George Sterling Papers: Finding Aid
Processed by The Huntington Library staff in September 1955; supplementary encoding
and revision supplied by Brooke Dykman Dockter and Diann Benti.
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
© 2000
Manuscripts Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2129
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
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Title: George Sterling Papers
Dates (inclusive): 1895-1927
Collection Number: mssGS 1-611
Creator:
Sterling, George,
1869-1926.
Extent:
666 pieces in 12 boxes
Repository:
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
Manuscripts Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2129
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract: This collection contains correspondence, manuscripts, photographs
and watercolors pertaining to the life and work of California lyric poet George Sterling
(1869-1926). Much of the correspondence in the collection is between Sterling and other
American writers and poets, who discuss their own work and the work of other individuals.
Almost all of the correspondence in the collection by Sterling is addressed to his friend,
and fellow author, Jack London (1876-1916).
Language: English.
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department.
For more information, contact Reader Services.
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from
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necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
[Identification of item]. George Sterling Papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino,
California.
Purchased from Thor Liliencrantz, nephew of George Sterling, in 1954.
Related material in the Huntington Library
Additional manuscripts and letters by George Sterling may be found in the
Samuel Loveman Papers
(Call number: mssHM 46222-46267)
George Sterling (1869-1926) was an American poet, prose stylist and playwright. Sterling
was born in Sag Harbor, New York, and moved to California in 1892, where he met and became a
pupil to Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914?). Sterling's poetry was first published through the aid
of Bierce, who included some of Sterling's verse in his
San Francisco Examiner column. In
1903, Sterling's first book of poetry was published,
The Testimony of the Suns, and was
followed by nine more volumes of verse in the years to come, including
A Wine of
Wizardry and Other Poems
(1908). In 1908 Sterling and his wife, Caroline Rand, moved from
Oakland to Carmel. Then, after several years in New York, Sterling lived at the Bohemian
Club in San Francisco. Sterling was good friends with author Jack London. Sterling died by his own hand
in 1926.
In addition to writing poetry Sterling also wrote several
plays (many of which he composed for the Bohemian Club of San Francisco to perform), short
stories, and a critical text on Robinson Jeffers (1887-1962).
He published ten volumes of verse, five separately published poems,
four dramatic poems, and much uncollected magazine prose and verse. Carey McWilliams writes
of Sterling: "The remarkable range and the intimate quality of his acquaintance, coupled with
his long residence in the West, gave a cultural significance to his career quite apart from
his writing."
This collection contains correspondence, manuscripts, photographs and watercolors pertaining
to the life and work of George Sterling. Contents include 544 pieces of correspondence; 116 manuscripts; 3 photographs; 2
watercolors, and an agreement
with Douglas Fairbanks Pictures Organization (received as addenda).
Much of the correspondence in the collection is
between Sterling and other American writers and poets, who discuss their own work and the
work of other individuals. Almost all of the correspondence in the collection by Sterling is
addressed to his friend, and fellow author, Jack London (1876-1916). The collection contains
manuscripts written by Sterling as well as manuscripts by Ambrose Bierce and others. Most of
the collection's manuscripts are poems, although the section also contains epigrams,
diaries, vocabulary aids and prose. The photographs within the collection are of Sterling
and his friends and associates, and all of the collection's watercolors were painted by
Sterling.
Subjects addressed within the collection include Ambrose Bierce, American poetry
(1915-1925), Prohibition (with frequent mention in H. L. Mencken's letters), and European
description and travel (chiefly in the early letters of Herman George Scheffauer).
Correspondents and authors include: William Rose Benét, Ambrose Bierce, Witter Bynner,
Margaret Smith Cobb, Sidney Bert Cooksley, Ina Donna Coolbrith, Countee Cullen, Benjamin De
Casseres, May S. Greenwood, James Hopper, Rolfe Humphries, Robinson Jeffers, Leslie Nelson
Jennings, Sinclair Lewis, Vachel Lindsey, Charmian London, Jack London, Samuel Loveman,
William Somerset Maugham, Henry Louis Mencken, Leo Bergin Mihan, John Gneisenau Neihardt,
Joseph O'Carroll, John Myers O'Hara, Louis Alexander Robertson, Theodore Roosevelt, Carl
Sandburg, Herman George Scheffauer, George Ansel Sterling, Charles Hanson Towne, Grace
Wallace, Herbert George Wells, Edward Lucas White, Ella Wheeler Wilcox, Gaylord Wilshire,
and Audrey Wurdemann.
Persons represented by five or more pieces:
- Bynner, Witter: 5 pieces, 1913-24
- Cobb, Margaret Smith: 34 pieces, 1923-26
- Coolbrith, Ina Donna: 26 pieces, 1907-26
- De Casseres, Benjamin: 8 pieces, 1926
- Greenwood, May Snowdrop: 65 poems 1917-26
- Hopper, James: 5 pieces, 1926-28
- Humphries, Rolfe: 6 pieces, 1924-25
- Jeffers, Robinson: 12 pieces, 1924-26
- Jennings, Leslie Nelson: 45 pieces, 1917-22
- London, Jack: 18 pieces, 1902-16
- Loveman, Samuel: 19 pieces, 1915-26
- Mencken, Henry Louis: 63 pieces, 1916-26
- Neihardt, John Gneisenau: 50 pieces, 1912-25
- Sterling, George: Poems: 43 to Miscellaneous persons: 5 To London: 72 (1910-16)
- Mihan, Leo Bergin: 5 pieces, 1924-26
- O'Carroll, Joseph: 9 pieces, 1923-26
- O'Hara, John Myers: 5 pieces, 1911-16
- Robertson, Louis Alexander: 7 pieces, 1904-08
- Scheffaeur, Herman George: 57 pieces, 1904-21
- White, Edward Lucas: 5 pieces, 1925
- Wilcox, Ella (Wheeler): 5 pieces, 1914-15
Some notable items include:
- Benet, William Rose. 1921, Nov. 17. About Sterling's verse.
- Coolbrith, Ina. 1907, Feb. To Blanche Partington. He is the best boy in the world as well as one of its few great poets...
- Jeffers, Robinson. 12 letters, mostly about poetry. 1924-26
- Lindsey, Vachel. 1913, June 1. Long letter on his own career and poetry.
- London, Jack. 1916, Mar. 7. Critique of severl short stories by Sterling.
- London, Jack. 1908, Feb. 10. And I speculate and speculate, trying to make you out, trying to lay hands on the inner side of you...
- Mencken, Henry L. 63 letters, containing numerous references to Prohibition
- O'Hara, John Myers. 1911, May 7. Letter of praise and criticism.
- Osbourne, Lloyd. 1895, Oct. 24. Advising Sterling against a proposed adventure to Samoa.
- Scheffauer, Herman George. 1904, June 19. Description of visit to St. Louis fair.
- Scheffauer, Herman George. 1904, Sep. 8. Description of trip through Scotland and England
- Scheffauer, Herman George. 1904, Dec. 20. Letter of 52 pages, octavo, describing trip through Germany and France. His letters are of above average interest.
- Sterling, George. Letters to Jack London. 1910-1916.
- Sterling, George. Notebook containing vocabulary aid. c.1915.
- Sterling, George. 1919, Apr. 9. To W. S. B. Braithwaite. Draft of a letter of protest over the misprinting of his poems.
Arrangement
The collection has been arranged with the correspondence and manuscripts first, in
alphabetical order by author, followed by ephemera, photographs, and watercolors.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
Huntington Library's Online Catalog.
Bierce, Ambrose,
1842-1914?
Sterling, George,
1869-1926.
American poetry -- 20th century.
Poets, American -- 20th century.
Prohibition -- United States.
Europe -- Description and
travel.
Letters (correspondence) -- United States --
20th century.
Manuscripts -- United States -- 20th
century.
Photographs -- United States -- 20th
century.
Watercolors -- United States -- 20th
century.
Benét, William Rose, 1886-1950.
Bierce, Ambrose, 1842-1914?
Bynner, Witter, 1881-1968.
Cobb, Margaret Smith.
Cooksley, Sidney Bert, 1903-
Coolbrith, Ina D. (Ina Donna),
1841-1928.
Cullen, Countee, 1903-1946.
De Casseres, Benjamin, 1873-1945.
Greenwood, May S.
Hopper, James, 1876-1956.
Humphries, Rolfe.
Jeffers, Robinson, 1887-1962.
Jennings, Leslie N. (Leslie Nelson),
1892-
Lewis, Sinclair, 1885-1951.
Lindsey, Vachel.
London, Charmian.
London, Jack, 1876-1916.
Loveman, Samuel, 1887-1976.
Maugham, W. Somerset (William Somerset),
1874-1965.
Mencken, H. L. (Henry Louis),
1880-1956.
Mihan, Leo Bergin.
Neihardt, John G., 1881-1973.
O'Carroll, Joseph.
O'Hara, John Myers, 1870-1944.
Robertson, Louis Alexander,
1856-1910.
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919.
Sandburg, Carl, 1878-1967.
Scheffauer, Herman George,
1878-1927.
Sterling, George Ansel.
Towne, Charles Hanson, 1877-1949.
Belasco, Grace Wallace.
Wells, H. G. (Herbert George),
1866-1946.
White, Edward Lucas, 1866-1934.
Wilcox, Ella Wheeler, 1850-1919.
Wilshire, Gaylord, 1861-1927.
Wurdemann, Audrey, 1911-1960.
Collection Contents
Box 1
A-Cooks
This box includes:
- Atherton, Gertrude, 1907-25 (4 pieces to George Sterling)
- Austin, Mary to Mrs. Liljencranz, 1927 (1 piece)
- Bender, Albert M., 1926 (2 pieces to George Sterling)
- Benet, William Rose, 1921 (1 piece to George Sterling)
- Bierce, Ambrose to Lora (Mrs. C. A. Bierce), 1912 (1 piece)
- Bierce, Albert S., 1913 (10 pieces to George Sterling)
- Bierce, Ambrose, manuscript (1 piece)
- Burbank, Luther, 1926 (1 piece to George Sterling)
- Burgess, Gelett, 1907 (1 piece to George Sterling)
- Bynner, Witter, 1903 (4 pieces to George Sterling)
- C., Sarah M. to Maria, 1839 (1 piece)
- Cabell, James Branch, 1920 (1 piece to George Sterling)
- Cooksley, S. Bert, Poems (6 pieces)
Box 2
Cool-Gre
This box includes:
- Coolbrith, Ina, 1907-26 (26 pieces to George Sterling)
- Cobb, Margaret, 1923-26 (34 pieces to George Sterling)
- Cullen, Countee, 1926 (1 piece to George Sterling)
- De Casseres, Benjamin, 1926 (8 pieces to George Sterling)
- Finger, Charles J., 1925 (1 piece to George Sterling)
- Flanner, Hildegarde, 1925 (1 piece to George Sterling)
- Greenwood, May Snow, Poems (40 pieces)
Box 3
Box 5
Jo-Ma
This box includes:
- Larkin, Edgar Lucien, N.D. (2 pieces to George Sterling)
- Lewis, Sinclair, 1923-26 (2 pieces to George Sterling)
- Lindsay, Nicholas Vachel, 1913 (3 pieces to George Sterling)
- London, Charmian, 1926- (3 pieces to George Sterling)
- London, Jack, 1912-16 (17 pieces to George Sterling)
- Loveman, Samuel, 1915-26 (19 pieces to George Sterling)
- Mathews, Albert, 1923 (1 piece to George Sterling)
- Maugham, William Somerset, 1920 (1 piece to George Sterling)
Box 6
Me-Ne
This box includes:
- Mencken, Henry L., 1916-26 (64 pieces to George Sterling)
- Michaels, Aline, 1926 (1 piece to George Sterling)
- Middleton, Scudder, 1918, 1926 (2 pieces to George Sterling)
- Mihan, Leo Bergin, 1924-26 (5 pieces to George Sterling)
- Monroe, Harriet, 1926 (1 piece to George Sterling)
- Nathan, George Jean, 1920 (1 piece to George Sterling)
- Neale, Walter to Ambrose Bierce, 1906 (1 piece)
Box 8
O-Scha
This box includes:
- O'Brien, Frederick, 1926 (2 pieces to George Sterling)
- O'Carroll, Joe, 1923-26 (24 pieces to George Sterling)
- O'Hara, John Myers, 1911-16 (6 pieces to George Sterling)
- Osbourne, Lloyd, 1895 (1 piece to George Sterling)
- Parker, Gilbert, 1917 (1 piece to George Sterling)
- Partington, Blanche, 1925 (1 piece to George Sterling)
- Rehan, Ada to Mrs. George Sterling, 1897 (1 piece)
- Rehan, Arnold to Thadora Duncan, 1917 (1 piece)
- Rihani, Ameen, 1921 (4 pieces to George Sterling)
- Riplens, Victor Odle Lockwood, 1846 (1 piece)
- Robertson, Louis A., 1904-8 (7 pieces to George Sterling)
- Robinson, Edward Arlington, 1920-21 (3 pieces to George Sterling)
- Rorby, James, 1925-26 (4 pieces to George Sterling)
- Roosevelt, Theodore, 1914 (2 pieces to George Sterling)
- Sandburg, Carl, 1916 (1 piece to George Sterling)
- Schauffler, Robert Haim, 1912-20 (4 pieces to George Sterling)
Box 9
Box 10
Box 11
Box 12
Sti-W; Ephemera/Photographs
This box includes:
- Stillman, J. M., N.D. (1 piece to George Sterling)
- Tabbs, John B., 1903 (1 piece to George Sterling)
- Teasdale, Sara, 1914 (1 piece to George Sterling)
- Taggard, Genevieve, 1924 (4 pieces to George Sterling)
- Towne, Charles Hanson, 1925 (1 piece to George Sterling)
- W., J. F., N.D. (1 piece to George Sterling)
- Van Doran, Mark, 1926 (2 pieces to George Sterling)
- Wallace, Grace, Poems (5 pieces)
- Williams, B. W., The Seats of the Mighty(1 piece)
- Wilcox, Ella Wheeler, 1914 (5 pieces to George Sterling)
- Welch, Marie De La, 1926 (1 piece to George Sterling)
- Wells, H. G., 1904 (1 piece to George Sterling)
- Wheelock, John Hall, 1914 (3 pieces to George Sterling)
- White, Edward L., 19 (4 pieces to George Sterling)
- Wilshire, Gaylord, 1926 (1 piece to George Sterling)
- Wilson, H. L., 1916 (1 piece to George Sterling)
- Wood, Charles Erskine Scott, 1925 (2 pieces to George Sterling)
- Wright, Willard, 1919 (3 pieces to George Sterling)
- Wurdemann, Audrey, Poems (2 pieces)
- Wurdemann, Meek's Ranch, manuscript (2 pieces)
- Wurdemann, Revenge, manuscript (1 piece)
Loose envelope
Watercolors (2 pieces)