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Augusta Fink Papers

 Collection
Identifier: MSS -611-BC

Scope and Content

The Augusta Fink Papers consist of four boxes of research notes, correspondence, newspaper clippings, and interviews, used by Fink in her work on two of her books, the biography of Mary Austin, I, Mary, and her book on the Monterey Peninsula, Monterey: The Presence Of The Past. The collection is divided into four series: I. Research files and manuscript for I, Mary; II. Research files for Monterey; III. Audio tapes; and IV. Card files.

The letters in Series I (Boxes 1 & 2), addressed to and written by Mary Austin, are copies from the collection of Mary Austin papers in the Huntington Library. Included are letters from Albert Bender and members of Austin's family. The location of the original letters is indicated on this inventory. There are also copies of some letters from other collections, such as the Bancroft Library. Copies of Ina Sizer Cassidy's reminiscences about Mary Austin are included.

Other materials in this series include the manuscript of I, Mary, the texts of some of Austin's early works, and a children's play by Mary Austin. Notes from interviews with people who knew Mary Austin, as well as transcripts of two audio taped interviews about Austin are also in this series.

Series II (Boxes 3 & 4), contains Fink's research notes on the history of Monterey County and newspaper articles from the Monterey Peninsula Herald. In addition, there are scattered issues of the Noticias Del Puerto De Monterey: Quarterly Bulletin Of Historic Monterey, issued by the Monterey History and Art Association.

Series III, reel-to reel tapes of interviews conducted by Augusta Fink for her research on the Mary Austin and Monterey books, are in Box 5. Included are interviews with Ansel and Virginia Adams. Boxes 6-9 hold Series IV, Fink's note cards used in her research on Mary Austin.

Dates

  • 1887-1989

Creator

Language of Materials

English.

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Copy Restrictions

Limited duplication of CSWR material is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws. Permission is required for publication or distribution.

Biographical Information

Augusta Fink, writer, was born in New York City in 1916 and educated at the University of California, Los Angeles, where she received an M.A. degree in 1939. She was employed as a writer for the Los Angeles County Civil Service Department and managed the Shorebird Bookstore in Palos Verde, California.

Fink was awarded the Silver Medal of the Commonwealth Club of California in 1972 for Monterey: The Presence Of The Past (San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 1972). In 1982 she received the Award of Merit from the California Historical Society for outstanding contributions to California history. In addition to Monterey: The Presence Of The Past, Fink has written Time And The Terraced Land: A History Of The Palos Verde Peninsula (1966); To Touch The Sky (1971), a children's book; Adobes In The Sun (1972), photographs by Morley Baer; and I, Mary: A Biography of Mary Austin (Tucson: University of Arizona, 1983).

Extent

8 boxes (4.35 cu. ft.)

Related Archival Material

Thomas M. Pearce Papers Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico Mary Hunter Austin Papers Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico Peggy Pond Church Papers Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico Dennis Trujillo Papers, Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico.

Separated Material

Photographs have been transferred to Augusta Fink Photograph Collection.

Original reel to reel audiotapes and master cds are stored in B3.

Processing Information

Reel to reel tapes reformatted to CD, June 2010.

CDs for tapes formerly in box 5 have been placed in box 4. There is no box 5.
Title
Finding Aid of the Augusta Fink Papers, 1887-1989
Status
Approved
Author
Processed by M. LaCroix
Date
©2000
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is in English

Revision Statements

  • June 28, 2004: PUBLIC "-//University of New Mexico::Center for Southwest Research//TEXT (US::NmU::MSS 611 BC::Augusta Fink Papers)//EN" "nmu1mss611bc.sgml" converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (sy2003-10-15).
  • Monday, 20210524: Attribute normal is missing or blank.

Repository Details

Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository

Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451