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W.H. Hutchinson papers

 Collection
Identifier: Ms-0082

Scope and Content

The W. H. Hutchinson papers span the years 1902-1989. The bulk of the materials date between 1952-1985. The collection has been divided into seven series: Biographical information, Correspondence, Source material - Rhodes, Galleys, Printed material, Speeches and typescripts, Order files, Sketches and drawings, Photographs, and Books. There is also a list of Hutchinson publications located in Special Collections that follows the manuscript container list.

The correspondence contains letters pertaining to Hutchinson's writings about Eugene Manlove Rhodes and the writing of Rhodes. It is of both personal and professional nature, including publishers, authors, critics and friends. There is material on copyright and royalty issues pertaining to the properties of the literary estate of Eugene Manlove Rhodes and its management. Of note within the series of correspondence with New Mexico State University are transcripts of taped interviews with former cowboys who worked with Rhodes, first recorded in 1964. There are also reviews of books included among the series. Correspondents in this series include May Davison Rhodes, Eve Ball, S. Omar Barker, David Townsend, Bula Charles, Paul Rader, Eugene Cunningham, Harry Carey, and Lawrence Clark Powell.

Included in the collection are Hutchinson's subject files on the life and career of Eugene Manlove Rhodes, composed of clippings, notes, copies of Rhodes' writings, and correspondence related to Hutchinson's research on Rhodes. Some folders in this series contain notes relating to the characters in Rhodes' works who were based on living persons in southern New Mexico in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Also included are various published materials, including bookseller catalogs, monographs, articles, and reprints. Unpublished materials include manuscripts, speeches, drafts, and typescripts from Hutchinson and other authors regarding Eugene Manlove Rhodes and Western United States literature. There is also hand-drawn art and photographs associated with Eugene Manlove Rhodes publications and related publications. Some material is sometimes annotated by Hutchinson.

Dates

  • 1902 - 1989

Creator

Access and Use Restrictions

This material may be examined by researchers under supervised conditions in the Search Room.

Copy Restrictions

Limited duplication is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with copyright and other applicable statutes.

Copyrights associated with this collection have not been transferred and assigned to New Mexico State University.

Creator Sketch

William Henry Hutchinson was born in Denver, Colorado on August 13, 1910. He spent his youth in the West, living in Goldfield, Nevada, and also Arizona and Mexico.

Hutchinson met his wife Esther, nicknamed "Red," on a troop ship while being evacuated from China during World War II. She was working as a deputy marshal for the U.S. Treasury Department at that time. The couple married in 1942 and moved to San Francisco in 1946. They later settled in Chico, California. "Old Hutch" and "Red" eventually had two sons, Warren and James.

In 1946, Hutchinson edited a collection of previously unpublished works of Eugene Manlove Rhodes, The Little World Waddies. This publication brought renewed interest to Rhodes' writings and recognition to Hutchinson in the literary world. Hutchinson edited other Rhodes writings including, The Rhodes Reader (1957); an anthology of Rhodes features, and The Line of Least Resistance, in 1958.

Interest of Eugene Manlove Rhodes' writings among the literary world after his death took shape in part because of the efforts of Eugene Cunningham and Walter Prescott Webb, who had worked to preserve Rhodes' writings and letters. Cunningham in particular encouraged Hutchinson to develop a definitive biography on Eugene Manlove Rhodes. In 1956, Hutchinson completed his first biography on Rhodes entitled A Bar Cross Man, which was highly acclaimed as one of the ten best Western books of the year. In 1959, he wrote an annotated bibliography of Rhodes entitled A Bar Cross Liar.

Hutchinson also authored other works such as Another Verdict for Oliver Lee, in 1965, and Whiskey Jim and a Kid Named Billie, in 1967. Hutchinson wrote on varied western United States themes, which included music, railroads, and oil. He was also acknowledged as an expert in regional history, including that of his home state, California, as well as Lincoln County, New Mexico. In 1964, Hutchinson arrived at California State University and served as professor of Californian and Western history for fourteen years. He received the Chico State Distinguished Teacher Award in 1968, and the award as Outstanding Professor of California State Colleges and Universities in 1977. He retired in 1978.

Hutchinson received other honors, which included being named a Fellow of the California Historical Society in 1985. Though he lived in California, he spent a great deal of his time corresponding with interested parties concerning Eugene Manlove Rhodes' life and his career in New Mexico.

Professor Hutchinson died on March 11, 1990, in Chico, California. His wife Esther died one month later, on April 12th.

Extent

11.25 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Professor, biographer of Eugene Manlove Rhodes, and executor of his literary estate. The collection includes correspondence, source files of Hutchinson research on Rhodes, printed materials and photographs

Acquisition

Gifts of W. H. Hutchinson:

Purchase from Kenneth Karmiole Bookseller, Incorporated:
  1. A 77-063
  2. RG79-065
  3. RG79-068
  4. RG79-083
  5. RG79-108
  6. RG80-021
  7. RG80-074
  8. RG81-019
  9. RG81-120
  10. RG82-012
  11. RG82-092
  12. RG83-096
  13. RG84-038
  14. RG84-053
  15. RG84-093
  16. RG85-090
  17. RG85-143
  18. RG86-031
  19. RG86-070
  20. RG86-155
  21. RG87-094
  22. RG87-134
  23. RG88-053
  24. RG88-084
  25. RG88-096
  26. RG88-097
  27. RG88-098
  28. RG88-100
  29. RG88-185
  30. RG90-182
  31. RG2004-084

Related Collections:

Eugene Manlove Rhodes collection. Ms 0003. Archives and Special Collections Department. New Mexico State University Library.

Albert Bacon Fall Family papers. Ms 0008. Archives and Special Collections Department. New Mexico State University Library.

Tom and Bula Charles family papers. Ms 0018. Archives and Special Collections Department. New Mexico State University Library.

Agnes Morley Cleaveland papers. Ms 0025. Archives and Special Collections Department. New Mexico State University Library.

David Townsend papers. Ms 0095. Archives and Special Collections Department. New Mexico State University Library.

S. Omar and Elsa Barker papers. Ms 0209. Archives and Special Collections Department. New Mexico State University Library.

June Harwell papers. Ms 0276. Archives and Special Collections Department. New Mexico State University Library.

White Sands Missile Range Ranching Legacy Oral History Project records. Ms 0346. Archives and Special Collections Department. New Mexico State University Library.

Fred Grove papers. Ms 0427. Archives and Special Collections Department. New Mexico State University Library.

Southwest Symposium on Literature papers. RG 88-197. Archives and Special Collections Department. New Mexico State University Library.
Title
Guide to the W.H. Hutchinson papers
Status
Completed
Author
William B. Boehm
Date
2005
Language of description
English
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
Finding aid is in English

Repository Details

Part of the New Mexico State University Library Archives and Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Branson Hall
PO Box 30006
MSC 3475
Las Cruces New Mexico 88003 USA