Arthur D. Spearman, S. J., Autograph Collection
009
Department of Archives and Special Collections, Loyola Marymount University
1.0 Box
1925-1947
The Arthur D. Spearman, S. J., Autograph Collection (1925-1947) consists of 1 box (.2 linear feet) of autographed letters and cards that Father Spearman collected.
Series Arrangement
The Arthur D. Spearman, S.J., Autograph Collection consists of two series:
- Series 1: Correspondence
- Series 2: Photographs and Clippings
Biography
The son of the novelist, author, and convert to Roman Catholicism, Frank Spearman, Arthur D. Spearman was born on 26 August 1899 in Wheaton, Illinois.
Arthur D. Spearman entered the Society of Jesus on 15 June 1918 and was ordained on 25 June 1931. His studies took him to Loyola University of Chicago and Saint Louis Univeristy, but most of his priestly life was spent in the California Province. He was an author and teacher, but his principal assignments were as Prefect of Libraries.
His career was concentrated at Satna Clara with side posts at various California facilities, notably the librarianship of the then Loyola University of Los Angeles from 1937 to 1948. It was during this period that Father Spearman acquired the collection of autographs in this collection and also a library of bound works from Spanish presses of the 1940s.
From Loyola, Father Spearman eventually returned to Santa Clara where he died on 9 May 1977.
Conditions Governing Use note
Materials in the Department of Archives and Special Collections may be subject to copyright Unless explicitly stated otherwise, Loyola Marymount University does not claim ownership of the copyright of any materials in its collections The user or publisher must secure permission to publish from the copyright owner Loyola Marymount University does not assume any responsibility for infringement of copyright or of publication rights held by the original author or artists or his/her heirs, assigns, or executors
Conditions Governing Access note
Collection is open to research under the terms of use of the Department of Archives and Special Collections
Preferred Citation note
[Identification of item], Series number, Box and Folder number, Arthur D. Spearman , S. J., Autograph Collection, 009, Department of Archives and Special Collections, William H. Hannon Library, Loyola Marymount University.
Collection Description
According to information in the accession file,
Father Arthur D. Spearman, S. J., corresponded with literary celebrities because of his own background in literature. From this correspondence, as well as a general pursuit of collecting autographs, Father Spearman, while serving as librarian at Loyola University and other places, created this collection, the majority of which he then left with Father Theodore Marshall, S. J., his successor as librarian at Loyola, after leaving for Santa Clara.
The collection consists of some correspondence collected during the course of Father Spearman's work at Loyola, such as the 1940 letter found in folder 3 from
Joseph Breen, the famous head of the Motion Production Code, which announces the gift of a silver papal medal to Loyola. Others are more vague, eg, the letter from Roman Catholic priest
Ronald A. Knox concerning translation from Greek (folder 8). In addition, there are stray autographs attributed to
Booker T. Washington, the sources of which are unknown.
In folders eighten through twenty, there is gathering of photographs and clippings of portraits of personages, such as William Cullen Bryant.
The dates of the collection are 1925 through 1947.
Series 1: Correspondence.
17.0 Folder
1925-1947
Series Description
Unless otherwise noted, the correspondence is to Father Arthur D. Spearman, S. J. Names of note in this series include
John Steven McGroarty,
Barry Fitrzgerald,
Ramon Navarro, and
Ronald A. Knox.
1
1 Arguello Den, Ysabel. Christmas card. Ysabel Arguello Den was a direct descendent of José Dario Arguello of the Presidio of San Francisco. undated
1
2 Armstrong, Robert, Bishop of Sacramento. Announces a gift book on the history of Sacramento. 5 March 1946
1
3 Breen, Joseph I., Director of the Motion Picture Production Code. Announces the gift of a silver Papal Medal to the university library. 19 January 1940
1
4 Connolly, Myles, Catholic writer and scenarist. 21 October (no year)
1
5 Field, Charlotte E. Mentions her father and promises her autograph collection to Loyola. 1 May 1938
1
6 Fitzgerald, Barry. Hollywood. Under the signature is pencilled, "Father Fitzgibbon of Going My Way." 23 February 1934
1
7 Jeffers, William M. (two short notes). The first one is addressed to Spearman at Weston College, Weston Massachusetts. The notes are on the letterhead of the Union Pacific Rail Road. 9 January 1931, 24 April 1937
1
8 Knox, Ronald A. Beaufort Castle, Beauly, Scotland. 31 August 1925
1
9 Lavery, Emmet, Catholic writer and scenarist. Los Angeles. 16 January 1937
1
10 McGroarty, John Steven, Catholic lawyer and writer. Tujunga, California. Lists his choices for the best entries in a literary contest at Mount St. Mary's. 18 March 1940
1
11 Miles, Marion Hamilton. Hollywood. 31 July 1938
1
12 Milward, Anita. 9 May 1938
1
13 Murphy, Bernadine. Los Angeles. Addressed to Spearman at Manresa Hall, Port Townsend, Washington. 5 February 1935
1
14 Novarro, Ramon, Catholic film star. "Christmas greetings to "The Company of Jesus Under Loyola's Roof." 24 December 1940
1
15 Orena de Koch, Serena. Invitation to tea from the grand-daughter of José de la Guerra Noriega, the last Spanish Royal governor of California. 22 August 1937
1
16 Walsh, Rev. H. L., S.J. Walsh, from the University of Santa Clara, asks for information on the earthquake of 1868. 13 March 1947
1
17 Washington, Booker T. Signatures only (2) undated
Series 2: Photographs and Clippings.
3.0 Folder
1938
Series Description
This small series is based on format, either photographs or clippings from newspapers or magazines of personages, eg, former Secretary of State Cordell Hull. The materials are undated, except for one item that bears the date 1938.
Photograph, mounted. 7 1/2 x 4 3/4 inches. J. G. Whittier.
1
18
undated
Photograph, mounted. 7 1/2 x 4 3/4 inches. William Cullen Bryant.
1
19
undated
Clippings: magazine clipping with two full-length silhouette portraits, one of Millard Fillmore and the other of John C. Calhoun; newspaper clipping depicting "America's only queen--Queen Liliuokalani--Ruler of Hawaii...."; cover of Literary Digest showing a photograph of Secretary of State Cordell Hull; slip of paper with oval portraits of seven American presidents from Grant to Theodore Roosevelt.
1
20
undated