Guide to the Andreas Brown Collection
MS 270
Finding aid prepared by Lauren Rasmussen
Collection processed as part of grant project supported by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) with generous
funding from The Andrew Mellon Foundation.
San Diego History Center Document Collection
1649 El Prado, Suite 3
San Diego, CA, 92101
619-232-6203
May 21, 2012
Title: Andreas Brown Collection
Identifier/Call Number: MS 270
Contributing Institution:
San Diego History Center Document Collection
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
5.5 Linear feet
(9 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1683-1984
Language of Materials: Collection materials are in English and Spanish.
Abstract: The collection is comprised of San Diego related materials collected by Andreas Brown, a San Diego native and one-time owner
of Gotham Book Mart in New York City.
creator:
Brown, Andreas
Processing Information
Collection processed by Lauren Rasmussen on May 21, 2012.
Collection processed as part of grant project supported by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) with generous
funding from The Andrew Mellon Foundation.
Preferred Citation
Andreas Brown Collection, MS 270, San Diego History Center Document Collection, San Diego, CA.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.
Biographical / Historical Notes
Andreas Brown grew up in Coronado, San Diego. He graduated from Hoover High School in 1951and then earned a degree in economics
from San Diego State University. After graduating, he pursued law school at Stanford University, but quickly abandoned the
idea after a brief stint with the U.S. Army’s Judge Advocate General Corps. After returning to San Diego where he taught speech
at SDSU for 3 years, he moved to San Francisco, where he started working as an appraiser for rare books and manuscripts.
Brown frequently visited New York on business, and became a regular at Gotham Book Mart and friends with the bookstore’s owner,
Frances Steloff. Steloff later sold the store to Brown in 1967. Brown went on to run the Gotham Book Mart until it closed
in 2007. Throughout his tenure there, Brown collected a large variety of materials related to his hometown, much of which
he passed on to San Diego Historical Society.
Scope and Content
The collection consists primarily of ephemera related to San Diego history, events, people, and organizations, but also includes
original documents, including correspondence. There are maps related to specific San Diego neighborhoods, like Coronado, and
advertisements for prominent businesses. Administrative materials regarding San Diego city departments are present, as are
documents about transportation, including the San Diego Trolley and the major San Diego railways. There are also publications
and announcements of local school activities.
A large portion of the collection relates to tourist information, especially the two major exhibitions held in San Diego:
the Panama-California Exposition (1916-1916) and the California Pacific International Exposition (1935-1936). Other tourism
materials include guidebooks, travel maps, and pamphlets about local attractions, including the San Diego Zoo.
Of particular interest are original documents Brown collected, including an 1846 inventory of the San Diego Mission and a
copy of a 17th century map of California by famous map maker Alain Manesson Mallet.
Separated Materials
Map of Rancho San Vicente (1869) previously separated to Map Collection.
Items separted to the Object Collection:
Golden Hill pharmacy bottle
San Diego transit token
San Diego Exposition (1935) souvenir penny
San Diego Gas & Electric pin
San Diego Exposition (1935) pendent
San Diego Gas & Electric lighter
Point Loma lighthouse necklace
2 San Diego Gas & Electric pens
La Jolla souvenir spoon
Tijuana, Mexico souvenir spoon
“S.D.A.C.” spoon
San Diego pennant
12 souvenir matchbooks
Panama souvenir coin
2 San Diego Exposition (1935) spoons
Lindbergh commemorative coin
20 souvenir matchbooks
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Some paper documents are fragile. (May 3, 2012)
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into eight series:
Series I: San Diego City and County
Series II: Business
Series III: Transportation
Series IV: Tourism
Series V: Schools
Series VI: Organizations and Activities
Series VII: Literature, Music, and Entertainment
Series VIII: Original Documents
Items in each series are arranged by subject.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Accession numbers 840519A, 860703B, 870113A, 880329A, 900724, 910612, 971201, 980909a-h.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Alvarado, Francisco Maria
Arguello, Santiago
California Pacific International Exposition (1935-1936 : San Diego, Calif.).
Conair, Inc..
Estudillo, Jose Antonio
Harbison, J. S. (John S.)
Hotel del Coronado (Coronado, Calif.).
Jackson, Helen Hunt, 1830-1885
Jacobs-Bond, Carrie, 1862-1946
Lindbergh, Charles A. (Charles Augustus), 1902-1974
Marston's Department Store.
Martin, Fernando, Father
Panama-California Exposition (1915 : San Diego, Calif.).
Panama-California International Exposition (1916 : San Diego, Calif.).
Pumphrey, Margaret B. (Margaret Blanche), b. 1872
Remondino, Peter Charles, 1846-1926
San Diego & Arizona Eastern Railway Company.
San Diego Electric Railway.
San Diego Mission.
San Diego State College.
San Diego Trolley.
San Diego Zoo.
Sanborn, S. S.
Theosophical Society in America.
Tingley, Katherine Augusta Westcott, 1847-1929
Wright, Allen Henry
Zoological Society of San Diego.
Advertising
Associations, institutions, etc.
Balboa Park (San Diego, Calif.)
California -- Maps
Clubs
Coronado (Calif.)
Correspondence
El Cajon (Calif.)
Escondido (Calif.)
La Jolla (San Diego, Calif.)
Maps
Poetry
Point Loma (San Diego, Calif.)
Postcards
Ramona (Calif.)
San Diego (Calif.)
Sheet music
Tourism
Tourist maps
Series I:
San Diego City and County
Box-folder 1:1
Cabrillo, Juan Rodriguez,
1968
Box-folder 1:2
Coronado,
1903–1927 and undated
Box-folder 1:3
El Cajon,
1899 January 26
Box-folder Oversize Collections D6
La Jolla properties map,
undated
Box-folder Oversize Collections D6
Logan Heights “Southlook” subdivision,
undated
Box-folder 1:7
Miscellaneous maps,
1910 and undated
Includes:
California State map (in Oversize Collections D6)
Julian District map (in Oversize Collections D6)
Lower California map (in Oversize Collections D6)
Riverside County map (in Oversize Collections D6)
San Diego County map (in Oversize Collections D6)
Box-folder 1:9
Obituaries and announcements,
1921 May 24–1936 August 3 and undated
Box-folder 1:11
San Diego Police,
1927
Includes:
“Police Relief Association: Sixth Annual Souvenir, 1927” (book)
Box-folder 1:12
San Diego Post Office,
1901
Box-folder 1:13
San Diego Public Library,
undated
Includes:
Outline printed for "The Architectural Review"
Box-folder 1:14
“The Silver Gate” magazine,
1899 August-December
Box-folder 1:16
Directories,
1874–1946 and undated
Box-folder 1:17
Marketing ephemera,
1894–1958 and undated
Box-folder 1:18
Stock certificates,
1879 October 6–1935 March 22
Box-folder 1:19
Chamber of Commerce,
undated
Box-folder 1:20
Consolidated Aircraft Corportation / Convair,
1940 March 25–1942 February 19 and undated
Includes:
Employee handbook
Instruction booklet on air raids
Business card
Box-folder 2:1
Restaurants,
1927 October 30–1955 December 13 and undated
Box-folder 2:2
Hotels,
1931 July 4–1939 June 13 and undated
Includes:
U.S. Grant Hotel coffee shop menu and wine list (in Oversize Collections D6)
Box-folder 2:3
Hotel del Coronado,
1906 February 6–1927 March 20 and undated
Series III:
Transportation
Box-folder 2:4
San Diego Trolley,
undated
Box-folder 2:5
San Diego and Coronado Ferry Company,
1969 August 11 and undated
Box-folder 2:6
San Diego and Arizona Railway,
undated
Includes:
Information related to San Diego/Arizona Railway, the Santa Fe Railway, and the San Diego Electric Railway
Box-folder 2:7
J.D. and A.B. Spreckels Company scrapbook (1 of 3),
1918-1961
Includes:
San Diego Electric Railway Company historical data and operations information
Citizens' Traction Company history and valuation
San Diego street cars
Architectural diagrams
Newspaper articles
Box-folder 2:8
J.D. and A.B. Spreckels Company scrapbook (2 of 3),
1930-1955
Includes:
San Diego Electric Railway Company
San Diego and Coronado Ferry Company
Street cars and buses
Newspaper and magazine articles
Box-folder 2:9
J.D. and A.B. Spreckels Company scrapbook (3 of 3),
1924-1955
Includes:
San Diego and Arizona Railway
J.D. and A.B. Spreckels Company
Hotel del Coronado
Spreckels family in newspaper articles and photographs
Ticket passes for San Diego and Coronado Ferry and the San Diego Electric Railway
Box-folder 2:10
Railroad timetables and tickets,
1900-1949
Box-folder 2:11
Guidebooks, brochures, and souvenirs,
1912–1937 and undated
Includes:
San Diego Daylight Ocean Trip flyer (in Oversize Collections D6)
San Diego’s Sights Balloon Route Excursion flyer (in Oversize Collections D6)
Box-folder 3:1
Guidebooks, brochures, and souvenirs,
undated
Box-folder 3:2
Guidebooks, brochures, and souvenirs,
undated
Box-folder 3:4
Panama-California Exposition,
1915-1916
Includes:
Exposition handbook
Box-folder 3:5
California Pacific International Exposition,
1935-1936
Box-folder 3:6
Fallbrook Union High School,
1898 May 27
Box-folder 3:7
Francis Parker High School,
1920 November 15–1936 October 3
Box-folder 3:8
Hoover High School,
1951 June 13
Includes:
Andreas Brown’s commencement invitation
Box-folder 3:9
Memorial Junior High School,
1933 February 2
Box-folder 3:10
Point Loma High School,
1954–1957
Includes:
Football game schedule
Basketball game schedule
Box-folder 3:11
San Diego Junior High School,
1929 June 20
Box-folder 3:12
San Diego High School,
1892-1909
Includes:
Commencement invitation and program
Copies of “The Russ”, 1903–1909 Graduation diploma for Lois M. Fenn (in Oversize Collections D6)
Box-folder 4:1
San Diego High School,
1910-1914
Includes:
Copies of “The Russ”, 1910–1914
Box-folder 4:2
San Diego State College,
1935-1953
Includes:
Student directories
Box-folder 4:3
School of Arts and Crafts,
undated
Box-folder 4:4
Sweetwater Union High School,
1921-1922
Box-folder 4:5
Sweetwater Union High School,
1923-1939
Box-folder 4:6
Woodrow Wilson Junior High School,
1928-1930
Box-folder 5:1
Academic publications,
1908 May 28–1910 March 30
Box-folder 5:2
Academic publications,
1911 November 30–1933 March 14
Series VI:
Organizations and Activities
Box-folder 5:3
Churches and religious groups,
1873 and undated
Includes:
Progressive Church postcard listing public services
Speech by Thomas L. Nesmith, Senior Warden of Holy Trinity Church
Cavalry Temple flyer on revival, “The Brooks Ministers”
First Methodist Church notecard (blank)
Concert flyer for First Methodist Church
Box-folder 5:4
San Diego First Congregational Church
1940 and undated
Box-folder 5:5
San Diego Theosophical Society,
1919-1928
Box-folder 5:6
Historical groups,
1919–1958 and undated
Includes:
Sons of the American Revolution
49er club
San Diego Mission Group
“Felicita” pageant decal
San Diego Railway Historical Society newsletters, “The Dispatch”
Box-folder 5:7
Sports clubs,
1957–1958 and undated
Includes:
Coronado Yacht Club
Seniors Golf Association
Jai Alai Association
Box-folder 5:8
Masonic organizations,
1874, 1927
Box-folder 5:9
Horse racing,
1927–1940 and undated
Includes:
Tijuana Racing Club
Baja Racing Club
Aqua Caliente Racing Club
Del Mar Turf Club
Box-folder 5:10
Social clubs,
1927, 1934 and undated
Includes:
Coronado Social Club
Box-folder 5:11
Wednesday Club,
1895-1903 and undated
Box-folder 5:12
San Diego Zoological Society,
undated
Box-folder 5:13
San Diego County Federation of Women's Clubs radio program transcripts,
1949 July 21–1950 March 9
Box-folder 6:1
San Diego County Federation of Women's Clubs radio program transcripts,
1950 April 27–December 23
Box-folder 6:2
San Diego County Federation of Women's Clubs radio program transcripts,
1951 January 9–1953 April 16
Box-folder 6:3
San Diego County Federation of Women's Clubs radio program transcripts,
1953 October 27–1954 March 2
Box-folder 6:4
San Diego County Federation of Women's Clubs radio program transcripts,
1954 March 16–December 29
Box-folder 6:5
Social events and ceremonies,
1888 May 8–1931 September 16 and undated
Includes:
Carmen’s Relief Association Second Annual Ball
Ford Sedan auto drawing
12th Annual Apartment House Association of California Convention
El Cajon Community Men’s Club Jolly Boys Dinner
San Diego Choral Union parlor concert
Coronado Spanish fiesta
Cabrillo celebration
Third Supervisorial District elections
Czechoslovak Day
Datus E. Coon memorial
Mission Beach Roller derby
Pacific Skating Rink Roller derby
Woman’s Home flower festival benefit
“Wenzell for Mayor” campaign
Colonial Theatre “Broken Idols” production
Automobile Club of Southern California Run
Lindbergh Reception
Junipero Serra and Thomas Starr King statues unveiling
Box-folder 9:1
Miss San Diego Pageant Scrapbook,
1961–1970 and undated
Scope and Content
Personal scrapbook for Margaret “Peggy” Arnhym, Miss San Diego 1962. Materials in the scrapbook consist of photographs, letters,
personal notes, and newspaper clippings.
Box-folder 9:2
Miss San Diego Pageant Scrapbook, loose photographs,
undated
Box-folder 9:3
Miss San Diego Pageant Scrapbook, loose materials,
1962
Box-folder 9:4
Miss San Diego Pageant Scrapbook, loose materials,
1962
Box-folder 6:6
Military organizations and events,
1913 July 21–1929 December and undated
Includes:
U.S. Naval Hospital Christmas program
Camp Kearny construction press pass
Camp Kearny visitor entrance pass
Naval Reserve social club officers list
Machine Gun Company, 82 Infantry of Camp Kearny Thanksgiving program
Torpedo Flotilla and Bosbyshell Company banquet
Coronado Bay and San Pedro submarine torpedo practice
Naval Reserve retirement of the Portsmouth
Series VII:
Literature, Music, and Entertainment
Box-folder 6:7
Poetry,
1875-1923
Includes:
“The Path o’ Life” by Carrie Jacobs Bond
“Glimpses of San Diego” by Rev. O.W. Gates
“Memories” by Allen Henry Wright
“Wild Mustard and Other Poems” by Lillian Pray-Palmer
“San Diego and Vicinity: Tributes Paid by Well Known Poets”, edited by Allen H. Wright
“Have You a Garden of Allah?” by Fred Rawson
Box-folder 7:1
“The Journey of the Flame” by Antonio de Fierro Blanco,
1933
Box-folder 7:2
“Etcheonda: End of the Road” by D. Pryse-Jones,
undated
Box-folder 7:3
“Under Three Flags” by Margaret B. Pumphrey,
1939
Box-folder 7:4
“The Gods Await” by Katherine Tingley,
1894 March
Box-folder 7:5
“Here and There” by P.C. Remondino,
1894
Box-folder 7:6
“Un-American Activities: The Campaign Against the Underground Press” by Geoffrey Rips,
1981
Box-folder 8:1
“Ramona” by Helen Hunt Jackson,
1885-1928
Includes:
2 volume copy of “Ramona”
Pamphlet “Ramona’s Homeland” by Margaret Allen
Helen Hunt Jackson funeral program
“Ramona” sheet music by L. Wolfe Gilbert and Mabel Wayne
Box-folder 8:2
Sheet music,
1926-1961
Includes:
“California’s San Diego” by Durward Johnson and Lottie Hicks
“When I Sit and Dream at Evening” by Ruth Ottinger and Paul F. Anderson
“Lovely San Diego: Heaven on Earth” by Agnes Patterson
Box-folder Oversize Collections D6
Movie posters,
undated
Includes:
“Down in San Diego” (3 posters)
“San Diego I Love You” (1 poster)
Series VIII:
Original Documents
Box-folder 8:3
San Diego Mission inventory,
1846 January 5
Box-folder 8:4
Legal papers,
1876–1942 and undated
Includes:
Court transcripts, case No. 9205 – The County of San Diego vs. California Southern R.R. Co.
Court transcripts, case No. 5493 – Jared W. Tyson vs. Juan M. Luco
Court transcripts, case No. 5459 – Sophia Porter vs. Joseph Coyne
Report of Committee on Public Lands
Civilian order No. 4 regarding removing people of Japanese descenet (in Oversize Collections D6)
Marriage certificate for Chas L. Kimball and Lois M. Fenn (in Oversize Collections D6)
Box-folder 8:5, 8:6, 8:7, 8:8
S.S. Sanborn "Letters" book,
1874 May 16–1875 February 1 and undated
Scope and Content
Correpondence was originally contained in bound letter book held by S. S. Sanborn, an attorney and partner in the C. A. Wetmore
and S. S. Sanborn Land Agency. The letter book's index lists names with the corresponding letter(s)'s number (Box 8 folder
5). Correspondence includes business transactions, such as land values, ownership, and management, property taxes, and power
of attorney, as well as business advice and financial disputes.
Box-folder 8:9
Miscellaneous correspondence,
1821 May 1–1984 July 5
Includes:
Letter of Father Fernando Martin, May 1, 1821
Letter from John S. Harbison to Mr. Goodrich regarding bee business, July 2, 1877
Letter from Francisco Maria Alvarado to Santiago Arguello, September 19, 1845
Letter from Jose A. Estudillo to Santiago Arguello, July 21, 1846
Box-folder 8:10
Miscellaneous envelopes,
undated
Includes:
Various business decals
First issue stamps
Box-folder 8:11
Map,
1683
Scope and Content
“De L’Amerique: Nouveau Mexique et Californie” map by Allain Manesson-Mallet from a copy of Description de l’Univers, Volume
V
Box-folder 8:12
Miscellanea,
1891–1928 and undated
Includes:
Crystal Filter Co. receipt
Commercial Bank check
First National Bank of San Diego cancelled check
Hartwell Electric Co. invoice
