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 William R. Cox Papers, 1914-1980


Coll. 032





Finding aid prepared by Francis Keating

Finding aid encoded by Mary Beth Hepp-Elam, June 2004
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. 032

 
Creator:
 

Cox, William Robert, 1901-

 
Title:
 

William R. Cox Papers

 
Dates:
 

1914-1980 (inclusive)

 
Quantity:
 

19 linear feet
38 containers

 
Languages:
 

Collection materials are in English. 

 
Summary:
 

William Cox (1901-1988) was a prolific writer for the pulp fiction magazine industry during the 1930s, 1940s and into the early 1950s. He later wrote for the television industry and continued to publish in a wide variety of genres including sports, Westerns, and juvenile fiction. This Collection consists of three main series: correspondence with business associates and other contemporary writers (Red Barber, Ray Bradbury, John Ford, David Frost, Lillian Hellman, Elmore Leonard and Allen Rivkin), manuscripts of his published works and screenplays, and tear sheets from the pulp magazines of the 1930s and 1940s.

 

Biographical Note

Author William Robert Cox was born on April 14, 1901 in Peapack, New Jersey. He was the eldest son of William and Marion Grace (Wenz) Cox. He grew up working for his father delivering ice and coal in Jersey City and Newark. In high school he turned to athletics and boxed, and played baseball, tennis and basketball. Later, he played football in New Jersey and Pennsylvania leagues, earning five dollars per game. According to a 1988 article in the Los Angeles Times, he wrote 80 novels, 1,000 short stories, 100 television scripts and screenplays.

His writing career began with feature writing for Sunday Call, a newspaper in Newark. Later, at age 21, he edited La Tribuna, a weekly Italian-American paper. Cox's first fiction story (on football) was published in 1934, in American Boy. He went on to write stories for detective, Western and sport pulp magazines, such as: Argosy, Blue Book, Dime Sports, Sports Novels, Detective Tales, Black Mask, and Dime Western. He wrote under at least seven pseudonyms: Willard d'Arcy, Mike Frederic, John Parkhill, Joel Reeve, Wayne Robbins, Roger G. Spellman and Jonas Ward. Sometime during the 1930s he moved to Florida and wrote for the pulp magazine industry for at least 14 years.

When these magazines slumped in the late 1940s, Mr. Cox took up writing television plays and some screenplays, including two motion picture films produced by Universal Studios in the 1950s: "The Veils of Baghdad" and "Tanganyika." In 1948 he moved to Sherman Oaks, California, in the San Fernando Valley to be closer to Hollywood. Mr. Cox lived there until his death. He wrote television scripts for shows such as "G.E. Theater," "Bonanza," "Outer Limits," "The Virginian" and many others. Mr. Cox began writing novels in 1954, most of which were Western fiction and juvenile sports fiction.

Mr. Cox was a member of the Writers Guild of America and the Western Writers of America (past committeeman, director, vice-president; and president, 1965-1966, 1971-1972). According to his widow, Casey Collins Cox, he was writing his 81st novel, Cemetery Jones and the Tombstone Wars on the day of his death, Sunday, August 7, 1988. He was 87. He was survived by his wife, Casey, and his stepson, Douglas Campbell. He was the "beloved husband of Midge, Lamar, Lee, Pat and Casey," according to an article in the Armchair Detective (Winter, 1989).

Sources: Los Angeles Times, Friday, August 12,1988; New York Times, Friday, August 12, 1988; Armchair Detective, winter 1989, Vol. 22, No. 1; and Gale Literary Data Bases: Contemporary Authors Online, Gale, 2003.

Content Description

The William R. Cox Papers largely consist of correspondence, manuscripts, and pulp magazine tear sheets, and photographs. This inventory represents the incorporation of nine addenda previously cataloged as collection Ax 496, plus new material received in 1980.

The correspondence, arranged alphabetically, is largely of a business nature. One box (Box 5) is devoted to Cox's dealing with his agent, the Lenniger Literary Agency. Business with publishers, including Bantam Books, Dodd, Mead and Co., Doubleday, Fiction House, and Harper and Row, can also be found. Much of the other correspondence is with members of the Western Writers of America. Many writers, whose papers are also in Special Collections, corresponded with Mr. Cox. These include: Hal Evarts, Brian Garfield, William Gault, Noel Loomis, Leo Margulies, and Malcolm Reiss (Paul Reynolds, Inc.).

The manuscripts are of juvenile sports fiction, Western fiction, and crime stories. Those of books and screenplays (mostly for television) appear together in one alphabetical listing by title (Boxes 9-27). The various drafts and states of each manuscript have been denoted. The story length manuscripts, according to previous sorting, are arranged two ways. One box (Box 28) contains an alphabetical by title arrangement, while Box 29 has the stories arranged by subject. All of the manuscripts are typed. Also included in the manuscript series are outlines of sports stories (29/7) and one box of notebooks. The notebooks are arranged chronologically, 1914-1946, and contain notes from Mr. Cox's high school days as well as the period he wrote for pulp magazines.

The pulp magazine tear sheets in the collection from the 1930s and 1940s are largely unorganized within a subject breakdown. The mystery/crime and Western stories list the title and where published. The sports stories are first divided by type of sport (baseball, basketball, boxing, etc.) and then are grouped by magazine title. There are very few whole issues of magazines in the collection.

Arrangement

Collection is organized into the following series:

  • Series I. Biographical matter
  • Series II. Correspondence
  • Series III. Manuscripts
    • Subseries A. Books and screenplays
    • Subseries B. Story length (by title)
    • Subseries B2. Story length (by subject)
  • Series IV. Notebooks
  • Series V. Tear sheets
    • Subseries A. Mystery (crime)
    • Subseries B. Westerns
    • Subseries C1. Sports (baseball)
    • Subseries C2. Sports (basketball)
    • Subseries C3. Sports (boxing)
    • Subseries C4. Sports (football)
    • Subseries C5. Sports (tennis)
    • Subseries C6. Sports (track)
    • Subseries C7. Sports (other)
  • Series VI. Miscellaneous
  • Series VII. Photographs

Administrative Information

Separated Materials 

Photographs in this collection are stored separately under call number PH094.

There are 23 books by Cox, catalogued separately in the UO Knight Library. They are mostly Westerns, about half being from the Buchanan series. Some were published in French and Spanish.

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], William R. Cox Papers, Coll. 032, Special Collections & University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries, Eugene, Oregon.

Related Information

Bibliography 

There are 23 free-standing volumes by Cox, catalogued separately in the UO Knight Library. They are mostly Westerns and about half of them are from the Buchanan series. Some were published in French and Spanish.

  • Cox, William R.Annoncez la Couleur! (Hell to Pay) Serie Noire 493. Gallimard, 1959.
  • Bigger than Texas, London: Gold Lion Books, 1974.
  • Coeur de Lila (Death Comes Early) Serie Noire 778, Gallimard, 1963.
  • Death Comes Early, New York: Dell Publishing Co., 1961.
  • The Duke, New York: Signet Books, 1962.
  • Firecreek, From a screenplay by Calvin Clements, New York: Bantam Books, 1968.
  • Five were Chosen: A Basketball Story, New York: Dodd, Mead and Co., 1963.
  • Luke Short, Famous Gambler of the Old West: A Biography, London: W. Foulsham and Co., Ltd., 1961.
  • Mord I Casino, (Murder in Vegas) Dollar Serien, 1965.
  • Le Raid de la Pleine Lune, (Comanche Moon) Paris: Librarie des Champs-Elysees, 1966.
  • Trouble at Second Base, New York: Dodd, Mead and Co., 1966.
  • Ward, Jonas (pseud.) Buchanan Calls the Shots, Greenwich, Conn.: Fawcett Publications, Inc., 1975.
  • Buchanan Gets Mad, Greenwich, Conn.: Fawcett Publications, Inc., 1958
  • Buchanan on the Prod., Greenwich, Conn.: Fawcett Publications, Inc., 1960
  • Buchanan on the Prod., Greenwich, Conn.: Fawcett Publications, Inc., 1960 (later edition, different cover).
  • Buchanan Says No, Greenwich, Conn.: Fawcett Publications, Inc., 1957.
  • Buchanan Takes Over, Greenwich, Conn.: Fawcett Publications, Inc., 1975.
  • Buchanan's Gamble, Greenwich, Conn.: Fawcett Publications, Inc., 1972.
  • Buchanan's Gun, Greenwich, Conn.: Fawcett Publications, Inc., 1968.
  • Buchanan's Revenge, Greenwich, Conn.: Fawcett Publications, Inc., 1960.
  • Buchanan's Siege, Greenwich, Conn.: Fawcett Publications, Inc., 1973.
  • Trap for Buchanan, Greenwich, Conn.: Fawcett Publications, Inc., 1972.
  • Trap for Buchanan, London: Coronet Books, 1973.
  • Related Materials 

    Additional materials concerning William R. Cox are located at the University of Wyoming.

    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.

     
    Cox, William Robert, 1901---Archives
    Garfield, Brian, 1939--Correspondence
    Gault, William Campbell--Correspondence
    Loomis, Noel M., 1905--Correspondence
    Authors, American--20th century
    Buchanan, Tom (Fictitious character)
    Detective and mystery stories, American--Authorship
    Publishers and publishing--Correspondence
    Pulp literature--Authorship
    Sports stories--Juvenile fiction--Authorship
    Television authorship
    Western stories--Authorship
    Juvenile literature
    Manuscripts for publication
    Mystery fiction
    Tear sheets
    Television scripts
    Western stories

    Detailed Description of the Collection

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


     

    Series I:  Biographical Material, ca. 1956-1971

     
    Container(s)
    Description
    Dates
     
    box
    1
    folder
    1

    Biographical Material
      ca. 1956-1971

     

    Series II:  Correspondence, 1921-1980

     
    Container(s)
    Description
    Dates
     
    box
    1
    folder
    2

    ABC Entertainment-Avon Books
      1960-1974
     

    ABC Entertainment (Ellen Levenson)
      1974
     

    Aldana, Penny
      1970
     

    Allen, Eric
      1967-1978
     

    Allen, Hank
      1960
     

    Ambs, A.
      1971-1974
     

    Ames, Francis
      1972
     
    to Nellie Yost, Omar Barker
     

    Amory, Cleveland
      1969
     

    Arlington House
      1972
     
    to Robert McCaig, from David Franke,
     

    Armen, Margaret
      1971
     

    Arneson, Finn
      1978
     

    Arroyo, Joe
      1968-1969
     

    Arthur, Art
      1969-1971
     

    Avon Books
      1967-1974
     
    to August Lenniger, from Robert Wyatt
     
    3
    Bacon-Baker, B.
      1966-1972
     

    Bacon, Daisy
      1972
     

    Bacon, Jim
      1972
     

    Bailey, Paul
      1972
     

    Baker, Betty
      1966-1979
     
    4
    Baker, Betty
      1966-1979
     
    5
    Baker, Carlos-Balluck, Don
      1964-1977
     

    Baker, Carlos
      1969
     

    Baldwin, Gordon
      1964-1974
     

    Ballantine Books (Betty Ballantine)
      1972-1974
     

    Ballard, Tod
      1968-1977
     

    Balluck, Don
      1971
     
    6
    Bantam Books
      1959, 1965-1970
     
    7
    Bantam Books-Barker, Lex
      1971-1977
     

    Bantam Books
      1971-1977
     

    Barber, Red
      1971
     

    Barker, Elliott
      1971-1972
     

    Barker, Lex
      1971
     
    8
    Barker, Omar and Elsa-Barritt, David
      1964-1973
     

    Barker, Omar and Elsa
      1964-1973
     

    Barritt, David
      1964-1973
     
    2 1
    Bercovitch, R.-Boyer, G.
      1935, 1964-1978
     

    Bercovitch, Reuben
      1973
     

    Berger, Thomas
      1972
     

    Bernstein, Henry
      undated
     

    Birkenmeier, Al
      1964-1974
     

    Bishop, Ron
      1971
     

    Black Mask Publishing Co. (Joseph T. Shaw)
      1935
     

    Blackburn, Tommy
      1971-1974
     

    Blankfort, President
      1968
     

    Blassingame, Wyatt
      1968-1977
     

    Blount, Ben (to John Stewart)
      1979
     

    Bookworm, The (Velma S. Daniels)
      1978
     

    Booth, Edwin
      1968-1971
     

    Bowers, Willy
      1969
     

    Boyer, Glenn
      1965-1966
     
    2
    Boys' Life-Byrnes, Jim
      1935, 1959-1979
     

    Boys' Life (Evelyn O'Conner)
      1935
     

    Bradbury, Ray
      1979
     

    Braun, Matt
      1972
     

    Breien, Lasse (to Larry Sternig)
      1971
     

    Bristow, Gwen
      1979
     

    Buckey, Danny
      1974
     

    Bullock, Alice
      1971-1972
     

    Bundy, Rex
      1972
     

    Burchardt, Bill
      1961
     

    Burger, Knox
      1959-1978
     

    Burnett, Bill
      1964
     

    Byrnes, Jim
      1971
     
    3
    CBS Publications-Chrisman, Harry
      1967-1979
     

    CBS Publications (Harvey Gardner)
      1978-1979
     

    CBS Television Network (John Mantley)
      1970
     

    Cabot, Dave
      1972-1979
     

    Calderini, Mrs. Charles
      undated
     

    California Dept. of Education (John H. Peterson)
      1971
     

    Callahan, Pepe
      1971
     

    Callaway, Jim
      1979
     

    Capps, Ben
      1967-1974
     

    Carroll, John
      1971
     

    Cateret Savings and Loan Association
      1974-1975
     

    Castle, Frank
      1967
     

    Century Distributors (Charles Sultan)
      1967
     

    Champlin, Charles
      1978
     

    Charbonneau, Lou
      1971
     

    Charter Communications, Inc. (Don Charter)
      1971
     

    Cheney, Roberta
      1971-1972
     

    Chrisman, Harry
      1973
     
    4
    Ciardi, John-Crawford, William
      1955, 1969-1978
     

    Ciardi, John
      1972
     

    Cinema Ventures (Jerry Alder)
      1970
     

    Clark, Bill
      1969-1971
     

    Clark, LeVerne (to Robert V. Wright)
      1972
     

    Clement, Ernest
      1972
     

    Clements, Cal
      1969-1971
     

    Clements, Scott
      1978
     

    Clinton Hill Discussion Club
      1974-1978
     

    Cohen, Alan
      1973
     

    Cole, Martin
      1969-1972
     

    Collier's
      1955
     

    Collins, Dabney
      1971
     

    Convertito, Bill
      1974
     

    Cooke, Philip
      1971-1972
     

    Cooke, Thomas
      1971
     

    Cowles Book Company (Charles N. Heckelmann)
      1969
     

    Cowles Education Corporation (Charles N. Heckelmann)
      1969
     

    Cowles Publications (Ron Buehl)
      1970
     

    Crawford, William
      1972
     
    5
    Creasey, John-Dixon, Kenneth
      1962-1977
     

    Creasey, John and Jeanne
      1971-1972
     

    Cruickshanks, David
      1978
     

    Curry, Peggy
      1964-1972
     

    Curry, Tom
      1974
     

    Danow, Myron
      1972-1973
     

    Dardis, Tom
      1976
     

    Davies, Mickey
      1971
     

    Day, Gerry
      1971
     

    Delacorte Press
      1965
     

    Dell Publishing Co.
      1962-1974
     

    Dept. of Navy (Chief of Information)
      1977
     

    Dillon, Richard
      1972
     

    Dinan, John
      1977
     

    Dixon, Kenneth
      1972
     
    6
    Dodd, Mead and Company, Inc. (Dorothy Bryan, JoAnn Daly)
      1964-1971
     
    7
    Dodd, Mead and Company, Inc. (Dorothy Bryan, JoAnn Daly)
      1972-1974
     
    8
    Dodd, Mead and Company, Inc. (Dorothy Bryan, JoAnn Daly)
      1976-1979
     
    9
    Donelson, Kenneth-Evarts, Hal
      1925, 1959-1979
     

    Donelson, Kenneth
      1972
     

    Dorrance and Company, Inc. (R.F. Mullin)
      1933
     

    Dortort, David
      1971-1974
     

    Doubleday and Company, Inc. (Harold Kuebler, Jim Charlton)
      1925, 1959-1974
     

    Doyle Harrison
      1971-1972
     

    Dresser, Davis
      1964-1967
     

    Drew, Bernard
      1979
     

    Dugan, John T.
      1969-1972
     

    Duke, Don
      1972
     

    E.P. Dutton and Co., Inc. (Ann Durell to Don Congdon
      1974
     

    Earle, Jim
      1977
     

    Edmar Medical Laboratories
      1972
     

    Edwards, Geoff
      1971
     

    Eikenberry, Joyce M.
      1972