Description:

Hearst William



William Randolph Hearst, 2x Signed Archive Exploring Millionaire's Money Problems

 

Small archive relating to media tycoon William Randolph Hearst (1863-1951). Comprised of three notes (130+ words) written in Hearst's hand and 2x signed by him as "WRH"; typed internal memos and speech excerpts; and unused stationery, ca. 1932-1939. The majority of the pieces were numbered by Joseph Willicombe, Sr. (1874-1948), Hearst's longtime personal assistant. In mostly very good condition, with expected wear including light paper folds, chipped edges, and isolated minor loss. Provenance: From the family of Joseph Willicombe, Sr.

 

The archive explores the scope of Hearst's personal and political endeavors in the 1930s. Hearst suffered serious financial reversals during the Depression, impacting his ability to maintain multiple palatial properties. The millionaire's monetary woes--and adamant unwillingness to pay for various goods and services--are on full display in multiple documents. In addition, the archive contains two documents representing Hearst's political shift from left to right. The first, an endorsement of FDR, contrasts with a note highlighting Hearst's later advocacy of law and order.

 

Reproduced with unchanged spelling and punctuation. The lot includes:

 

1. (Willicombe number 949) 1p undated note pencil-inscribed in Hearst's hand and addressed to Willicombe. On golden rod yellow paper. "Mr. Willicombe, I wrote an article lately which said we would either have Marshall law or Lynch law of crime contravened (?) or punished by the regular processes Please find it. I think--"
7.375" x 5.375".

 

2. (Willicombe number 996) 2pp undated note pencil-inscribed in Hearst's hand, and 2x signed by him as "WRH." On golden rod yellow paper. Cinderella House was one of the guesthouses at Hearst's Wyntoon Estate in northern California, rebuilt in the early 1930s to resemble a Bavarian village.

 

"I will not want it as those stoves - in the Cinderella House are no longer smoking and behaving badly as they did last year Pat tells me.

 

Now I want to get out of the order for equipment for else Cinderella House. Otherwise I will just be was losing money and I don’t want to do that

 

Please do your best to return this Cinderella equipment now or get the privelege of returning it. I am sorry I gave such a hasty order Perhaps we can correct it. WRH.

 

I guess to prevent any further expenditure we better wind up operations here as soon as possible WRH."

 

3. (Willicombe number 204) 1p internal memo typed on carbon paper dated December 4, 1937 and annotated in Hearst's hand verso as "+ Woods" under docketed instructions. The memo, distributed to Hearst's lawyers Geoffrey Konta and Edward Woods, discussed Hearst's numerous real estate obligations. The document mentions three Hearst-rented or Hearst-owned properties: Hearst Castle (San Simeon, California); "the ranch," probably referring to Wheeler Ranch in northern California; and "the Hacienda" (King City, California).

 

In part:

 

"I AM TALKING SERIOUSLY ABOUT THIS MATTER. I AM NOT GOING TO BE BURDENED WITH ALL THESE CHARGES. I CANNOT BE.

 

I am renting a house, signing a lease, and paying $2500 a month for it.

 

I have 9 months that I can spend in California, and I have got to spend the major part of that time in Los Angeles and San Francisco…"

 

4. (Willicombe number 619) 1p typed page of a prepared speech or press release in which Hearst endorsed Franklin Delano Roosevelt, citing part of Roosevelt's 1932 Democratic National Convention acceptance speech.

 

5. (Unnumbered) 1p typed transcription once accompanying a photograph that Hearst dedicated to Willicombe (not included in this lot.)

 

6. (Unnumbered) An unused cream envelope embossed "William Randolph Hearst" along the return address flap.

 

William Randolph Hearst, whose publishing company still operates today, began his media conglomerate Hearst Communications in 1887, after taking on the San Francisco Examiner. Hearst's newspapers and magazines were extremely popular, thanks in part to his editorial emphasis on “yellow journalism.” This sensationalist way of reporting news events aimed to increase circulation and sales. 

 

Joseph Willicombe, Sr., a World War I veteran sometimes called "the Colonel," joined Hearst Corporation in 1915. He served as Hearst's secretary, amanuensis, adviser, and friend for more than 30 years.

 



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