Collection consists of family photographs of John Pitcher Spooner family and papers of John Pitcher Spooner and Fred K. Spooner. John Pitcher Spooner's papers include family correspondence, notes, a sea voyage sketchbook and genealogy notes (1857-1917). Fred Spooner's papers include school papers and reminiscences of steamboat crew members and childhood experiences (1920s).

John Pitcher Spooner was born in New Bedford, Mass. (1845) and went to sea at an early age. After several voyages he settled in San Francisco, Calif. (1864), where he took a job with Bradley-Rulofson Photographers. After fifteen years with this firm he married one of his models, Sarah Elizabeth Williams, and opened his own studio in Stockton, Calif. (1879). Spooner's glass plate photographs and stereo views of Stockton constitute a valuable record of the city's appearance during the last quarter of the 19th century. Spooner retired in 1901. He had two children, John Jr., a civil engineer, and Susan Spooner White, a teacher.

.5 linear feet

Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

Collection open for research.