Guide to the William Kettner Papers
MS 29
Finding aid prepared by Samantha Mills
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
March 28, 2013
Title: William Kettner Papers
Identifier/Call Number: MS 29
Contributing Institution:
San Diego History Center Document Collection
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.25 Linear feet
(1 box)
Date (inclusive): 1852-1981
Abstract: This collection contains papers pertaining to the congressional career of William Kettner, as well as some personal papers
and condolence letters sent to his widow after his death in 1930.
Language of Materials: Collection materials are in English and German.
creator:
Kettner, William
Preferred Citation
William Kettner Papers, MS 29, San Diego History Center Document Collection, San Diego, CA.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Samantha Mills on March 28, 2013.
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.
Conditions Governing Use
The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply. Photocopies
of correspondence from the Bancroft Library cannot be reproduced without permission from the Bancroft Library.
Arrangement
Collection arranged by subject.
Biographical / Historical Notes
William Kettner was born November 20, 1864 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He moved to California at the age of 21 and pursued a variety
of jobs, including mining in Julian, managing a hotel and the Free Press newspaper in Santa Ana, and driving a horse car in
San Diego. In 1893 he married Ida G. Griffs in Visalia, California and pursued a career in real estate and insurance sales.
He and Ida were divorced in 1904, and in 1905 he married Marion Morgan. They moved to San Diego in 1907, where Kettner established
an insurance business and became involved with the San Diego Chamber of Commerce.
In 1912, Kettner was elected to Congress as a Democratic representative for the 11th District. He served for eight years and
held positions on the Rivers & Harbors Committee and Naval Affairs Committee. His accomplishments included the acquisition
of federal funds to dredge the San Diego Bay and make it serviceable for deep-draft ships, as well as funds to build the Naval
Fuel Station on Point Loma, the Naval Radio Station near College Grove, and additional facilities at the Naval Stations on
28th Street and North Island.
Kettner played a key role in securing the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, the Naval Training Center, the Naval Hospital, the Miramar
Marine Corps Air Station, and other local military fixtures, firmly establishing San Diego as a home port for the U.S. Navy.
Additionally, Kettner was involved with the Democratic County Central Committee, and several Masonic Orders including the
Royal Arch Masons, the Scottish Rite, and the Knights Templar. He died on November 11, 1930.
Scope and Content
This collection contains papers pertaining to the congressional career of William Kettner, as well as some personal papers
and condolence letters sent to his widow after his death in 1930. Congressional papers include his certificates of nomination
and election, correspondence, bills he introduced, and programs for events he attended. Personal papers include membership
certificates (primarily for Masonic orders), copies of his marriage licenses, and some general Kettner family papers.
Comments
Some of Kettner’s congressional correspondence are photocopies of documents held by the Bancroft Library. They are watermarked
as such, and cannot be reproduced without permission of the Bancroft Library.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Accession number 880128A.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Kettner, Marion Morgan
Kettner, William
Knights Templar (Masonic Order).
Royal Arch Masons.
Scottish Rite (Masonic order).
United States. Congress Committees.
Legislators -- United States
San Diego (Calif.)
Box-folder 1:1
Congressional career: nomination and election,
1912 September 25-1916 December 19 and undated
Includes:
Certificate of Nomination dated September 25, 1912 (in Oversize Collections D9)
Certificate of Election dated December 18, 1912 (in Oversize Collections D9)
Certificate of Election dated December 19, 1916 (in Oversize Collections D9)
Box-folder 1:2
Congressional career: correspondence,
1912 November 11-1930 July 25 and undated
Box-folder 1:3
Congressional career: bills and committees,
1916-1971 and undated
Box-folder 1:4
Congressional career: public relations,
1913-1928
Box-folder 1:5
Organizations,
1900-1930
Includes:
Certificate of membership in the Scottish Rite, dated October 22, 1901 (in Oversize Collections D9)
Certificate of membership in the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, dated June 12, 1907 (in Oversize Collections D9)
Certificate of membership in the Grand Commandery of the Knights Templar, dated June 12, 1907 (in Oversize Collections D9)
Box-folder 1:6
Condolence letters and memorial resolutions,
1930 October 30-1931 October 9 and undated
Box-folder 1:7
Kettner family papers,
1852 June 8-1981 April 2 and undated
Includes:
Letter to John Kettner (written in German and English)
Copies of William Kettner’s marriage licenses
Award of merit to the Kettner family from the San Diego Historical Society
Kettner family genealogy
