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OBern (George and Vivian) collection
SBHC Mss 32
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Title: George and Vivian Obern collection
Identifier/Call Number: SBHC Mss 32
Language of Material:
English
.
Contributing Institution:
UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections
Physical Description:
2 Linear Feet;
(2 cartons)
Creator:
Obern, George (Earl George) (1918-2006)
Creator:
Obern, Vivian (Vivian Marie Hapeman) (1921-2015)
Date (inclusive): circa 1940s-2009
Abstract: This collection contains materials from George Obern's naval career, as well as materials related to the Oberns' civic work
in Santa Barbara County, mostly with the Santa Barbara County Parks Foundation and the Santa Barbara County Trails Council.
Vivian was born on May 20, 1921, in Park Ridge, Illinois. She attended Principia College in Elsah, Illinois, where she graduated
with a B.A. in political science in 1942 with her classmate, George Obern. She and George were married at her family home
after he joined the Navy during World War II.
With their young son, Vaughn, Vivian and George moved to Santa Barbara, California, in 1947 when George was hired by UC Santa
Barbara as the Public Information Manager. The Oberns became dedicated volunteers, serving on many historical and land-preservation
organization boards.
Vivian was a founding member of the Santa Barbara County Trails Council, a member of the Santa Barbara's Sage Hens, president
of the Therapeutic Riding Academy, secretary of the Citizen's Advisory Committee of La Purísima Mission State Historic Park,
served on the Board of Directors and as secretary for the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation, and chair of the
County American Revolution Bicentennial Committee.
Both George and Vivian were also involved with Santa Barbara's Old Spanish Days Fiesta. George served as El Presidente in
1977, and volunteered for numerous activities with Old Spanish Days and the Carriage Museum. The family also routinely participated
in the various Old Spanish Days parades.
Sources: Noozhawk; Independent!. Accessed August 2023.
The collection is open for research. This collection is stored offsite. Advance notice is required for retrieval.
Copyright has not been assigned to the Department of Special Research Collections, UCSB. All requests for permission to publish
or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission for publication is given
on behalf of the Department of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply
permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained.
Gift of Vivian Obern, on February 11, 2010.
[Identification of Item], George and Vivian Obern collection, SBHC Mss 32. Department of Special Research Collections, UC
Santa Barbara Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.
Box 1 consists of materials related to Earl George Obern's navy career - navy data, journals, naval reserve academy materials,
correspondence, newsletters, and miscellaneous reference materials.
Box 2 consists of materials related to both George and Vivian's civic work in Santa Barbara County - work with the UC Santa
Barbara campus and work with the various local foundations - the Santa Barbara County Trails Council, Santa Barbara County
Parks Foundation, the County Bowl group, Old Spanish Days, etc. Box 2 also contains a folder of personal correspondence, photographs,
and news clippings.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Volunteer workers in community development -- California -- Santa Barbara -- Archives
Personal correspondence
Diaries
Newsletters
Printed ephemera
United States. Navy -- Radarmen -- Archives