Guide to the Calaveras Big Trees State Park Collection
Processed by Margo Lentz-Meyer
California State Parks Archives
4940 Lang Avenue Suite 114
McClellan, CA 95652
Phone: 916-263-0779
FAX: 916-663-0858
Email: department.archives@parks.ca.gov
URL: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1080
© 2015
California State Parks Archives. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Calaveras Big Trees SP collection
Date (inclusive): 1854-2013
Date (bulk): (bulk 1960-1990)
Collection number: CSPA-306
Creator:
Calaveras Big Trees State Park
Extent:
7 linear feet, including 2 map folders.
Repository:
California State Parks
McClellan, California 95652
Abstract: Calaveras Big Trees State Park, situated in both Calaveras and Tuolumne Counties, is located three miles north of Arnold,
California off Highway 4. Calaveras became a State Park in 1931 to preserve the North Grove of giant sequoias. In 1954, Calaveras
South Grove was added to the park, uniting and protecting the North and South Groves. The Calaveras Big Trees State Park Collection
is arranged in twelve series: 1. Correspondence, 2. Ephemera, 3. Facilities, 4. Histories, 5. Interpretation, 6. Legal, 7.
Publications, 8. Subject Files, 9. Cartographic Material, 10. Photographic Material, and 11. Reports. Items span the years
1854-2013 with the bulk of the material falling between 1960-1990.
Physical Location: California State Parks Archives
Languages: Languages represented in this collection:
English
Access
The collection is open for research. Cultural and archaeological site maps are restricted. Reports with sensitive data may
be restricted. Consult repository for details.
Publication Rights
For permission to reproduce or publish, please consult the California State Parks Archives archivist. Permission for reproduction
or publication is given on behalf of the California State Parks Archives, McClellan as the owner of the physical items. The
researcher assumes all responsibility for possible infringement that may arise from reproduction or publication of materials
from the California State Parks Archives.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Calaveras Big Trees State Park Collection, CSPA-306: [box: folder number], California State Parks
Archives, Sacramento, California.
Acquisition Information
Calaveras Big Trees SP donated the majority of the material in this collection in 2002. Additional correspondence, maps, and
deeds were added from Central Records in 2015.
Processing Information
Margo Lentz-Meyer processed this collection and created and encoded its finding aid in 2015.
Administrative History
Calaveras Big Trees State Park, situated in both Calaveras and Tuolumne Counties, is located three miles north of Arnold,
California off Highway 4. The park is named after the massive giant sequoias that reach heights of up to 325 ft. and diameters
of 33 ft. The park is comprised of two groves of mixed conifer forest, North Grove and South Grove. The North Grove of Calaveras
Big Trees came under the protection of the State of California in 1931 to preserve the giant sequoias. In 1954, Calaveras
South Grove was acquired from the Pickering Lumber Company, uniting the two groves and establishing Calaveras Big Trees State
Park as it is known today.
Although the area had been known and was used by the Indians who lived there for thousands of years, the 'discovery' of the
North Grove is most frequently attributed to Augustus T. Dowd. In 1852, Dowd recorded his siting of the 'Big Tree' in the
North Grove while on a bear hunt. The 'Big Tree,' shortly after its discovery became the 'Big Stump,' a popular exhibition
site. Over time the stump was used for a number of activities in the Grove including: dancing, theatrical performances, concerts,
lectures, divine services, weddings, a schoolroom, and a bowling alley. However, during this time the trees in the area were
quickly being exploited.
In 1928, the California State Park System was established through a bond act and in 1931 the North Grove was purchased. The
land was acquired with funding from the Calaveras Grove Association and the Save the Redwoods League with the help from private
donors including John D. Rockefeller Jr. and Mrs. William H. Crocker. Following a lull in state funding and park acquisitions
due to the Great Depression and two world wars, the South Grove was finally purchased from Pickering Lumber Company in 1954.
Calaveras Big Trees has a total of eight standing historic structures associated with the early hotel period or with the Civilian
Conservation Corps (CCC) period of development. The Park office building is the only building remaining from the old hotel
period and was once a part of the Big Trees Hotel complex. The remaining seven rustic architecture buildings were constructed
by the CCC in the 1930s. In addition to the construction of buildings the CCC also built camp and picnic facilities, built
trails, cleaned and smoothed the Big Stump, improved the park's water supply, renovated the old hotel, instituted fire protection
measures, and performed other conservation work.
Since the discovery of the North Grove by Euroamericans in the mid-1800s the North Grove area has arguably been the longest
continuously operating recreational site in California. Calaveras Big Trees State Park provides visitors with varied recreational
opportunities including camping, hiking, nature study, picnicking, swimming, and fishing.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Calaveras Big Trees State Park Collection is arranged in elevan series: 1. Correspondence, 2. Legal, 3. Facilities, 4.
Subject Files, 5. Interpretation, 6. Histories, 7. Publications, 8. Ephemera, 9. Photographic Material, 10. Cartographic Material,
and 11. Reports. Items span the years 1854-2013 with the bulk of the material falling in between 1960-2000.
Series one, Correspondence, consists of general correspondence and memorandum between Calaveras Big Tree State Park advocates
and employees to other branches of national and state government officials spanning the years 1932-2002. This series also
contains correspondence pertaining to grants and easements dating from 1934-1981. Series two, Legal, contains correspondence
and memoranda regarding legal issues relating to the park from 1928-1991. It also contains copies of official park deeds from
1949 and original and copies of Gift or Loan of Personal Property documents from 1990-1991.
Series three, Facilities, consists of records concerning the maintenance of park grounds and facilities. Series four, Subject
Files, is divided into four subseries each of which contains correspondence, memorandum, and reports. The four subseries are:
Civilian Conservation Corps, the Parks General Plan, Inventory of Features, and Prescribed Burn Project. Series five, Interpretation,
consists of interpretive plans and prospectuses, as well as exhibit plans, and a teachers' guide to the park.
Series six, Histories, contains background information and history of the area in and surrounding Calaveras Big Trees State
Park. Series seven, Publications, contains books, newspaper clippings, journal clippings and magazine clippings documenting
the history of the park and its contents. Series eight, Ephemera, consists of trail guides, program guides, post cards, and
pamphlets.
Series nine, Photographic Material, consists of slides, 35mm black and white negatives, 35mm color negatives, 4x6 inch black
and white negatives, color and black and white prints, and Oversized Photos dating from 1925-1998. Series ten, Cartographic
Material, contains maps of the topography and geography of the park, and blue prints of park facilities and buildings.
Series eleven, Reports, includes reports produced by State of California Department of Parks and Recreation and reports produced
by cultural resource management contractors.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Calaveras Big Trees Association
Calaveras Big Trees State Park (Calif.)
California. Dept. of Parks and Recreation
Civilian Conservation Corps (U.S.)
Cultural resources
Esthetic resources
Giant sequoia
Miwok Indians
Natural resources
North Grove Trail (Calif.)
Sierra Nevada (Calif. and Nev.)
Stanislaus River (Calif.)
Related Collections
Francis-Bishop Papers
Box 1 : 1 - 3 : 2
Series 1.
Correspondence
1932-2002
Physical Description: 24 file folders
Series Scope and Content Summary
Correspondence is arranged chronologically and divided into two categories: general correspondence and Grants and Easement
correspondence. General Correspondence consists of correspondence and memoranda from Natural Resources dating from 1932-2002:
Division of Beaches and Parks regarding park boundaries, acquisitions, interested parties, natural resources, cultural resources,
existing and future structures. Grants and Easement correspondence contains detailed correspondence regarding grants and easements
ranging from 1934-1981 with the exception of 1951 and 1953 the contents whereabouts are unknown.
Box 1 : 1
General Correspondence
1932-1955
Box 1 : 2
General Correspondence
1960-1969
Box 1 : 3
General Correspondence
1970-1979
Box 1 : 4
General Correspondence
1980-1989
Box 1 : 5
General Correspondence
1990-2002
Box 1 : 6
Grants and Easements
1934-1950
Box 1 : 7
Grants and Easements
1952
Box 1 : 8
Grants and Easements
1954
Box 1 : 9
Grants and Easements
1955
Box 1 : 10
Grants and Easements
1956-1957
Box 1 : 11
Grants and Easements
1958
Box 1 : 12
Grants and Easements
1959
Box 1 : 13
Grants and Easements
1960-1961
Box 2 : 1
Grants and Easements
1962-1963
Box 2 : 2
Grants and Easements
1964
Box 2 : 3
Grants and Easements
1965
Box 2 : 4
Grants and Easements
1966
Box 2 : 5
Grants and Easements
1967
Box 2 : 6
Grants and Easements
1968
Box 2 : 7
Grants and Easements
1969
Box 2 : 8
Grants and Easements
1970-1971
Box 2 : 9
Grants and Easements
1972-1973
Box 3 : 1
Grants and Easements
1974-1975
Box 3 : 2
Grants and Easements
1976-1981
Box 3 : 3 - 5 : 8
Series 2.
Legal
1928-1991
Physical Description: 21 file folders
Series Scope and Content Summary
Arranged chronologically, includes legal correspondence, copies of deeds from 1949, and copies and original Gift or Loan of
Personal Property documents from 1990-1991.
Box 4 : 1
Correspondence
Jan 1951 - June 1951
Box 4 : 2
Correspondence
July 1951 - Dec 1951
Box 4 : 3
Correspondence
Jan 1952 - June 1952
Box 4 : 4
Correspondence
July 1952 - Dec 1952
Box 4 : 6
Correspondence
Jan 1954 - June 1954
Box 5 : 1
Correspondence
July 1954 - Dec 1954
Box 5 : 9 - 6 : 7
Series 3.
Facilities
1929-1990
Physical Description: 13 file folders
Series Scope and Content Summary
Arranged alphabetically by subject title. Each facility folder contains correspondence, memos, reports, and plans regarding
the maintenance of structures or projects taking place on park premises.
Box 5 : 11
Comfort Station 207-1
1961-1963
Box 5 : 12
Expansion Study: Final Report
1966
Box 5 : 13
Expansion Study: Reports
1929-1961
Box 6 : 1 - 2
Grading and Surfacing Project: Road from the North Fork of the Stanislaus River to Beaver Creek Station
1966-1967
Box 6 : 3
North Fork Stanislaus River Bridge
1953-1977
Box 6 : 6
Walter W. Smith Memorial Parkway Repairs
1954-1968
Box 6 : 7
Walter W. Smith Memorial Parkway Repairs
1968-1987
Box 7 : 1 - 10 : 4
Series 4.
Subject Files
1859-2006
Physical Description: 26 file folders
Series Scope and Content Summary
Subject Files are divided into four subseries and are arranged by subject in each subseries: Civilian Conservation Corps,
General Plan, Inventory of Features, and Prescribed Burn Project.
Box 7 : 1 - 7 : 4
Subseries 4.1.
Civilian Conservation Corps
1859-2006
Physical Description: 4 file folders
Subseries Scope and Content Summary
Includes historical records regarding CCC work in the park, maintenance of CCC projects, and CCC constructed buildings. Arranged
into subject folders and chronologically within each folder.
Box 7 : 1
Civilian Conservation Corps, General Information_ Pamphlets, Memos, Correspondence, Notes, Maps
1933-2006
Box 7 : 2
Civilian Conservation Corps: Concrete Water Tank and Pumphouse_ Memos Correspondence, Notes
1988-1991
Box 7 : 3
Mammoth Grove Hotel and Outbuildings_ Graphics, Background, Reports, Correspondence, Notes
1859-2004
Box 7 : 4
Meadow Restoration Project_ Correspondence, Notes, Reports
2000-2002
Box 7 : 5 - 9 : 2
Subseries 4.2.
General Plan
1955-1998
Physical Description: 14 file folders
Subseries Scope and Content Summary
Records include correspondence, planning documents, preliminary and final drafts of the General Plan. Arranged chronologically.
Box 7 : 9
Planning Documents
1908-1987
Box 8 : 1
Planning Documents
undated
Box 8 : 2
Calaveras Big Trees State Park, Visitor Center Development Plan
1998
Box 8 : 3
Status of Sequoia Gigantea in The Sierra Nevada, Report to the Legislature, State of California
1952
Box 8 : 4
Calaveras Big Trees State Park, Resource Element, Preliminary Draft
1985
Box 8 : 5
Calaveras Big Trees State Park, Resource Element, Final Draft
1986
Box 8 : 6 - 7
Calaveras Big Trees State Park, General Plan Draft
1989
Box 9 : 1 - 2
Calaveras Big Trees State Park, General Plan Final
1989
Box 9 : 3 - 10 : 2
Subseries 4.3.
Inventory of Features
1984-1986
Physical Description: 6 file folders
Subseries Scope and Content Summary
This series includes various drafts of reports documenting the cultural and natural resources in the park that are arranged
alphabetically by subject.
Box 9 : 3
Inventory of Features: Cultural Resources, Draft
undated
Box 9 : 4 - 5
Inventory of Features: Cultural Resources, Final
1986
Box 9 : 6
Inventory of Features: Cultural Resources, Notes and Memos
1985-1991
Box 10 : 1
Inventory of Features: Resource Inventory Report
1982
Box 10: 2
Inventory of Features: Summary
1984
Box 10 : 3 - 4
Subseries 4.4.
Prescribed Burn Project
1972-1989
Physical Description: 2 file folders
Subseries Scope and Content Summary
Records are arranged chronologically documenting the history of prescribed burning in the park and reports on the methodology
and practice of prescribed burn projects.
Box 10 : 3
Prescribed Burn Project
1972-1987
Box 10 : 4
Prescribed Burn Project
1980-1989
Box 10 : 5 - 11 : 2
Series 5.
Interpretation
1928-1988
Physical Description: 8 file folders
Series Scope and Content Summary
Contains records concerning exhibits and educational material, and are arranged chronologically.
Box 10 : 7
Interpretive Plans
1976-1986
Box 10 : 8
Interpretive Prospectus, Calaveras Big Trees SP
1974-1987
Box 10 : 9
Interpretive Work Request
1978-1985
Box 11 : 2
Teachers' Guide to the Calaveras Big Trees, Resources Agency, Department of Parks and Recreation
1973
Box 11 : 3 - 11 : 7
Series 6.
Histories
1937-1986
Physical Description: 5 file folders
Series Scope and Content Summary
Arranged by type of material. Contains bibliographic material, oral histories and general research on the history of the park
and local area.
Box 11 : 3
Bibliographic Material
1937-1976
Box 11 : 4
General Background
1863-1957
Box 11 : 5
General Background
1961-1980
Box 11 : 7
Oral Histories_ Phil Nelson, Jenny Batty Nelson and Bob Batty; William R. Null
1982-1989
Box 11 : 8 - 12 : 12
Series 7.
Publications
1854-2013
Physical Description: 18 file folders
Series Scope and Content Summary
Arranged alphabetically by author's last name, with the exception of newspaper, journal and magazine clippings, these are
arranged chronologically.
Box 11 : 8
Big Tree Bulletin, Calaveras Big Trees Association
1986
Box 11 : 9
Bishop, Frances E., A Brief History of the Big Tree and The Big Stump
1985
Box 11 : 10
Brant Irving, Protect the South Calaveras Sequoia Grove
1942
Box 11 : 11
Castro, Kenneth M. and Doris Castro, South Grove . . . Calaveras Big Trees State Park
1968
Box 11 : 12
Cook, Lawrence F., The Giant Sequoias of California
1942
Box 11 : 13
Davenport, Howard E., A Story of Calaveras Big Trees and the Oldest Living Things on Earth
1949
Box 12 : 1
DeLeon, Donald, Sequoia Insects
1952
Box 12 : 2
Engbeck Jr., Joseph H., The Enduring Giants
1973
Box 12 : 3
Engbeck Jr., Joseph H., The Enduring Giants
2013
Box 12 : 4
Huchings, J.M., The Mammoth Trees of Calaveras Scene of Wonder and Curiosity in California
1978
Box 12 : 5
Schmidt, Earl F., The Big Tree: Carson Valley Emigrant Road, A Major Branch of the California Trail
1989
Box 12 : 6
Sherwood, George H., The Big Tree and Its Story, American Museum of Natural History, Guide Leaflet No. 42
1927
Box 12 : 7
Southern Pacific Company, Big Trees of California
1911
Box 12 : 8
Wood, R. Coke, Big Tree Bulletin
1960
Box 12 : 9
Wood, R. Coke, Big Tree-Carson Valley Turnpike Ebbetts Pass and Highway Four
1968
Box 12 : 10
Wood, R. Coke, Calaveras Grove of Big Trees also Called Mammoth Grove
1974
Box 12 : 11
Newspaper Clippings
1854-1987
Box 12 : 12
Journal and Magazine Clippings
1871-1988
Box 13 : 1 - 13 : 2
Series 8.
Ephemera
undated
Physical Description: 2 file folders
Series Scope and Content Summary
Ephemera is divided into two categories and arranged alphabetically by title.
Box 13 : 3 - 13 : 6
Series 9.
Photographic Material
1925-1998
Physical Description: 4 file folders
Series Scope and Content Summary
All of the photographs are separated by type and arranged chronologically. The 3.5x5 color and black and white prints have
been removed and are located in a separate media box.
Box 13 : 5
4x6 Inch Black and White Negatives
undated
Box 13 : 6
Oversize Photos
1925-1998
Box 13 : 7
Series 10.
Cartographic Material
1891-1994
Physical Description: 1 file folder
Series Scope and Content Summary
All maps are arranged chronologically. The files include maps, architectural drawings, and exhibit plans. See archivist for
a complete list.
Box 13 : 8 - 15 : 15
Series 11.
Reports
1925-2013
Physical Description: 44 file folders
Series Scope and Content Summary
Documents produced by Parks or hired contractors are arranged alphabetically by title.
Box 13 : 8
A Summary of the Archeological Resources at Calaveras Big Trees State Park
1969
Box 13 : 9
A Summary of the Historical Values at Calaveras Big Trees State Park, Cliff M. Bisbee
undated
Box 13 : 10
An Assessment of the Condition of the North Grove Meadow, Calaveras Big Trees State Park
1988
Box 13 : 11
Application and Permit to Conduct Archaeological or Paleontological Investigations/Collections of Lands of the State of California
1987
Box 13 : 12
Archaeological Evaluation
1977-1979
Box 13 : 13
Archaeological Monitoring Report
2002-2011
Box 13 : 14
Archaeological Site Survey Record
1967-1969
Box 13 : 15
Archaeological Survey Reports
2006
Box 13 : 16
Baseline Studies for Evaluation of Effects of Change Flow Regime of Riparian Vegetation along the North Fork of the Stanislaus
River, Calaveras Big Trees State Park, California
2007
Box 13 : 17
Calaveras Big Trees State Park, an Outline for Resource Management Program, South Grove
1975
Box 13 : 18
Calaveras Big Trees New Visitor Center: Extended Phase 1 Investigation for Proposed Electrical Trench, Draft; Calaveras Big
Trees New Visitor Center: Extended Phase 1 Investigation for Proposed Electrical Trench, Final
2005-2007
Box 13 : 19
Calaveras Big Trees State Park, Electrical Trench Extended Phase 1 Archaeological Investigation, by Dionne Gruver, Andy Pillado
2004
Box 14 : 1
Calaveras Big Trees State Park Environmental Study Area Teacher's Guide
1972
Box 14 : 2
Cultural Resources Inventory Report for the Pacific Bell Cable Project, Arnold to Bear Valley, Calaveras and Alpine Counties,
California, Final
1990
Box 14 : 3
Cultural Resources Inventory Report for the Pacific Bell Cable Project, Arnold to Bear Valley, Calaveras and Alpine Counties,
California, Final and Draft
1990
Box 14 : 4
DPR 18: Request for Approval to Proceed or Encumber Funds
1986
Box 14 : 5
DPR 523: Historic Resources Inventory
1982-1983
Box 14 : 6
DPR 523: Sketch Map
2001-2005
Box 14 : 7
DPR 523: Sketch Map
1936-2001
Box 14 : 8
DPR 656: Statewide Resource Management Program
1986
Box 14 : 9
DPR 659: Cultural Resource Evaluation
1980-1986
Box 14 : 10
DPR 659: Cultural Resources Evaluation
1986-1987
Box 14 : 11
DPR 750: Historic Structure Inventory
1986
Box 14 : 12
Environmental Report, Vol. 1: Revised Application for FPC Project No. 2409, Hydro Electric Development on North Fork Stanislaus
River
1975
Box 14 : 13
Guide to the Papers of Francis Evelyn Bishop
2002
Box 14 : 14
Historical and Archeological Research at Calaveras Big Trees Cottage Area, Edit. Julia Costello, Draft
1988
Box 14 : 15
Historical and Archeological Research at Calaveras Big Trees Cottage Area, Edit. Julia Costello
1998
Box 14 : 16
Negative Archaeological Survey Report
1989-1990
Box 15 : 1
Preliminary Resources Report, Calaveras Big Trees State Park
1969
Box 15 : 2
Proceedings of the Workshop on Management of Giant Sequoia
1985
Box 15 : 3
Project Evaluation, Historical Review
2013
Box 15 : 4
Purpose Statements for the Classified Units and Major Unclassified Properties of the California State Park System: Calaveras
District
2011
Box 15 : 5
Regional CEQA Evaluation
1988-1991
Box 15 : 6
Resource Management Program for South Grove, Draft and Final
1974-1975
Box 15 : 7
Scope of Collections Statement, By Bruce Thomsen
2002
Box 15 : 8
Sierra Redwood Groves, An Annotated List of the Groves Sequoiadendron giganteum in the Sierra Nevada, California, By P.W.
Rundel
1968
Box 15 : 9
South Calaveras Grove of Big Trees: Preliminary Biological Survey of Units I, II, IIa, IIb, III, and IV, Proposed for Acquisition
to the California State Park System
1948
Box 15 : 10
Statewide Archaeological Sites Rehabilitation, Preliminary Plans, Working Drawings and Construction
1992-1993
Box 15 : 11
The Shakemaker's Cabin, CA-Tuo-1514, Calaveras Big Trees State Park Tuolumne County, California Historic Structure Report
1995
Box 15 : 12
Timber Survey Report, Final United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service
1925
Box 15 : 13
Vascular Flora of Calaveras Big Trees SP
1965
Box 15 : 14
Vascular Plants of Calaveras Big Trees SP
undated
Box 15 : 15
Visitor Use Survey: Calaveras Big Trees State Park
1986
