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Grace E. Barneberg Papers, 1912-1953
MS 002
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Title: Grace E. Barneberg Papers
Date (inclusive): 1912-1953
Date (bulk): (bulk 1920s)
Collection number: MS 002
Creator:
Barneberg, Grace Elizabeth, (1883-1970)
Extent:
1 document box (.5 linear feet)
Repository:
Special Collections and Archives, Robert E. Kennedy Library, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California
93407
Abstract: Papers of San Luis Obispo civic leader Grace E. Barneberg, comprised of correspondence, organizational records, legal documents,
newspaper clippings, photographs, and ephemera. The collection documents her official activities as president of the Monday
Club and activities in regional and statewide women's and service organizations, including the California State Hospital Libraries,
San Luis Obispo Free Public Library, Board of Women's Prisons, San Luis Obispo Dental Clinic, San Luis Obispo Mitchell Park,
County Health Center, and the Red Cross. Also included are Barneberg family records.
Gift, 1981.
Collection is open to researchers by appointment. For more information on access policies and to obtain a copy of the Researcher
Registration form, please visit the Special Collections Access page.
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
In order to reproduce, publish, broadcast, exhibit, and/or quote from this material, researchers must submit a written request
and obtain formal permission from Special Collections, Cal Poly, as the owner of the physical collection.
Photocopying of material is permitted at staff discretion and provided on a fee basis. Photocopies are not to be used for
any purpose other than for private study, scholarship, or research. Special Collections staff reserves the right to limit
photocopying and deny access or reproduction in cases when, in the opinion of staff, the original materials would be harmed.
Grace E. Barneberg Papers, Special Collections and Archives, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
Grace E. Barneberg (1876-1970)
Grace Elizabeth Barneberg was born in San Luis Obispo, California on September 24, 1876, the daughter of Sarah E. Barneberg
(1857-1936) and John Wesley Barneberg (1851-1930). She attended San Luis Obispo High School, graduating in 1897. She received
her A.B. in History from Stanford University in 1901 and a high school teaching credential from the University of California,
Berkeley in 1902.
Returning to San Luis Obispo to an appointment at East Santa Fe School District teaching high school, she became a prominent
organizer and member of many women's and civic improvement organizations regionally as well as throughout the state of California.
Notably, she established the Monday Club in 1925, a women's organization promote civic, social and cultural welfare.
In addition to her local civic duties, Barneberg lectured throughout California on behalf of women's causes, including the
Women's Prison Board and Free Public Library initiatives.
Remaining unmarried, she assisted her parents in raising her niece and nephew. She died on February 23, 1970.
Barneberg Family
John Wesley Barneberg & Sarah E. Barneberg
John Wesley Barneberg (1851-1930) was born in Iowa and arrived in San Luis Obispo in 1868. He had several business endeavors,
including farming, hardware, and banking. Barneberg was a prominent financial figure in the county, having served as president
and vice-president of several of San Luis Obispo banks, including Commercial Bank, and Security-First National Bank. He was
elected as the City Tax Collector of San Luis Obispo in 1883. He served on the committee to establish California Polytechnic
School (1901) and in 1912 he served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention. He married Sarah E. Barneberg (1857-1936).
They had three children: John Frederick Barneberg (1874-1935), Grace Elizabeth Barneberg (1876-1970) and Chester Harry Barneberg
(1880-1944.) John W. Barneberg died in March 1930, in San Luis Obispo.
John Frederick Barneberg
John Frederick Barneberg (1874-1935), son to John W. Barneberg and Sarah E. Barneberg, was a prospector having claims in the
Klondike region, Dawson City, and the Yukon Territory in Canada. He and his wife, Ruby Barneberg, had one daughter, Jane Barneberg.
Chester Harry Barneberg
Chester H. Barneberg (1880-1944) married Emelinda Estella Dana on April 19, 1901. Emelinda was the daughter of Charles William
Dana (1837-1890) and Blandina Esquerra Dana (1845-unknown.) The Barnebergs had a daughter, Helen Maxine Barneberg (Vanschaick)
(1901-1989) and a son, John Chester (Jack) Barneberg (1903-1977). Little is known about Chester Barneberg's occupation. He
had a tragic accident in 1899, resulting in the amputation of his foot. He is noted as divorced in the 1910 census. His children
were raised by his parents and his sister, Grace Barneberg.
Sources
San Luis Obispo Morning Tribune, 29 May 1897
San Luis Obispo Morning Tribune, 27 July 1897
The San Francisco Call, 5 August 1897, pg. 2
San Luis Obispo Morning Tribune, 10 February 1899
San Luis Obispo Morning Tribune, 11 June 1899
San Luis Obispo Morning Tribune, 11 June 1899
San Luis Obispo Morning Tribune, 30 July 1899
San Luis Obispo Morning Tribune, 3 August 1899
San Luis Obispo Morning Tribune, 28 July 1901
San Luis Obispo Daily Tribune, 13 March 1930
Stevens, Stanley D.
A Researcher's Digest on F.A. Hihn and the Founding of California Polytechnic School at San Luis Obispo. Santa Cruz: The Hihn-Younger Archive, University Library, University of California Santa Cruz, 2001.
California Death Index (1940-1997), Ancestry.com
1900, 1910, 1920, 1930 Census of the United States, Ancestry.com
Social Security Death Index, Ancestry.com
World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, Ancestry.com
(1901). Register. University of California, Berkeley.
The Grace E. Barneberg Papers contain correspondence, organizational records, legal documents, newspaper clippings, photographs,
and ephemera documenting the activities of San Luis Obispo resident Grace E. Barneberg. The collection documents her role
as president of the Monday Club and activities in regional and statewide women's and service organizations including California
State Hospital Libraries, San Luis Obispo Free Public Library, Board of Women's Prisons, San Luis Obispo Dental Clinic, San
Luis Obispo Mitchell Park, County Health Center, and the Red Cross. The collection includes papers of her father, John W.
Barneberg, and the Barneberg family. Donated in 1981.
Where possible, the provenance, or original organization, of the papers has been preserved. However, in order to simplify
access to the collection for researchers, some materials in specific formats and topics were reorganized and refoldered to
more accurately reflect their contents.
The Grace E. Barneberg Papers are divided into 3 series:
Series 1: Personal Papers 1912-1953
Series 2: Professional Papers 1918-1944
Series 3: Monday Club Papers 1924-1983
The collection is housed in one document box with the Professional Papers and Monday Club Papers containing the most extensive
and unique portions of the collection.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Barneberg, Grace Elizabeth, (1883-1970)
San Luis Obispo (Calif.)--History.
San Luis Obispo County (Calif.)--History
Societies--California--San Luis Obispo.
Women in charitable work--California--San Luis Obispo
Women civic leaders--California--San Luis Obispo.
Women--California--San Luis Obispo.
Women--Societies and clubs.
Women--Suffrage.
Correspondence.
Clippings.
Documents.
Holographic notes.
Photographs.
Secondary sources.
Related Collections:
Sinsheimer Collection 1868-1997 (MS 036)
Jack Family Papers (MS 014)
Monday Club Records (MS 087)