A GUIDE TO 
THE JAMES D. HORAN COLLECTION
M-293
by
Guy Gray

Copyright 2011
The St. Louis Mercantile Library Association
St. Louis, Missouri

Project Staff
Director: John Neal Hoover
Curator, Herman T. Pott National Inland Waterways Library: Sean Visintainer

TABLE OF CONTENTS	

Descriptive Summary										3

Historical Note										3

Scope Note											4

Series Arrangement										4

Access												8

Digital Images											9

Citation											9

Subject Headings 										9

Other Resources										10

Inventory											10

DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY
Creator: St. Louis Mercantile Library
Title: The James D. Horan Collection
Dates: ca. 1950-1980
Language: English
Size: 20 boxes
Collection Number: M-293
Location: 
Special Collections
St. Louis Mercantile Library at UM – St. Louis
Thomas Jefferson Library Building
One University Boulevard
St. Louis, Missouri 63121 U.S.A.

HISTORICAL NOTE
James D. Horan (1914-1981) was an historian, novelist, and newsman. He authored 40 books. Horan attended Drake College in New Jersey and the Writing Center at New York University. He married Gertrude Dorrity in 1938 and they had four children: Patricia, Brian, Gary and James. 

In 1944, as a reporter, Horan and colleagues at the New York Journal American won the Pulitzer Prize for a story about the difficulties in obtaining penicillin, a then uncommon drug. The story was printed in 1943, and is titled: "Seven Hours to Live." 

Three of Horan’s novels (The Confederate Agent, The Seat of Power, and The Blue Messiah) were bestsellers, and his three-volume The Authentic Wild West, was called “the best Wild West set in print,” by a New York Times reviewer. 

SCOPE NOTE
The James D. Horan Collection consists primarily of manuscripts of his books, both fiction and non-fiction. One script for a television show is also present. In total, there are 29 series. The first 25 series are arranged alphabetically by title of the completed work, with the exception of two instances, in which the subjects received prominence (the Shenandoah series and the Pinkertons series). In general, a series devoted to a general work typically includes manuscripts and/or drafts. Correspondence, research, images (such as photocopies, Photostats or slides), and clippings may also be included. The remaining series are devoted to clippings and correspondence that are presumably unrelated to any of the completed works.

SERIES ARRANGEMENT
Series 1: Across the Cimarron
Series 1 consists of stories written by George Bolds (the subject of Across the Cimarron), and some correspondence with Bolds.

Series 2: Authentic Wild West: Gunfighters
Series 2 consists of manuscripts, galleys, and publicity pertaining to The Authentic Wild West: Gunfighters.

Series 3: Authentic Wild West: Outlaws
Series 3 consists of manuscripts and photographic slides pertaining to The Authentic Wild West: Outlaws. Some images may pertain to other works in The Authentic Wild West.

Series 4: Authentic Wild West: Lawmen
Series 4 consists of manuscripts and galleys pertaining to The Authentic Wild West: Lawmen.

Series 5: Authentic Wild West: Unlabelled
Series 5 consists of unlabelled manuscripts. They are believed to pertain to some or all of the three volumes of The Authentic Wild West. Two packets are labeled “Faces and Voices” which is believed to be a working title of The Authentic Wild West.

Series 6: Confederate Agent
Series 6 consists of correspondence, research (including notes and photostats), clippings, and reviews pertaining to The Confederate Agent. Some clippings may pertain to other works by Horan as well.

Series 7: Desperate Men
Series 7 consists of a manuscript of Desperate Men. The manuscript may not be complete.

Series 8: Desperate Women
Series 8 consists of correspondence, notebooks, notecards, and photostats pertaining to Desperate Women.

Series 9: Desperate Years
Series 9 consists of clippings pertaining to Desperate Years, a Pictorial History of the Thirties.

Series 10: Ginerva
Series 10 consists of manuscripts, notes, clippings, correspondence and an outline pertaining to Ginerva.

Series 11: Great American West
Series 11 consists of manuscripts and bibliographies pertaining to The Great American West.

Series 12: Hounds
Series 12 contains an outline, partial manuscript, and clippings pertaining to Hounds, an unpublished work.

Series 13: King's Rebel
Series 13 contains a manuscript of King's Rebel.

Series 14: Life and Art of Charles Schreyvogel
Series 14 contains manuscripts and publicity pertaining to The Life and Art of Charles Schreyvogel.

Series 15: McKenney-Hall Portrait Gallery of American Indians
Series 15 contains notes, research materials, negatives, and galleys pertaining to The McKenney-Hall Portrait Gallery of American Indians.

Series 16: Mob's Man
Series 16 contains a manuscript of The Mob's Man.

Series 17: Oklahoma Land Rush
Series 17 contains manuscripts and correspondence related to the “Oklahoma Land Rush” story. This story is also titled “The Day They Ran for Land.”

Series 18: Peking Agent
Series 18 contains manuscripts and an outline of The Peking Agent, which was published posthumously. Several of the drafts are labeled “The Peking Junction.”

Series 19: Pictorial History of the Old West
Series 19 contains correspondence related to Pictorial History of the Old West.

Series 20: Pinkertons
Horan authored one book and co-authored another book on the Pinkertons. Additionally, he may have had plans for a television series about the organization, and possibly a third book as well. Series 20 has materials that may pertain to any of these works.  Series 20 consists of research files, note cards, notebooks, microfilm, manuscripts, galleys, correspondence and clippings related to Horan’s works about the Pinkerton Detective Agency.

Series 21: Right Image
Series 21 contains an outline of “The Image Maker,” which is believed to be the original title for The Right Image.

Series 22: Shenandoah
Series 22 contains photographs, photocopies, manuscripts, notes and a bibliography pertaining to C.S.S. Shenandoah: The Memoirs of Lieutenant Commanding James I. Waddell.

Series 23: Shotgun Slade
Series 23 contains a promotional pitch for a television show Shotgun Slade.

Series 24: Turnpike
Series 24 contains a television pilot for the show Turnpike.

Series 25: Source Materials
Series 25 contains reproductions (photocopies) of works that Horan presumably used as source materials; many are directly from the Library of Congress.

Series 26: Clippings
Series 26 contains news clippings on several subjects, but is mainly devoted to crime and political stories.

Series 27: Correspondence
Series 27 contains correspondence to and from Horan. The dates, subjects, and correspondents vary considerably.

Series 28: Images
Series 28 contains photographs and photocopies of various images. Images may or may not be related to Horan’s works.

Series 29: Future work
Series 29 contains clippings that Horan may have considered using for future works.

ACCESS
Some of the material in Special Collection M-169 may be photocopied, digitally scanned or photographed, subject to condition.

DIGITAL IMAGES
All digital images linked to this finding aid require that a credit line be included with any material used.
Commercial publication projects require the permission of the St. Louis Mercantile Library and may be subject to a use fee. To order publication-quality reproductions or for permission to copy or use any part of the digital images attached to this finding aid for any commercial purposed, please contact the St. Louis Mercantile Library, Special Collections.
The St. Louis Mercantile Library appreciates hearing from anyone who may have information about any of the images in this collection.

CITATION
When citing material from this collection, the preferred citation is: From the Special Collections of the St. Louis Mercantile Library at the University of Missouri − St. Louis.

SUBJECT HEADINGS
Horan, James David, 1914- 
Bolds, George, 1863-1954
Gunfights – West (U.S.)
McKenney, Thomas Loraine, 1785-1859
Native Americans
Outlaws – West (U.S.) – Biography
Pinkerton, Allan, 1819-1884
Pinkerton's National Detective Agency
United States – History – Civil War, 1861-1865 – Personal narratives – Confederate
Schreyvogel, Charles, 1861-1912
Shenandoah (Cruiser)
West (U.S.) – History 

OTHER RESOURCES:
The Annual Obituary 1981. USA: St. Martin’s, 1982. Print.
“James Horan, 67, Dies; Historian and Novelist.” New York Times 14 Oct. 1981, Late City Final Edition, sec. A: 28. Print.
Who’s Who in America, 1980/1981. 41st ed. Vol. 1. Chicago: Marquis Who’s Who, 1980. Print.

INVENTORY:
Series 	Series Title	Box	Description
	1	Across the Cimarron	10	George Bolds' original typed stories
	1	Across the Cimarron	10	Correspondence with George Bolds
	2	Authentic Wild West: Gunfighters	3	Galleys (1 packet)
	2	Authentic Wild West: Gunfighters	3	Manuscripts (2 packets)
	2	Authentic Wild West: Gunfighters	3	Publicity (1 packet)
	3	Authentic Wild West: Outlaws	3	Manuscripts (3 packets)
	3	Authentic Wild West: Outlaws	3	Photographs and slides (1 packet)
	4	Authentic Wild West: Lawmen	11	Index Galleys
	4	Authentic Wild West: Lawmen	11	Manuscripts (4 packets)
	5	Authentic Wild West: Unlabelled 	10	"Faces and Voices" [working title of 
	Documents	Authentic Wild West] manuscripts and 
	notes (2 packets)
	5	Authentic Wild West: Unlabelled 	11	Manuscripts (2 packets)
	Documents
	6	Confederate Agent	1	Photocopies and photostats of documents
	6	Confederate Agent	1	Notes
	6	Confederate Agent	1	Correspondence and reviews
	6	Confederate Agent	1	Galley proofs
	6	Confederate Agent	1	Clippings
	6	Confederate Agent	1	Typescripts
	6	Confederate Agent	1	Correspondence
	6	Confederate Agent	1	Photostats and photocopies of documents
	6	Confederate Agent	1	Clippings of reviews (and other Horan 
	books)
	6	Confederate Agent	1	Reviews and clippings
	6	Confederate Agent	1	Research photocopies and clippings
	7	Desperate Men	2	Manuscript
	8	Desperate Women	2	Photostats
	8	Desperate Women	2	Notecards (6 bundles)
	8	Desperate Women	2	Notebooks (5)
	8	Desperate Women	2	Correspondence (2 packets)
     9 	Desperate Years	2	Clippings (2 packets: 1930-1933; 1934-					1937)
	10	Ginerva	6	Manuscripts (2 folders)
	10	Ginerva	4	Manuscripts (5 packets)
	10	Ginerva	4	Outline
	10	Ginerva	5	Manuscripts (2 packets)
	10	Ginerva	5	Manuscript plus notes and clippings
	10	Ginerva	5	Manuscript and clippings
	10	Ginerva	5	Notes and clippings
	10	Ginerva	5	Clippings
	10	Ginerva	6	Manuscript (orange box)
	10	Ginerva	6	Manuscript (1 packet)
	11	Great American West	10	Manuscript and correspondence
	11	Great American West	10	Bibliography
	11	Great American West	10	Bibliography
	11	Great American West	10	Manuscript
	12	Hounds	18	Outline, partial manuscript, clippings
	13	King's Rebel	18	Manuscript
	14	Life and Art of Charles Schreyvogel: 	6	Publicity
	Painter-Historian of the Indian 
	Fighting Army of the American West
	14	Life and Art of Charles Schreyvogel: 	6	Manuscripts (2 packets)
	Painter-Historian of the Indian 
	Fighting Army of the American West
	15	McKenney-Hall Portrait Gallery of 	7	Note cards (3 bundles)
	American Indians
	15	McKenney-Hall Portrait Gallery of 	8	Galleys of book
	American Indians
	15	McKenney-Hall Portrait Gallery of 	7	Research material
	American Indians
	15	McKenney-Hall Portrait Gallery of 	7	Research Notes--Hall biographies
	American Indians
	15	McKenney-Hall Portrait Gallery of 	7	Research Notes--McKinney biographies
	American Indians
	15	McKenney-Hall Portrait Gallery of 	8	Research notes and project notes
	American Indians
	15	McKenney-Hall Portrait Gallery of 	8	Research copies and xeroxes (5 packets)
	American Indians
	
    15	McKenney-Hall Portrait Gallery of 	8	Negatives
	American Indians
	15	McKenney-Hall Portrait Gallery of 	8	Jared S. Parks letters
	American Indians
	16	Mob's Man	18	Manuscript
	17	Oklahoma Land Rush	18	Manuscript and correspondence
	18	Peking Agent	9	Manuscripts
	18	Peking Agent	9	Outline
	19	Pictoral History of the Wild West	18	Correspondence
	20	Pinkertons	12	Note cards for index and bibliography
	20	Pinkertons	10	Reviews and ad clippings
	20	Pinkertons	12	Microfilm
	20	Pinkertons	12	Note cards
	20	Pinkertons	12	Research files
	20	Pinkertons	12	Manuscripts (2 packets)
	20	Pinkertons	12	Burlington RailRoad reports
	20	Pinkertons	12	Galleys
	20	Pinkertons	13	Notebooks
	20	Pinkertons	13	Research files
	20	Pinkertons	14	Research files
	21	Right Image	18	Outline
	22	Shenandoah	12	Photographs and xeroxes (1 packet)
	22	Shenandoah	12	Bibliography, notes, forward (1 folder)
	22	Shenandoah	12	Manuscript
	23	Shotgun Slade	18	Promotional packet for TV show
	24	Turnpike	18	TV pilot
    25	Source Materials	19	Reproductions (roughly 12 packets)
	26	Clippings	15, 16, 17	Contains media clippings mostly 
	concerning crime and political news 
	stories. Some photographs, xeroxes, 
	correspondence, or review clippings may 
	also be present
	27	Correspondence	20	Correspondence (8 packets)
	28	Images	15, 16, 17	Contains photographic prints and 
	photostats, and some xeroxes of images
	29	Future Work	19	Clippings (2 packets)