William Surrey Hart (1864?-1946) Papers
Finding aid created by Seaver Center for Western History Research, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County staff using
RecordEXPRESS
Seaver Center for Western History Research, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
2019
900 Exposition Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90007-4057
(213) 763-3359
seavercenter@nhm.org
http://www.nhm.org/site/research-collections/seaver-center
Title: William Surrey Hart (1864?-1946) Papers
Dates: 1889-1947
Collection Number: GC 1012
Creator/Collector:
Extent: 50 linear feet
Repository:
Seaver Center for Western History Research, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
Los Angeles, California 90007-4057
Abstract: Letters (including fan mail), literary productions, legal and financial records, scrapbooks, clippings, theater programs,
and other materials relating to the life and career of William S. Hart.
Language of Material: English
Research is by appointment only
Permission to publish, quote or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder
William Surrey Hart (1864?-1946) Papers . Seaver Center for Western History Research, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles
County
Biography/Administrative History
Stage and motion picture actor, film director, author. Best known for his roles in western films.
Scope and Content of Collection
Letters (including fan mail), literary productions, legal and financial records, scrapbooks, clippings, theater programs,
and other materials relating to the life and career of William S. Hart. Hart's correspondence includes letters from Wyatt
Earp and Thomas H. Ince. Paul Conlon's (Hart's publicist) correspondence with newspaper editors and others is also part of
the collection. There are manuscripts and typescripts of many of Hart's writings, including the manuscript for his autobiography,
My Life East and West. Legal documents relate to Hart's various lawsuits, including Hart vs. Thomas Ince and Hart vs. United
Artists. Financial records include documents pertaining to Hart's life at his ranch in Newhall, California, and to his career
(there are records from the Famous Players- Lasky Corporation and from the William S. Hart Company). The clippings and scrapbooks
describe, for example, Hart's film appearances, his marriage to and separation from Winifred Westover, and his decision to
remain retired, rather than returning to films. Additionally, there are two Mary Ellen Hart (Hart's sister) diaries that
contain only brief passages. See also Gen. Col. 1191 The Fred Gehring Letters, and Gen. Col. 1192 The William S. Hart County
Park Research Files. See also P-20.1, P-75, P-98, MSS-247, MSS-251, MSS-575.
Actors and actresses.