Robert V. Steele was born in 1898 in Waterbury, Conn. His father was a Methodist minister and later a general church officer. Steele briefly served in the U.S. Marine Corps (1918-1919), but did not see overseas action. In 1955, he was employed by the Los Angeles Times. In this position he began investigating the career of Aimee Semple McPherson. The story of her 1926 "so-called kidnapping affair" was told in Steele's book The Vanishing Evangelist (1959). This publication also marked the first time Steele used the pseudonym "Lately Thomas."
Collection consists of materials used in the preparation of the folowing books by Lately Thomas:
- The Vanishing Evangelist (1959)
- A Debonair Scoundrel (1962)
- Sam Ward: King of the Lobby (1965)
- Delmonico's: A Century of Splendor (1967)
- The First President Johnson (1968)
- Between Two Empires (1969)
- The Mayor who Mastered New York (1969)
- Storming Heaven (1970)
The material includes extensive notes, both longhand and typewritten; clippings; books and pamphlets; pritner's copy; galley proofs; and correspondence.
In addition to the papers relating to the books, there is included a portion of the very extensive research done for a projected account of the Tom Mooney, Preparedness Parade bombing in San Francisco in 1916, and the subsequent years of legal tussle over Mooney's conviction.
A folder-level list of materials in this collection can be found in the Special Collections reading room.
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1
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The Vanishing Evangelist Scope Note: Research materials: books and pamphlets by Aimee McPherson; books and articles about Aimee McPherson
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2
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The Vanishing Evangelist Scope Note: Research materials: related material; notebooks
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3
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The Vanishing Evangelist Scope Note: Research materials: notebooks
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4
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The Vanishing Evangelist Scope Note: Research materials: notebooks; pictures; miscellaneous; records by Aimee McPherson
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5
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The Vanishing Evangelist Scope Note: Manuscript of The Vanishing Evangelist
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5
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A Debonair Scoundrel Scope Note: Research materials: notebooks; miscellaneous; book reviews
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6
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A Debonair Scoundrel Scope Note: Manuscript and galley proof of A Debonair Scoundrel
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6
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Sam Ward: King of the Lobby Scope Note: Research materials: notebooks; portfolio of original notes and notecards; chronological notes; articles; letters to Sam; pictures; scrapbooks; memoirs of Sam Ward
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7
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Sam Ward: King of the Lobby Scope Note: Book reviews; Manuscript of Sam Ward: King of the Lobby
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7
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Delmonico's A Century of Splendor Scope Note: Research material: notebooks
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8
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Delmonico's A Century of Splendor Scope Note: Research material: article; pictures; miscellaneous; Manuscript of Delmonico's A Century of Splendor
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8
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The First President Johnson Scope Note: Research material: notebooks
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9
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The First President Johnson Scope Note: Research material: miscellaneous; Parson Brownlow; Clippings and reviews; Publications classified in the book collection; Manuscript and Galley proof of The First President Johnson
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10
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Mooney Case (never published) Scope Note: Research material: newspapers and magazines; petitions for Mooney; bibliography for Mooney case
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11
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Between Two Empires (William M. Gwin) Scope Note: Research material: notebooks; articles; miscellaneous; pictures; clippings; obsolete manuscript; Manuscript and Galley Proof of Between Two Empires
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11
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The Mayor Who Mastered New York (W.J. Gaynor) Scope Note: Research material: notebooks
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12
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The Mayor Who Mastered New York (W.J. Gaynor) Scope Note: Research material: notebooks; miscellaneous
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13
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The Mayor Who Mastered New York (W.J. Gaynor) Scope Note: Research material: miscellaneous; Galley proof of The Mayor Who Mastered New York
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14
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The Mayor Who Mastered New York (W.J. Gaynor) Scope Note: Manuscript of The Mayor Who Mastered New York
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15
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Storming Heaven Scope Note: Research material; Book reviews; Book covers; Galley proofs; Manuscripts; Copy of book
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16
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When Even Angels Wept Scope Note: Research material: notebooks
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17
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When Even Angels Wept Scope Note: Research material: notebooks
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18
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When Even Angels Wept Scope Note: Manuscript of When Even Angels Wept
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18
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A Pride of Lions Scope Note: Manuscript
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19
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Scrapbooks of reviews
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20
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Correspondence
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21
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Correspondence
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22
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Correspondence
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23
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Supplementary material Scope Note: A Debonair Scoundrel, Sam Ward: King of the Lobby, Delmonico's: A Century of Splendor, The First President Johnson, Between Two Empires, The Mayor who Mastered New York
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24
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Supplementary material Scope Note: Storming Heaven
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25
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Supplementary material Scope Note: When Even Angels Wept
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26
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Supplementary material Scope Note: A Pride of Lions
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