Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
Herbert Emerson Wilson fonds
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- Source of title proper: Title based on the contents of the fonds.
Level of description
Fonds
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Physical description area
Physical description
13 cm of textual records
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Archival description area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Herbert E. Wilson was born in Ontario and served in the Boer War. He became a Baptist minister but later embarked on a career as a safe cracker. He was imprisoned for twenty years in San Quintan, California. Following his release he worked as a newspaper columnist, artist, Museum of Crime curator, author and literary agent.
Custodial history
Following Wilson's death his second wife Amelia retained custody of his papers. In 1978 she sold his Boer War medals to Hugh MacMillan, and agent of the Archives of Ontario, but destroyed eight cases of papers fearing that they might contain incriminating evidence. In 1988 she donated the remaining papers to Special Collections .
Scope and content
The fonds consists of correspondence and literary typescripts which chronicle Wilson's varied career as minister, criminal and prisoner. Fonds includes personal and other correspondence regarding the author's literary work, as well as literary contract and copyright documents.
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Finding aids
Inventory available. PDF document attached.