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Guide to the Don M. Stewart Papers
MS 34
MS 34
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Table of contents
Title: Don M. Stewart Papers
Identifier/Call Number: MS 34
Contributing Institution:
San Diego History Center Document Collection
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
1.0 Linear feet
(2 boxes)
Date: 1871-1970
Abstract: This collection contains personal papers of Don M. Stewart, documents on San Diego water development, and drafts of Stewart’s
book “Frontier Port.”
creator:
Stewart, Don M.
Biographical / Historical Notes
Donald M. Stewart (1873-1969) was born in San Diego on August 3, 1873. His father, Daniel Stewart came to San Diego from England
in 1868 and worked for the Panama Steamship Company. Donald was one of six children. He attended school in San Diego from
1882 to 1891. He then held jobs for the San Diego Sun, the Lion Clothing Company, and a building contractor in San Francisco.
In 1899 he joined a goat hunting expedition to Guadalupe Island. That same year he was appointed as ensign in the Naval Military
Service, which later became the National Naval Volunteers, and then the Naval Reserve. In 1900 he was employed by the Western
Metal Supply Company. In 1903 he was elected to the City Council, choosing not to run for re-election in 1905. In 1902 he
married Maude Wilson. They had three children: Donald M. b. 1904, Dorothy M. b. 1909, and Marjorie May Stewart Sanborn b.
1911.
In 1906 he left Western Metal Supply and joined W.H. Frazer in the real estate business. He later joined Harry Fisher and
Company in the insurance business. In 1907 he organized an armed guard to accompany the British steamer Maori King to Guaymas,
Mexico. He was employed by the Pacific Coast Steamship Company as office clerk and cashier until 1909 when he was elected
City Treasurer and Tax Collector of San Diego. He served in the Navy from 1917 to 1919 as Lieutenant Commander of National
Naval Reserves. During WWI he was assigned to the U.S.S. San Diego which was engaged in escorting troops to France from New
York or Halifax. He was on leave when the San Diego was sunk after hitting a floating mine near Fire Island. He worked in
real estate until 1921 when the City Council elected him to fill a vacancy on the Council. He served on the council until
1927. During Stewart’s terms on the city council, he was actively involved in efforts to increase San Diego’s water supply.
Stewart was especially involved in efforts to bring Colorado River water to San Diego.
After leaving the City Council he returned to real estate, took over the business of Charles Cass and devoted his time to
general insurance and property interests. In 1932 he became Chairman of the Democratic County Central Committee. Later he
was appointed to the Executive Committee of the Democratic Party’s state organization. In May of 1934 U.S. Senator William
G. McAdoo elected him Postmaster of San Diego (1934-1948).
He was involved in many social organizations and served as President of the San Diego Historical Society. In 1965 Wade Ritchie
Press of Los Angeles published his book, Frontier Port. It chronicles the development of San Diego and its maritime history
with the author’s personal experiences from 1880’s through the turn of the century. Don M. Stewart died June 14, 1969 in Lemon
Grove. According to newspaper reports at the time of his death, he was the oldest living San Diego native.
This collection contains personal papers of Don M. Stewart, documents on San Diego water development, and drafts of Stewart’s
book “Frontier Port.” His personal papers primarily cover his military service, political activities, and time as postmaster.
The documents on San Diego water development were collected during his time on the City Council and Democratic County Central
Committee. They cover several dam sites, the Sutherland-San Dieguito system, Boulder Canyon, and assorted other reports. The
book “Frontier Port” is a collection of essays and anecdotes regarding Stewart’s experiences in San Diego from the 1880s and
details the general conditions and maritime history of San Diego at the time.
This collection is arranged in three series:
Series I: Personal Papers;
Series II: Water Development;
Series III: Frontier Port.
Don M. Stewart Papers, MS 34, San Diego History Center Document Archives, San Diego, CA.
This collection is open for research.
The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
The ledger book and papers in this collection are in good condition. The Freeman Report newspaper is brittle and badly yellowed.
Use copy instead.
In April of 2002 Don Stewart’s Frontier Port papers and the Certificates of Elections were combined with MS 34.
Collection processed by Ruth Milburn in 1984, Sean Stewart in 2002, and Samantha Mills in 2017.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Boulder Canyon Project .
Fletcher, Ed
Jorgenson, Lars
Pyle, Fred
San Diego (Calif.). City Council.
Savage, Hiram N.
Stewart Family
United States. Naval Reserve.
Barrett Dam (Calif.)
Dams
El Capitan Dam (Calif.)
Lower Otay Dam (Calif.)
Morena Dam (Calif.)
Postmasters
San Diego River (Calif.)
Sutherland Reservoir (Calif.)
Upper Otay Dam (Calif.)
Water development projects -- California -- San Diego County