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Collection Summary | |
Creator: | Wright, Harold Bell |
Collection Name: | Harold Bell Wright papers, |
Inclusive Dates: | 1890-1946 |
Physical Description: | 12.75 linear feet |
Abstract: | Collection consists of correspondence, professional writings, and miscellaneous materials by or about Harold Bell Wright. The majority of the collection consists of sermons, handwritten manuscripts, and magazine publications written by Wright. The bulk of the correspondence is professional correspondence between Wright and his publishers. Miscellaneous materials include photographs, newspaper clippings, and ephemera. |
Collection Number: | MS 360 |
Repository: |
University of Arizona Libraries, Special
Collections University of Arizona PO Box 210055 Tucson, AZ 85721-0055 Phone: 520-621-6423 Fax: 520-621-9733 URL: http://speccoll.library.arizona.edu/ |
Harold Bell Wright was America's leading romance author from 1903 to about 1923. It is estimated that of his nineteen books published between 1903 and 1942, as many as ten million copies were sold. Harold Bell Wright was born in Rome, N.Y. to parents William A. and Alma Watson Wright on May 4, 1872. After his mother died when he was ten years old, and his father abandoned him, he lived several years with various relatives and strangers, working for shelter and scraps of food. Wright attended Hiram College in Hiram, Ohio until the late 1890s when he was forced to leave school to combat a serious illness. He relocated to Missouri where he regained his health and started his preaching career. From 1897 to 1908 he served as a minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). His preaching took him to Pierce City, Missouri; Pittsburg, Kansas; Kansas City, Missouri; Lebanon, Missouri; and lastly to Redlands, California. In 1902 Wright wrote his first book, That Printer of Udell's, which he read to his Pittsburg, Kansas congregation, one chapter per week. What That Printer was published in 1903, sales were good enough that Wright almost immediately started writing Shepherd of the Hills. When that story was published in 1907, its sales broke publishing records and established Wright as America's top-selling author. The following year he left the ministry to pursue his promising writing career. While living in the Imperial Valley, Wright wrote several books including The Winning of Barbara Worth, his highest selling title. In 1920, after many years of illness, Wright moved to Tucson, Arizona where he believed the climate aided in his recovery. In Tucson he wrote several of his novels, such as When a Man's a Man {[1916]. In 1935 he returned to California, this time to San Diego where he resided until his death on May 24, 1944.
Collection consists of the papers of Harold Bell Wright. Correspondence, professional writings, and the miscellaneous materials are by or about Harold Bell Wright. There are a limited number of writings by his son Gilbert Wright, aka John Lumbar [sic] [Lebar], including a co-authored novel with his father. The majority of the collection consists of sermons, handwritten manuscripts, and magazine publications written by Harold Bell Wright. The bulk of the correspondence is professional correspondence between Harold Bell Wright and his publishers.
Miscellaneous materials include photographs, newspaper clippings, and ephemera. The photographs are photocopies of a 1925 scrapbook which include photographs of Harold Bell Wright, Mrs. Wright, their home in Tucson, Arizona, and some of their travels. The majority of newspaper clippings, which are also photocopies, relate to Harold Bell Wright. The ephemera consists of printed material and postcards collected by or about Harold Bell Wright.
None
It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Arizona Board of Regents for the University of Arizona, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of copyright.
Harold Bell Wright papers (MS 360). Special Collections, University of Arizona Libraries.
Series I: Correspondence, 1912-1944 | |||||||||||
Subseries 1: Personal Correspondence | |||||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
1 | 1 | Norman Wright (son of Harold Bell Wright) incoming correspondence, February 24, 1934 | |||||||||
1 | 2 | Norman Wright outgoing correspondence, February 10, 1944 | |||||||||
1 | 3 | Gilbert Wright (son of Harold Bell Wright) incoming/outgoing correspondence, 1931-1937 | |||||||||
1 | 4 | Gilbert Wright outgoing, 1931-1938 | |||||||||
1 | 5 | Extended family incoming correspondence, 1912-1936 | |||||||||
1 | 6 | Extended family outgoing correspondence, 1935-1936 | |||||||||
Subseries 2: Professional Correspondence | |||||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
1 | 7 | Miscellaneous incoming professional correspondence, November 26, 1919 - April 30, 1942 | |||||||||
1 | 8 | Miscellaneous outgoing professional correspondence, December 1919 - October 1941, no date | |||||||||
1 | 9 | Katherine Kitt incoming correspondence, June 16, 1925 | |||||||||
1 | 10 | Katherine Kitt outgoing correspondence, June 6, 1925 - June 7, 1933 | |||||||||
1 | 11 | D. Appleton & Company Publishers incoming correspondence, 1923-1931 | |||||||||
1 | 12 | D. Appleton & Company Publishers outgoing correspondence, 1928-1931 | |||||||||
1 | 13 | Harper & Brothers Publishers incoming correspondence, 1931-1933 | |||||||||
1 | 14 | Harper & Brother Publishers outgoing correspondence, 1931-1933 | |||||||||
1 | 15 | Library of Congress copyright notices, 1930s | |||||||||
1 | 16 | R.C. Mullenix incoming correspondence, 1941-1942 | |||||||||
1 | 17 | R.C. Mullenix incoming correspondence, 1941-1942 | |||||||||
1 | 18 | R.C. Mullenix outgoing correspondence, March 16, 1942 |
Series II: Writings, 1890-1942 | |||||||||||
Subseries 1: Sermons | |||||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
2 | 1 | Sermons delivered in Pittsburg, Kansas, December 1890 - November 1901 | |||||||||
2 | 2 | Miscellaneous, March 6, 1898 - November 1901 | |||||||||
2 | 3 | Miscellaneous A - H, No date | |||||||||
2 | 4 | Miscellaneous I - R, No date | |||||||||
2 | 5 | Miscellaneous S - Z, No date | |||||||||
2 | 6 | Miscellaneous, no titles, No date | |||||||||
2 | 7 | Evangelistic sermons, 1902 - 1906 | |||||||||
2 | 8 | Evangelistic Series I, volume 1 - 9, 1906 | |||||||||
2 | 9 | Evangelistic Series II, volume 1 - 9, 1906 | |||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
3 | 1 | Evangelistic Series II, volume 10 - 18, 1906 | |||||||||
3 | 2 | Evangelistic volume 1907, incomplete set, March 10, 1907 - May 5, 1907 | |||||||||
3 | 3 | Evangelistic volume 1907, incomplete set, May 12, 1907 - July 21, 1907, no date | |||||||||
3 | 4 | Evangelistic Series- Saying of the Cross, notes, No date | |||||||||
3 | 5 | Evangelistic and Christian Index to Sermons, Addresses, and Talks, February 1907 | |||||||||
3 | 6 | Christian Sermons 1905-1906, no date | |||||||||
3 | 7 | Christian Series- The Problem of Problems, numbers 4 and 6, 1905 | |||||||||
3 | 8 | Christian volume, 1907 February 3, 1907 - April 7, 1907 | |||||||||
3 | 9 | Christian volume, 1907 April 14, 1907 - June 2, 1907 | |||||||||
3 | 10 | Christian volume, 1907 June 9, 1907 - August 4, 1907 | |||||||||
3 | 11 | Christian Addresses and Funeral, 1907 | |||||||||
Subseries 2: Novels | |||||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
4 | 1 | That Printer of Udell's, outline, 1904 | |||||||||
4 | 2 | That Printer of Udell's, first writing, No date | |||||||||
4 | 3 | That Printer of Udell's, hardbound inscribed edition, 1907 | |||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
5 | 1 | The Calling of Dan Matthews,, first writing, cover, 1908 | |||||||||
5 | 2 | The Calling of Dan Matthews, , first writing, chapters 1-5, 1908 | |||||||||
5 | 3 | The Calling of Dan Matthews,first writing, chapters 6-11, 1908 | |||||||||
5 | 4 | The Calling of Dan Matthews, first writing, chapters 12-18, 1908 | |||||||||
5 | 5 | The Calling of Dan Matthews, first writing, chapters 19-25, 1908 | |||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
6 | 1 | The Calling of Dan Matthews,, first writing, chapters 26-29, 1908 | |||||||||
6 | 2 | The Calling of Dan Matthews, first writing, chapters 30-35, 1908 | |||||||||
6 | 3 | The Calling of Dan Matthews, first writing, chapters 36-42, 1908 | |||||||||
6 | 4 | Their Yesterdays, first writing, cover, 1912 | |||||||||
6 | 5 | Their Yesterdays, first writing, chapters 1 - 10, 1912 | |||||||||
6 | 6 | Their Yesterdays, first writing, chapters 11-20, 1912 | |||||||||
6 | 7 | Their Yesterdays, first writing, chapters 21 - 26, 1912 | |||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
7 | 1 | The Uncrowned King, 1910 | |||||||||
7 | 2 | The Winning of Barbara Worth, outline, 1910 | |||||||||
7 | 3 | The Winning of Barbara Worth, first revision, 1911 | |||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
8 | 1 | The Eyes of the World, cover and outline, 1910 - 1912 | |||||||||
8 | 2 | The Eyes of the World, outline part A, 1910 -1912 | |||||||||
8 | 3 | The Eyes of the World, outline part B, 1910-1912 | |||||||||
8 | 4 | The Eyes of the World, outline part C, 1910-1912 | |||||||||
8 | 5 | The Eyes of the World, outline part D, 1910-1912 | |||||||||
8 | 6 | The Eyes of the World, outline part E, 1910-1912 | |||||||||
8 | 7 | The Eyes of the World, first revision, 1914 | |||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
9 | 1 | The Eyes of the World, final revision, 1914 | |||||||||
9 | 2 | The Eyes of the World, inscribed hardback edition, 1914 | |||||||||
9 | 3 | When a Man's a Man, inscribed hardback edition, 1917 | |||||||||
9 | 4 | Helen of the Old House, inscribed hardback edition, 1921 | |||||||||
9 | 5 | The Mine with an Iron Door, 1923 | |||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
10 | 1 | A Son of His Father, argument and character outline, No date | |||||||||
10 | 2 | A Son of His Father, first outline, No date | |||||||||
10 | 3 | A Son of His Father, synopsis and second outline, No date | |||||||||
10 | 4 | A Son of His Father, first revision, No date | |||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
11 | 1 | A Son of His Father, first writing, No date | |||||||||
11 | 2 | A Son of His Father, inscribed hardback edition, 1925 | |||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
12 | 1 | God and the Groceryman, synopsis, No date | |||||||||
12 | 2 | God and the Groceryman, miscellaneous writings and notes, No date | |||||||||
12 | 3 | God and the Groceryman, first writing, 1926-1927 | |||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
13 | 1 | God and the Groceryman, first revision, 1926-1927 | |||||||||
13 | 2 | God and the Groceryman, inscribed hardback edition, 1927 | |||||||||
13 | 3 | Stories Long Ago Told:, Papago Indian Legends, individual stories, May 23, 1921 – February 4, 1925, No date | |||||||||
13 | 4 | Stories Long Ago Told:, Papago Indian Legends, individual stories, May 23, 1921 – February 4, 1925, No date | |||||||||
13 | 5 | Stories Long Ago Told:, Papago Indian Legends, individual stories, May 23, 1921 – February 4, 1925, No date | |||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
14 | 1 | Stories Long Ago Told: Papago Indian Legends, first writing and revision, No date | |||||||||
14 | 2 | Stories Long Ago Told:Papago Indian Legends,second revision, No date | |||||||||
14 | 3 | Stories Long Ago Told(Huh-Kew-Kah): Papago Indian Legends, No date | |||||||||
14 | 4 | Stories Long Ago Told:Papago Indian Legends, glossary of Papago words used by Harold Bell Wright, No date | |||||||||
14 | 5 | Stories Long Ago Told:Papago Indian Legends, Papago words, No date | |||||||||
14 | 6 | Stories Long Ago Told:Papago Indian Legends,Papago vocabulary, No date | |||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
15 | 1 | Exit,copy with revisions, 1927 | |||||||||
15 | 2 | Exit,first revisions, No date | |||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
16 | 1 | Exit,scenario, No date | |||||||||
16 | 2 | Exit,final revision, March 1930 | |||||||||
16 | 3 | Exit,printer's copy, march 1930 | |||||||||
16 | 4 | Exit,inscribed hardbound edition, 1930 | |||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
17 | 1 | Ma Cinderella, synopsis, No date | |||||||||
17 | 2 | Ma Cinderella,first writing, March 27, 1931 – October 30, 1931 | |||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
18 | 1 | Ma Cinderella, revision, 1931 | |||||||||
18 | 2 | The Devil's Highway, novel by Harold Bell Wright and John Lumbar (aka Gilbert Wright), first revision, No date | |||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
19 | 1 | The Devil's Highway, novel by Harold Bell Wright and John Lumbar (aka Gilbert Wright), final revision, No date | |||||||||
19 | 2 | To My Sons, cover, No date | |||||||||
19 | 3 | To My Sons, page 1-132, No date | |||||||||
19 | 4 | To My Sons, page 133-244, No date | |||||||||
19 | 5 | To My Sons, page 245-431, No date | |||||||||
19 | 6 | To My Sons, page 432-558, No date | |||||||||
19 | 7 | To My Sons, page 559-end, No date | |||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
20 | 1 | To My Sons, revision, 1932 | |||||||||
20 | 2 | To My Sons, revision, handwritten notes, 1932 | |||||||||
20 | 3 | A Boy, A Girl and a Penguin, handwritten notes, No date | |||||||||
20 | 4 | A Boy, A Girl and a Penguin, first writing, 1937 | |||||||||
20 | 5 | A Boy, A Girl and a Penguin, revision, No date | |||||||||
20 | 6 | A Boy, A Girl and a Penguin, final revision, 1938 | |||||||||
20 | 7 | A Boy, A Girl and a Penguin, typed final copy, No date | |||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
21 | 1 | Molly Picket's Man, miscellaneous writings, No Date | |||||||||
21 | 2 | Molly Picket's Man, first writing, 1938 | |||||||||
21 | 3 | Molly Picket's Man, first revision , 1938 | |||||||||
21 | 4 | The Man Who Went Away, work plan, idea, No Date | |||||||||
21 | 5 | The Man Who Went Away, outline notes, No Date | |||||||||
21 | 6 | The Man Who Went Away, argument, plan, working notes, No Date | |||||||||
21 | 7 | The Man Who Went Away, outline I, No Date | |||||||||
21 | 8 | The Man Who Went Away, 1932-December 2, 1941 | |||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
22 | 1 | The Man Who Went Away, work plan, idea, February 16, 1942 | |||||||||
22 | 2 | The Man Who Went Away, work plan, idea, No Date | |||||||||
22 | 3 | Between You and Me, first writing, No date | |||||||||
22 | 4 | Between You and Me, finished copy, No Date | |||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
23 | 1 | This Rebellious Generation, first writing, No Date | |||||||||
23 | 2 | This Rebellious Generation, first writing, No Date | |||||||||
23 | 3 | This Rebellious Generation, final revision, No Date | |||||||||
23 | 4 | What About God?, first writing, No Date | |||||||||
23 | 5 | What About God?, revision, No Date | |||||||||
Subseries 3: Plays | |||||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
23 | 6 | Blacksmith, first revision, 1915 | |||||||||
23 | 6 | Blacksmith, finished copy, 1915 | |||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
24 | 1 | The Salt of the Earth, Tucson revision, No date | |||||||||
24 | 2 | The Salt of the Earth, inscribed to son Paul Wright from Harold Bell Wright, No date | |||||||||
24 | 3 | An Outline for a three act play, 1930-1931 | |||||||||
24 | 4 | Exit: A Play in Three Acts, No date | |||||||||
24 | 5 | Exit: A Play in Three Acts, No date | |||||||||
24 | 6 | Exit: A Play in Three Acts, No date | |||||||||
24 | 7 | Exit: A Play in Three Acts, No date | |||||||||
Subseries 4: Short Stories | |||||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
25 | 1 | A Desert Santa Claus, first writing and first revision. Published in Ladies Home Journal December 1927, 1910,1927 | |||||||||
25 | 2 | Born of the Desert, 1918 | |||||||||
25 | 3 | Skee Dee or The Whole Doughnut, 1918 | |||||||||
25 | 4 | Why I Did Not Die, 1924 | |||||||||
25 | 5 | A House with Windows, No date | |||||||||
25 | 6 | A House with Windows, notes and article clippings, No date | |||||||||
25 | 7 | A House with Windows,notes, No date | |||||||||
25 | 8 | A House with Windows, No date | |||||||||
25 | 9 | Basket of Clips, No date | |||||||||
25 | 10 | Bud and the Bishop, No date | |||||||||
25 | 11 | Little Talks About Big Things, No date | |||||||||
25 | 12 | The Mystery of Lone Mountain, No date | |||||||||
25 | 13 | My N.B. Book , No date | |||||||||
25 | 14 | One Afternoon, No date | |||||||||
25 | 15 | Pages from God's Other Book, No date | |||||||||
25 | 16 | This and That, No date | |||||||||
25 | 17 | Untitled, No date | |||||||||
25 | 18 | Untitled, No date | |||||||||
25 | 19 | Untitled, No date | |||||||||
Subseries 5: Articles and Speeches | |||||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
26 | 1 | The Royal Family of Tomorrow, September 20, 1915 | |||||||||
26 | 2 | One Hundred Percent Men, 1918 | |||||||||
26 | 3 | Boy Scout's Drive, September 16, 1923 | |||||||||
26 | 4 | A Question of Patriotism, November 1923 | |||||||||
26 | 5 | Do You Believe in Immortality? Why? , January 17, 1926 January 30, 1927 | |||||||||
26 | 6 | Dedication of Temple of Music and Art, Tucson Arizona, January 30, 1927 | |||||||||
26 | 7 | As It Looks to the Cross Anchor, April 28, 1928 | |||||||||
26 | 8 | Untitled, March 1919 | |||||||||
26 | 9 | Untitled, April 1928 | |||||||||
26 | 10 | Untitled, January 12, 1923 | |||||||||
26 | 11 | The American Way, No date | |||||||||
26 | 12 | To the El Centro High School, No date | |||||||||
26 | 13 | An Example of Desert Thirst, No date | |||||||||
26 | 14 | "Keeping" Christmas, No date | |||||||||
26 | 15 | The School Kids Call Him Tony, No date | |||||||||
26 | 16 | Untitled, No date | |||||||||
26 | 17 | Untitled, No date | |||||||||
26 | 18 | Untitled, No date | |||||||||
Subseries 6: Poems | |||||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
26 | 19 | Born of the Desert, No date | |||||||||
26 | 20 | Born of the Desert, No date | |||||||||
Subseries 7: Magazine Publications | |||||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
27 | 1 | American Magazine, February 1918 | |||||||||
27 | 2 | American Magazine, June 1924 | |||||||||
27 | 3 | American Magazine , June 1928 | |||||||||
27 | 4 | Cosmopolitan , February 1932 | |||||||||
27 | 5 | Cosmopolitan , March 1932 | |||||||||
27 | 6 | Cosmopolitan , April 1932 | |||||||||
27 | 7 | Cosmopolitan , May 1932 | |||||||||
27 | 8 | Cosmopolitan , June 1932 | |||||||||
27 | 9 | Cosmopolitan , December 1932 | |||||||||
27 | 10 | Cosmopolitan, January 1933 | |||||||||
27 | 11 | Cosmopolitan, February 1933 | |||||||||
27 | 12 | Cosmopolitan, March 1933 | |||||||||
27 | 13 | Outdoor America, November 1923 | |||||||||
27 | 14 | Outdoor America, June 1928 | |||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
28 | 1 | McCall's, March 1925 | |||||||||
28 | 2 | McCall's, April 1925 | |||||||||
28 | 3 | McCall's, May 1925 | |||||||||
28 | 4 | McCall's, June 1925 | |||||||||
28 | 5 | McCall's, July 1925 | |||||||||
28 | 6 | McCall's, August 1925 | |||||||||
28 | 7 | McCall's, September 1925 | |||||||||
28 | 8 | McCall's, October 1925 | |||||||||
28 | 9 | McCall's, January 1927 | |||||||||
28 | 10 | McCall's, February 1927 | |||||||||
28 | 11 | McCall's, March 1927 | |||||||||
28 | 12 | McCall's, April 1927 | |||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
29 | 1 | McCall's, May 1927 | |||||||||
29 | 2 | McCall's, June 1927 | |||||||||
29 | 3 | McCall's, July 1927 | |||||||||
29 | 4 | Ladies Home Journal, December 1927 | |||||||||
29 | 5 | Pictorial Review, December 1930 | |||||||||
29 | 6 | Pictorial Review, January 1936 | |||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
30 | 1 | Good Housekeeping, July 1932 | |||||||||
30 | 2 | Physical Culture, April 1931 | |||||||||
30 | 3 | Physical Culture, July 1931 | |||||||||
30 | 4 | Physical Culture, October 1931 | |||||||||
30 | 5 | Physical Culture, November 1931 | |||||||||
30 | 6 | Physical Culture, December 1931 | |||||||||
30 | 7 | Physical Culture, January 1932 | |||||||||
30 | 8 | Physical Culture, February 1932 | |||||||||
30 | 9 | Physical Culture, March 1932 | |||||||||
Subseries 8: Motion Picture Scripts | |||||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
31 | 1 | The Eyes of the World, working copy, No date | |||||||||
31 | 2 | The Shepherd of the Hills, completed and copyrighted, 1919 | |||||||||
Subseries 9: Miscellaneous Notes | |||||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
31 | 3 | Untitled, July, no year | |||||||||
31 | 4 | Miscellaneous Notes, No date | |||||||||
Subseries 10: Writings by Gilbert Wright (Son of Harold Bell Wright) | |||||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
31 | 5 | The Principles of Ethericity, 1932 | |||||||||
31 | 6 | Screen Plays, 1936, no date |
Series III: Miscellaneous Materials, 1923-1946 | |||||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
32 | 1 | Ephemera for The Man Who Went Away, No date | |||||||||
32 | 2 | Ephemera for The Man Who Went Away, 1923-1928, No date | |||||||||
32 | 3 | Ephemera relating to Harold Bell Wright, No date | |||||||||
32 | 4 | Miscellaneous Ephemera including printed materials and postcards, No date | |||||||||
32 | 5 | Newspaper Clippings, October 1927-January 14, 1939; No date | |||||||||
32 | 6 | Newspaper Clippings, No date | |||||||||
32 | 7 | Newspaper Clippings, The Book of Knowledge, 1946 | |||||||||
32 | 8 | Photocopied scrapbook and photographs, 1925,No date |