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Caldwell (James Ralston) Papers
BANC MSS 67/97 c
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
The Bancroft Library
Title: James Ralston Caldwell family papers
Creator:
Caldwell, James Ralston, 1900-1965
Creator:
Field, Katherine
Creator:
Wood, Charles Erskine Scott, 1852-1944
Creator:
Field, Sara Bard, 1882-1974
Creator:
Caldwell, Josephine
Identifier/Call Number: BANC MSS 67/97 c
Physical Description:
2 linear feet
)1 carton, 2 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1925-2014
Date (bulk): 1925-1965
Abstract: The James Ralston Caldwell papers include materials relating to the Loyalty Oath Controversy on the University of California
and the University of Nevada campuses, a small amount of material relating to Caldwell's writing, and personal papers containing
correspondence and materials concerning Caldwell's death. Correspondents include Reginald Francis Arragon, George Boas, Arthur
H. Brayfield, the University of California Board of Regents, Robert G. Sproul, Group for Academic Freedom, Charlton Laird,
and personal correspondence between James Caldwell and his wife Katherine Field (Katherine Ehrgott Caldwell) and with Caldwell's
sister Josephine Caldwell.
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.
Language of Material:
English
, English
.
Collection is open for research.
No additions are expected.
The James Ralston Caldwell papers were given to The Bancroft Library by Katherine Field Caldwell on January 9, 1967. Additions
were made by Dan Caldwell on May 5, 2004. Additions were made by Sara Wood Smith in 2020-2021.
There are no alternate forms of this collection.
| 1900 | Born on Jan. 20 in Hastings, Minnesota. |
| 1922 | Received baccalaureate from Princeton University, major in philosophy. |
| 1925 | Received A.M. from University of Wisconsin, in English. |
| 1929 | On September 1, married Katherine Field Ehrgott. |
| 1930 | Awarded Ph.D. from Harvard. |
| Joined University of California faculty in Berkeley, California, as assistant professor of English. | |
| 1946 | Attained professorship at the University of California. |
| 1950-1951 | Loyalty Oath Controversy at the University of California. |
| 1965 | Died on April 4. |
| 1900 | Born on Jan. 20 in Hastings, Minnesota. |
| 1922 | Received baccalaureate from Princeton University, major in philosophy. |
| 1925 | Received A.M. from University of Wisconsin, in English. |
| 1929 | On September 1, married Katherine Field Ehrgott. |
| 1930 | Awarded Ph.D. from Harvard. |
| Joined University of California faculty in Berkeley, California, as assistant professor of English. | |
| 1946 | Attained professorship at the University of California. |
| 1950-1951 | Loyalty Oath Controversy at the University of California. |
| 1965 | Died on April 4. |
[Identification of item], James Ralston Caldwell Papers, BANC MSS 67/97 c, The Bancroft Library, University of California,
Berkeley.
Processed by Alison E. Bridger in 2004. Additions processed by Lara Michels in 2022.
Scope and Content of Collection
The James Ralston Caldwell family papers include both professional papers and correspondence and personal and family correspondence
and photographs.
Among the professional materials in the collection are some materials relating to the Loyalty Oath Controversy on the University
of California and the University of Nevada campuses. The Loyalty Oath Controversy began when Universities around the country
insisted on faculty and staff to sign oath of loyalty to the United States and state that they did not belong or believe in
any organizations advocating the overthrow of the United States government including the Communist Party. In 1949 the University
of California instituted such an oath and 31 professors and many university employees were dismissed for not signing. A Loyalty
Oath was also instituted at the University of Nevada where professor Frank Richardson was fired for refusing to sign and took
the University to court. The Caldwell papers include correspondence relating to the controversy at the University of California
as well as other campuses across the United States, different University of California committee papers relating to the controversy,
and documents and clippings about the dismissal proceedings by the University of Nevada against Frank Richardson. Correspondents
include Reginald Francis Arragon, George Boas, Arthur H. Brayfield, the University of California Board of Regents, Robert
G. Sproul, Group for Academic Freedom, Charlton Laird.
Materials relating to Caldwell's writing includes letters of praise for his work John Keats Fancy, correspondence about his
poetry and to his wife about publishing an unfinished work after his death. Manuscripts include, "Consider the Source," "What
to Tell the Emperor," other essays and some poems. Also included are some reviews of Caldwell's work as well as reviews done
by Caldwell and a list of publications by Caldwell from early in his career in 1939.
Personal and family papers include correspondence, some family miscellany, and photographs. Correspondence includes letters
exchanged between James Ralston Caldwell and his wife Katherine Field (Ehrgott) Caldwell; letters from James Ralston Caldwell
to his sister, Josephine Caldwell; letters from Katherine Field (Ehrgott) Caldwell to Josephine Caldwell; letters exchanged
between James Ralston Caldwell and C.E.S. Wood and Sara Bard Field (his in-laws); letters from C.E.S. Wood to Katherine Field
(Ehrgott) Caldwell; letters exchanged between James Ralston Caldwell and Anna Hyatt Caldwell and between Katherine Field (Ehrgott)
Caldwell and Anna Hyatt Caldwell. There are also a few letters to Sara Caldwell (daughter of James Ralston Caldwell and Katherine
Field (Ehrgott) Caldwell).
Other family materials include correspondence, obituaries and eulogies on the occasion of James Ralston Caldwell's death and
a folder of poems by Sara Bard Field and C.E.S. Wood.
Finally, the collection includes two folders of family photographs consisting of photographs of the Caldwell family as well
as some photographs of Katherine Field (Ehrgott) Caldwell and her parents.
Printed materials have been transferred to the book collection of The Bancroft Library.
Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction
of some materials may be restricted by terms of University of California gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions,
privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond
that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be
commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
For additional information about the University of California, Berkeley Library's permissions policy please see: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/about/permissions-policies
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Caldwell, James Ralston, 1900-1965--Archives
Field, Katherine--Correspondence
University of California (1868-1952)
University of Nevada
Brayfield, Arthur H
Arragon, Reginald Francis
Boas, George, 1891-
Laird, Charlton Grant, 1901-
Sproul, Robert Gordon, 1891-1975
Field, Katherine
Caldwell, Josephine
University of California (1868-1952). Regents
Group for Academic Freedom
Oaths--California
Oaths--Nevada
Authors, American--California--Berkeley
Minutes.
Faculty papers.
Poems.
Reviews.
Manuscripts for publication.