Pratt Family Papers

Patricia C. Inouye
Department of Special Collections
General Library
University of California, Davis
Davis, CA 95616-5292
Phone: (530) 752-1621
Fax: (530) 754-5758
Email: speccoll@ucdavis.edu
© 2009
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.


Creator: Pratt, Jean Noack
Title: Pratt Family Papers
Date: 1825-1950
Extent: 3.2 linear feet; 66 Gelatin dry plates glass negatives, 6 Albumen prints, and 5 negatives
Abstract: The Pratt Family Papers spans the years 1825-1950. It contains historical correspondence and diaries related to the early settlement of the San Joaquin Valley.
Physical location: Researchers should contact Special Collections to request collections, as many are stored offsite.
Repository: University of California, Davis. General Library.Department of Special Collections.
Davis, California 95616-5292
Collection number: D-369
Language of Material: Collection materials in English and German.

Biography

Jean Noack Pratt (1916-2008), lived in Dixon, California. Her collection chronicles the lives of her ancestors, who were pioneers of California's San Joaquin Valley. Pratt wrote three genealogical books, Finally California, The Noack-Haussler Story and A Van Fossen Family Genealogy. Pratt's great-grandparents, Ernest Wagener (1811-1893) and Henrietta Eichoff (1824-1869) were emigrants from Germany. They were among the early settlers of San Joaquin Valley, ultimately settling on the Stanislaus River near Mariposa, California. The family ran the Zinc House stage coach stop which was located near Stockton on the French Camp Road. Their daughter, Louisa Christina Wagener (1853-1931), wrote a diary, which is the only known first-hand account of life at a stage coach stop in the San Joaquin Valley. Alfred Noack (1848-1922) married Louisa Christina Wagener. Noack worked in the threshing business. Walter Noack (1880-1949) was the son of Alfred and Louisa. He was an inventor and machinist, working for many farm equipment companies such as Braden Manufacturing Company, the Sage-Noack Gas Traction Company, Best Tractor Company, and Caterpillar Tractor Company.

Scope and Content

The Pratt Family Papers spans the years 1825-1950. It contains historical correspondence and diaries related to the early settlement of the San Joaquin Valley. In addition, the collection includes Pratt's draft notes and tapes used in the development of her three books. There are many historical photographs of the family and of farm machinery. Also included in the collection are a wooden die cast mold of the word Caterpillar, and a forty-five-star flag said to have flown over the Zinc House stage coach stop.

Arrangement of the Collection

The collection is arranged in 5 series, Family diaries 1825-1886, Correspondence and business papers of Walter G. Noack, 1912-1939, Jean Noack Pratt's Genealogical materials 1872-1977, Images 1888-1950, and Realia

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Pratt Family Papers--Archives.
Pratt, Jean Noack
German Americans-California-San Joaquin Valley-Biography
Tractor Industry-History
Agrficultural Machinery industry-History
Immigrants-California-San Joaquin Valley-Biography
San Joaquin Valley (Calif.)-Biography
Tractor Motors Company
Braden Manufacturing Co.

Access

Collection is open for research.

Processing Information

Patricia C. Inouye processed this collection and created and encoded this finding aid.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Jean Noack Pratt 2001, 2003

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Pratt Family papers, D-369, Department of Special Collections, General Library, University of California, Davis.

Publication Rights

Copyright is protected by the copyright law, chapter 17, of the U.S. Code. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Department of Special Collections, General Library, University of California, Davis 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.

 

Series 1 Family diaries 1825-1886

Physical Description: 30 folders: 0.25 linear feet

Scope and Content Note

Contains diaries, writings, correspondence of and about family members as well as two newspapers saved by the family. Arranged alphabetically
Box 1:1

Alfred Noack Correspondence Sept., 1888-June, 1889

Box 1:2

Berliner Tageblatt(Newspaper) 1914

Box 1:3

Byron Jackson Correspondence 1882-1884

Box 1:4

Henriette Eicholff Journal 1825-1880

Box 1:5-1:26

Louisa Wagener Noack draft letters and writings undated

Box 1:27

Louisa Wagener Noack Newspaper article Dec. 22, 1928

Box 1:28

Stylograph Copy Book, Alfred Noack 1884-1886

Box 1:29

The Western Democrat (Newspaper) Oct. 9, 1886

Box 1:30

Zinc House Record Book 1856

 

Series 2 Correspondence and business papers of Walter G. Noack 1912-1939

Physical Description: 10 folders: 0.25 linear feet

Scope and Content Note

Contains correspondence, business papers, patents, and tractor catalogues of Walter G. Noack. Arranged alphabetically
Box 1:31

Best Manufacturing Company, San Leandro Tractor undated

Box 1:32

C. L. Best Tractorlayer undated

Box 1:33

Correspondence of Walter G. Noack 1905-1917

Box 1:34

Correspondence of Walter G. Noack 1918-1920

Box 1:35

Correspondence of Walter G. Noack 1921-1926

Box 1:36

Correspondence of Walter G. Noack and Caterpillar 1929

Box 1:37

Legal Correspondence of Walter G. Noack 1915-1939

Box 1:38

Tractor Motors Company statements 1917-1922

Box 1:39

Walter G. Noack's patents 1912-1929

Box 1:40

Walter G. Noack's Obituary 1949

Box 1:40

Katherine Von Flossen Noack's Obituary 1953

 

Series 3 Jean Noack Pratt's genealogical materials 1872-1977

Physical Description: 14 folders: 0.50 linear feet

Scope and Content Note

Contains materials created by Jean Noack Pratt to write her three books, Finally California, The Noack-Haussler Story, and A Van Fossen Family Genealogy. Magnetic tapes may hold materials other than genealogy. These have labels: wintergreen, thyme, vanilla, cinnamon, physostigma, peppermint, mustard, curcuma. One tape is labeled, Robb Pratt, KCBS, 4/25/1956. Arranged Alphabetically
Box 1:41

Genealogy-Chronology of Noack-Van Flossen 1906-1977

Box 1:42

Genealogy of Aaron Van Flossen and Lara Alice Warren 1872-1968

Box 1:43

Index and Correspondence Oct. 29, 1984-June 8, 1986

Box 1:44

Original Lane Survey 1907

Box 1:45-1:54

Magnetic Tapes undated

 

Series 4 Images. Arranged numerically 1888-1950

Physical Description: 66 Gelatin Dry plate glass negatives, 6 Albumen prints, and 5 negatives

Scope and Content Note

Contains images of the inventions of Alfred Noack and Walter G. Noack, with a few family images.
box 2:1

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0001 American Floor Surfacing Machine Co., Wagon, right hand side view with open side door. undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin dry plate glass negative
box 2:2

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0002 American Floor Surfacing Machine Co., Wagon, Left hand side view. undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin dry plate glass negative
box 2:3

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0003 American Floor Surfacing Machine Co., Wagon, rear view. undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin dry plate glass negative
box 2:4

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0004 American Floor Surfacing Machine Co., Wagon, right side view with closed side door. undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin dry plate glass negative
box 2:5

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0005 American Floor Surfacing Machine Co., Floor sanding machine undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin dry plate glass negative
box 2:6

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0006 Braden Manufacturing Co. Gas Engines, Motors and Pumps, Factory Building, front view. undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin dry plate glass negative
box 2:7

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0007 Braden Manufacturing Co. Gas Engines, Motors and Pumps. Factory Building, side view. undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin dry plate glass negative
box 2:8

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0008 Braden Manufacturing Company, pump, Hanford, California undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin dry plate glass negative
box 2:9

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0009 Food Cupboard with four compartments undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin dry plate glass negative
box 2:10

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0010 Food Cupboard with twelve compartments undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin dry plate glass negative
box 2:11

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0011 Store Cabinetry with six shelves in two rows undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin dry plate glass negative
box 2:12

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0012 Pump in a A-frame Building in a field undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin dry plate glass negative
box 2:13

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0013 Pump in structure near corn field undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin dry plate glass negative
box 2:14

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0014 Yuba Manufacturing Co., tractor in orchard, right hand view. undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin dry plate glass negative
box 2:15

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0015 Yuba Manufacturing Co., tractor in orchard, front view undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin dry plate glass negative
box 2:16

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0016 Walter Noack holding Carol with Louise and a snowman undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin dry plate glass negative
box 2:17

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0017 Man, Girl and Boy in front of trenching machine [Negative is broken in half] undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin dry plate glass negative
box 2:18

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0018 Trenching machine at work undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin dry plate glass negative
box 2:19

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0019 Trenching machine at work, side view undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin dry plate glass negative
box 2:20

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0020 Trenching machine at work, front view undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin dry plate glass negative
box 2:21

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0021 Factory shop undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin dry plate glass negative
box 2:22

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0022 Hammer mill undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin dry plate glass negative
box 2:23

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0023 Pump undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin dry plate glass negative
box 2:24

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0024 Dog undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin dry plate glass negative
box 2:25

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0025 Unknown portrait. undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin dry plate glass negative
box 2:26

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0026 Saw. undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin dry plate glass negative
box 2:27

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0027 Tractor, front view undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin dry plate glass negative
box 2:28

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0028 Tractor, left side view. undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin dry plate glass negative
box 2:29

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0029 Braden Manufacturing Company, Pump, Part 174. undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin dry plate glass negative
box 2:30-35

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0030-0035 Braden Manufacturing Company, Hiawatha pump, various views. undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin dry plate glass negative
box 3:1-9

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0036-0044 Various pumps. undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin dry plate glass negative
box 3:10

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0045 Drawing of a pump. undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin dry plate glass negative
box 3:11-18

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0046-0053 Tractor Motor Company, Engine. undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin dry plate glass negative
box 3:19-24

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0054-0059 Tractor Motor Company, Engine Drawing Model E undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin dry plate glass negative
box 3:19-24

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0054-0059 Tractor Motor Company, Engine Drawing Model E undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin dry plate glass negative
box 3:25

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0060 Man and trenching machine undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin dry plate glass negative
box 3:26

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0061 Man in orchard pumping water undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin dry plate glass negative
box 3:27

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0062 Engine drawing- governor parts undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin dry plate glass negative
box 3:28

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0063 Yuba Manufacturing Company, Tractor undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin dry plate glass negative
box 3:29

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0064 C. L. Best Tractor Company, Tractor, left side view undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin dry plate glass negative
box 3:30

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0065 C. L. Best Tractor Company, Tractor, right side view undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin dry plate glass negative
box 3:31

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0066 C. L. Best Tractor Company, Tractor, front view undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin dry plate glass negative
box 3:32

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0067 Twenty men and one horse standing in front of a threshing machine 1875

Physical Description: 1 photograph: albumen print
box 3:33

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0068 Two men at a threshing machine with another group of men in a wagon in the Stockton area 1895

Physical Description: 1 photograph: albumen print
box 3:34

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0069 Men with threshing machine in the Stockton area undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: albumen print
box 3:35

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0070 Henneuse 40 undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: albumen print
box 3:36

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0071 Residence of Ernest Magenes, Esq., San Joaquin County, California 1861

Physical Description: 1 photograph: albumen print
box 3:37

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0072 Men with threshing machine in field undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: albumen print
box 3:38

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0073 Walter G. Noack and Katherine Von Flossen Noack undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin DOP
box 3:39

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0074 Walter G. Noack undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin DOP
box 3:40

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0075 Man at river with pump undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin DOP
box 3:41

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0076 Man in field pumping water undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin DOP
box 3:42

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0077 Two men standing behind a pump with sign, "Made by the Braden Mfg. Co., Hanford." [Mounted on matting board] undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin DOP
box 3:43

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0078 Noack on Samson tractor pulling brush undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: Gelatin DOP
box 4:1

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0080 Tractor undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: negative
box 4:2

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0081 Walter G. Noack undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: nitrate negative
box 4:3

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0082 Walter Noack on Samson tractor pulling down a tree undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: nitrate negative
box 4:4

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0083 Pump undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: nitrate negative
box 4:5

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0084 Pump undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: nitrate negative
box 4:6

UCD.PIC.D369.2009.0084 Walter Noack on Samson tractor pulling brush undated

Physical Description: 1 photograph: nitrate negative
 

Series 5 Realia undated

Physical Description: 1 flag and 1 sign

Scope and Content Note

United States Flag with 48 stars which flew over the Zinc House stage coach stop. Wooden impression sign which says "Caterpillar".