Hutchinson, W. H. (William Henry), 1910-1934

W. H. Hutchinson was born in Denver, Colorado on August 13, 1910. He spent his youth in the West, living in Goldfield, Arizona and Mexico.

Hutchinson met his wife Esther "Red" on a troop ship while being evacuated from China, where she was working as a deputy marshal for the U.S. Treasure Department. The couple married in 1942 and moved to San Francisco in 1946. They later settled in Chico, California. "Old Hutch" and "Red" had two sons, Warren and James.

In 1946, Hutchinson edited a collection of previously unpublished works of Eugene Manlove Rhodes, The Little World Waddies . This publication brought renewed interest to Rhodes' writings and recognition to Hutchinson in the literary world. Hutchinson edited other Rhodes writings including, The Rhodes Reader (1957); an anthology of Rhodes features, and The Line of Least Resistance, in 1958.

In 1956, Hutchinson wrote his biography of Rhodes entitled A Bar Cross Man, which was highly acclaimed as one of the ten best Western books of 1956. In 1959, he compiled an annotated bibliography of Rhodes, titled A Bar Cross Liar .

Hutchinson also authored other works such as Another Verdict for Oliver Lee, in 1965, and Whiskey Jim and a Kid Named Billie, in 1967. Western topics Hutchinson wrote on included music; California history; Lincoln County, New Mexico history; and oil. In 1964, Hutchinson arrived at California State University and served as professor of Californian and Western history for fourteen years. He received the Chico State Distinguished Teacher Award in 1968, and Outstanding Professor of California State Colleges and Universities, in 1977. He retired in 1978.

Hutchinson died on March 11, 1990, in Chico, California. His wife "Red" died one month later on April 12.

From the guide to the W. H. Hutchinson Papers, 1925-1985 (bulk 1952-1979), (Archives and Special Collections, New Mexico State University Library)