Ernest Haycox papers , 1922-1974

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Haycox, Ernest, 1899-1950
Title
Ernest Haycox papers
Dates
1922-1974 (inclusive)
Quantity
28.75 linear feet, (57 containers)
Collection Number
Coll 164
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, research material, and photographs.
Repository
University of Oregon Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives
UO Libraries--SCUA
1299 University of Oregon
Eugene OR
97403-1299
Telephone: 5413463068
spcarref@uoregon.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is open to the public. Collection must be used in Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room. Collection or parts of collection may be stored offsite. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives in advance of your visit to allow for transportation time.

Additional Reference Guides

See the Current Collection Guide for detailed description and requesting options.

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

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 DescriptionReturn to Top

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.

Photographic prints are also included.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Authors, American--20th century

Personal Names

  • Haycox, Ernest, 1899-1950

Geographical Names

  • West (U.S.)--In literature

Form or Genre Terms

  • Western stories