The collection is composed of documents created or acquired by Lester Earnest during his employment with the City of San Diego from 1948-1971, primarily related to city finances, land use, parks and recreation, and community development.

Lester (Les) Elvin Earnest (24 April 1905 – 27 February 2001) grew up in North Loup, Nebraska, and Montrose, Colorado. His family moved to San Diego in June 1923. Earnest studied electrical engineering at San Diego State College (now San Diego State University) from 1924-1926, and later, public administration. Earnest married Sue Mable Wolfer on 22 November 1928 in Yuma, Arizona. Sue Earnest (1907-2007) was a professor in the Speech Pathology and Audiology Department at San Diego State College from 1947 to 1973. The Earnests had two children, Lester D. and Patricia (Boyle), and lived in the Mission Hills neighborhood on Fort Stockton Drive.

21.0 Linear feet (24 boxes)

The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.

This collection is open for research.