Hart, James D. (James David), 1911-1990

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Hart earned his Harvard AM in 1933 and his PhD in 1936.

From the description of Notes in Comparative Literature 11, 1932-1933. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 228511481

From the description of Notes in English 52, 1932-1933. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 228511508

From the description of Notes in English 19, 1932-1933. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 228511487

From the description of Notes in English 9, 1932-1933. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 228511486

From the description of Notes in English 14, 1933-1934. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 228511562

From the description of Notes in Greek B, 1932-1933. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 228511516

From the description of Notes in English 3a, 1932-1933. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 228511485

From the description of Notes in English 89, 1932-1933. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 228511510

From the description of Notes in English 49, 1932-1933. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 228511489

From the description of Notes in Comparative Literature 40, 1932-1933. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 228511538

From the description of Notes in English 33, 1933-1934. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 228511563

From the description of Notes in Greek 2, 1932-1933. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 228511515

From the description of Notes in English 29b, 1932-1933. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 228511488

From the description of Notes in Philosophy 4b, 1933-1934. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 228511590

James D. Hart (1911-1990) was author of The Oxford Companion to American Literature, Director of The Bancroft Library (1970-1990), chair of The UC Berkeley Dept. of English (1955-1957, and again in 1965-1968), and a University Vice-Chancellor (1957-1960).

From the description of James D. Hart papers, 1928-1991. (University of California, Berkeley). WorldCat record id: 49789956

Served on the Modern Language Association's Advisory Editorial Board for American Literature (serial).

From the description of Papers, 1953-1977. (Duke University Library). WorldCat record id: 40067346

Biography

James D. Hart, a fifth-generation Californian, developed an early passion for fine books and fine printing. During high school at the Menlo School, Menlo Park, California, he came to know Edwin and Robert Grabhorn at the Grabhorn Press of San Francisco, and persuaded them to design and print The Menlo Musketeer, the school annual during Hart's senior year in 1928. Fine printing of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries remained a lifelong specialty of Hart's.

After earning his A.B. degree at Stanford University in 1932, he earned his M.A. degree in English at Harvard University in 1933, following it with the Ph.D. in 1936. Joining the English Department at the University of California, Berkeley in 1936 he commenced a long career of distinguished research, teaching, publication, and service at the University. His lectures on American literature were among the most popular offered in the Department of English. He served at chairman of the English Department in 1955-1957, and again in 1965-1968.

Hart's publications include works on Frank Norris, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Richard Henry Dana, this last the subject of his thesis at Harvard University. In 1950, Oxford University Press published his pioneering work, The Popular Book: A History of America's Literary Taste . But his most widely known publication was his classic Oxford Companion to American Literature, which went through five editions during his lifetime, and remains a standard reference work.

He also served as vice chancellor at Berkeley from 1957-1960. Throughout most of his career at Berkeley, Hart served on the Academic Senate Library Committee, and also on the Subcommittee for The Bancroft Library. In 1961-62, he served as acting director at Bancroft, and in 1970 was appointed its permanent director.

Other academic appointments during Hart's career included visiting professorships at Upsala, Sweden in 1950 and Harvard University in 1964. He chaired the Marshall Scholarship Committee for the Western United States from 1959 to 1963. He was decorated a Commander of the British Empire in 1963 for promoting Anglo-American relations. In later years he served as a trustee of Mills College, Oakland, California, 1970-78, and again from 1979, and as a trustee Fine Arts Museums San Francisco, 1983 until his death.

From the guide to the James D. Hart papers, 1928-1991, (The Bancroft Library.)

Biography

James David Hart was born in San Francisco in 1911. He received his undergraduate degree from Stanford University and a Ph.D. in American Literature from Harvard. He later became a faculty member of Berkeley as an English professor, held the post of Vice Chancellor of the Berkeley campus from 1957-1960, and was also the director of the Bancroft Library from 1969 to 1970.

He was a member of the Board of Trustees of Mills College, as well as being a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Antiquarian Society. Hart served as president of the Book Club of California from 1950 to 1960. Hart wrote and edited multiple books, including the Oxford Companion to American Literature. He also printed his own ephemera (mainly about the Western United States) in his home, the location of the Hart Press.

He married twice: Ruth Hart (died in 1977), and Constance Crowley Bowles Hart (who survived Hart) and had two children. Hart died in 1990 in Berkeley.

From the guide to the Hart Press Collection, 1932-1961, (William Andrews Clark Memorial Library)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Henry, James L. James D. Hart letters to James L. Henry, 1965-1991. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Hart, James D. (James David), 1911-1990. Notes in English 9, 1932-1933. Harvard University Archives.
creatorOf Sterling, George, 1869-1926. George Sterling letters to Ambrose Bierce, 1901-1912 : typescript (carbon), [ca. 1930]. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Hart, James D. (James David), 1911-1990. File concerning acquisition of Western Authors manuscripts for The Bancroft Library, [ca. 1950-1960]. California Digital Library
creatorOf Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Records. Series III., Blanche W. Knopf, 1918-1966 (bulk 1940-1966). Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
creatorOf Hart, James D. (James David), 1911-1990,. Norman Douglas collection of papers, 1905-1949. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Unna, Warren W. Warren W. Unna correspondence relating to his book, the Coppa Murals (S.F. 1952), 1951-1952. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Wyneken, Leopold Ernest, 1838-. Chronicles of Manuel Alanus: a true story of San Francisco : n.p. : ms., [undated]. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Gentry, Helen. Helen Gentry letter and list : Santa Fe, N.M., to James D. Hart, ALS and typescript, 1983-1987. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Hart, James D. (James David), 1911-1990. Notes in Philosophy 4b, 1933-1934. Harvard University Archives.
creatorOf Hart, James D. (James David), 1911-1990. Notes in Greek B, 1932-1933. Harvard University Archives.
creatorOf Herrick, Stephen Gale, 1909-. From structural steel to the arts : oral history transcript [electronic resource] / Stephen Gale Herrick ; with an introduction by James D. Hart ; interviews conducted by Ruth Teiser and Lisa Jacobson in 1988 and 1989. 1991. OCLC Econtent Synchronization Program
creatorOf Stegner, Wallace, 1909-1993. To make a liberty : a short story : typescript, 1952. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Hart, James D. (James David), 1911-1990. Notes in English 89, 1932-1933. Harvard University Archives.
creatorOf Hart, James D. (James David), 1911-1990. Notes in English 49, 1932-1933. Harvard University Archives.
creatorOf Jackson, Joseph Henry, 1894-1955. Joseph Henry Jackson papers, circa 1931-1955. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Hart, James D. (James David), 1911-1990. Notes in English 29b, 1932-1933. Harvard University Archives.
creatorOf Reagan, Ronald. Ronald Reagan letter to James David Hart : Berkeley, Calif. : LS, 1974 Dec. 16. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Hart, James D. (James David), 1911-1990. Notes in English 52, 1932-1933. Harvard University Archives.
creatorOf Bancroft, Hubert Howe, 1832-1918. H.H. Bancroft letter : San Francisco, Calif., to E. Thatcher, Parkville, Shasta County, Calif. : ALS (photocopy), 1867 Aug. 19. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Records. : Series I., General Correspondence, 1922-1977 (bulk 1946-1966). Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
referencedIn American Literature, Records, 1927-2000s David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
creatorOf Hart, James D. (James David), 1911-1990. James D. Hart papers, 1928-1991. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Hart, James D. (James David), 1911-1990. Notes in English 3a, 1932-1933. Harvard University Archives.
referencedIn Ted Freedman Papers, 1926-1974 Bancroft Library
creatorOf Hart, James D. (James David), 1911-1990. James D. Hart correspondence with Jesse S. Crisler, 1985-1987 : and related material, 1982-1987. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Vonnegut mss., 1941-2007 Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
referencedIn Foerster, Norman, 1887-1972. Norman Foerster papers, 1907-1965. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf Mellen, George. George Mellen letter to James D. Hart : and related materials, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1954 April 24. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Hart Press. Hart Press Collection, 1932-1961. University of California, Los Angeles
referencedIn Homer D. Crotty papers and addenda, 1859-2011 The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens Manuscripts Department
creatorOf Hart, James D. (James David), 1911-1990. [Letter, 1963 Sept. 20, Berkeley, Calif., to Mary Jane Wilson] [manuscript]. University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
referencedIn Kelly, Robert, 1935-. Robert Kelly letters to Harvey Bialy, [ca.1966-1973]. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Hart Press Collection, 1932-1961 William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, UCLA
creatorOf Pember, Timothy, 1910-. Humphry Swanson : a novel, circa 1951. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Hart, James D. (James David), 1911-1990. Notes in English 19, 1932-1933. Harvard University Archives.
creatorOf Shaw, Bernard, 1856-1950. Dürer sketch with autograph annotations by G.B.S., 1929. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Hart, James D. (James David), 1911-1990. Notes in English 33, 1933-1934. Harvard University Archives.
creatorOf Hart, James D. (James David), 1911-1990. Notes in Greek 2, 1932-1933. Harvard University Archives.
creatorOf Bierce, Ambrose, 1842-1914?. Scrapbook of articles, poems, and stories by Ambrose Bierce / compiled by James D. Hart, 19--. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Hart, James D. (James David), 1911-1990. Notes in Comparative Literature 11, 1932-1933. Harvard University Archives.
creatorOf Hart, James D. (James David), 1911-1990. Material relating to the acquisition of the Frank Norris manuscript collection in The Bancroft Library, [ca. 1952-1969]. California Digital Library
creatorOf Maynard Dixon papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Stacton, David, 1925-1968. David Stacton papers, 1959-1982 (bulk 1959-1963). UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Bently, Wilder, 1900-. Wilder Bently untitled poem : typescript, 1982. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Benjamin H. Lehman Papers Bancroft Library
creatorOf Hart, James D. (James David), 1911-1990. [Letter, 1963 Aug. 7, Berkeley, Calif., to Mary Jane Wilson] [manuscript]. University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
creatorOf Backus, Joseph M. Joseph M. Backus papers relating to Gelett Burgess, 1953-1982. California Digital Library
creatorOf Toklas, Alice B. Alice B. Toklas interview with Roland E. Duncan : and related material, 1952. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Kuhn, Marshall H., 1916-1978. Marshall H. Kuhn papers, 1967-1978. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf O'Faoláin, Seán, 1900-1991. Sean O'Faolain letters to James D. Hart, 1972-1987. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Angelo, Valenti. [Bust of James D. Hart] [realia]. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Hart, Ruth Arnstein. Concern for the individual; the community YWCA and other Berkeley organizations : oral history transcript, 1978. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf James D. Hart papers, 1928-1991 Bancroft Library
referencedIn Educators and librarians collection, 1846-1953. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Catalogue I of the Regional Oral History Office, 1954-1979 Bancroft Library
creatorOf Bender, Albert M. (Albert Maurice), 1866-1941. Albert M. Bender papers, 1871-1948. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf Hart, James David. Papers, 1953-1977. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
creatorOf Hart, James D. (James David), 1911-1990. Papers on western authors written for Prof. James D. Hart's seminars, 1957-1963. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Hart, James D. (James David), 1911-1990. Notes in English 14, 1933-1934. Harvard University Archives.
creatorOf Knight, George, 1914-2000. George Knight papers, 1955-1986 Bancroft Library
creatorOf Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Records. : Series II., Alfred A. Knopf Personal, 1874-1984 (bulk 1953-1984). Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
creatorOf Hart, James D. (James David), 1911-1990. Correspondence with Theodore Dreiser, 1930. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Hart, James D. (James David), 1911-1990. Papers on American literary manuscripts prepared by students for Prof. James D. Hart's American Literature seminar : University of California, Berkeley, ca. 1959-1967. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Arts Club (Berkeley, Calif.). Records of the Arts Club, 1935-1989 (bulk 1935-1958). UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Hart, James D. (James David), 1911-1990. Notes in Comparative Literature 40, 1932-1933. Harvard University Archives.
creatorOf Gunsky, Frederic R. Fred Gunsky letter : to [Mr. & Mrs. James D. Hart], ALS, 1989 December 31. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Hart, James D. (James David), 1911-1990. Correspondence with Vera Dreiser, 1959. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith American Literature corporateBody
associatedWith Angelo, Valenti. person
associatedWith Arts Club (Berkeley, Calif.) corporateBody
associatedWith Backus, Joseph M. person
associatedWith Bancroft, Hubert Howe, 1832-1918. person
associatedWith Bancroft Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Bancroft Library. Regional Oral History Office corporateBody
associatedWith Bender, Albert M. (Albert Maurice), 1866-1941. person
associatedWith Bently, Wilder, 1900- person
associatedWith Bierce, Ambrose, 1842-1914? person
associatedWith Crisler, Jesse S. person
associatedWith Crotty, Homer D. person
associatedWith Dixon, Maynard, 1875-1946. person
associatedWith Foerster, Norman, 1887-1972. person
associatedWith Freedman, Ted person
associatedWith Gentry, Helen. person
associatedWith Gunsky, Frederic R. person
associatedWith Hart Press. corporateBody
associatedWith Hart, Ruth Arnstein. person
associatedWith Harvard University corporateBody
associatedWith Henry, James L. person
associatedWith Herrick, Stephen Gale, 1909- person
associatedWith Jackson, Joseph Henry, 1894-1955. person
associatedWith Kelly, Robert, 1935- person
associatedWith Knight, George, 1914-2000. person
associatedWith Kuhn, Marshall H., 1916-1978. person
correspondedWith Lehman, B. H. (Benjamin Harrison), 1889-1977 person
associatedWith Magee, David Bickersteth, 1905-1977. person
associatedWith Mellen, George. person
associatedWith Modern Language Association of America. American Literature Group. corporateBody
associatedWith Norris, Frank, 1870-1902. person
associatedWith O'Faoláin, Seán, 1900-1991. person
associatedWith Online Archive of California. corporateBody
associatedWith Pember, Timothy, 1910- person
associatedWith Post-1650 Manuscript Collection (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library) corporateBody
associatedWith Reagan, Ronald. person
associatedWith Shaw, Bernard, 1856-1950. person
associatedWith Stacton, David, 1925-1968. person
associatedWith Stegner, Wallace, 1909-1993. person
associatedWith Sterling, George, 1869-1926. person
associatedWith Toklas, Alice B. person
associatedWith University of California, Berkeley. corporateBody
associatedWith University of California, Berkeley. Dept. of English corporateBody
associatedWith University of California, Berkeley. Dept. of English. corporateBody
associatedWith Unna, Warren W. person
associatedWith Vonnegut, Kurt person
associatedWith Wilson, Mary Jane, person
associatedWith Wyneken, Leopold Ernest, 1838- person
Place Name Admin Code Country
West (U.S.)
Illinois--Urbana
United States
Illinois--Urbana
Subject
Authors
Fine books
Manuscripts, American
Periodical editors
Printers
Privatepresses
Smallpresses
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1911-04-18

Death 1990-07-23

Americans

English

Information

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