Guide to the Stuart Family Mount Laguna Collection
MS 218
Finding aid prepared by Aimee Santos
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
January 24, 2012
Title: Stuart Family Mount Laguna Collection
Identifier/Call Number: MS 218
Contributing Institution:
San Diego History Center Document Collection
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
2.0 Linear feet
(4 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1915-1995
Abstract: This collection contains personal and business papers pertaining to the Stuart family of Mount Laguna from 1915 to 1995. The
collection includes personal correspondence, lodge and cabin rentals and sales, and papers regarding their involvement in
the Mount Laguna Post Office, Mount Laguna Improvement Association and Mount Laguna Protective Association.
creator:
Stuart family
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Carrier’s Route Directory and Address Book cover partially detached from binding, as well as some pages completely detached
from binding.
Preferred Citation
Stuart Family Mount Laguna Collection, MS 218, San Diego History Center Document Collection, San Diego, CA.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Aimee Santos on January 24, 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.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research. Original photographs previously separated to the SDHC Photograph Collection.
Conditions Governing Use
The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.
Biographical / Historical Notes
Arthur Clay Stuart was born in Carthage, Missouri. He quit school after the sixth grade then left home at the age of thirteen.
Despite his early departure from school, daughter Sue Martin expressed that “he read everything he got his hands on.” Eventually
he would come to California during the depression to seek work. In 1936, Clay found employment with the Works Progress Administration
Forest Service and was sent to a remote tent cabin in Mount Laguna, located in the Cleveland National Forest, to build a water
system. Mrs. Ruth Marie Stuart followed as soon as she could. One of the original families in the area, Clay and Ruth made
it home for the next fifty years. They were considered pioneers, devoting their time to develop and improve Mount Laguna.
In 1942, Clay bought the Laguna Mountain Lodge store and the Post Office building. In time he owned the Laguna Mountain Lodge,
the Blue Jay Lodge, and the Pine House Café. He also ran the Blue Jay Dine and Dance Lounge, and Pine House Dining room and
recreation center. Ruth, who was a licensed real estate broker, helped run the Lodge. She also served as Postmaster for the
Mount Laguna Post Office from January 1942 to October 1965. Clay would serve as Postmaster from October 1965 to June 1972.
Clay was involved in the Mount Laguna Improvement Association, also known as the Burnt Rancheria – El Centro Improvement Association,
which was responsible for the development and implementation of a water pipeline. The pipeline became known to the community
as the “miracle well” because it brought a reliable source of water to the area. Clay also took part in the construction of
the Mount Laguna Community Church, a one-room school house. For fifteen years, he served as chairman on the board of directors
for the Mountain Empire Electric Company Rural Electrification Administration (REA). For an equal amount of time, Clay served
as trustee and chairman on the board of the Mountain Empire School District. In the 1950s and early 1960s, he was chairman
of the San Diego County Committee for School Reorganization. At different times, Clay and Ruth acted as secretary for the
Mount Laguna Protective Association which dealt with electricity and the construction of the Laguna Highway.
Clay and Ruth lived with their two children above the Mount Laguna Lodge until Clay went into retirement and sold all his
property in 1967.
Scope and Content
This collection contains personal and business papers pertaining to the Stuart family of Mount Laguna dated from 1915 to 1995.
Significant documents include records of cabin sales and rentals as well as papers demonstrating daily functions of the Mount
Laguna Post Office. There are also records from the Mount Laguna Improvement Association, responsible for drafting and operation
of the water pipeline, and Mount Laguna Protective Association, involved in electricity and construction of the Laguna highway,
including lists of permittees and subscribers, correspondence and finances.
Arrangement
Collection is arranged into five series:
Series I: Stuart Family Personal Papers
Series II: Laguna Mountains Lodge and Cabins
Series III: Mount Laguna Post Office
Series IV: Mount Laguna Improvement Association
Series V: Mount Laguna Protective Association
Items in each series are arranged by subject.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Accession number 990601A.
Separated Materials
Original photographs separated to the SDHC Photograph Collection, Accession number 2002/050.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Blue Jay Dine and Dance Lounge.
Blue Jay Lodge.
Burnt Rancheria – El Centro Improvement Association.
Cleveland National Forest (Agency : U.S.).
Laguna Mountain Lodge.
Mount Laguna Community Church.
Mount Laguna Improvement Association.
Mount Laguna Protective Association.
Mountain Empire Electric Company.
Mountain Empire School District.
Pine House Cafe.
Pine House Recreation Center.
San Diego County Committee for School Reorganization.
Stuart family
Stuart, Arthur Clay
Stuart, Ruth Marie
United States. Works Progress Administration.
Building
Church
Cleveland National Forest (Calif.)
Electricity
Lodging-houses
Mount Laguna (Calif.)
Mountains -- California
Post-office
Postmasters
REA bulletin
Real property
Roads
San Diego (Calif.)
Water
Water-pipes
Series I:
Stuart Family Personal Papers
Box-folder 1:1
Correspondence,
1968-1972 and undated
Box-folder 1:4
Newspaper clippings,
1967-1995
Series II:
Laguna Mountains Lodge and Cabins
Box-folder 1:5
Cabin and trailer owners,
1939 and undated
Box-folder 1:6
Cabin sales and rentals,
1948-1956
Box-folder 1:8
Cabin rental request correspondence,
1947-1953 and undated
Box-folder 1:9
Photographs (copies),
1915-1942 and undated
Series III:
Mount Laguna Post Office
Box-folder 1:10
"History of Mount Laguna Post Office" by Ruth Stuart,
1942
Box-folder 1:11
List of Postmasters,
1920 August 4-1991 January 24
Box-folder 1:12
Oaths of Post Office carriers and employees,
1933 June 28-1941 August 15 and undated
Box-folder 1:14
Correspondence with Post Office Department, Washington,
1933 January 24-1944 January 13
Box-folder 1:15
Correspondence with Post Office Department, San Francisco,
1933 June 20-1944 March 11
Box-folder 1:16
Correspondence with the United States Department of Commerce,
1933 and undated
Box-folder 1:17
Correspondence with the American Surety Company of New York, Star Route Proposal, Bond and Oath,
1932 July 2-1934 August 27 and undated
Box-folder 1:18
Correspondence with the National Recovery Administration,
1933 and undated
Box-folder 1:19
Correspondence with the Postmasters’ Supply Company,
1933 June 29-1934 April 23
Box-folder 1:20
Notices and bulletins,
1932-1940 and undated
Includes:
"The Postal Bulletin," April 14, 1934 (in Oversive Collections D3)
Notice: "Do you know: Parcel Post Service..." (in Oversize Collections D3)
Notices (4): Change in postal rates for Argentina; Conditions fabricated gold may be exported; Conditions silver or fabricated
silver may be exported; and "Amendments to Postal Laws and Regulations" (in Oversize Collections D3)
Box-folder 1:21
San Diego Post Office contacts,
1935
Box-folder 1:22
Postmaster's Account Book,
1930 April 1-1933 June 29
Box-folder 1:23
Cash Book,
1931 April 20-1933 June 1
Box-folder 1:24
Postmaster's Account and Cash Book,
1933 May-1935 July 1
Box-folder 1:25
Postmaster’s Account and Cash Book,
1935 July 1-1936 June 30
Box-folder 1:26
Postmaster’s Account and Cash Book,
1936 July 1-1937 December 31
Box-folder 1:27
Postmaster’s Account and Cash Book,
1938 January 1-1939 June 30
Box-folder 1:28
Postmaster’s Account and Cash Book,
1939 July 1-1940 June 30
Box-folder 1:29
Postmaster's Account and Cash Book,
1940 July 1-1941 June 30
Box-folder 1:30
Stamp invoices,
1931 January 1-1942 March 31
Box-folder 2:1
Adjusted service bonds invoices and receipts,
1936
Box-folder 2:2
Remittance letters,
1934 March 31-1944 March 31
Box-folder 2:3
Certificates of Deposit of Surplus Funds,
1942 January 13-1944 March 25
Box-folder 2:4
Requisitions,
1935 October 1-1940 May 6
Box-folder 2:5
Window Registration Book,
1931 July 28-1937 June 12
Box-folder 2:6
Bills for box rent,
1928 May 15-1935 January 1
Box-folder 2:7
Bills for box rent,
1935 January 2-1936 September 25
Box-folder 2:8
Bills for box rent,
1936 September 24-1940 April 26
Box-folder 2:9
Register of Money Orders Issued,
1931 March 1-1941 January 23
Box-folder 2:10
Money order records,
1931-1945
Includes:
Money order stubs
Application for Domestic Money Order
List of Paid Money Orders
Defective Money Orders Returned
Box-folder 2:11
Sender's receipt for insured mail,
1937 September 31-1942 December 5
Box-folder 2:12
Record and receipts of C.O.D. Parcels,
1931-1935 and undated
Box-folder 2:13
Coupons for Paying Office,
1934-1942 and undated
Box-folder 2:14
Special deliveries records,
1933-1935 and undated
Includes:
"Records of Articles for Special Delivery" (in Oversize Collections D3)
Box-folder 2:15
Cancellations at Mount Laguna,
1935 May 20-1937 December 27
Box-folder 2:16
Cancellations at Mount Laguna,
1940 July 1-1942 January 23
Box-folder 2:17
Cancellations at Mount Laguna,
1942 January 26-1943 October 31
Box-folder 2:18
Change of address requests,
1933 June 28-1948 July 23 and undated
Box-folder 3:1
Carriers’ Route Directory - names and addresses,
1937-1950
Box-folder 3:2
Names and addresses,
1950-1962
Box-folder 3:3
Miscellaneous postal services and correspondence,
1928-1945
Includes:
Receipt for registered article
Receipt between outgoing and incoming postmasters
Withholding tax report 1944
Registry dispatch receipt cards
Motor vehicle tax stamps
Post office supplies list
Correspondence and forms regarding improper treatment or loss of mail
Missing person notice
Telegram regarding service route
Box-folder 3:4
Miscellanea,
1933-1934 and undated
Scope and Content
Automobile insurance correspondence
Probation system notice
"The California District Postmaster," March 1934
Cards labeled "Mount Laguna Calif..."
Blank unemployment response forms
Series IV:
Mount Laguna Improvement Association
Box-folder 3:5
Membership lists,
1968-1983
Box-folder 3:6
Members in favor of name change from Burnt Rancheria – El Centro Improvement Association to the Improvement Association,
1950
Box-folder 3:7
Permittees: Burnt Rancheria Tract,
1950
Box-folder 3:8
Permittees: El Centro Tract,
1950
Box-folder 3:9
Permittees: Boiling Springs,
1961
Box-folder 3:10
List of subscribers,
undated
Box-folder 3:11
Term Permit – Permission to Use Lands,
1947
Box-folder 3:12
Drafts of water pipeline,
undated
Box-folder 3:13
Association correspondence,
1939-1940 and undated
Box-folder 3:14
Correspondence: Subscriptions to the Water Pipeline,
1939-1950
Box-folder 3:15
Correspondence with the United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service,
1939-1951
Box-folder 3:16
Construction: Receipts, Invoices, and Statements,
1940-1952
Box-folder 3:17
Checks and stubs,
1947 November 8-1948 June 19
Box-folder 3:18
Checks and stubs,
1948 June 19-July 26
Box-folder 3:19
Checks and stubs,
1948 July 27-1950 August 19
Box-folder 3:20
Checks,
1950 August 25-1951 March 20
Box-folder 3:21
Bank slips and statements,
1948-1951
Box-folder 3:22
Association employee hours worked,
1947
Box-folder 4:1
Association employee pay stubs,
1947-1950
Box-folder 4:2
Photographs (copies),
1957
Series V:
Mount Laguna Protective Association
Box-folder 4:3
Record book,
1934 July 1-1942 May 30
Includes:
Special Use Permittees
Constitution and By-Laws
Meeting Minutes
Accounts Received and Paid
Box-folder 4:4
List of Special Use Permittees,
1935-1962
Box-folder 4:5
List of Special Use Permittees,
undated
Box-folder 4:6
Rural Electrification Administration (REA) Project Subscribers,
1940-1941
Box-folder 4:7
Special meeting attendance roster,
undated
Box-folder 4:8
Meeting minutes,
1940-1947 and undated
Box-folder 4:9
Meeting announcements,
1939-1941 and undated
Box-folder 4:10
Meeting report announcements,
1939-1940
Box-folder 4:11
Correspondence: meeting invitations,
1935-1942
Box-folder 4:12
Correspondence: membership,
1935-1939 and undated
Box-folder 4:13
Correspondence: internal,
1939-1945
Box-folder 4:14
Correspondence with the United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service,
1936-1941
Box-folder 4:15
Correspondence: REA and electricity,
1935-1941 and undated
Box-folder 4:16
Correspondence: Laguna Highway,
1935-1950
Box-folder 4:17
Congressional Bill to add land to the Cleveland National Forest,
1939 January 3-1940 February 17
Box-folder 4:18
"Mount Laguna Protective Association Financial Statement,"
1939 August 22-1945 August 25
Box-folder 4:19
Financial correspondence,
1940 April 1-June 19
Box-folder 4:20
Membership dues and records,
1947 August 24-1948 August 9 and undated
Box-folder 4:21
Receipts,
1940 February 20-July 12
Includes:
Office supplies
Used piano bench
Electrical service
Box-folder 4:22
Newspaper clippings,
1936 February 2-1940 December 2
Box-folder 4:23
Photograph (copy),
1970 October
Box-folder 4:24
Miscellanea,
1936 February 4-1942 September 19
Includes:
Blank forms of Application for Membership and for Electric Service
Correspondence regarding tuning and repairs to piano
Mountain Empire Electric newsletter, January 1941