The Finding Aid of the Blanche Ebert and Frank R. Seaver Papers 0008
Jessica Geiser and Jamie Henricks
The processing of this collection and the creation of this finding aid was funded by the generous support of the National
Historical Publications and Records Commission.
Pepperdine University. Special Collections and University Archives.
July 2012
24255 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, CA, 90263-4786
kelsey.knox@pepperdine.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Pepperdine University. Special Collections and University Archives.
Title: Blanche Ebert and Frank R. Seaver Papers
Identifier/Call Number: 0008
Physical Description:
14.61 Linear Feet
(14 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1882-1996
Date (bulk): 1919-1987
Abstract: The collection contains the personal and professional papers of Frank R. and Blanche Seaver, philanthropists who greatly contributed
to the evolution and success of Pepperdine University. The materials range from 1882 to 1996 and document Blanche's involvement
with Pepperdine; Frank's business, the Hydril Company; Blanche's former career as a composer and musician; and their personal
lives.
Physical Location: Pepperdine University. Special Collections and University Archives.
Language of Material: Materials are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
Advance notice required for access.
Conditions Governing Use
Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder# or item name], Blanche Ebert and Frank R. Seaver papers, Collection no. 0008, Special Collections and University
Archives, University Libraries, Pepperdine University.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The exact date of acquisition for most of the materials in the collection is unknown, but it is likely the material was transferred
following Blanche Seaver's death in 1994. The Hydril Company and Frank Seaver materials were donated by Hydril in 2007, and
turned over to the University Archives by the President's Office.
Biographical note
Frank Roger Seaver was born in San Jose, California, on April 12, 1883, as the second of five children and the
first son of Carlton and Mary Estella Seaver. The family spent Seaver's childhood years on a farm in
Claremont, California, later moving to Pomona where his father founded the First National Bank of Pomona. After
graduating from high school in 1901, Seaver attended Pomona College to study biology, where he was active in
sports, clubs and student government. He also joined the National Guard in 1903, and after graduating from
Pomona in 1905, worked in San Francisco to help police the city following the devastating earthquake in 1906.
During this time, Seaver also began studying law, and in the fall of 1906, he passed the bar examination in
California, which he followed with a year of postgraduate studies in law at Harvard University.
Seaver returned to California in 1907, finding a position at a law firm in Los Angeles, and soon opening
his own practice with his brother where he worked for almost a decade. During this time, Seaver also became
an active member of Los Angeles civic and cultural life. In 1912, he was elected to the Board of Freeholders of
Los Angeles County, where he helped draft the first Los Angeles County Charter. He was also a member of the Amateur Players
Club, where in 1915 he fell in love with their new vocal coach from Chicago, Blanche Ebert. After a quick courtship, the
two were married on September 16, 1916.
Blanche Ebert Seaver was born on September 15, 1891, as the youngest of ten children of Norwegian immigrants in Chicago, Illinois.
She started playing the piano as a very young girl, and at five years old was considered a musical prodigy. She graduated
from the Chicago Music School in 1911, and began a career as an accompanist, vocal coach and concert pianist. In 1914, she
moved to Los Angeles, where she opened her own studio and continued to accompany many famous artists in concert before ending
her career to marry Frank in 1916.
The Seavers were married for six months when Frank, who had joined the California Naval Militia in 1913, was called to active
duty in 1917 as a result of World War I. As a Lieutenant in the Naval Militia, Seaver served as a deck officer of the USS
Pueblo, an armored cruiser in the Atlantic until December of 1918, when he was transferred to office duties in New York City.
Blanche left California to join Frank in New York, and during the war years, she found a new career as a successful composer,
writing dozens of songs for the top artists of the time.
During his time in the militia, Frank Seaver became friends with a fellow reserves man, Ned Doheny, whose father, oil man
Edward L. Doheny, also became close to Frank. Seaver's friendship with the Doheny family continued throughout the war, and
led to Edward Doheny offering Frank a position in his company as an attorney in 1919. In 1921, Doheny asked Seaver to work
as the attorney and general representative for a division of his oil company in Mexico City, the Huasteca Petroleum Company.
The Seavers moved to Mexico for seven years, where Frank rose to the position of vice-president of the company, and Blanche
began a lifetime of philanthropy by establishing a society to help homeless children in Mexico City.
In 1928, the Seavers moved back to the United States, where Frank decided to buy the Doheny-Stone Drill Company from Edward
Doheny. The company, which manufactured oil well equipment and parts, was at the time almost defunct, but Seaver turned the
business around to form a multiplant operation in the United States and Canada, which in 1933 was renamed the Hydril Company.
Frank ran Hydril until his death on October 31, 1964, whereupon it was taken over by his nephew, Richard C. Seaver.
In addition to his career at Hydril, Frank Seaver was also heavily involved in philanthropy, starting in a major way in 1956
with a million dollar donation to his alma mater, Pomona College. This donation was followed by two more gifts, which allowed
for the construction of three science buildings at Pomona now known as the Seaver Science Center. Inspired by this first
donation, the Seavers went on to donate large gifts to a number of educational and charitable organizations, including the
University of Southern California, Loyola University, the First Congregational Church, the Harvard Boys School and the Freedoms
Foundation. Frank also during this time established The Seaver Institute, which continues to handle the Seaver Estate and
serve as a philanthropic organization to this day.
Frank Seaver became interested in Pepperdine College during the early 1960s, through his support of programs sponsored by
Pepperdine including the Pepperdine College Forum and Pepperdine's National Citizenship program. He also included Pepperdine
College as a beneficiary in his will, which inspired Blanche Seaver to become more involved with Pepperdine after his passing.
In addition to providing the Seaver Learning Center on Pepperdine's Los Angeles campus, Blanche also provided a pacesetting
gift of over a million dollars to help Pepperdine establish its Malibu campus in 1972. As a show of gratitude for her generous
support of the school, in 1975 Pepperdine dedicated the new college, Frank R. Seaver College, in honor of Frank (the name
was later shortened to its current form, Seaver College). Mrs. Seaver remained active in Pepperdine's affairs, as she was
named a lifetime member of the Board of Regents in 1976. She also received an honorary doctorate in 1980, and continued to
make donations to the school, serving as the most generous donor in Pepperdine's history until her passing on April 14, 1994.
Biographical information was taken from collection materials, newspaper articles, and
The Legacy of Frank Roger Seaver by Bill Youngs.
Scope and Content
The collection contains the personal and professional papers of Frank and Blanche Seaver. Included in the collection are
photographs of Blanche Seaver, the construction of Seaver College at Pepperdine and the Pepperdine campus; music composed
by Blanche and music books owned by her; personal materials including personal portraits of Frank, information about the Seaver
name, name cards collected by Blanche, and Blanche's personal possessions; and materials produced by the Hydril Company including
correspondence, brochures, company records and photographs. Materials in the collection span from 1882 to 1987.
Arrangement
Materials within series are arranged alphabetically by folder title except when noted, and original folder titles have been
maintained when possible. (In places where Smythe wrote Mr. and Mrs. Seaver, the names have been changed to Frank and Blanche.)
Materials are arranged in four series:
Series 1: Photographs
Series 2: Personal Materials
Series 3: Music and Music Books
Series 4: Hydril Company Materials
Processing Information note
The collection was initially arranged and described by James Smythe in 2002. The collection was re-arranged with new material
incorporated and described by Jessica Geiser and Jamie Henricks in July 2012.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Sheet music
Articles
Oil field equipment and supplies industry
Malibu (Calif.) -- History
Photographs
Financial records
Los Angeles (Calif.) -- History
Ephemera
Family archives
Brochures
Correspondence
Sales catalogs
Universities and colleges -- California -- History
Hydril Company
Seaver, Frank R. (Frank Roger)
Dohney-Stone Drill Company
Doheny, Edward L. (Edward Laurence)
Pepperdine University
Pepperdine College
Seaver, Blanche Ebert
box 9, box 1
Series 1:
Photographs
1890s-1980s
Scope and Content
The series contains personal photographs of Frank and Blanche Seaver, including photographs depicting Frank and Blanche's
childhoods, individual portraits of the Seavers, the Seavers together, the Seavers with others, Blanche Seaver at Pepperdine
events, and the construction of Seaver College at Pepperdine.
box 1
Blanche Ebert Seaver
1890s-1972
box 1
Construction of Seaver College
1970
box 1
Frank and Blanche Seaver
1920s-1930s
box 1
Frank and Blanche Seaver with Others
1963-1978
box 1
Blanche Seaver at Pepperdine Events
1972-1987
box 1
Blanche Seaver's Photos of Others
1941-1980
box 1
Blanche Seaver with Other People
1949-1981
box 9
Frank and Blanche Seaver walking at Pomona College Trustees/Faculty Retreat, Hotel Del Coronado
box 9
Frank Seaver and other California Naval Militia Members
ca. 1915
box 9
Groundbreaking for Seaver Laboratory for Chemistry, Pomona College
1963
box 9
Frank Seaver addresses the Board of Supervisors
1963
box 9
Pomona College Football Team, Frank Seaver in Center
1904
box 9
Portrait of Lieutenant Frank Seaver of the armored cruiser USS Pueblo
1917-1918
box 2, 7, 13, box 10, 14
Series 2:
Personal Materials
1927-1984
Scope and Content
The series contains personal materials belonging to Frank and Blanche Seaver, including information on the Seaver family crest;
name cards of acquaintances and friends collected by Blanche; personal effects including a dress, mirror, brush, perfume bottle,
and hat once owned by Blanche; gifts and honors given to the Seavers; printed material about Blanche; speeches given by Blanche;
correspondence between Blanche and others; materials from Blanche's baptism; and souvenir programs collected by Blanche.
Also included are oversized certificates of an Honorary Doctorate of Law given to Frank Seaver by Loyola University in 1959,
and a certificate of Frank's honorable discharge from the United States Navy in 1924.
box 2
Dedication of the Frank R. Seaver College
1975
box 2
Frank Seaver Personal Materials
box 1
Gifts and Honors Received by the Seavers
1973-1996
box 1
Mrs. Frank Roger Seaver Dinner
1980 April 9
box 10
Frank Seaver - Doctorate of Law Certificates from Loyola University
1959
box 10
Frank Seaver - Honorable Discharge Certificate from US Navy
1924
box 13-14
Blanche Seaver's Personal Items - Brush, Dress, Hat, Mirror, and Perfume Bottle
box 2
Letters to Blanche Seaver
1971-1978
box 2
Letters to Blanche Seaver from her Minister, James E. Smythe
1978-1982
box 2
Blanche Seaver's Baptism
1978
box 2
Blanche Seaver's Speeches
1970-1980s
box 2
Name Cards of the Seavers' Friends and Acquaintances
box 2
Printed Material about the Seavers
1927-1994
box 7
Seaver's Legacy by Bill Youngs, in
Westways Magazine
1978
box 7
Manuscript for
The Legacy of Frank Roger Seaver by Bill Youngs
[1976]
box 7
The Seaver Story by Jane Werner Watson (published by Pomona College)
1960
box 2-6
Series 3:
Music and Music Books
1882-1967
Scope and Content
The series contains sheet music of compositions written by Blanche Seaver, including some copies with hand written notations,
and two records of recorded works composed by Blanche Seaver. Also included are music books owned by Blanche Seaver, containing
sheet music of famous operas and other musical works, and souvenir programs collected by Blanche Seaver of concerts she attended.
box 2
Music Compositions and Materials
1919-1967
box 2
Calling Me Back to You Sheet Music
1964
box 2
Blanche Seaver's Music - Original Manuscripts
1919-1967
box 2
Blanche Seaver's Music - Recordings
box 3-6
Music Books
1882-1922
Scope and Content
Materials in the sub-series are arranged in reverse chronological order where dates are known, followed by books with unknown
dates which are arranged alphabetically by the composer's surname.
Agriano Lualdi.
La Figlia del Re: Tragedia Lirica in Tre Atti. Milano: G. Ricordi & Co., 1922.
Franco Vittadini.
Anima Allegra: Commedia Lirica in Tre Atti. Milano, Ricordi & Co., 1920.
Victor Herbert.
Natoma. G. Schirmer, 1911.
R. H. Walthew.
John A Dreams, Cantata (Words by Adrian Ross). Boosey & Co., 1911.
J. Massenet.
Werther: Lyric Drama in Four Acts and Five Tableaux after Goethe's Novel. Paris: Heugel & Co., 1909.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson.
Ode on the Death of the Duke of Wellington (Music by Charles Villiers Stanford). New York: Boosey & Co., 1907.
Charles Villiers Stanford.
Shamus O'Brien: A Romantic Comic Opera in Two Acts (Founded on the poem by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu). New York: Boosey & Co., 1906.
P. Mascagni.
Iris: Libretto di Luigi Illica--Canto & Pianoforte. New York: Boosey & Co., 1898.
Charles Villiers Stanford.
Requium for Solos, Chorus, and Orchestra. New York: Boosey & Co., 1897.
G. Verdi.
Requium Composed in Memory of Alessandro Manzini. New York: G. Schirmer, 1895.
Pietro Mascagni.
L'Amico Fritz: Commedia Lirica in Tre Atti. New York: G. Schirmer, 1891.
Gustave Charpentier.
La Vie du Poete: Symphonie--Drame en Trois Actes et Quatre Tableaux. Paris, Choudens Fils, 1882.
Vincenzo Bellini.
I Puritani: Melodramma Serio in Tre Parti. Milano: G. Ricordi & Co., ND.
Georges Bizet.
Vingt Melodies pour Chant et Piano. Paris: Choudens, ND.
A. Boieldieu.
Die Weisse Dame (La Dame Blanche): Komische Oper in drei Acten. Leipzig: C. F. Peters, ND.
G. Donizetti.
Don Pasquali: Dramma Buffo in Tre Atti (Composed in 1841). New York: Boosey & Co., ND.
G. Donizetti.
La Figlia del Regimento: Melodramma in Due Atti. New York: Boosey & Co., ND.
G. Donizetti.
Lucia di Lammermoor: Dramma Tragico in Tre Atti. New York: Boosey & Co., ND.
Gretry.
La Caravane du Caire: Grand Opera in Trois Actes. Paris: E. Girod, ND.
G. F. Handel.
Susanna, An Oratorio in Vocal Score (Composed in 1743). New York: J. L. Peters, ND.
G. F. Handel.
Jephtha: Novello's Edition. (No Publication Details Given).
Romeo e Giulietta. (No Author, Composer, or Publication Details Given).
Art. Rubinstein.
Le Demon: Opera Fantastique en 3 Actes & 7 Tableaux. Paris: H. Tellier, ND.
P. Tschaikowski.
Eugenio Oneghin: Scene Liriche in Tre Atti (Sogetto preso dal poema di Puschkin). Paris: A Noel Successeur, ND.
P. Tschaikowski.
Songs with English Words by Fred J. Whishaw. New York: Boosey & Co., ND.
Richard Wagner.
Lohengrin: Opera in Thee Acte (English translation by John Oxford). New York: Boosey & Co., ND.
box 7, box 8, 9, 11, 12
Series 4:
Hydril Company Materials
1927-1987
Scope and Content
The series consists of materials from the Hydril Company, an oil well equipment manufacturing company bought by Frank Seaver
in 1927. The company, previously called the Doheny Stone Drill Company, changed its name to Hydril in 1933, and was run by
Seaver until his death in 1964. Materials in the series include correspondence, newspaper and magazine articles, working
papers, advance bulletins, brochures, catalogs, financial reports, price lists, materials for Hydril salesmen, and technical
drawings of drill parts. Also included are a large number of photographs depicting Hydril Company equipment and parts, manufacturing
plants, oil well locations, Hydril employees, and oversized photographs including historic views of the Los Angeles Hydril
property, Seaver with Edward Doheny at the first oil well in Los Angeles, the Hydril corporate building, and an example of
a Hydril company stock certificate. Materials in the series span from 1927 to 1987.
box 7
Bettis Rubber Company Materials
1960s-1970s
box 7
Doheny Stone Drill Company Advance Bulletin
1929
box 7
Doheny Stone Drill Company Brochure
1927
box 7
Doheny Stone Drill Company Working Paper -
Practical Application of Electricity to Rotary Drilling
1930
box 7
Doheny Stone Drill Company/Hydril Correspondence
1933
box 7
Hydril Correspondence
1941-1969
box 7
Hydril/Doheny Steel Financial Reports
1934
box 7
Hydril History Documents
1987
box 7
Machinery Catalogs, Brochures and Price Quotations
1933
box 7
Newspaper Article -
Frank R. Seaver Talks Progess in Oil Industry
1930
box 7
Newspaper Articles on Frank Seaver and the Oil Industry
1925-1987
box 7
Salesman Binder for Hydril Type K Ball Plug Valves
1958
box 7
Seaver Trusts/ Hydril Corporation Documents
1080s-1990s
Physical Description: (3 Folders)
box 7
Technical Drawing - Nozzle 2MA3
1944
box 7
The Texas Corporation Squabble
1933
box 7
Western Machine World Magazine on Doheny Stone Drill Company
October, 1928
box 7, box 8-9, 11, 12
Photographs
1920s - 1960s
box 7
Hydril Employee Photobook - Ohio
1938
box 7, box 8
Hydril Photo Reference Books
box 8
Miscellaneous Rig/Machinery Sites
box 8
Rig/Machinery Locations - California, Louisiana, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming
box 8
Rochester, Pennsylvania Plant
1927-1960
box 8
Torrance, California Plant
box 9,11
Hydril Company Headquarters in Los Angeles, California
1930
box 9,11,12
Frank R. Seaver and Edward L. Doheny with first Oil Well in Los Angeles
late 1930s/early 1940s
box 9
Historic Photographs of Los Angeles Hydril Location
1877-1943
box 9
Example Hydril Stock Certificate
