Finding aid to the William C. and Frank M. Parcher Papers
MS.596
Finding aid prepared by Glenna Schroeder, Lisa Bechtold
Autry National Center, Braun Research Library
234 Museum Drive
Los Angeles, CA, 90065-5030
323-221-2164
rroom@theautry.org
2011
Title: William C. and Frank M. Parcher Papers,
Identifier/Call Number: MS.596
Contributing Institution:
Autry National Center, Braun Research Library
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.75 Linear feet
(1 box); 1oversized folder
Date (inclusive): 1911-1931
Abstract: The collection consists of the documents of father and son, William C. and Frank M. Parcher from 1911 to 1931. William’s portion
includes documents from his time with the Bishop Chamber of Commerce circa 1918-1921. Frank’s portion includes professional
documents from his time at the Southwest Museum and his writing on Native Americans of Eastern California. William C. Parcher
was father to Frank M. Parcher. William C. Parcher, born circa 1873 and died 1945, was the secretary of the Bishop Chamber
of Commerce from circa 1918 to 1921. In 1920, he opened Parcher’s Rainbow Camp, which to this day, still functions as a resort.
creator:
Granquist, Genevieve C., fl. 1928.
creator:
Parcher, Frank M., 1903-1974
creator:
Parcher, William C., 1873-1945
Preferred citation
William C. and Frank M. Parcher Papers, 1911-1931, Braun Research Library Collection, Autry National Center, Los Angeles, CA: MS. 596, [folder number] [folder title][date].
Custodial History
Presumably, Frank M. Parcher left these documents to the Braun. It is unknown when they were donated, as the library’s records
have no information.
Processing information
Collection previously partially processed by Glenna Schroeder circa 1977-1981. Finding aid completed by Braun Research Library
volunteer Lisa Bechtold, February- April 2011. Final processing of collection and publication of finding aid made possible
by a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).
Biographical note
William C. Parcher was father to Frank M. Parcher, who inherited his father’s papers to form this collection. William C. Parcher
(circa 1873-1945), was the secretary of the Bishop Chamber of Commerce (circa 1918- 1921) and in 1920, he opened Parcher’s
Rainbow Camp, which to this day, still functions as a resort. He was married to Marie Louise Parcher and they had two sons,
Ward Parcher and Frank M. Parcher, both who would be involved in the resort, Ward more so than Frank.
In addition to working with the Bishop Chamber of Commerce, William previously worked with the Los Angeles Times and later
bought the Owens Valley Herald and the Inyo Independent.
Frank M. Parcher (1903-1974) was born in Los Angeles, California. His early life was divided between the Inyo and Los Angeles
areas. In 1928, Frank founded the Eastern California Museum in Independence, California. From 1930 August to 1932 March, he
served as the Assistant Secretary at the Southwest Museum from which he conducted research on the Native American tribes of
eastern California. He spent much of his middle to later life working as a public servant to the Native American tribes of
eastern California and Nevada, with the American Red Cross, the Owens Valley Indian Rehabilitation Project, and the Federal
Civil Defense Administration.
His first wife was Genevieve C. Granquist, dates of marriage unknown, with whom he had a daughter, Harriet Mary Granquist.
Genevieve died and Frank later remarried Florence Parcher (Florence's maiden name is unknown).
Scope and content
The collection consists of the documents of father and son, William C. and Frank M. Parcher. William’s portion includes documents
from his time with the Bishop Chamber of Commerce circa 1918-1921. Items include correspondence, institutional records, ephemera,
news clippings, government reports, and realia related to Owens Valley, Owens Valley, Inyo County, Bishop Chamber of Commerce,
California water history, and the Los Angeles Aqueduct.
Frank’s portion includes professional documents from his time at the Southwest Museum and his writing on Native Americans
of eastern California. Items include correspondence; financial documents; literary manuscripts; and a newspaper article. Frank’s
papers also include his and Genevieve's notes on eastern California Indians; Genevieve's personal papers; four maps of California;
and Frank's writings on Owens Valley.
Arrangememt
- Series 1: William C. Parcher Papers, 1918-1931
- Series 2: Frank M. Parcher Papers, 1928-1931
- Series 3: Genevieve C. Granquist papers, 1928, undated
- Series 4: Maps and realia, 1911, 1917, undated
Use
Copyright has not been assigned to the Autry National Center. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts
must be submitted in writing to the Autry Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Autry National Center
as the custodian of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must
also be obtained by the reader.
Access
Collection is open for research. Appointments to view materials are required. To make an appointment please visit http://theautry.org/research/research-rules-and-application
or contact library staff at rroom@theautry.org. An item-level inventory is available from library staff.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Bishop Chamber of Commerce (Bishop, Calif.).
Southwest Museum (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Bishop (Calif.)
Clippings.
Correspondence.
Financial records.
Indians of North America -- California.
Inyo County (Calif.)
Manuscripts.
Maps.
Owens Valley (Calif.)
Parcher's Rainbow Camp (Bishop, Calif.)
Petitions.
Programs.
Receipts (financial records).
Water reuse.
Water use -- California.
William C. Parcher Papers, Series I:
1918-1931
Language of Material:
English
Box 1, Folder 1-5
Correspondence, Subseries 1:
1918-1921
Box 1, Folder 1
Bishop Chamber of Commerce,
1918
Box 1, Folder 2
Bishop Chamber of Commerce,
1919
Language of Material:
English
Box 1, Folder 3
Bishop Chamber of Commerce,
1920
Language of Material:
English
Box 1, Folder 4
Bishop Chamber of Commerce,
1921, undated
Language of Material:
English
Box 1, Folder 5
General correspondence,
Bulk, 1918-1921
1918-1931
Language of Material:
English
Box 1, folders 6-11
Bishop Chamber of Commerce records, Subseries 2:
1920, undated
Language of Material:
English
Box 1, Folder 6
Draft resolutions,
1920, undated
Language of Material:
English
Box 1, Folder 7
Reports,
undated
Language of Material:
English
Box 1, Folder 8
Rosters,
1917-1919, undated
Language of Material:
English
Box 1, Folder 9
Suggestion forms,
circa 1920
Language of Material:
English
Scope and contents
Includes survey forms. Some of the forms are blank and some are filled out by members. Form asks members to suggest items
that are considered important for the Bishop Chamber of Commerce to address. Suggestions from members relate to boosterism,
city development, agriculture, education, irrigation issues, farmers, and cooperation between all Bishop towns and cities.
Box 1, Folder 10
Minutes,
1919
Language of Material:
English
Box 1, Folder 11
Expense receipts,
1918-1921
Language of Material:
English
Box 1, Folder 12
Petition form,
undated
Language of Material:
English
Scope and contents
Two copies of a petition to "procure the standardizing of that certain line of Narrow Gauge Railroad, as the same now exists,
to a Standard Gauge Railroad, from the town of Owenyeo in the County of Inyo, State of California, to or near the town of
Mina in the State of Nevada".
Box 1, Folder 13
Statement showing amount of freight carried by Southern Pacific Company over its line in Owens Valley,
circa 1928
Language of Material:
English
Box 1, Folder 14
Programs,
1911-1915
Language of Material:
English
Scope and contents
Programs for events hosted by Bishop Chamber of Commerce includes:
- Prospectors Convention, 1911 September 4
- Pilot tour of the Pasear banquet, 1912 June 27
- Indian Entertainment at the Bishop Opera House, 1915 March 12
- Prospectors Convention, undated
Box 1, Folder 15
Owens Valley promotional material,
1925-1926, undated
Language of Material:
English
Box 1, Folder 16
Newspaper clippings,
Bulk, 1919-1920
1919-1927, undated
Language of Material:
English
Box 1, Folder 17
Government reports and documents,
Bulk, 1919-1920
1919-1927
Language of Material:
English
Box 1, Folder 18
Government reports and documents,
1925, 1928
Language of Material:
English
Folder 34
Board of Directors notes and 1917 financial report
1918 March - May
Language of Material:
English
Frank M. Parcher Papers, Series 2:
1928-1931
Language of Material:
English
Box 1, folders 19-20
Southwest Museum documents, Subseries 1:
1928-1931
Box 1, Folder 19
Correspondence,
1928-1931
Language of Material:
English
Box 1, Folder 20
Southwest Museum financial documents,
1930-1931
Language of Material:
English
Writings about Owens Valley and Owens Valley Indians by Parcher, Subseries 2:
circa 1931
Box 1, Folder 21
Manuscript,
undated
Language of Material:
English
Box 1, Folder 22
Los Angeles Times article,
1931 July 5
Language of Material:
English
Box 1, folders 23-31
Indians of Eastern California, Subseries 3:
1928, undated
Box 1, Folder 23
Bibliography,
1931 November 3
Language of Material:
English
Box 1, Folder 24
Notes regarding the living conditions,
undated
Language of Material:
English
Box 1, Folder 25
Paiute language translations,
1916 August
Language of Material:
English
Scope and contents
Title of the document, "An English translation of the language used by the Indians in the Northern end of Owens Valley. The
document also notes that it was "compiled by Mrs Foster, a teacher at the Bishop Indian School, during August 1916."
Box 1, Folder 26
Notes on Eastern Mono,
circa 1929
Language of Material:
English
Box 1, Folder 27
Paiute myths,
undated
Language of Material:
English
Scope and contents
Typed manuscript of multiple stories.
Box 1, Folder 28
Description of "Indian Games",
1930 Februrary - March
Language of Material:
English
Scope and contents
Folder includes description of "Indian games as told by Mrs. Lochrie during February and March, 1930 at Independence. Mrs.
Lochrie is a 'Nevada Indian' or North Indian a part of the Eastern California Indians." Mrs Lochrie describes the Hand Game
or Stick Game, Dart and Hoop Game, Hockey, and Dice.
Genevieve C. Granquist papers, Series 3:
1928, undated
Language of Material:
English
Box 1, Folder 29
Notes from “Elementary Music Methods”,
1928
Language of Material:
English
Box 1, Folder 30
Untitled manuscript of a short story set in Owens Valley,
undated
Language of Material:
English
Box 1, Folder 31
Handwritten notes,
undated
Language of Material:
English
Scope and contents
Includes a listing of winners for best Indian baskets, bows and arrows, arrowheads, buckskin clothing, beadwork, and pottery.
Carrie Bethel is noted as the winner of "Best Indian Willow Basket" and "Best Beaded Basket".
Maps and realia, Series 4:
1911, 1917, undated
Box 1, Folder 32
Realia,
undated
Language of Material:
English
Scope and contents
Contains felt cloth badge for the "Southern California Editorial Assn Bishop, Cal. Oct 11-13" and Inyo Good Road Club pin.
Box 1, Folder 33, item Item 1
Map of Inyo National Forest and Nevada,
1917
Language of Material:
English
Box 1, Folder 33, item 2
Map of Inyo National Forest and Nevada with markings,
1917
Language of Material:
English
Scope and contents
Contains markings designating "Open season" for two areas.
Box 1, Folder 33, item 3-4
"The Big Red Apple: The Money Tree," by H. N. Beard
1911
Language of Material:
English
Scope and contents
Promotional folder for "The Aqueduct Land and Orchards County", Los Angeles, California. Contains a "Map of California Showing
route of the Los Angeles Aqueduct and California's great Apple District - The Owens River Valley" (2 copies).
