Lucile Selk Edgerton Papers, Approximately 1905-1962, bulk 1936-1962

Summary

Creators:

Edgerton, Lucile Selk

Abstract:

The collection consists of the professional papers of California writer Lucile Selk Edgerton (1896-1987) including manuscripts of unpublished novels, original sketches, assorted printed magazines, copies of her published novels, California research notes, some printed items, and ephemera.

Extent:

141 items

Language:

The records are in English .

Background

Scope and content:

The collection consists of writer Lucile Selk Edgerton's professional papers, including the manuscripts of unpublished novels, original sketches meant to accompany her works of fiction, assorted printed magazines containing her published stories, copies of her published novels Pillars of Gold and In Walked Anny, some printed items, and ephemera. Part of the collection consists of essays, correspondence, and research notes related to California history, and includes essays on Charles F. Wells, Thomas H. Blythe, Earl Rogers, Charlie Utting, C.E. Wells, and 'Wild Horse Bill,' as well as a variety of essays on the history of the Palo Verde Valley, the City of Blythe, and water reclamation around Isabella Lake. Many of the California research notes were compiled by Edgerton's son, Dean Edgerton, Jr. Also included is a bound volume with notes on his World War II experiences.

The collection is arranged in six boxes by series:

• Correspondence, essays and notes, printed items, and ephemera (Box 1)
• Manuscript: Pillars of Gold (Box 2)
• Publications (Box 3)
• Unpublished novels (Boxes 4-5)
• Sketches (Box 6 and oversize folder)

Biographical / historical:

Lucile Selk Edgerton (1896-1987) graduated from East High School in Green Bay, Wisconsin, in 1915. She attended the University of Wisconsin School of Journalism and was an art critic for the Milwaukee Sentinel. By 1937 she was living in Los Angeles. She was a prolific writer of short stories and novels, many of them with Western themes, during the 1930s and 1940s. She was the author of two published novels, In Walked Anny (1940) and Pillars of Gold (1941), a romance set in Civil War California.

Acquisition information:

Purchased from Elliott Mittler, December 1, 2010.

Rules or conventions:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:

Fiction--20th century--Periodicals.
Western stories--Periodicals.
Women authors, American--20th century.
Essays--California--20th century.
Letters (correspondence)--California--20th century.
Novels--California--20th century.
Periodicals--United States--20th century.
Short stories--California--20th century.
Sketches--California--20th century.

Restrictions:

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Location of this collection:

Huntington Library, Manuscript Collections

1151 Oxford Road

San Marino, CA 91108, US

Contact:

(626) 405-2191

reference@huntington.org

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