Finding Aid to the James Ralston Caldwell Papers, 1925-1988, bulk 1925-1965
Finding Aid written by Alison E. Bridger
The Bancroft Library
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California, 94720-6000
Phone: (510) 642-6481
Fax: (510) 642-7589
Email: bancref@library.berkeley.edu
URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/
© 2005
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Finding Aid to the James Ralston Caldwell Papers, 1925-1988, bulk 1925-1965
Collection Number: BANC MSS 67/97 c
The Bancroft Library
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California
- Finding Aid Written By:
- Alison E. Bridger
- Date Completed:
-
December 2005
© 2005 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Collection Summary
Collection Title: James Ralston Caldwell papers
Date (inclusive): 1925-1988,
Date (bulk): , bulk 1925-1965
Collection Number: BANC MSS 67/97 c
Creators :
Caldwell, James Ralston, 1900-1965
Extent:
Number of containers: 3 boxes
Linear feet: 1.0
Repository: The Bancroft Library
Berkeley, California 94720-6000
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.
Languages Represented: Collection materials are in English
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.
Information for Researchers
Access
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright has not been assigned to The Bancroft Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from
manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Public Services. Permission for publication is given
on behalf of The Bancroft Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply
permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], James Ralston Caldwell Papers, BANC MSS 67/97 c, The Bancroft Library, University
of California, Berkeley.
Alternate Forms Available
There are no alternate forms of this collection.
Separated Material
Printed materials have been transferred to the book collection of The Bancroft Library.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public
access catalog.
Caldwell, James Ralston, 1900-1965--Archives
Field, Katherine--Correspondence
University of California (1868-1952)
University of Nevada
Oaths--California
Oaths--Nevada
Authors, American--California--Berkeley
Minutes.
Faculty papers.
Poems.
Reviews.
Manuscripts for publication.
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
Administrative Information
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.
Accruals
No additions are expected.
Processing Information
Processed by Alison E. Bridger in 2004.
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. |
Scope and Content of Collection
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.
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.
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.
The personal papers of James Caldwell include correspondence, and items relating to his death. Correspondence
is between Caldwell and his wife, most during their years of courtship while Caldwell was still in Wisconsin and
Katherine was in Cambridge, Mass., and while Katherine was traveling in Italy and Greece. Also includes
correspondence with Caldwell's sister, Josephine Caldwell, and a small amount of correspondence from other
family members.
Container List
SERIES 1
Loyalty Oath Controversy
1949-1963
Physical Description:
Box 1
Arrangement
Arranged hierarchically.
Scope and Content Note
In three subseries: correspondence, University of California subject files and University of Nevada subject
files.
Subseries 1.1
Correspondence
1949-1963
Physical Description:
Box 1, folders 1-10
Arrangement
Arranged hierarchically then alphabetically.
Scope and Content Note
Contains correspondence between Caldwell and colleges concerning the Loyality Oath Controversy at the
University of California and elsewhere.
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
Subseries 1.2
University of California Subject Files
1949-1960
Physical Description:
Box 1, folders 11-24
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically.
Scope and Content Note
Contains files of various committees on campus that dealt with the Loyality Oath, Caldwell's notes, and
other information conerning the controversy.
Box 1, Folder 11
Committee on Academic Freedom.
1950-1951
Box 1, Folder 12
Committee on Privilege and Tenure.
1950
Box 1, Folder 13
Committee on Welfare of non-Senate Academic Employees.
[1950?]
Box 1, Folder 14
Faculty Committee on Financial Assistance.
[1950?]-1951
Special Unified Committee on Tenure.
Box 1, Folder 17
Proposed amendments
1953-1955
Box 1, Folder 21
Material about Loyalty Oath
1949-[1951]
Box 1, Folder 22
James Caldwell's notes
[ca. 1950]
Box 1, Folder 24
Special Combined Senate Committee on University Extension.
1960
Subseries 1.3
University of Nevada Subject Files
1952-1956
Physical Description:
Box 1, folders 25-26
Arrangement
Arranged hierarchically.
Scope and Content Note
Contains reports and clippings on the Loyality Oath controversy on the University of Nevada campus and
the case of Frank Richardson, who was fired for refusing to sign.
Box 1, Folder 24
Materials regarding oath controversy and the Frank Richardson case
[1952-1953]
SERIES 2
Writings
1939-1979
Physical Description:
Box 2, folders 1-13
Arrangement
Arranged hierarchically.
Scope and Content Note
In two subseries: correspondence, and manuscripts, reviews, and list of publications.
Subseries 2.1
Correspondence
1946-1979
Physical Description:
Box 2, folders 1-3
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Scope and Content Note
Contains correspondence to James Caldwell and later his wife concerning his writing.
Box 2, Folder 1
Regarding book
John Keats Fancy
1946
Box 2, Folder 3
Regarding unfinished work
1965-1979
Subseries 2.2
Manuscripts, Reviews, and List of Publications
1939-1961
Physical Description:
Box 2, folders 4-13
Arrangement
Arranged hierarchically.
Scope and Content Note
Contains a small amount of manuscripts, reviews by and of Caldwell and a list of publications by
Caldwell.
Box 2, Folder 4
Consider the Source
undated
Box 2, Folder 5
Lecture notes on Byron
[ca. 1961]
Box 2, Folder 6
Tribute to Dr. Meiklejohn in ACLU News
1957
Box 2, Folder 7
What to Tell the Emperor
undated
Box 2, Folder 10
Miscellaneous manuscripts
undated
Box 2, Folder 11
of James Ralston Caldwell's work
1946
Box 2, Folder 12
by Caldwell, James Ralston
1960-1961
Box 2, Folder 13
List of publications
1939
SERIES 3
Personal Papers
1925-1988
Physical Description:
Box 2, folders 14-17, Box 3
Arrangement
Arranged hierarchically.
Scope and Content Note
In three subseries: correspondence, materials relating to death of James Ralston Caldwell and miscellaneous
items.
Subseries 3.1
Correspondence
1925-1988
Physical Description:
Box 3
Arrangement
Arranged hierarchically and then chronologically.
Scope and Content Note
Contains correspondence between James Ralston Caldwell and Katherine Field (Katherine Ehrgott Caldwell)
before and after their marriage, letters from James Ralston Caldwell and Katherine Field to James' sister
Josephine Caldwell, a small amount of incoming correspondence to Katherine Field and a few miscellaneous
family letters.
Box 3, Folder 1-9
to Field, Katherine.
1926-1959
Box 3, Folder 10
from Field, Katherine.
1929
Box 3, Folder 11-14
to Caldwell, Josephine.
1955-1964
Box 3, Folder 15
to Caldwell, Josephine.
1956-1965
Box 3, Folder 16
Incoming miscellaneous
1924,
undated
Box 3, Folder 17
Caldwell family miscellaneous
1931,
1966,
1988
Subseries 3.2
Death of James Ralston Caldwell
1965
Physical Description:
Box 2, folders 14-16
Arrangement
Arranged hierarchically.
Scope and Content Note
Contains condolences on Caldwell's death, copy of eulogies and obituaries.
Subseries 3.3
Miscellaneous Items
1957,
1977,
undated
Physical Description:
Box 2, folder 17
Arrangement
Arranged hierarchically.
Scope and Content Note
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.
Box 2, Folder 17
Library card, resume of Katherine F. Caldwell and music manuscript
1957,
1977,
undated
