University of Oregon Libraries
Special Collections & University Archives
1299 University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403-1299
URL: http://libweb.uoregon.edu/speccoll/index.html

Guide to the Ernest Haycox Papers, 1922-1974


Coll. 164





Finding aid prepared by Mary Anteaux and Rose M. Smith

Finding aid encoded by Xiaotong Wang, September 2003
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.


Overview of the Collection
 
Repository Name:
 

University of Oregon Libraries
Special Collections & University Archives

1299 University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403-1299
URL: http://libweb.uoregon.edu/speccoll/index.html
 
Collection Number:
 

Coll. 164
 
Creator:
 

Haycox, Ernest, 1899-1950
 
Title:
 

Ernest Haycox Papers
 
Dates:
 

1922-1974 (inclusive)
 
Quantity:
 

27.5 linear feet
5 containers
 
Languages:
 

Collection materials written in English. 

 
Summary:
 

Ernest Haycox (1899-1950), a prolific writer of Western fiction, graduated from the University of Oregon in 1923 with a degree in journalism. His career began with the publication of some of his short stories while he was still a college student, and over the next three decades his short stories and novels earned a world-wide audience. His first novel, Free Grass, was published in 1929 and was followed by another novel almost every year until his death in 1950. A final book, The Adventurers, was published posthumously in 1955. The Ernest Haycox Papers comprise manuscripts of his short stories and novels, magazine tearsheets, free-standing volumes and research material.

 

Biographical Note

A native Oregonian, born in a suburb of Portland on October 1, 1899, Ernest Haycox became an author with a world-wide audience. His name is synonymous with Westerns, a genre of stories set in the American West during the period of greatest expansion, 1830-1880. His career began with the publication of some of his short stories while he was still a college student, and spanned nearly three decades. Haycox attended Reed College in 1920 and transferred to the University of Oregon in 1921 to study writing. He graduated in 1923 with a degree in journalism.

His first publication credits came from the pulp magazines of the day, such as Sea Stories, Western Story, Adventure, and Short Stories. In June 1931 Haycox broke into the “slicks,” magazines like Collier’s and The Saturday Evening Post, and his popularity soared. His stories remained regular features, appearing serialized form throughout the thirties and forties.

Haycox had a parallel career as a novelist. His first book, Free Grass, was published in 1929 and was followed by another novel almost every year until his death in 1950. A final book, The Adventurers, was published posthumously in 1955.

Content Description

The Ernest Haycox Papers comprise manuscripts of his short stories and novels, magazine tearsheets, freestanding volumes and research material. Manuscripts for some of his earliest short stories are missing, but most of these are represented by tearsheets. All genres of his work are found in manuscript form—westerns, historical dramas, contemporary western romances, and adventure stories—with the exception of his detective stories. The manuscripts are arranged chronologically by date of publication, as organized by the donor. Draft versions are not, as a rule, numbered in Mr. Haycox’s hand, and tearsheets are filed immediately after the draft which most closely matches the published version. The inventory lists stories represented solely by tearsheets in quotation marks. Each draft citation includes some minor description of the manuscript. The term “draft” denotes a typed, complete (unless otherwise noted) manuscript. Carbons are not duplicates of the previous drafts; rather they are the extant copy of a missing original draft. An exception is a duplicate carbon extensively revised. The term “revised” refers to all handwritten and typed changes and strike overs. “Version” appears rarely and only as a means of describing an early draft that is very different from the final story. Page counts are noted, as are page revisions, character sketches, and preliminary notes, as well as original titles, if different from the published piece. The freestanding volumes of Haycox novels and anthologies containing his stories are arranged in order of publication; anthologies are alphabetized, and foreign versions are integrated within each title.

Arrangement

Collection is organized into the following series: Short stories; Novels; and Research material.

Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Access 

Collection is open to the public.

Collection must be used in Special Collections & University Archives Reading Room.

Restrictions on Use 

Property rights reside with Special Collections & University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries. Copyright resides with the creators of the documents or their heirs. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to the Manuscripts Librarian in Special Collections & University Archives. The reader must also obtain permission of the copyright holder.

Preferred Citation 

[Identification of item], Ernest Haycox Papers, Coll. 164, Special Collections & University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries, Eugene, Oregon.

Subjects

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.

 
Haycox, Ernest, 1899-1950--Archives (creator)
Authors, American--20th century
West (U.S.)--In literature
Western stories

Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.


 
box
1		 folder
1

Inventory

  
 

Short stories
 
Container(s)
Description
Dates
 
box
1		 folder
2
“The Trap Lifters,” Sea Stories,
  October 20, 1922
 

“Leeward of Storm Isle,” Sea Stories,
  November 20, 1922
 

“The Storm Raider,” Sea Stories,
  December 5, 1922
 
(photocopy included)
 
3
“Over the Straits,” Sea Stories,
  January 5, 1923
 
(photocopy included)
 

“The Coolie Catcher,” Ace-High,
  March 5, 1923
 

“The Rum Runners, Part I,” Sea Stories,
  July 5, 1923
 
(photocopy included)
 

“The Rum Runners, Part II,” Sea Stories,
  July 20, 1923
 
(photocopy included)
 
4
“His Ranch Lure,” Western Story,
  March 1, 1924
 
(photocopy included)
 

“Too Hot,” Detective Story,
  March 21, 1924
 
(photocopy included)
 

“Wilderness Anchorage,” Western Story,
  March 22, 1924
 
(photocopy included)
 

“Wilderness Anchorage,” reprint, Western Winners,
  June 1936
 
5
“The Ditch to Freedom,” Sport Story,
  June 8, 1924
 
(photocopy included)
 

“Too Much Spunk,” Western Story,
  June 28, 1924
 
(photocopy included)
 

“To Smooth Out Wrinkles,” Detective Story,
  July 12, 1924
 
(photocopy included)
 
6
“In Time of Trouble,” Western Story,
  August 16, 1924
 
(photocopy included)
 

“In Time of Trouble,” reprint, Western Winners,
  November 1935
 

“Vengeance in the Wilderness,” Western Story,
  September 6, 1924
 
(photocopy included)
 
7
“Wolf-Wolf,” Western Story,
  September 13, 1924
 
(photocopy included)
 

“Wolf-Wolf,” reprint, retitled “Wolf,” Western Winners,
  February 1936
 
(photocopy included)
 

“The Snowbird,” Western Story,
  October 11, 1924
 
(photocopy included)
 
8
“Three Warped Souls,” Detective Story,
  October 11, 1924
 
(photocopy included)
 

“When Money Went to His Head,” Western Story,
  October 25, 1924
 
(photocopy included)
 

“Budd Dabbles in Homesteads,” Western Story,
  November 1, 1924
 
(photocopy included)
 
9
“A Burnt Creek Yuletide,” Western Story,
  December 20, 1924
 
(photocopy included)
 

“Stubborn People,” Western Story,
  December 27, 1924
 
(photocopy included)
 

“The Valley of the Rogue,” Western Story,
  February 21, 1925
 
(photocopy included)
 
10
“A Wooing in the Wilds,” Western Story,
  August 29, 1925
 
(photocopy included)
 

“A Wooing in the Wilds,” reprint, Western Winners,
  December 1935
 

“The Land Beyond the Mist,” Western Story,
  November 11, 1925
 
(photocopy included)
 

“Prairie Yule,” Western Story,
  December 19, 1925
 
(photocopy included)
 

“Prairie Yule,” reprint, Western Winners,
  January 1936
 
11
“Roll Along Missouri,” Frontier,
  December 1925
 
(photocopy included)
 
2 1
“A Good Man to Lie For,” Western Story,
  January 26, 1926
 
(photocopy included)
 

“Light of the West,” Popular,
  February 7, 1926
 
(photocopy included)
 

“False Face,” Western Story,
  February 1926
 
(photocopy only)
 
2
“Frontier Blood” (original title: “A Morning in ’55”)
  
 

“Frontier Blood” (original title: “A Morning in ’55”), final carbon, 96 pp
  
 
3
“Frontier Blood” (original title: “A Morning in ’55”), tearsheet, Frontier,
   March 1926
 
(photocopy included)
 
4
“Trial by Fire,” Adventure,
  May 8, 1926
 
(photocopy included)
 

“The Code,” Frontier,
  June 1926
 
(photocopy included)
 

“The Code,” reprint, retitled “Trail Town,” Western Winners,
  September 14, 1932
 
(photocopy only)
 

“Rockbound Honesty,” Western Story,
  June 1926
 
(photocopy only)
 

“The Bird in the Bush,” Western Story,
  July 3, 1926
 
(photocopy included)
 
5
“A Cup of Sugar,” manuscript, 22pp
  
 
6
“A Cup of Sugar,” tearsheet, Adventure,
   July 8, 1926
 
(photocopy included)
 
7
“Sons of the Forest Edge,” draft, revised, 15 pp
  
 
8
“Sons of the Forest Edge,” tearsheet, Frontier,
   July 1926
 
(photocopy included)
 
9
“Rimrock and Rattlesnakes,” Western Story,
  July 10, 1926
 
(photocopy included)
 
10
“With Grape and Bayonet,” Adventure,
  July 23, 1926
 
(photocopy included)
 

“The Traitor,” Adventure,
  September 8, 1926
 
(photocopy included)
 

“No Gent to Fool With,” Western Story,
  September 11, 1926
 
(photocopy included)
 
12
“A Battle Piece,” draft, revised 15 pp
  
 

“A Battle Piece,” tearsheet, Adventure,
  September 23, 1926
 
(photocopy included)
 

“Ambushed,” Western Story,
  February 5, 1927
 
(photocopy included)
 
13
“Gunfleet’s Dicker,” Western Story,
  October 1926
 
(photocopy only)
 

“Dippity Sheriff to Boot,” Western Story,
  October 1926
 
(photocopy only)
 

“The Timberline Fugitive,” Far West Illustrated,
  February 1927
 
(photocopy included)
 
14
“The Drums Roll,” Adventure,
  June 1, 1927
 
(photocopy included)
 
15
“A Military Interlude,” final carbon, 15 pp
  
 
16
“A Military Interlude,” tearsheet, Adventure,
  July 1, 1927
 
(photocopy included)
 
3 1
“Winds of Rebellion” (original title: “The Prison Ship”) draft, revised, 86 pp
  
 
2
“Winds of Rebellion,” final carbon, 110 pp
  
 
3
“Winds of Rebellion,” tearsheet, Adventure,
  July 15, 1927
 
(photocopy included)
 
4
“The Bell of Sevensticks,” carbon, revised, 99 pp
  
 
5
“The Bell of Sevensticks,” Short Stories,
  July 25, 1927
 
(photocopy included)
 
6
“A Rider of the High Mesa,” carbon, revised, 99 pp
  
 
7
“A Rider of the High Mesa,” tearsheet, Short Stories,
  September 25, 1927
 
8
“One Night in Blackfoot,” final carbon, 17 pp
  
 
9
“One Night in Blackfoot,” tearsheet, Short Stories,
  October 10, 1927
 
10
“A New Deal in Sevensticks” (original title: “Saint Ringo of Sevensticks”), final carbon, 17 pp
  
 
11
“A New Deal in Sevensticks,” tearsheet, Short Stories,
  October 25, 1927
 
(photocopy included)
 
12
“Under Western Skies,” Western Story,
  December 3, 1927
 
(photocopy included)
 
13
“The Man From Montana,” draft, 15 pp
  
 
14
“The Man From Montana,” manuscript, 19 pp
  
 
15
“The Man From Montana,” Short Stories,
   December 10, 1927
 
16
“The Octopus of Pilgrim Valley,” final carbon, 80 pp
  
 
17
“The Octopus of Pilgrim Valley,” tearsheet, Short Stories,
  January 10, 1928
 
(photocopy included)
 
4 1
“The Desert Eye,” draft, revised, 10 pp
  
 
2
“The Desert Eye,” final carbon, 14 pp
  
 
3
“The Desert Eye,” tearsheet, Short Stories,
  February 10, 1928
 
(photocopy included)
 
4
“Secret River,” manuscript, 38 pp
  
 
5
“Secret River,” tearsheet, Short Stories,
  February 25, 1928
 
6
“Bound South,” final carbon, 17 pp
  
 
7
“Bound South,” tearsheet, Short Stories,
  March 10, 1928
 
(photocopy included)
 
8
“The Revenge of Florida Jack,” final carbon, 17 pp
  
 
9
“The Revenge of Florida Jack,” tearsheet, Short Stories,
  March 25, 1928
 
(photocopy included)
 
10
“Silver Bob Rides West,” final carbon, 18 pp
  
 
11
“Silver Bob Rides West,” tearsheet, Short Stories,
  April 10, 1928
 
(photocopy included)
 
12
“Starlight and Gunflame,” final carbon, 66 pp
  
 
13
“Starlight and Gunflame,” tearsheet, Short Stories,
  April 25, 1928
 
(photocopy included)
 
14
“A Municipal Feud,” final carbon, 19 pp
  
 
15
“A Municipal Feud,” tearsheet, Short Stories,
  May 25, 1928
 
(incomplete photocopy included)
 
16
“The Sheriff of Crooked Rib,” final carbon, 18 pp
  
 
17
“The Sheriff of Crooked Rib,” tearsheet, Short Stories,
  May 25, 1928
 
(photocopy included)
 
18
“The Grim Canyon” (original title: “Ranch of Gold”), final carbon, 62 pp
  
 
19
“The Grim Canyon,” tearsheet, Short Stories,
  July 10, 1928
 
(photocopy included)
 
20
“Guns Up!” final carbon, 62 pp
  
 
(also in Box 4, Folder 21)
 
21
“Guns Up!” final carbon, 62 pp
  
 
(also in Box 4, Folder 20)
 
22
“Guns Up!” tearsheet, Short Stories,
  August 25, 1928
 
(photocopy included)
 
23
“Sevensticks Gambler,” Short Stories,
  October 10, 1928
 
(photocopy included)
 
5 1
“Watch Fires,” draft, revised, 19 pp
  
 
2
“Watch Fires,” final carbon, 24 pp
  
 
3
“Watch Fires,” tearsheet, Adventure,
  September 15, 1928
 
4
“Fandango,” final carbon, 20 pp
  
 
5
“Fandango,” tearsheet, Short Stories,
  October 25, 1928
 
(photocopy included)
 
6
“Free Grass,” Part V, West,
  February 6, 1929
 
(incomplete)
 
7
“Discovery Gulch,” final carbon, 44 pp
  
 
8
“Discovery Gulch,” tearsheet, Short Stories,
  March 10, 1929
 
9
“Night Raid,” final carbon, 51 pp
  
 
10
“Night Raid,” tearsheet, Frontier Stories,
  April 1929
 
(photocopy included)
 
11
“Invitation by Bullet,” final carbon, 77 pp
  
 
12
“Invitation by Bullet,” tearsheet, Short Stories,
  April 25, 1929
 
13
“The Bandit from Paloma County,” final carbon, 20 pp
  
 
14
“The Bandit from Paloma County,” tearsheet, Short Stories,
  May 10, 1929
 

“The Bandit from Paloma County,” reprint, Short Stories,
  July 1952
 
15
“Wild Horse Lode,” final carbon, 23 pp
  
 
16
“Wild Horse Lode,” tearsheet, Short Stories,
  May 25, 1929
 

“Wild Horse Lode,” reprint, Short Stories,
  October 1952
 
17
“Renegade Law,” draft, 58 pp
  
 
18
“Renegade Law,” manuscript, 58 pp
  
 
19
“Renegade Law,” tearsheet, West,
   May 29, 1929
 
(photocopy included)
 
6 1
“By Rope and Lead” (original title: “The Affair at Watertank”), final carbon, 20 pp
  
 
2
“By Rope and Lead,” tearsheet, Short Stories,
  August 10, 1929
 
(photocopy included)
 
3
“Brand Fires on the Ridge,” final carbon, 85 pp
  
 
4
“Brand Fires on the Ridge,” tearsheet, West,
   August 21, 1929
 
(photocopy included)
 
5
“The Old Army Game,” final carbon, 23 pp
  
 
6