Bill Henry Collection, 1888-1976, bulk Bulk, 1910-1970

Summary

Creators:
Henry, William Mellors, 1890-1970
Abstract:
Bill Henry (1890-1970) was an American writer and journalist who lived and worked in Los Angeles, California from 1907-1970. His professional interests focused on sports, automobiles, aviation, and presidential politics. This collection consists of his writings, research materials, correspondence, and memorabilia relating to sports and American diplomacy during the 20th century.
Extent:
45.0 Linear feet 75 boxes, approximately 460 monographs and journal titles, and assorted objects
Language:
and English French German
Preferred citation:

Suggested citation of records contained in this collection is: [Identification of item], Bill Henry Collection, Special Collections Department, Occidental College Library, Occidental College.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of the writings and professional files of Bill Henry. Included are correspondence, photographs, newspaper clippings, memorabilia, and other materials he gathered in relation to his activities as a reporter, author, and civic leader. Also included in the collection are approximately 460 books, journals, and other publications relating to the history of the Olympic Games and sports in general, American diplomacy, and U.S. politics.

Biographical / historical:

William Mellors "Bill" Henry (1890-1970) was an American writer and journalist who lived and worked in Los Angeles, California from 1907-1970. Primarily known for his newspaper column, By the Way, which appeared daily in the Los Angeles Times from 1939-1971, Henry also reported on sports and automobiles for the Times from 1920-1939, served as technical director for 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games, and authored An Approved History of the Olympic Games (G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1948.)

Henry worked as a war correspondent for the Los Angeles Times from 1939-1942, and reported on sports, political conventions, and presidential travel as a news broadcaster for Mutual Broadcasting System (MBS), Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), National Broadcasting Company (NBC), and the Times throughout his career. He served as president of the Radio Correspondents' Association from 1947-1948, and chairman of the Political Conventions Committee of the Radio-Television Correspondents Association from 1952-1968. He was an aviation enthusiast, and assisted Donald Douglas in establishing the Douglas Aircraft Company in Los Angeles in 1920. Henry also served as editor of Touring Topics, a membership magazine produced by the Automobile Club of Southern California, from 1920-1926. After graduating from Occidental College in 1914, he married Corinne Stanton, with whom he fathered three daughters. Los Angeles civic leader and member of several social and athletic clubs, Henry continued to write for the Times until his death in 1970 at age 80.

Wikipedia article on Bill Henry

Also see the exhibit, Bill Henry and the News, and the Bill Henry Digital Collection, both produced by Occidental College.

Acquisition information:
The Bill Henry Collection was gifted to the Occidental College Library in 1970 by Bill Henry, along with an endowment to maintain both the collection and to establish the Bill Henry Room. Several items were subsequently donated by his daughter, Patricia Henry Yeomans, and other members of the Henry family in 1972, 1984, 1999, and 2012.
Arrangement:

This collection is arranged into the following series:

1. Writings (1926-1969)

2. Professional Correspondence (1911-1976)

3. Research Files (1916-1969)

4. Radio, Television, and Film (1939-1969)

5. Olympic Games Committees (1928-1969)

6. Personal (1888-1976)

7. Photographs (1890-1968)

8. Artwork and Memorabilia (1910-1972)

This collection was processed by several librarians at multiple points from 1970 to the early 2000s. Arrangement was generally characterized by alphabetical, item-level organization, which is particularly evident in the Research Files and Professional Correspondence series. When the collection was re-processed in 2012, efforts were made to maintain the existing arrangement structure for materials already processed, but to arrange all other materials in original order.

Physical location:
The Bill Henry Collection is located in the Bill Henry Room (room 359), on the 3rd floor of the Occidental College Library.
Physical description:
Materials stored in box 57 are isolated due to mold. While they have been treated, and any remaining evidence of mold is inactive, they are stored in a separate box to protect the rest of the collection.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

All requests for permission to publish or quote from holdings must be submitted in writing to the Special Collections Department. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections 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.

Preferred citation:

Suggested citation of records contained in this collection is: [Identification of item], Bill Henry Collection, Special Collections Department, Occidental College Library, Occidental College.

Location of this collection:
1600 Campus Road
Los Angeles, CA 90041-3314, US
Contact:
323-259-2852
specialcollections@oxy.edu
Website