Max Miller Papers, 1924-1981 (MSS 158)

Extent: 3.5 Linear feet (8 archive boxes and 3 oversize folders)

Papers of Max Miller, La Jolla (California) author and reporter for the San Diego Sun. Miller is best known for his book I Cover the Waterfront (1932), the first of nearly twenty books on subjects including the modern U.S. military, Southern California, and Baja California (Mexico). His travel book The Cruise of the Cow (1951) records his exploration of the Baja California coasts. The collection contains correspondence with colleagues, friends, and family, especially letters (1950 - 1953) from his wife written during his service in the Korean War; photographs of Miller and others; newspaper clippings of articles by Miller, about Miller, and reviews of his several books; and typescripts, including drafts of The Cruise of the Cow and From These Windows (1955), as well as unpublished works. Also included are notebooks for several of Miller's books, including I Cover the Waterfront and The Far Shore (1945); miscellaneous personal items; and ephemera. The papers span Max Miller's writing career, with the bulk of the materials dating from the 1940s and 1950s.

Max Miller (1899-1967) was born in Traverse City, Michigan. After attending the University of Washington, Miller wrote for the Everett Daily News, then took a job in San Diego as a waterfront reporter for the San Diego Sun. He became an active member of the La Jolla, California community, where he lived with his wife, Margaret Ripley Miller, until his death in December 1967. Miller left newspaper writing after publishing his best-selling book, I Cover the Waterfront (1932), and continued to publish a book annually over the next twenty years. His subjects often included the modern U.S. military and the regions of Southern California and Baja California (Mexico). Miller served as a writer and information gatherer for the U.S. Naval Department Office of Public Information during World War II and the Korean War.

Accession Processed in 1996

The accession processed in 1996 includes manuscripts spanning Max Miller's writing career (1933 - 1962) and arranged in two series: 1) WRITINGS and 2) MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS.

Accession Processed in 2006

The accession processed in 2006 contains material relating to Miller's life, work, and military service, with the greatest portion consisting of personal correspondence and newspaper clippings dating from the 1940s and 1950s.

The papers are arranged in five series: 1) CORRESPONDENCE, 2) WRITINGS, 3) NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS, 4) PHOTOGRAPHS, and 5) MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS.

Container List

Accession Processed in 1996

WRITINGS

Scope and Content of Series

SERIES 1: The WRITINGS series contains Miller's early draft manuscripts of published works, notably Daybreak for our Carrier (1944) and the travel novel The Cruise of the Cow (1951) recording his exploration of Baja California (Mexico). Also included are drafts for the unpublished works Blackburn's Squadron, The Ship That Came In, and Written While Sitting on a Cactus. Often included are materials omitted from final published versions. The materials are arranged alphabetically.

Box 1 Folder 1
Beginning of a Mortal

Proofs of illustrations by John Sloan.

Box 1 Folder 2
Blackburn's Squadron

Outline.

Box 1 Folder 3
Blackburn's Squadron

"The S.O. Bees: Growl of the Big Hog" - typescript outline.

Box 1 Folder 4
Blackburn's Squadron

The S.O. Bees Story - Chapter breakdown.

Box 1 Folder 5
Blackburn's Squadron

"The S.O.Bees: Growl of the Big Hog" - Rewrite notes and correspondence.

Box 1 Folder 6
Blackburn's Squadron

Miscellaneous notes and letter.

Box 1 Folder 7
Cruise of the Cow

Typescript.

Box 1 Folder 8
Cruise of the Cow

Typescript.

Box 1 Folder 9
Daybreak for our Carrier - She's Our Carrier

Manuscript.

Box 1 Folder 10
Daybreak for our Carrier - She's Our Carrier , 1944

Notes

Box 2 Folder 1
Holladay Street

Mazzula letters - Reference material with table of contents.

Box 2 Folder 2
Holladay Street

Correspondence, 1962.

Box 2 Folder 3
Holladay Street

Correspondence, December 1962 - April 1963.

Box 2 Folder 4
Holladay Street

Correspondence, 1960-1963.

Box 2 Folder 5
It's Tomorrow Out Here

Typescript.

Oversize MC-038-10
It's Tomorrow Out Here

Galleys.

Box 2 Folder 7
Newspaper columns - unidentified

Typescripts.

Box 2 Folder 8
Ship that Came In

Unpublished typescript.

Box 2 Folder 9
Speak to the Earth

Chapters 1-14.

Box 2 Folder 10
Speak to the Earth

Chapter 15-30.

Box 2 Folder 11
Speak to the Earth

Chapters 31-40.

Box 3 Folder 1
Speak to the Earth

Chapters 40-54.

Box 3 Folder 2
Written While Sitting on a Cactus

MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS

Scope and Content of Series

SERIES 2: MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS contains several letters to Miller, a letter from Miller to Howard Chernoff, notes on a text, and newspaper clipping book reviews.

Box 3 Folder 3
Miscellaneous correspondence, 1956 - 1981
Box 3 Folder 4
Miscellaneous notes
Box 3 Folder 5
Newspaper clippings
Box 3 Folder 6
Newspaper clippings

Accession Processed in 2006

CORRESPONDENCE

Scope and Content of Series

SERIES 1: CORRESPONDENCE series contains correspondence with Miller's colleagues, friends, and family, with the greatest portion written by Margaret Ripley Miller from the periods of Max Miller's military service (1944 - 1946; 1950 - 1953). Her letters illustrate life in La Jolla (California) in the mid-twentieth century, comment extensively on the Millers' social milieu, note her efforts to establish her own writing career, and document her occasional role as liason between Max Miller and his publishers. To a lesser extent, the CORRESPONDENCE series also includes fan mail and business correspondence. Other notable correspondents include author Walt Coburn, newspaper executive John P. Scripps, KFMB television and radio general manager Howard Chernoff, and Miller's good friend Rear Admiral Harold Blaine Miller (no known relation). Through his later affiliation with the American Petroleum Institute, Harold B. Miller aided Max Miller's research for his book about the oil industry SPEAK TO THE EARTH (1955). The series is arranged alphabetically by correspondent.

Box 4 Folder 1
A-Miscellaneous
Box 4 Folder 2
American Petroleum Institute, 1953 - 1958
Box 4 Folder 3
B-Miscellaneous
Box 4 Folder 4
Broadcast Music, Inc, 1958
Box 4 Folder 5
C-Miscellaneous
Box 4 Folder 6
Cavanaugh, Paige, 1958
Box 4 Folder 7
Chadwick, Florence, 1956 - 1958
Box 4 Folder 8
Chernoff, Howard, 1950 - 1967
Box 4 Folder 9
Coburn, Pat and Walt, 1957 - 1968
Box 4 Folder 10
D-Miscellaneous
Box 4 Folder 11
E-Miscellaneous
Box 4 Folder 12
E.P. Dutton and Co., Inc, 1942 - 1952
Box 4 Folder 13
F-Miscellaneous
Box 4 Folder 14
Farmer, Malcolm F., 1952 - 1958
Box 4 Folder 15
THE FISHERMAN, 1957 - 1958
Box 4 Folder 16
Foust, Chester, 1958
Box 4 Folder 17
G-Miscellaneous
Box 4 Folder 18
H-Miscellaneous
Box 4 Folder 19
Hanley, Thomas, 1950 - 1958
Box 4 Folder 20
I-Miscellaneous
Box 4 Folder 21
J-Miscellaneous
Box 4 Folder 22
K-Miscellaneous
Box 4 Folder 23
Karig, Walter, 1952 - 1953
Box 4 Folder 24
Kieldsen, James and Ynez, 1945 - 1953
Box 4 Folder 25
L-Miscellaneous
Box 4 Folder 26
M-Miscellaneous, part 1
Box 4 Folder 27
M-Miscellaneous, part 2
Box 4 Folder 28
Miller, Harold B., 1944 - 1975
Box 4 Folder 29
Miller, Margaret Ripley, 1935 - 1943
Box 4 Folder 30
Miller, Margaret Ripley, 1944
Box 4 Folder 31
Miller, Margaret Ripley, 1945 - 1946
Box 4 Folder 32
Miller, Margaret Ripley, 1950

August.

Box 4 Folder 33
Miller, Margaret Ripley, 1950

September.

Box 4 Folder 34
Miller, Margaret Ripley, 1950

October.

Box 4 Folder 35
Miller, Margaret Ripley, 1950

November.

Box 5 Folder 1
Miller, Margaret Ripley, 1952

May.

Box 5 Folder 2
Miller, Margaret Ripley, 1952

June.

Box 5 Folder 3
Miller, Margaret Ripley, 1952

July.

Box 5 Folder 4
Miller, Margaret Ripley, 1952

August - September.

Box 5 Folder 5
Miller, Margaret Ripley, 1953
Box 5 Folder 6
Miller, Margaret Ripley

n.d.

Box 5 Folder 7
Miller, Wray, 1957
Box 5 Folder 8
N-Miscellaneous
Box 5 Folder 9
O-Miscellaneous
Box 5 Folder 10
P-Miscellaneous
Box 5 Folder 11
Peach, Gene, 1950
Box 5 Folder 12
Pearce, Antoinette, 1961
Box 5 Folder 13
Pinkerton, Airdrie and Roy, 1958
Box 5 Folder 14
R-Miscellaneous
Box 5 Folder 15
Ripley, John, 1958
Box 5 Folder 16
Rogers, Bogart, 1957 - 1958
Box 5 Folder 17
S-Miscellaneous
Box 5 Folder 18
San Diego Union , 1957 - 1966
Box 5 Folder 19
Scripps, Edythe and John, 1950 - 1967
Box 5 Folder 20
Shepard, Elizabeth and F.P., 1967 - 1972
Box 5 Folder 21
Shippey, Lee, 1956 - 1966
Box 5 Folder 22
Stone, Irving, 1952 - 1966
Box 5 Folder 23
Stoudt, Ray, 1950 - 1952
Box 5 Folder 24
T-Miscellaneous
Box 5 Folder 25
Taylor, Frank, 1958
Box 5 Folder 26
Thisted, Nina, 1958
Box 5 Folder 27
U-Miscellaneous
Box 5 Folder 28
United States Navy, 1943 - 1953
Box 5 Folder 29
University of Oregon, 1966 - 1981
Box 5 Folder 30
W-Miscellaneous
Box 5 Folder 31
Walker, Lew and Melanie, 1957 - 1966
Box 5 Folder 32
Ware, Harlan, 1952 - 1962
Box 5 Folder 33
Unidentified correspondents

WRITINGS

Typescripts

Box 5 Folder 34
Beach Bums

Unpublished typescript, part 1.

Box 5 Folder 35
Beach Bums

Unpublished typescript, part 2.

Box 6 Folder 1
The Book Parade, 1958

Script for radio broadcast, book review of TALE OF VALOR by Verdis Fisher.

Box 6 Folder 2
Chapter on dwarf elephants of San Nicols

Similar to material in chapter 3 of . . . AND BRING ALL YOUR FOLKS. ca. 1959.

Box 6 Folder 3
Cruise of the Cow

Chapters 1-14. ca. 1951.

Box 6 Folder 4
Cruise of the Cow

Chapters 15-28. ca. 1951.

Box 6 Folder 5
Cruise of the Cow

Chapters 29-43. ca. 1951.

Box 6 Folder 6
From These Windows

First draft. ca. 1955.

Box 6 Folder 7
Report on flight deck efficiency, USS Sicily

ca. 1951.

Box 6 Folder 8
Ship That Came In

Unpublished typescript.

Box 6 Folder 9
Untitled poem

Notes

Box 6 Folder 10
Notebook

Includes notes for I COVER THE WATERFRONT. ca. 1932.

Box 6 Folder 11
Notebook

Includes notes for HE WENT AWAY FOR A WHILE. ca. 1932.

Box 6 Folder 12
Notebook

Includes notes related to HE WENT AWAY FOR A WHILE. ca. 1932.

Box 6 Folder 13
Notebook

Notes from England and France for THE FAR SHORE. ca. 1944.

Box 6 Folder 14
Notebook

Notes from Ireland, England, and Europe for THE FAR SHORE. ca. 1944.

Box 6 Folder 15
Cruise of the Cow

Notes. ca. 1951.

Box 6 Folder 16
Notebook

Includes notes related to material in THE CRUISE OF THE COW. ca. 1951.

Box 6 Folder 17
Notebook

Includes notes for CRUISE OF THE COW. ca. 1951.

Box 6 Folder 18
Notebook

Miscellaneous notes and addresses. ca. 1952.

Box 7 Folder 1
Notebook

Includes notes related to the oil industry. ca. 1953.

Box 7 Folder 2
Notebook

Includes notes used in SHINNY ON YOUR OWN SIDE and project with working title THAT HOUSE IS MINE. ca. 1957.

Box 7 Folder 3
Notes - Miscellaneous

Newspaper Articles

Box 7 Folder 4
Cannibal series, The Everett News , 1924
Box 7 Folder 5
Tell it on the Marines, San Diego Sun

ca. 1927.

Box 7 Folder 6
It Seems to Max Miller, New York World Telegram , 1932
Box 7 Folder 7
Before I Forget, San Diego Sun

ca. 1932.

Box 7 Folder 8
Articles - Miscellaneous, 1924 - 1967
Box 7 Folder 9
Articles - Miscellaneous

n.d.

NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS

Articles

Box 7 Folder 10
Miller, Max, 1927 - 1939
Box 7 Folder 11
Miller, Max, 1941 - 1948
Box 7 Folder 12
Miller, Max, 1950 - 1959
Box 7 Folder 13
Miller, Max, 1960 - 1978
Box 7 Folder 14
Miller, Max

n.d.

Box 7 Folder 15
Miller, Max and Ernie Pyle, 1945 - 1947
Box 7 Folder 16
SAN DIEGO SUN, 1938 - 1980
Box 7 Folder 17
Newspaper Clippings - Miscellaneous

Reviews

Box 7 Folder 18
And Bring All Your Folks , 1959 - 1960
Box 7 Folder 19
The Far Shore , 1944 - 1945
Box 7 Folder 20
The Great Trek , 1935
Box 7 Folder 21
It Must be the Climate , 1941 - 1942
Box 7 Folder 22
Promised Land , 1945 - 1946
Box 7 Folder 23
A Stranger Came to Port , 1938 - 1941
Box 7 Folder 24
Reviews - Miscellaneous

PHOTOGRAPHS

Box 7 Folder 25
Miller, Max, 1906 - 1958
Box 7 Folder 26
Miller, Max

Includes images of Miller with others, some published in FOG AND MEN ON BERING SEA. ca. 1936.

Box 7 Folder 27
Miller, Max

Three informal portraits, digital printouts from original negatives with envelope labeled "Negatives for THE LULL." ca. 1946.

Box 7 Folder 28
Miller, Max

Marlin fishing. n.d.

Box 7 Folder 29
The Miller Sisters

Photographs of novelty band featuring Miller for story by Constance Herreshoff for SAN DIEGO UNION, "Miller Sisters (No Sisters) ..." December 9, 1945.

Box 7 Folder 30
The Miller Sisters

Photographs of novelty band featuring Miller practicing at a private residence. n.d.

Box 7 Folder 31 Oversize FB43902
O'Brien, Pat

n.d.

Box 7 Folder 32 Oversize FB43903
Photo Album

Photo album labeled "Max Miller's pictures of the Pacific Theater World War II." n.d.

Box 7 Folder 33
Unidentified subjects

MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS

Box 7 Folder 34
A Reporter Learns to Fly

Scripps Howard News , vol 1 no 3 (December 1927).

Box 7 Folder 35
Biographical Note

ca. 1945.

Box 7 Folder 36
Datebook, 1933

Used as address book.

Box 8 Folder 1
Diploma, 1963
Box 8 Folder 2
Ephemera - Miscellaneous
Box 8 Folder 3
Expense books, 1953

Include appointments.

Box 8 Folder 4
Miller, Margaret Ripley?

Notepad.

Box 8 Folder 5
Miller, Margaret Ripley?

Stenographer's notebook.

Box 8 Folder 6
"My Diary", 1935

Two notebooks each including short entries by unidentified authors.

Box 8 Folder 7
Passport, 1927
Box 8 Folder 8
Pamphlets - Miscellaneous
Box 8 Folder 9
Postcards, unsigned
Box 8 Folder 10
Publication announcements, 1934 - 1951