Finding Aid to the James Ralston Caldwell Family Papers, 1925-2014, bulk 1925-1965
Finding Aid written by Alison E. Bridger. Additions integrated into collection in 2022 by Lara Michels.
The Bancroft Library
© 2005
The Bancroft Library
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720-6000
bancref@library.berkeley.edu
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
.
Access
Collection is open for research.
Accruals
No additions are expected.
Acquisition Information
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.
Alternate Forms Available
There are no alternate forms of this collection.
Chronology
| 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. |
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], James Ralston Caldwell Papers, BANC MSS 67/97 c, The Bancroft Library, University of California,
Berkeley.
Processing Information
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.
Separated Material
Printed materials have been transferred to the book collection of The Bancroft Library.
Publication Rights
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.
Loyalty Oath Controversy
1949-1963
box 1, folder 2
Arragon, Reginald Francis.
1951-1952
box 1, folder 4
Brayfield, Arthur H.
1951
box 1, folder 5
University of California (1868-1952). Regents.
1950
box 1, folder 6
Sproul, Robert Gordon.
1949-1950
box 1, folder 7
Group for Academic Freedom.
1950-1951
box 1, folder 8
Laird, Charlton Grant.
1953-1955
box 1, folder 9
Miscellaneous A-L
1950-1963
box 1, folder 10
Miscellaneous M-Z
1950-1951
box 1, folder 11
Assorted incoming professional correspondence
1926-1956
University of California Subject Files
1949-1960
box 1, folder 12
Committee on Academic Freedom.
1950-1951
box 1, folder 13
Committee on Privilege and Tenure.
1950
box 1, folder 14
Committee on Welfare of non-Senate Academic Employees.
approximately 1950
box 1, folder 15
Faculty Committee on Financial Assistance.
approximately 1950-1951
Special Unified Committee on Tenure.
box 1, folder 18
Proposed amendments
1953-1955
box 1, folder 22-24
Material about Loyalty Oath
1949-[1951]
box 1, folder 25
Special Combined Senate Committee on University Extension.
1960
box 1, folder 26
Report on Status of Committee on Campus Political Activity
1964
University of Nevada Subject Files
1952-1956
box 2, folder 1-2
Materials regarding oath controversy and the Frank Richardson case
[1952-1953]
box 2, folder 3
Regarding book
John Keats Fancy
1946
box 2, folder 5
Regarding unfinished work
1965-1979
Manuscripts, Reviews, and List of Publications
1939-1961
box 2, folder 6
Consider the Source
undated
box 2, folder 7
Lecture notes on Byron
approximately 1961
box 2, folder 8
Tribute to Dr. Meiklejohn in ACLU News
1957
box 2, folder 9
What to Tell the Emperor
undated
carton 1, folder 1
J. R. Caldwell journal
1946
box 2, folder 12
Miscellaneous manuscripts
undated
box 2, folder 13
Reviews of James Ralston Caldwell's work
1946
box 2, folder 14
Reviews by Caldwell, James Ralston
1960-1961
box 2, folder 15
List of publications
1939
Personal and Family Papers
1925-2014
carton 1, folder 7-14
James Ralston Caldwell letters to Katherine Field (Ehrgott) Caldwell
1926-1959
carton 1, folder 15-20
Katherine Field (Ehrgott) Caldwell letters to James Ralston Caldwell
1922-1929
undated
carton 1, folder 21-23
James Ralston Caldwell letters to Josephine Caldwell
1955-1964
carton 1, folder 27
Josephine Caldwell letters to James Ralston Caldwell
1929
carton 1, folder 24
Katherine Field (Ehrgott) Caldwell letters to Josephine Caldwell
1956-1965
carton 1, folder 25
Josephine Caldwell, assorted incoming
1966
1988
carton 1, folder 26
Katherine Ehrgott Caldwell, assorted incoming
1924-1928
carton 1, folder 28
Letters from J.R. Caldwell to C.E.S. Wood and Sara Bard Field
1927-1930
carton 1, folder 29
Letters from C.E.S. Wood to J.R. Caldwell
1927-1929
carton 1, folder 30
Letters from Sara Bard Field to James Ralston Caldwell
1925-1929
carton 1, folder 31
Letters from Sara Bard Field to Katherine Field (Ehrgott) Caldwell
1930
carton 1, folder 32
Letters from C.E.S. Wood to Katherine Field (Ehrgott) Caldwell
undated
carton 1, folder 33
Letters from Anna Hyatt (J.R. Caldwell's mother) to J.R. Caldwell
1930
undated
carton 1, folder 34
Letters from "Alice" and Shirley Weber to James Ralston Caldwell
undated
carton 1, folder 35
Letter from Katherine Field (Ehrgott) Caldwell to Anna Hyatt Caldwell
undated
carton 1, folder 36
Letter from Anna Hyatt to Sara Bard Field
undated
carton 1, folder 37
Letters to Sara Caldwell
1980-2014
carton 1, folder 38
Letters from Genevieve Taggard to Sally Caldwell
1946-1947
box 3, folder 16
Incoming miscellaneous
1924,
undated
Death of James Ralston Caldwell
1965
Miscellaneous Items
1957,
1977,
undated
Physical Description:
0 needs updating
0 needs updating; Box 2, folder 17
Arrangement
Arranged hierarchically.
Scope and Contents
Contains a library card of James Ralston Caldwell, resume of Katherine Field for travel to the Peoples Republic of China and
an unidentified piece of manuscript music.
carton 1, folder 42
Library card, resume of Katherine F. Caldwell and music manuscript
1957,
1977,
undated
carton 1, folder 43
Sara Bard Field and Charles Erskine Scott Wood miscellany
carton 1, folder 44
Sara Bard Field and Charles Erskine Scott poems
carton 1, folder 45
Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association, assorted
carton 1, folder 46
Sara Bard Field, Katherine Field (Ehrgott) Caldwell, Sara Caldwell, C.E.S. Wood (7 photographs)
approximately 1930-1937
carton 1, folder 47
Assorted Caldwell family photographs
