Stewart Hall Holbrook Papers, 1928-1962

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Holbrook, Stewart Hall, 1893-1964
Title
Stewart Hall Holbrook Papers
Dates
1928-1962 (inclusive)
Quantity
1 cubic foot (4 document cases, 1 oversize folder)
Collection Number
Mss1328
Summary
Papers of an Oregon journalist and writer of popular histories. Includes typescripts of Holbrook's books The golden age of quackery, The Columbia, Dreamers of the American Dream, The Rocky Mountain revolution, 300 years in the north woods, and The old post road. Also includes notes, ephemera, and correspondence regarding publication of Holbrook's books.
Repository
Oregon Historical Society Research Library
1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR
97205
Telephone: 503-306-5240
Fax: 503-219-2040
libreference@ohs.org
Access Restrictions

The collection is open to the public.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Stewart Holbrook was born in Vermont in 1893 and came to the Northwest in 1920. He was a lumberjack, writer, and popular historian. His writings focused on Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. He considered himself a lowbrow historian, and his topics included Ethan Allen, the railroads, the timber industry, the Wobblies, and eccentrics of the Pacific Northwest. He wrote also for the Oregonian newspaper, as well as articles for magazines ranging from the New Yorker to Startling Detective.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection contains typescripts and drafts of Holbrook's books The golden age of quackery 1959, The Columbia, 1956, Dreamers of the American Dream, 1957, The Rocky Mountain revolution, 1956, 300 years in the north woods, 1959, The old post road, 1962, and miscellaneous shorter works in typescript and printed form. The collection also includes: correspondence with John L. Tower, International Paper Co., 1958-1962, regarding publishing; James Stevens letters and other material regarding Paul Bunyan series, 1928-1929, 1951-1952; correspondence with J. Neilson Barry and copies of historical documents, 1941-1958; correspondence with the Cottage Grove, Oregon, Library regarding Holbrook works located there, 1952-1960; correspondence with Adele R. Johnson regarding her writing and publications, 1936-1940; and general correspondence, ephemera, and research materials.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

The Oregon Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Research Library before any publication use. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.

Preferred Citation

Stewart Hall Holbrook papers, Mss1328, Oregon Historical Society Research Library

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in two series:

  • Series A: Typescripts of books, 1944-1962
  • Series B: Correspondence, 1928-1962

Acquisition Information

Gifts of Stewart Hall Holbrook: 1958 April 12, 1959 December 14, 1960 April 4, 1961 April 28; Library Accessions 7380, 8442, 8676, 9384, and others.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series A:  Typescripts of books, 1944-1962Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
The Columbia--Typescript with author's corrections
circa 1956
Box/Folder
1/1
Title page through chapter 6
circa 1956
1/2
Chapters 7-14
circa 1956
1/3
Chapters 15-end, index
Dreamers of the American dream--Typescripts with author's corrections, circa 1957
circa 1956
1/4
Title page through part 2
circa 1957
1/5
Part 3
circa 1957
1/6
Part 4
circa 1957
1/7
Part 5
circa 1957
1/8
Part 6
circa 1957
2/1
Part 7
circa 1957
2/2
Epilogue and index
circa 1957
The golden age of quackery
circa 1959
Box/Folder
2/3
Parts 1-3
  • "Panorama""
  • "The beginning"
  • "The vegetable kingdom"
circa 1959
2/4
Parts 4-5
  • "Manhood was lost"
  • "Masters of the monster pitch"
circa 1959
2/5
Parts 6-7
  • "Therapy by pipe and wine"
  • "Notable family sages"
circa 1959
2/6
Parts 8-9
  • "The world of medicine shows"
  • "Back-country healers"
circa 1959
2/7
Parts 10-11
  • "Testimonials"
  • "Diploma mills"
circa 1959
2/8
Index, bibliography, acknowledgements
circa 1959
2/9
"Versatile charlatans" (not used in book)
circa 1959
2/10-12
Final published draft (typescripts with corrections)
circa 1959
The Rocky Mountain revolution--Typescript with author's corrections
circa 1956
Box/Folder
3/1
Parts 1-2
circa 1956
3/2
Part 3
circa 1956
3/3
Part 4
circa 1956
300 years in the north woods
circa 1959
Box/Folder
3/4
Carbon copy of typescript
circa 1959
3/5
Carbon copy of typescript and correspondence
1959
3/6
Miscellaneous works and correspondence
  • "The making of a classic", 1951
  • "Bandon", 1946
  • "The fires of 1902", 1946
  • "Forest fire and wildlife", 1946
  • "The long tunnel to Golconda", 1952
  • "Frank Merriwell at Yale again", undated
  • "The man who killed the man who killed Lincoln", 1944
  • "Add Loggers lexicon", 1960
  • "Southern Coos County, New Hampshire,"1955
  • "The story of Ed Schieffelin", undated
  • "Entertainment by first-class matter", undated
  • "Horatio Alger, Jr.", 1944
  • "Frank Merriwell of 20 million words", 1960
  • "Oregon's coast highway : US 101", undated
  • "Four lakes in the Oregon dunes", undated
  • "Odde [sic] and unpublished tales of les Americaines in Europe", undated
circa 1946-1962
oversize:folder
Frank Merriwell at Yale again--Proof sheets
undated
Old Post Road
circa 1962
Box/Folder
4/1
Introduction, chapter 1-11
circa 1962
4/2
Interlude, chapters 12-20
circa 1962
4/3
Capter 20, bibliography
circa 1962
oversize:folder
Proof sheets
circa 1962

Series B:  Correspondence, 1928-1962Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
4/4
General correspondence
1928-1953
4/5
General correspondence
1957-1959
4/6
General correspondence
1960-1962
4/7
Cottage Grove Public Library
1952-1960
4/8
J. N. Barry
1941-1958
4/9
Adele R. Johnson
1936-1940

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • American literature--Oregon--History.
  • Authors--Oregon--History.
  • Publishers and publishing--United States--History--20th century.

Personal Names

  • Barry, J. Neilson (John Neilson), 1870-1961--Correspondence.
  • Holbrook, Stewart Hall, 1893-1964. (creator)
  • Stevens, James, 1892-1971--Correspondence.
  • Tower, John L.--Correspondence.

Corporate Names

  • Cottage Grove (Or.). Public Library.
  • International Paper Company.

Geographical Names

  • Oregon--In literature.
  • Washington (State)--In literature.
  • West (U.S.)--In literature.

Form or Genre Terms

  • Manuscripts for publication.
  • Typescripts.

Titles within the Collection

  • 300 years in the north woods
  • Dreamers of the American dream
  • The Columbia
  • The Old Post Road : the story of the Boston Post Road
  • The Rocky Mountain revolution
  • The golden age of quackery