Guide to the Lasartemay Family Papers
Sean Heyliger
African American Museum & Library at Oakland
659 14th Street
Oakland, California 94612
Phone: (510) 637-0198
Fax: (510) 637-0204
Email: aamlo@oaklandlibrary.org
URL: http://www.oaklandlibrary.org/locations/african-american-museum-library-oakland
© 2013
African American Museum & Library at Oakland. All rights reserved.
Guide to the Lasartemay Family Papers
Collection number: MS 95
African American Museum & Library at Oakland
Oakland, California
- Processed by:
- Sean Heyliger
- Date Completed:
- 12/07/2013
- Encoded by:
- Sean Heyliger
© 2013 African American Museum & Library at Oakland. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Lasartemay family papers
Dates: 1946-1995
Collection number: MS 95
Creator:
Lasartemay, Eugene P.
Collector:
East Bay Negro Historical Society.
Collection Size:
.5 linear feet
(1 box)
Repository:
African American Museum & Library at Oakland (Oakland, Calif.)
Abstract: The Lasartemay family papers include correspondence, essays, funeral and theater programs, invitations, résumés, photographs,
and newspapers clippings documenting primarily the family’s participation in various civic organizations. The papers are organized
in to four series: Eugene P. Lasartemay, Ruth Hackett Lasartemay, Elena R. Lasartemay, and Photographs. The bulk of the papers
relate to Eugene P. Lasartemay’s participation in various Oakland area civic organizations including the East Bay Negro Historical
Society, Northern California Council of Camera Clubs, and the boy scouts.
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Access
No access restrictions. Collection is open to the public.
Access Restrictions
Materials are for use in-library only, non-circulating.
Publication Rights
Permission to publish from the Lasartemay Family Papers must be obtained from the African American Museum & Library at Oakland.
Preferred Citation
Lasartemay family papers , MS 95, African American Museum & Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library. Oakland, California.
Processing Information
Processed by Sean Heyliger, 12/07/2013.
Biography / Administrative History
Eugene Pasqual Lasartemay
Eugene Pasqual Lasartemay (1903-1993) was born on May 17, 1903 to Ana Eglesia Adeline Torres de Lasarte and Patricio Lasarte
in Kehaha, Kauai, Hawaii. After attending public school in Honolulu, Hawaii, he graduated from Dobie’s Engineering College
in San Francisco, California and went on to work as a seaman with the Matson Navigational Company between 1923-1939. In 1937,
he earned a First Assistant Engineer’s license, becoming the first licensed black marine engineer to sail from the Port of
San Francisco. Following his career as a marine engineer he worked as a life insurance salesman with the Golden State Mutual
Life Insurance Company and also worked for 26 years in the Engineering Department of the Colgate Palmolive Company before
retiring in 1965.
He was also active in a number of civic, religious, and historical organizations in Berkeley and Oakland. He was a co-founder
of many black organizations in the East Bay including the East Bay Negro Historical Society, Berkeley Branch of the East Bay
Lodge #44, Men of Tomorrow, Inc., Colonel Allensworth State Historical Park, Berkeley Branch of the NAACP. He was an active
member of the boy scouts, serving as a Neighborhood Commissioner and Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop #43 and was awarded the
scout’s highest honor - the Silver Beaver Award. He served as president of the United Consumers and Producers, East Bay Negro
Historical Society, vice president of the East Bay Pensioner’s Club of the International Longshoremen’s and Warehousemen’s
Union and the Berkeley Branch of the NAACP, and treasurer of the Fannie Wall Children’s Home of Oakland.
Ruth Hackett Lasartemay
Ruth Hackett Lasartemay (1902-1991) was born on January 12, 1902 in Alameda, California to Sylvester and Marie Ada Hackett,
one of the first African American families in Alameda, California. She attended public schools in Alameda, California and
the Berkeley Adult Evening School and worked for 17 years with the Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company between 1928-1944.
She was active in many civic and women’s clubs in Oakland and Berkeley including the California State Association of Colored
Women’s Club, Inc., National Association of Negro Musicians, Inc., League of Women Voters, South Gate Chapter of the Order
of the Eastern Star, and was a co-founder and the first curator of the East Bay Negro Historical Society.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Lasartemay family papers include correspondence, essays, funeral and theater programs, invitations, résumés, photographs,
and newspapers clippings documenting primarily the family’s participation in various civic organizations. The papers are organized
in to four series: Eugene P. Lasartemay, Ruth Hackett Lasartemay, Elena R. Lasartemay, and Photographs. The bulk of the papers
relate to Eugene P. Lasartemay’s participation in various Oakland area civic organizations including the East Bay Negro Historical
Society, Northern California Council of Camera Clubs, and the boy scouts. Also included is a copy of Eugene P. Lasartemay’s
book For Love of Jack London: His Life with Jennie Prentiss – a true love Story and court documents related to Exie McDonald’s
probate court hearing where Lasartemay served as the estate’s executor. The biographical subseries includes Eugene P. Lasartemay’s
résumés, funeral programs from his memorial service, and assorted newspaper clippings related to his involvement in the East
Bay Negro Historical Society.
The Ruth Hackett Lasartemay series includes her resume, a program for a testimonial reception at the Church of the Good Shepard
in her honor, and historical notes on a property at Hetch Hetchy. The Elena R. Lasartemay series includes a child’s sketch,
an essay titled, “Why we celebrate Negro History Week,” and a theater program for a production of Lost in the Stars at the
New Day Theatre.
Arrangement
Series I. Eugene P. Lasartemay
Series II. Ruth Lasartemay
Series III. Elena Lasartemay
Series IV. Photographs
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Lasartemay, Eugene P.
Links, Inc. Oakland Bay Area Chapter.
East Bay Negro Historical Society
Black History Week.
African American families--California--Oakland.
Eugene P. Lasartemay
Physical Description: 8 folders
Series Scope and Content Summary
Includes biographical material about Eugene P. Lasartemay such as resumes, newspaper clippings, and funeral service program
and correspondence, programs, and invitations of various civic organizations in Oakland for which he was an active member.
Also contains a speech delivered by Lasartemay to the East Bay Negro Historical Society on the Bicentennial celebration in
1976.
Arrangement
Arranged into four subseries: Biographical, Civic organizations, Historical research, and Exie McDonald probate court hearing.
Box 1:2
Newspaper clippings
1962-1993
Box 1:3
Rev. J. Alfred Smith Sr. letter of condolence
1993
Box 1:13
California State Assembly proclamation
1993
Box 1:4
Acorn Camera Club invitation
1979
Box 1:4
Berkeley Branch of the NAACP membership reminder letter
undated
Box 1:4
1st annual Black Engineering and Science Students Association awards banquet program
1977
Box 1:4
“A tribute to Mr. Eugene P. Lasartemay,”
circa 1990
Box 1:4
In honor of Eugene P. Lasartemay scout master program
1990
Box 1:12
Badges and ribbons
1947-1969
East Bay Negro Historical Society
Box 1:6
“Bicentennial lecture for 1976” presented to the East Bay Negro Historical Society
1976
Box 1:6
East Bay French American Bilingual School, Jan Sell’s 5th grade class thank you letters after visiting the East Bay Negro
Historical Society
1984
Box 1:4
Resolution commending Eugene Pasqual Lasartemay
circa 1980s
Box 1:4
Invitation to celebrate 55th wedding anniversary of Eugene and Ruth Lasartemay
1984
Box 1:4
Letter from Mrs. Calvin McDonald, President of Oakland – Bay Area Chapter of Links, Inc., re: donation to the East Bay Negro
Historical Society
1975
Box 1:4
Photograph of Mrs. Beth Wilson presenting Links, Inc. check to Eugene P. Lasartemay, president of the East Bay Negro Historical
Society
1976
Box 1:4
East Bay Pensioners’ Club meeting minutes
February 21, 1978
Box 1:4
National Daughters of the American Revolution, Chief Solano Chapter yearbook
1979
Northern California Council of Camera Clubs
Box 1:4
Annual awards dinner program
1979
Box 1:4
Annual awards dinner program
1981
Oakland – Bay Area Chapter of Links
Box 1:4
Invitation to 1964 cotillion
1964
Box 1:4
Invitation to 1976 cotillion
1976
Box 1:4
Invitation to 1977 cotillion
1977
Box 1:5
Cotillion programs
1964, 1969, 1995
Box 1:4
San Francisco Chapter of Links, Inc., letter for private viewing of Treasures of King Tut exhibit
1979
Box 1:6
Letter from Barry Silverman, Research Director of the International Longshoremen’s & Warehousemen’s Union, re: Negros in the
ILWU
1973
Box 1:7
For Love of Jack London: His Life with Jennie Prentiss – a true love Story book and book signing flyer
1991
Exie McDonald probate court hearing
Ruth Hackett Lasartemay
Physical Description: 1 folder
Series Scope and Content Summary
Includes Ruth Lasartemay's resume, a program of a testimonial appreciation reception at the Church of the Good Shepard, and
research notes on a property at Hetch Hetchy.
Arrangement
Arranged by format.
Box 1:9
Church of the Good Shepard testimonial reception in appreciation of Ruth Elena Lasartemay
1964
Box 1:9
For research Hetch Hetchy property
1969
Elena R. Lasartemay
Physical Description: 1 folder
Series Scope and Content Summary
Includes Elena Lasartemay's art sketch as a child, essay titled, “Why we observe Negro History Week,” and program for the
play “Lost in the Stars” presented at the New Day Theatre.
Arrangement
Arranged by format.
Box 1:10
Child’s art sketch
undated
Box 1:10
“Why we observe Negro History Week” essay
1965
Box 1:10
The New Day Theatre presents “Lost in the Stars” program
undated
Photographs
Physical Description: 1 folder
Series Scope and Content Summary
Includes five photographs of the Eugene, Ruth, and Elena Lasartemay.
Arrangement
Arranged by photograph identification number.
Box 1:14
Ruth Lasartemay standing in front of house at 1399 Hearst Ave., Berkeley, California [001]
1961
Box 1:14
3rd assistant engineer Eugene Lasartemay on board the Matson S.S. Manini [002]
undated
Box 1:14
Eugene and Ruth Lasartemay shaking hands with Kenneth Goodman [003]
1955
Box 1:14
Elena Ruth Lasartemay holding B.S.C.A. student essay contest trophy and check [004]
1963
Box 1:12
Eugene Lasartemay clipping hedge next to house [005]
circa 1960s
Box 1:12
Identification card portrait of Eugene Lasartemay [006]
circa 1930s
