Bret Harte Collection, [1857?]-1950

Summary

Creators:

University of California, Davis. Library. Dept. of Special Collections

Abstract:

At the height of his career, Bret Harte (1836-1902) was considered one of the best-known American writers of the nineteenth century. The collection contains Harte's writings published in magazines and newspapers, clippings and ephemera about Harte, and portraits of Harte and other individuals. This artificially created collection was a block purchase from John Howell Books of San Francisco in the early 1980's.

Extent:

1.40 linear feet

Language:

English.

Background

Scope and content:

Arranged in five series: 1. Writings, 2. Clippings about Bret Harte, 3. Correspondence, 4. Ephemera, 5. Portraits.

Biographical / historical:

Biographical Narrative

Bret Harte (August 25, 1836 - May 5, 1902) was a short story writer, poet, and novelist. At the height of his career he was considered one of the best-known American writers of the nineteenth century. He held a variety of jobs during his early years. In Brooklyn until 1854, he worked in a lawyer's office and a counting house; later in San Francisco from 1854-64, he worked in a mine, a drug store, taught school, and served as a pony express guard, a typesetter, and Secretary of the California Mint, 1864-67. He was an assistant editor of Northern California and, in 1864, the first editor of Overland Monthly as well as a professor of recent literature at the University of California. He returned to New York from 1870-78, where he contributed to the Atlantic Monthly. He serves as U.S. Consul at Crefeld, Germany from 1878-80 and at Glasgow, Scotland, from 1880-85.

Source: "Bret Harte." Contemporary Authors. Gale Literature Resource Center database. Accessed February 10, 2004.

This artificially created collection was a block purchase from John Howell Books of San Francisco in the early 1980's.

Acquisition information:

This artificially created collection was a block purchase from John Howell Books of San Francisco in the early 1980's.

Physical location:

Researchers should contact Special Collections to request collections, as many are stored offsite.

Indexed terms

Subjects:

Authors, American--19th century
Western stories--Authorship
Authors, American--West (U.S.)

Location of this collection:

UC Davis, Special Collections

University of California, Davis, Special Collections, UC Davis Library

100 NW Quad

Davis, CA 95616-5292, US

Contact:

(530) 752-1621

speccoll@ucdavis.edu

Website