Finding aid of the Spooner Family papers
Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections
University of the Pacific Library
3601 Pacific Ave.
Stockton, CA 95211
Phone: (209) 946-2404
Fax: (209) 946-2942
URL: http://www.pacific.edu/Library/Find/Holt-Atherton-Special-Collections.html
© 2006
University of the Pacific. All rights reserved.
Finding aid of the Spooner Family papers
Collection number: MSS 270
Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections
University
of the Pacific Library
Stockton, California
- Encoded by:
- Shan Sutton
© 2006 University of the Pacific. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Spooner family papers
Dates: 1857-1963
Collection number: MSS 270
Creator:
Spooner, John Pitcher,
1845-1917
Collection Size:
.5 linear feet
Repository:
University of the Pacific. Library. Holt-Atherton Dept. of
Special Collections
Stockton, California 95211
Abstract: 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).
Physical location: For current information on the location
of these materials, please consult the library's online catalog.
Languages: Languages represented in the collection:
English
Access
Collection open for research.
Publication Rights
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.
Preferred Citation
Spooner family papers. MSS 270. Holt-Atherton Department of Special
Collections, University of the Pacific Library.
Biography / Administrative History
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.
Fred K. Spooner, who is represented by many items in this collection, is
the son of John Pitcher Spooner, Jr. Fred Spooner was an educator, serving for
many years as Principal of Stockton Junior High School. His reminiscences
describe the colorful steamboat era in Stockton history (1890-1920).
Scope and Content of Collection
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)
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this
collection in the library's online public access catalog.
John Pitcher Spooner Photography
Studio (Stockton, Calif.)
Spooner family
Spooner, Fred K.
Photographers - California - Stockton
River steamers - California -
Stockton
Stockton (Calif.) - Social life and
customs
Stockton (Calif.) - History
Related Material
Many Stockton photographs by John Pitcher Spooner are located in the
general photogrpah collection in the Holt-Atherton Special Collections
department.
Series I: Family History and John Pitcher
Spooner
1.1: Geneaology and biographical material.
1.2: John Pitcher Spooner sketchbook.
1857
1.3: John Pitcher Spooner correspondence.
1.4: John Pitcher Spooner correspondence.
1.5: John Pitcher Spooner miscellaneous papers.
2.1: Reminiscences and school papers relating to work for
a steamship company in Stockton.
2.2: School papers, language arts, city government.
2.3: Paper on John Pitcher Spooner.
2.4: Paper on Bill Blodgett (53 year veteran river boat
purser).
2.5: Clipping on talk by Fred Spooner on Delta shipping.
Series III: Other Related Papers
3.1: Post cards and drawing by Sue Mary Bell
Spooner.
4.1: John Pitcher Spooner
4.2: Sarah Williams Spooner
4.3: John Pitcher Spooner, Jr. and Sue May Bell
Spooner.
4.4: Other Spooner family photographs.
4.5: Miscellaneous prints and negatives