Finding Aid for the Jim Tully Papers, 1883-1952 [Bulk Dates 1920-1947]
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt987022gp No online items Finding Aid for the Jim Tully papers, 1883-1952 [bulk dates 1920-1947] Brieflisted by Simon Elliott, 1990; processed by Lilace Hatayama, Alisa Monheim and Bernadette Roca, 2005-2010; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé. UCLA Library Special Collections Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library Box 951575 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575 Email: [email protected] URL: http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/special/scweb/ © 2004 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved. Finding Aid for the Jim Tully 250 1 papers, 1883-1952 [bulk dates 1920-1947] Descriptive Summary Title: Jim Tully papers Date (inclusive): 1883-1952 [bulk dates 1920-1947] Collection number: 250 Creator: Tully, Jim Extent: 143 boxes (71.5 linear ft.)11 oversize boxes Abstract: The collection documents the life and career of Irish American novelist and writer Jim Tully. The papers contain manuscripts of novels, short stories, articles, plays and celebrity profiles written by Tully, as well as research material for his varied interests, including pugilism, prison reform and capital punishment, hoboing, labor strikes and many other topics. There is extensive correspondence with Hollywood celebrities, directors, studio executives, literary figures, and family and friends, including one of Tully's mentors, H.L. Mencken. The papers also include photographs and personal material about family history, marriages and travel. Language: Finding aid is written in English. Repository: University of California, Los Angeles. Library Special Collections. Los Angeles, California 90095-1575 Physical location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information. Restrictions on Access COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Library Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information. Restrictions on Use and Reproduction Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library Special Collections. Literary rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright. Provenance/Source of Acquisition Gift of Mrs. Myrtle Zwetow Tully, March 1961. Processing Note Brieflisted by Simon Elliott, 1990; processed by Lilace Hatayama, Alisa Monheim and Bernadette Roca, 2005-2010. Preferred Citation [Identification of item], Jim Tully papers (Collection 250). Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, UCLA. UCLA Catalog Record ID UCLA Catalog Record ID: 4233892 Biography/History Jim Tully (1886-1947) was an Irish American novelist and writer, born in St. Mary's, Ohio to Maria Bridget Lawler Tully and James Dennis Tully. After the death of his mother in 1892, Jim Tully was sent to an orphanage and later apprenticed to a farmer by his father. After running away, he returned to St. Mary's and worked various local jobs while developing a voracious reading habit. He traveled the country as a "road kid," hopped trains, worked carnivals, learned chainmaking and frequented public libraries during his travels. He boxed professionally and attempted a career as a reporter. He moved to California to follow boxing opportunities and began writing Emmet Lawler, rooted in his mother's family history in St. Mary's. After moving around the country for several years, he settled in California again in 1920. Through the efforts of Paul Bern, Tully found work as a publicist for Charlie Chaplin and continued work on his novel, which was published in 1922. Mentored by Rupert Hughes and H.L. Mencken, Tully established himself as a sought after author for such publications as Vanity Fair, Esquire and The American Mercury, as well as numerous fan magazines, including Photoplay, Screen Story, Screen Pictorial and Cinema Arts. He also wrote several novels, drawing heavily from his experiences on the road ( Beggars of Life, Circus Parade, The Bruiser) and in Hollywood ( Jarnegan). His career flourished throughout the 1920s and 1930s. The audience for his hard-boiled novels about society's underclass began to wane as the '30s drew to a close and he was overcome with health problems during the war years. He died on June 22, 1947. Scope and Content Collection consists of manuscripts for short stories, articles, novels, plays and celebrity profiles written by Jim Tully, as well as photographs, correspondence and personal material related to his public and private life. There is substantial Finding Aid for the Jim Tully 250 2 papers, 1883-1952 [bulk dates 1920-1947] correspondence with Rupert Hughes and H.L. Mencken, both of whom mentored Tully in the early stages of his career, as well as correspondence with many Hollywood celebrities, film directors and literary figures. Included in the papers are notes and articles on Charlie Chaplin, whom Tully worked with and later profiled in an unauthorized biography. There is also material related to Tully's interests in pugilism and the preeminent boxers of his day (Tully was a former boxer), prison reform, and hoboing. Organization and Arrangement Arranged in the following series: 1. Material collected by Jim Tully, including newspaper and magazine articles and ephemera by and about Jim Tully, brochures, programs and flyers collected by Jim Tully, caricatures, cartoons and images featuring Jim Tully, and research material organized by subject. 2. Correspondence arranged by name of correspondent, including family, friends, celebrities, and literary figures. 3. Correspondence and office files of Newcom and Tully, a talent agency in which Jim Tully's wife, Myrtle Zwetow Tully, was a partner. 4. Personal material related to Jim Tully, his family, marriages, homes, and background 5. Photographs, including Jim Tully with celebrities, famous boxers, literary figures, family 6. Radio interviews and programs featuring Jim Tully 7. Writings about Jim Tully by various writers concerning his work, friendships and life experience 8. Writings by Jim Tully, including celebrity profiles, novels, plays, poetry, screenplays, interviews, short stories, articles and product endorsements 9. Writings by others, including manuscripts sent to Jim Tully by other writers Indexing Terms The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog. Subjects Tully, Jim--Archives. Tully, Jim --Correspondence. Mencken, H. L. (Henry Louis), 1880-1956 --Correspondence. Hughes, Rupert, 1872-1956 --Correspondence. Authors, American --20th century --Archival resources. Genres and Forms of Material photographs. manuscripts for publications. Film scripts. Radio plays. Collected by Jim Tully Box 152, Folder 20 Pesos currency 1915 11 Note Series K. Box 147, Folder 2 Father's Day cartoon - original artwork 1909 Jun Note Box 147 is an oversize flat box, 17" x 21" x 3." Box 149, Folder 3 Glott an Norge 1937 Note From Jim Tully's library? Box 149 is an oversize flat box, 13" x 15" x 3." Finding Aid for the Jim Tully 250 3 papers, 1883-1952 [bulk dates 1920-1947] Collected by Jim Tully About Jim Tully Box 144, Folder Leaf (pages 497-498) from Boswell's The Life of Dr. Johnson 1775 11 Note With faded inscription on page 498, "For Jim Tully, Here's a page from the first edition of your favorite book: Boswell's Life of Johnson. Frank J. Wilstach, Aug 12, 1927." Box 145, Folder 5 Portfolios of Famous Paintings No. 2 no date Note Box 145 is an oversize flat box, 15" x 18 x 3." Box 147, Folder 3 State Seal of California presented to Jim Tully no date Note Box 147 is an oversize flat box, 17" x 21" x 3." About Jim Tully Box 145, Folder 7 Article about Jim Tully 1925 Note Also includes published story by Robert Hewes. Box 145 is an oversize flat box, 15" x 18 x 3." Box 64, Folder 12 Articles about Jim Tully 1923-1941 Note Clippings of articles referring to or about Jim Tully. Box 151, Folder 6 Articles about Jim Tully 1925-1942 Note Clippings. Box 151 is an oversize flat box, 20" x 24" x 3." Box 154, Folder Articles about Jim Tully 1925-1942 14 Note Box 154 is an oversize flat box, 20" x 24" x 3." Box 150, Folder 2 Articles by and about Jim Tully 1926-1935 Box 150, Folder 3 Articles by and about Jim Tully 1923-1935 Box 146, Folder 2 Articles by and about Jim Tully - loose articles from scrapbook 1922-1927 Note Box 146 is an oversize flat box, 15" x 18 x 3." Box 146, Folder 3 Articles by and about Jim Tully - loose articles from scrapbook 1927-1928 Note Box 146 is an oversize flat box, 15" x 18 x 3." Box 146, Folder 4 Articles by and about Jim Tully - loose articles from scrapbook 1928-1929 Note Box 146 is an oversize flat box, 15" x 18 x 3." Box 146, Folder 5 Articles by and about Jim Tully - loose articles from scrapbook 1928-1929 Note Box 146 is an oversize flat box, 15" x 18 x 3." Finding Aid for the Jim Tully 250 4 papers, 1883-1952 [bulk dates 1920-1947] Collected by Jim Tully About Jim Tully Box 145, Folder 2 Articles by and about Jim Tully - scrapbook 1922 Note Box 145 is an oversize flat box, 15" x 18 x 3." Box 145, Folder 6 Articles by and about Jim Tully - scrapbook 1924-1928 Note Box 145 is an oversize flat box, 15" x 18 x 3." Box 146, Folder 1 Articles by and about Jim Tully - scrapbook 1921-1923 Note Box 146 is an oversize flat box, 15" x 18 x 3." Box 64, Folder 11 Biographical material 1924-1942 Note Clippings of biographical articles on Jim Tully.