The Joseph and Josephine Balsz Collection

TITLE: The Joseph and Josephine Balsz Collection

DATE RANGE:  1912-1960s

CALL NUMBER:  Y-MS 24

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:  6 linear feet (10 boxes)

PROVENANCE:   Donated by the Balsz Estate, 1965

COPYRIGHT: The Yuma County Library District owns the copyright to this collection.    

RESTRICTIONS: This collection is unrestricted.   

CREDIT LINE:  Joseph and Josephine Balsz Collection, Y-MS 24, Yuma County Library District

PROCESSED BY: Linda Whitaker, May 2014

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE:    

Joseph (Joe) M. Balz, son of David Balsz and Luz Redondo Balsz, was born August 5, 1879 in Yuma, Arizona. The Balsz family owned the Yuma Wholesale Meat Company and had extensive interests in the cattle business where son Joseph Balsz and other family members served in various capacities. He ran for Yuma Postmaster in 1934 and held that position for ten years until he resigned due to poor health. He died of heart failure in 1945. 

Josephine P. Canét (Connais) Balsz, born January 1, 1894 was an artist and came to Yuma from New Orleans circa 1912 to paint at the request of Nick Larson.  Upon marrying Joe Balsz (prior to WWI but exact date is unknown), she became very active in women’s organizations and cultural groups. Josephine was also a singer and musician who was invited to perform at many social gatherings and in local theatre productions. A University of California correspondence course in creative writing taken in the 1930s fueled Josephine’s aspiration to become a writer.   They had no children. Josephine died in May 7, 1965.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE:  

There is little personal information in this collection and the correspondence is fragmentary. Business ledgers document transactions with livestock ranchers and customers in Arizona, Colorado, California, and Mexico. Oversized boxes include Yuma Postmaster citations for service and an educational certificate for Mary Piedad, Joseph’s sister as well as a postcard scrapbook compiled by another sister, Lilah. Note that Balsz family photographs can be found in the AHS-Rio Colorado Subject Photograph Collection.

The bulk of this collection are drafts of Josephine’s short stories and novelettes, many of which are based on stories told by Joe Balsz growing up along the Rio Colorado River as a rancher and part of the extended and influential Balsz-Redondo family.  Manuscript dates are largely unknown. The writings provide insights into personalities, relationships, and life in early 20th Century Yuma. She wrote under several pen names including Joshua Sands, Jean Sands and Josephine Canét.  It is not known what, if any, of the manuscripts were published. The publications listed below were used as resources for various writings or collected for the Balsz’s private library. 

Arranged in two series under each name and alphabetically and chronologically within.

CONTAINER LIST: 

Box Folder Title Dates
1 1 Balsz, Joseph: Biographical 1945, n.d.
  2 Balsz, Joseph: Correspondence-Business, Legal  1920s-1940
  3 Balsz, Joseph: Correspondence-Personal (Carl Hayden) 1937-1944 
  4 Balsz, Joseph: Correspondence-Personal (Frank M. King) 1933-1936
  5 Balsz, Joseph: Correspondence-Postmaster (includes photo) 1934-1944
  6 Balsz, Joseph: Business Ledger, Hodges Cattle Accounts (significant gaps in dates) 1914-1930
  7 Balsz, Joseph: Business Ledger  1 of 2 1919-1920
  8 Balsz, Joseph: Business Ledger  2 of 2 1919-1920
  9 Balsz, Joseph: Business Ledger, Yuma Wholesale Meat Company 1920-1931
2 1 Balsz, Joseph: Business Ledger 1927-1929
  2 Balsz, Joseph: Photographs 1900s-1940s
  3 Balsz, Josephine: Correspondence (business, legal, personal)

1934, 1938-

1945, 1962-

1963

  4 Balsz, Josephine: Clubs and Memberships - Arizona Federation of Music Clubs; Monday Musical Club

1917-1921,

1924-1925

  5 Balsz, Josephine: Clubs and Memberships – Arizona Federation of Women’s Clubs 1924-1930
  6 Balsz, Josephine: Clubs and Memberships -

Business and Professional Women’s Club

1927-1928
  7 Balsz, Josephine: Clubs and Memberships – Delta Club 1924-1949
  8 Balsz, Josephine: Balsz, Josephine: Clubs and Memberships – Wohelo (Camp Fire Girls) 1927
  9 Balsz, Josephine: Clubs and Memberships –

Yuma Women’s Club

1951-1964

 

  10 Balsz, Josephine: Memorabilia (programs, news clippings, invitations) 1930s-1950s
3 1 Balsz, Josephine: Photographs 1905-1930s
  2  Balsz, Josephine: Publications – Arizona Highways 1936, 1944
  3 Balsz, Josephine: Publications – Gypsy Witch Fortune-Teller” 1914
  4 Balsz, Josephine: Publications – Tales of Apache Warfare by James M. Barney 1933
  5 Balsz, Josephine: Publications  - Telling Fortunes by Cards 1914
  6 Balsz, Josephine: Publications – The Mystic Circle Fortune Teller and Dream Book n.d.
  7 Balsz, Josephine: Publications – The Sandune (newsletter) 1935
  8 Balsz, Josephine: Publications – Zanig’s New Complete Palmistry 1902
  9 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “63 Thought Sketches” as Joshua Sands n.d.
  10 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “A Hillside

Garden” as Joshua Sands

n.d.
  11 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “All Good Things Come to an End” (outline for a screen play) n.d.
  12 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Arizona Friends” as Joshua Sands n.d.
  13 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Bad Pennies” as Josephine Canét n.d.
  14 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Beefsteak for Supper” n.d.
  15 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Bethen’s

Problem” as Josephine Canét (writing class assignment #6)

n.d.
  16

 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Beware of

Giving Your Heart to a Dog”  

n.d.
  17 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Clinking Spurs” as Josephine Canét (plot outline) n.d.
  18  Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Cocklebur’s [sic]” n.d.
  19 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before

Yesterday, A Branding Iron” as Joshua Sands

n.d.
  20 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before Yesterday, A Question Naire [sic]” as Joshua Sands n.d.
  21 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before Yesterday, Amature [sic) Detective” as Joshua Sands n.d.

 

  22 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before Yesterday, Ambition” as Joshua Sands n.d.
  23 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before Yesterday, Arizona Charlie” n.d.
  24 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before

Yesterday, Bagging Big Game” as Joshua Sands

n.d.
  25 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before Yesterday, Buried Treasure: as Joshua Sands n.d.
  26 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before Yesterday, Candle-Light” as Joshua Sands 1965
  27 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before

Yesterday, Come Back Later” as Joshua Sands

n.d.
  28 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before Yesterday, Dollars vs. Contentment” as Joshua Sands   n.d.
  29 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before Yesterday, East vs. West”   n.d.
  30 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before Yesterday, Empty Years” as Joshua Sands n.d.
  31 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before

Yesterday, Fate Dealt a Hand” as Joshua Sands

n.d.
  32 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before

Yesterday, Gliding Shadows” as Joshua Sands

n.d.
  33 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before Yesterday, Gold” as Joshua Sands n.d.
  34 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before Yesterday, High Lady” as Joshua Sands and Janine Sands n.d.
  35 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before

Yesterday, Horse Mesa County” as Joshua Sands

n.d.
  36 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before Yesterday, Horse Sense” as Joshua Sands n.d.
  37 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before

Yesterday, Indian Superstition and Loyalty”  as Josephine Canét

n.d.
  38 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before Yesterday, Make It a Dozen” as Joshua Sands n.d.
  39 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before Yesterday, Mirage” as Joshua Sands n.d.
  40 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before

Yesterday, Moonlight Rodeo” as Joshua Sands

n.d.
  41 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before

Yesterday, More About Buddie” as Joshua Sands

n.d.
4 1 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before

Yesterday, Morning Matinee” as Joshua Sands

n.d.
  2 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before n.d.

 

    Yesterday, Mr. East and Mr. West” as Joshua Sands  
  3 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before

Yesterday, Mr. Thomas Cat” as Josephine Canét

n.d.
  4 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before Yesterday, Mrs. Cow is Displeased” as Joshua Sands n.d.
  5 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before Yesterday, Nuggets” as Joshua Sands n.d.
  6 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before Yesterday, On a Mountain Trail” as Joshua Sands n.d.
  7 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before Yesterday, Pancho” n.d.
  8 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days

BeforeYesterday, Papago County” as Joshua Sands

n.d.
  9 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before

Yesterday, Papago Treachery” as Joshua Sands

n.d.
  10 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before

Yesterday, Playful Kittens” as Joshua Sands

n.d.
  11 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before Yesterday, Spike” (5 sketches) as Josephine Canét n.d.
  12 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before Yesterday, Strange Light” as Joshua Sands n.d.
  13 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before Yesterday, The Ancient One Chants, The

Ancient One Speaks” as Joshua Sands

n.d.
  14 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before

Yesterday, The Last Camel” as Joshua Sands

n.d.
  15 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before

Yesterday, The Lowly Burro” as Joshua Sands

n.d.
  16 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before Yesterday, The Road Runner or Paisano” as Joshua Sands n.d.
  17 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before Yesterday, The Round Up” as Joshua Sands n.d.
  18 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before Yesterday, Things You Auto Know” as Joshua Sands n.d.
  19 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before Yesterday, Tinajos Altos” as Joshua Sands n.d.
  20 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before

Yesterday, Told in the Twilight: as Josephine  Canét

n.d.

 

  21 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before Yesterday, Toulouse to Win”   n.d.
  22 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before

Yesterday, Trustworthy - Indian County” as Joshua Sands

n.d.
  23 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before

Yesterday, Unsolved Mystery” as Joshua Sands

n.d.
  24 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before Yesterday, Wildlife Feathered Sentinels” as Joshua Sands n.d.
  25 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before Yesterday, Wildlife, Steep Climb” n.d.
  26 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Days Before Yesterday, Yaqui County” as Joshua Sands n.d.
  27 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – Diary (incomplete) 1921-1924
  28 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – Diary Account of a Vacation (September 3-12, 1939, handwritten) 1939
  29 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – ‘Disappointment, A Sketch” (writing class assignment #1) n.d.
  30 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Getting a Break” as Jean Sands n.d.
  31 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Gold is Where You Find It” as Joshua Sands n.d.
  32 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Give Him  Break”   n.d.
  33 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Gone are the Days” (writing class assignment #9)   n.d.
  34 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Gran’dad” as Josephine Canét n.d.
  35 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “How Far is Over There” as Joshua Sands n.d.
  36 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Ingratitude”   n.d.
  37 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Ladies Day” as Joshua Sands n.d.
  38 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Life in Old Arizona”   1933
  39 Balsz, Josephine: Writings –  “Little Red Boots” n.d.
  40 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Lest We Forget” as Josephine Balsz   n.d.
  41  ”Mary Elizabeth”  as Josephine Balsz n.d.
  42 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Mickie the Outlaw”   n.d.
  43 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “My First Chew” n.d.
  44 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Old Faithful” n.d.
5  1  Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Old Wisdom” (multiple drafts)  1 of 3  n.d.

 

   2 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Old Wisdom” (multiple drafts)  2 of 3 n.d.
   3 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Old Wisdom” (multiple drafts)  3 of 3 n.d.
   4 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Paroled” as Jean Sands n.d.
   5 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Pick Up” as Josephine Canét n.d.
   6 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – Poetry (as Joshua or Jean Sands) 1930s-1950s, n.d.
   7 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – Proverbs, Descriptive Notes, Western Sayings n.d.
6 1 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Range Strays” as Jean Sands n.d.
  2 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Rex My Pal”   n.d.
  3 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Sand Dunes” (thought sketches) as Joshua Sands n.d.
  4 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Sham Battle”   n.d.
  5 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Smoke Screen”   n.d.
  6 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Smoking Hoofs”   1933
  7 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Smoky” as Joshua Sands n.d.
  8 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – “Storm” (writing class assignment # 10) n.d.
  9 Balsz, Josephine: Writings – Story Formula (writing class assignment #3) n.d.
  10 Balsz, Josephine: Writings -  “Streets of Adventure” as Josephine Canét (chapters 1-8)  1 of 3 n.d.
  11 Balsz, Josephine: Writings -  “Streets of Adventure” as Josephine Canét (chapters 9-15)  2 of 3 n.d.
  12 Balsz, Josephine: Writings -  “Streets of

Adventure” as Josephine Canét (chapters 16-26)  3 of 3

n.d.
  13 Balsz, Josephine: Writings -  “The Perfect Squelch” n.d.
7 1 Balsz, Josephine: Writings -  Submissions for “This Funny Life  in True Magazine 1955
  2 Balsz, Josephine: Writings -  Submitted to Life in These United States n.d.
  3 Balsz, Josephine: Writings -  “The Dove” as Joshua Sands n.d.
  4 Balsz, Josephine: Writings -  “Sunset Dueling” n.d.
  5 Balsz, Josephine: Writings -  “The Golden

Spur” as Jean Sands

 
  6 Balsz, Josephine: Writings -  “The Heart of

Jennie Lee” as Jean Sands

n.d.
  7 Balsz, Josephine: Writings -  “The House

Divided”  

n.d.
  8 Balsz, Josephine: Writings -  “The Kid Cattle Buyer” as Joshua Sands n.d.
  9 Balsz, Josephine: Writings -  “The Mexican Vaquero – King of the Range”   n.d.
  10 Balsz, Josephine: Writings -  “The Pursuit of

Happiness” as Josephine Canét

n.d.
  11 Balsz, Josephine: Writings -  “The Stampede”   n.d.
  12 Balsz, Josephine: Writings -  “The Tale  of a Journey” n.d.
  13 Balsz, Josephine: Writings -  “The 

Tears of a Captive Maiden – A Legend” as Jean Sands

n.d.
  14 Balsz, Josephine: Writings -   “The Type of

People Whom I Like” (writing class assignment #8)

n.d.
  15 Balsz, Josephine: Writings -  “The Worriments of the Williamses” as Jean Sands (submitted to Little, Brown, & Company novelette contest)   1934, 1954
  16 Balsz, Josephine: Writings -  “Thirty Years a Slave” as Jean Sands n.d.
  17 Balsz, Josephine: Writings -  “Tilted Halo” (writing class assignment #5)    n.d.
  18 Balsz, Josephine: Writings -  “Ya Never C’n Tell” as Jean Sands n.d.
  19 Balsz, Josephine: Writings -  “Wind, Desert, and Dust Devils” as Joshua Sands n.d.
  20 Balsz, Josephine: Writings -  “Wind, Desert, and Dust Devils – Legend of the Lost Lands” n.d.
  21  Balsz, Josephine: Writings -  “ “Who Was

Guilty” as Jeanne Bracken (submitted to Modern Romance story contest)

1950
  22 Balsz, Josephine: Writings -  On Women (notes, sketches, news clippings)  n.d.
8 OV Postcard Scrapbook compiled by Lilah Balsz 1908-1910
9 OV Yuma Wholesale Meat Company Ledger 1927-1929
10 OV  Educational certificate and Postmaster recognitions

1894, 1935,

1939

 

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