and content:

Collection contains correspondence, manuscripts, notes, books, pamphlets, magazines, personal papers, photographs and printed materials relating to Henry Gaylord Wilshire, his wife Mary McReynolds, and their son Logan Gaylord. Also contains microfilm relating to the Wilshire Bishop Creek Mine, and the establishment of Wilshire's Ionaco and other ventures in the field of medical science.

Biographical / historical:

Henry Gaylord Wilshire was born on June 7, 1861 in Cincinnati, Ohio; attended Harvard; came to Los Angeles, California in his mid-20s; purchased land and helped turn Long Beach into a seaside resort; began to develop Wilshire Boulevard and the Los Angeles Billposting Company; became known as the millionaire socialist, publishing The challenge, which changed its name to Wilshire's magazine; contributors included George Bernard Shaw, Upton Sinclair, and Jack London; in 1904 married Mary McReynolds; born on May 1, 1880 in New York City, New York, she was active in socialist organizations; also contributed to Wilshire's magazine; their son Logan was born on August 29, 1907; when the magazine was banned from the U.S. mail, Gaylord Wilshire published it and ran his other businesses from Canada; owned a second home in Hampstead, London, England; Gaylord stood as a congressional candidate for the 6th California district in 1890, for the British Parliament in 1894, for the Canadian Parliament in 1902, and for Congress from New York in 1904; published works include Socialism: a religion (19--), Wilshire editorials (c. 1906), and Syndicalism: what it is (1912); he died on September 7, 1927.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Mrs. Emily Harvin Glass, 1956. Gift of Mrs. Logan G. Wilshire, 1974, 1981. Gift of Dr. Thomas Berne, 1990.
Arrangement:

Arranged in the following series:

  1. Wilshire family correspondence.
  2. Mary (McReynolds) Wilshire correspondence.
  3. Correspondence regarding the Iona Company.
  4. Gaylord Wilshire clippings, business and personal papers.
  5. Mary Wilshire literary materials.
  6. Mary Wilshire materials regarding psychoanalysis.
  7. Mary Wilshire personal papers.
  8. Miscellaneous manuscripts.
  9. Materials by and about Logan Wilshire.
  10. Photographs and pictorial material.
  11. Correspondence, papers, and reports regarding Bishop Creek Mine.
  12. Notes and manuscripts by Logan Wilshire.
  13. Clippings.
  14. Political tracts and pamphlets.
  15. Issues of Wilshire's Monthly Magazine, books and pamphlets.

Physical location:
Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.

Access and use

Location of this collection:
A1713 Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575, US
Contact:
(310) 825-4988
AskLSC@library.ucla.edu
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