Inventory of the Sidney A. Ball Policewoman Daily Calendars Collection SPC.2017.003

Finding aid prepared by Karen Clemons
California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections
2016
University Library South -5039 (Fifth Floor)
1000 E. Victoria St.
Carson, CA 90747
Business Number: 310-243-3895
archives@csudh.edu


Contributing Institution: California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections
Title: Sidney A. Ball Policewoman Daily Calendars Collection
Creator: Ball, Sidney A.
Identifier/Call Number: SPC.2017.003
Physical Description: 1 box
Physical Description: .20 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1934-1957; 1965-1966; undated
Abstract: This collection contains one box of seven daily calendars kept by Sidney A. Ball, a Los Angeles Policewoman from 1929-1965, making her one of the first policewomen on the force. Entries within these calendars include: brief summaries of interactions and observations from Ball's time as a policewoman, such as bookings for prostitution, intoxication, and verbal and physical altercations with police officers- including Ball. Ball also kept a record of addresses, birthdays, lunch and dinner engagements, outings to movies, plays, and concerts in the Los Angeles area, as well as trips to Canada and other parts of the United States. Also notated are comments and notes from possible courses Ball took regarding leadership, child development, and education. This collection also includes photographs of Ball and police buildings ; membership cards; certificates; a resume; and one issue of "Los Angeles Police Beat" featuring an article regarding Ball's retirement.
Language of Material: English .

Conditions Governing Access

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Archives and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Preferred Citation

For information about citing archival material, see the Citations for Archival Material  guide, or consult the appropriate style manual.

Acquisition Information

Library acquisition.

Biography

Sergeant Sidney A. Ball (nee Kirkpatrick); born January 10, 1898, was one of the first female officers at the time that she joined the Los Angeles Police Department in 1929. The first LAPD policewoman, Alice Stebbins Wells, joined the force in 1910 after petitioning that an ordinance be passed to create positions for policewomen on the Los Angeles police force. By 1937, this number had only increased to 39 total policewomen on the force. Ball's education history includes: three years of high school, one year of business college, Police Science courses at a city college, John Hill School of Police Science, and training at the Los Angeles Police Academy. Ball moved from Kansas City Missouri to California in 1923. Prior to her career in law enforcement Ball worked at stenography desks for various firms in Kansas City; as a credit manager for L. Lion and Sons Furniture Company in San Jose, CA.; and for the L.A. County District Attorney's office. In 1930 she started working for the Los Angeles Police Deparment under civil service working in various units under the Juvenile Division. Ball was appointed Sergeant of Policewomen in 1947, and in 1954 was assigned as policewoman sergeant in the Welfare and Rehabilitation Divison of the LAPD. Sgt. Ball would remain a policewoman for over 35 years, retiring in 1965.

Scope and Content

The Sidney A. Ball Policewoman Daily Calendars Collection (1934-1957; 1965-1966; undated) contains seven daily planners belonging to Sidney A. Ball, a Los Angeles Policewoman from 1929-1965, making her one of the first policewomen on the force. In these planners are brief summaries of interactions and observations from Ball's time as a policewoman, such as bookings for prostitution, intoxication, and verbal and physical altercations with police officers- including Ball. Ball also kept a record of addresses, birthdays, lunch and dinner engagements, outings to movies, plays, and concerts in the Los Angeles area, as well as trips to Canada and other parts of the United States. Also notated are comments and notes from possible courses Ball took regarding leadership, child development, and education. This collection also includes photographs of Ball and police buildings ; membership cards; certificates; a resume; and one issue of "Los Angeles Police Beat" featuring an article regarding Ball's retirement.

Arrangement

Arranged in 1 box.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Policewomen -- California -- Los Angeles
Los Angeles (Calif.)
Los Angeles (Calif.). Police Department

box 1, folder 1

Daily Calendar 1934

Scope and Contents

In this day planner, Sidney Ball lists activities such as lunch, dinner, and shopping engagements, trips horseback riding, plans for events such as attending concerts, operas, and movies, and trips to San Francisco and Palo Alto, California. Also included are a few newspaper clippings regarding parole reform. Some notable entries include:
  1. May 1st: "Policewomen attend state police officers ball at new Police Club House"
  2. May 16th: "Attend Meeting State Social Service Conference. Chief Davis speaks"
  3. May 17th: "All Policewomen on 12 hour duty"
  4. May 30th: "Work. Dictate twenty-five reports"
  5. November 15th: "A Woman was brought to me today because she had tried to commit suicide- her husband with whom she had been divinely happy had been killed suddenly in an auto accident"
box 1, folder 1

Daily Calendar 1937

Scope and Contents

In this day planner, Sidney Ball discusses activities such as lunch and dinner plans, attending movies, shopping trips, and a trip to Death Valley, California. Some notable entries include:
  1. January 12th and February 9th: "Academy of Criminology"
  2. January 17th: "Playing in snow. Ed. Threw sno ball at motorcycle officer- I take blame."
  3. February 3rd: "Took boys to hotel. Stopped by officers- accused not making Blvd. stop- not given ticket"
box 1, folder 2

Daily Calendar 1946

Scope and Contents

Daily Calendar from 1946: In this day planner, Sidney Ball kept a record of birthdays, days she was on duty, days she had off, staff club meetings, Latin American committee meetings,dinner and lunch plans, trips to Camp Pendleton, nature studies through the Southern California Camp Association, poems, and notes taken possibly during a counselor's course on leadership. Some notable entries include:
  1. April 16th: "Police Academy"
  2. April 23rd: "Policewomen's Dinner"
  3. May 6th: "Policewomen's Meeting"
  4. July 2nd: "74 men killed in line of duty- no pension"
box 1, folder 2

Daily Calendar 1947

Scope and Contents

In this day planner, Sidney Ball kept a record of a shopping list for goods purchased in Mexico, parties, attendance at the Pacific Coast Camp Conference, trips to Nova Scotia, Maine, West Virginia and Lexington, KY, observations and interactions with people that had been arrested, a record of school days, notes regarding leadership qualities and notes on a course taken in which discussions included advice for successful teaching. Some notable entries include:
  1. January 16th: "class well trained police work"
  2. January 30th: "we booked a boney old woman with a possible fractured ankle- she was very angry tore the cast off her leg + threw it thru the lobby"
  3. January 31st: "Tonight we booked a mean old Irish Biddy- who told me I looked like a mean old Bulldog- later when I went close to where she was she say, there's going to be a dog show in Glendale on Sunday. Wish I could enter you"
  4. March 10th: "drunk arrested accused of prostitution denied charge- says 'I only trick with my boyfriend he takes five tricks a day and gives me $10.00"
  5. July 21st: "Boat trip threw man overboard- murder?"
box 1, folder 3

Daily Calendar 1950

Scope and Contents

Daily Calendar from 1950: In this day planner, Sidney Ball kept a record of observations, conversations, names, and actions regarding people who had been arrested, as well as lists of addresses, movie plans, big sisters league meetings, dinner plans, and concerts. This day planner also includes a few forms, such as a memo for the illness of a policewoman, request for overtime, a municipal court subpoena list, and a summons to see Sgt. Shields regarding an injury a woman claimed to have received from policewomen during the time of her arrest. Some notable entries include:
  1. January 29th: "Tillie Sheolioe- said it was so nice to be in jail + have the care + protection of p/w their badges"
  2. February 14th: "Betty Coyle slapped + scratched p/w. Onorio while in 501 Pris. Placed in dk. Tank. When placed in dk. tk. Kicked Sgt Ball on Chest"
  3. August 15th: "Maria Kunn- Accused arr. officers making improper advances- (p/w Howes) But when talked wit her- said she did not care to make charges- it would not do any good. Explained 'not so' still did not think would get to make charges said theatrical bus 'looked cute last night'. Said was probably staggering on street but did not see why they had to arr. her was going to call car"
box 1, folder 3

Daily Calendar 1954

Scope and Contents

This day planner consists of entries regarding parties, dinners, luncheons, staff club meetings, recipes, rehearsal dates for an unnamed show, as well as a detailed meeting with a fortune teller, and notes on child and adolescent development, social interactions, and education.
box 1, folder 4

Daily Calendar 1955

Scope and Contents

Daily Calendar from 1955: This day planner consists of names, addresses, shopping lists, directions, and dinner plans, as well as observations about people and incidents that happened at a police station. Some notable entries include:
  1. February 2nd: "Max Wilson. Start with W.A. 46- ending in 1948 (mch) 33 drunk arrests- been on AA since- re-hab started with farm. He remarked- 'only happiness at that time in my life ever provided"
  2. September 7th: "toor new pol. Bldg."
box 1, folder 5

Photographs of Sidney Ball. Includes image of Ball's first photograph with the LAPD 1930, 1954; undated

box 1, folder 5

Central Police Station, downtown Los Angeles [photograph] circa 1950s

box 1, folder 5

image of old City Hall [Los Angeles] undated

box 1, folder 5

group photograph of Sgt. Sidney Ball, Sgt. Strange, Sgt Peggy Boyd, Lieutenant Harry Englund, Sgt. Daisy Storms, and [Kate Dole] February 1954

box 1, folder 5

Los Angeles Police Department Juvenile Division [blank business card] undated

box 1, folder 5

Flyers Inc. Official Membership Card belonging to Sidney Ball 1957

box 1, folder 5

Los Angeles Fire and Police Protective League membership card belonging to Sidney Ball 1965

box 1, folder 6

Sidney Ball's resume circa 1954

box 1, folder 6

Resolution of Appreciation to Sergeant Sidney A. Ball signed by Herbert C. Hendry Jr., President of Exchange Club of Los Angeles and Chairman of the Board of Control February 1954

box 1, folder 6

Los Angeles Police Department Certificate of Appointment, Sidney A. Ball March 1947

box 1, folder 6

"Los Angeles Police Beat" issue featuring a brief article regarding Ball's retirement July-August 1966