Herbert Eugene Bolton papers, 1890-1953,, bulk bulk 1909-1951

Summary

Creators:

Bolton, Herbert Eugene, 1870-1953

Abstract:

The Herbert Eugene Bolton Papers document the career of an eminent historian who, as director of the Bancroft Library and Chairman of the University of California at Berkeley's History Department in the 1920s and 1930s, was a leader in the field of study known as the Spanish Borderlands.

Extent:

Number of containers: 99 cartons, 145 boxes, 5 file boxes, 80 oversize boxes and 5 oversize folders Linear feet: 215 linear feet

Language:

Collection materials are in English and Spanish

Background

Scope and content:

The Herbert Bolton Papers are essentially two collections in one. Bolton's research materials are one distinct entity, and his correspondence, writings, teaching materials, and professional activities make up a different type of collection. Researchers looking for an insight into Bolton's career will do best to concentrate on the latter materials, because this is where one can see what occurred during a particular event or what a student might have experienced in one of his courses. While there is very little personal material in this part of the collection, there are clues to Bolton's personality (especially his sense of humor) scattered throughout his papers.

In contrast, Bolton's research materials are the result of his life's work and have a different purpose for scholars. Many of the manuscripts copied by Bolton also exist on microfilm in the Bancroft Library. This is certainly the case of those documents from the Archivo General de la Nación of Mexico and the Archivo General de Indias of Spain. Please note that the finding aid does not show which documents are also on microfilm (except for select folders in the Correspondence series), but the researcher may consult other guides to the library's microfilm in order to effectively use the Research Materials series.

Biographical / historical:

Herbert Eugene Bolton was born on July 20, 1870 in Wilton, Wisconsin. At the University of Wisconsin (class of 1895) he studied under Frederick Jackson Turner; after two years of graduate work there he left to pursue a PhD at the University of Pennsylvania, which he earned in 1899. In 1901 he joined the history department at the University of Texas, Austin, where he developed his lasting interest in the history of Spanish-American exploration. His next stop was California, first at Stanford from 1909-1911, and then Berkeley for the remainder of his career. In 1916 he became the Curator of the Bancroft Library (a title that was soon switched to Director), and he took over the helm of the History Department after the death of Henry Morse Stephens in 1919.

During the 1920s and 1930s Bolton was especially active as a professor, guest lecturer, and scholar. The bulk of his writings were published during these two decades, including The Spanish Borderlands. In 1931-1932 he was the president of the American Historical Association, which is only one example of his public service. Though the University required that he retire in 1940 (or at the age of 70), a war-time shortage of faculty caused him to return to teaching from 1942-1944.

Bolton's zest for history is perhaps best represented in the journeys he made by mule or horseback in an effort to retrace the footsteps of famous explorers. This activity continued into his 80th year, by which time he had traced the complete routes of Coronado, Kino, De Mézières, Portolá, Anza, Garcés, and Escalante.

In June 1952 Bolton suffered a stroke that ultimately led to his death in January 1953.

Acquisition information:

The Herbert Eugene Bolton Papers were given to The Bancroft Library by the Bolton family estate in 1959.

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.

Rules or conventions:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Location of this collection:

UC Berkeley, Bancroft Library

University of California, Berkeley, The Bancroft Library

Berkeley, CA 94720-6000, US

Contact:

510-642-6481

bancref-library@berkeley.edu

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