Description
The Aubrey Neasham Collection is organized chronologically, and divided
into eleven different series which reflect on his research and professional
career. The first series consists of files created while Neasham was a student
at UC Berkeley, including drafts of his thesis and dissertation. The second
series contains reports and correspondence from Neasham's tenure as editor of
the California Historic Landmark Series. The next two series deal with his
employment for the National Park Service, first in Santa Fe, New Mexico and
then in San Francisco, California. Included in these series are correspondence,
guidebooks, reports, and research related material. Series five is a small
amount of material devoted to Neasham's service in the United States Navy
during World War II. The sixth series documents Neasham's stint as state
historian for California State Beaches & Parks. Series seven contains
research on a variety of topics executed by students in Neasham's
Environmental Resources classes at Sacramento State College, as well as
material dealing with Neasham's book Wild Legacy. The eighth series is the
largest, and it consists of business files and research associated with his
historic consulting firm, Western Heritage, Inc. Included in this series are
extensive research and a number of reports pertaining to Old Sacramento's
redevelopment and establishment as a state historic area. The ninth series
contains material related to Neasham's research on Sir Francis Drake, the
Drake Commission, and the Drake Debate (1974) in which Neasham was a
participant. Series ten is clippings collected by or about Irene Simpson
Neasham, former director of the Wells Fargo History Room and Neasham's second
wife. The final series is made up of A-Z Subject Files that document a wide
range of associations and sites in which Neasham had dealings with. The
original order of these subject files has been maintained.
Background
Vernon Aubrey Neasham made a career as an experienced historian, writer,
educator, and a champion of the historic preservation cause. He researched and
promoted numerous historic sites spanning across the western United States
throughout his life leaving an indelible mark upon such prominent sites as Old
Sacramento, Columbia, Monterey, and Coloma.
Extent
37 linear feet
(74 boxes)
Restrictions
Copyright has not been assigned to the Center for Sacramento History
for private collections. All requests for permission
to publish or quote from private manuscript collections must be submitted in
writing to csh@cityofsacramento.org. Permission for publication is given on behalf of
the Center for Sacramento History 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
reader. No permission is necessary to publish or quote from public records.
Availability
Collection is open for research. Please contact the Center for Sacramento History regarding
availability for research use.