Guide to the City of Berkeley Records, 1878-1954
Processed by Elizabeth Konzak
The Bancroft Library.
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California, 94720-6000
Phone: (510) 642-6481
Fax: (510) 642-7589
Email: bancref@library.berkeley.edu
URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu
© 2003
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Guide to the City of Berkeley Records, 1878-1954
Collection number: BANC MSS C-A 200
The Bancroft Library
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California
Contact Information:
- Collection Processed By:
- Elizabeth Konzak
- Date Completed:
- October, 2003
- Finding Aid written by:
- Elizabeth Konzak
© 2003 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Collection Summary
Collection Title: City of Berkeley Records,
Date (inclusive): 1878-1954
Collection Number: BANC MSS C-A 200
Creator:
Berkeley (Calif.)
Berkeley (Calif.) City Clerk
Berkeley (Calif.) Planning Commission
Berkeley (Calif.) City Council
Extent:
11 Cartons, 46 Volumes, 4 Oversize folders
(18.5 linear feet)
Repository: The
Bancroft Library
Berkeley, California 94720-6000
Abstract: The City of Berkeley California records (1878-1954) consist of records from the city clerk's office. The collection includes
records relating to the business of city government, such as the city charter, reports, town attorney opinions, city council
minutes, planning commission information, correspondence, tax sale rolls, indices, financial records, agreements, leases,
bids, ordinances, and petitions. It also contains police and fire department reports, information on public utilities including
natural gas, water, electric power, lighting, and discussion of municipally owned utilities. Additional documentation including
street infrastructure, street railways of the Southern Pacific Railroad and the Key System Transit Company, the wharf and
harbor, school construction, Civil Works Administration projects, and clippings are included in the collection. The contents
are somewhat inconsistent over sporadic periods of time, however, a range of documentation on late nineteenth and early twentieth
century Berkeley is available.
Physical Location: Collection stored off-site. Advance notice required for use. For current information on the location of these materials, please
consult the Library's online catalog.
Languages Represented:
English
Information for Researchers
Access
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright has been assigned to The Bancroft Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must
be submitted in writing to the appropriate curator or the Head of Public Services for forwarding. Permission for publication
is given on behalf of The Bancroft Library as the owner of the physical items and the copyright.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], City of Berkeley Records, BANC MSS C-A 200, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.
Related Collections
Berkeley, (Calif.) Assessment records, 1871-1966. BANC MSS C-A 400. The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.
Berkeley (Calif.). City Manager. Proposed budget / as submitted to the Mayor and City Council by City Manager. F869.B5 B32.
The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.
Berkeley (Calif.). Charter of the city of Berkeley, California. \x\ F869.B5 C47.1957. The Bancroft Library, University of
California, Berkeley.
Berkeley (Calif.). Berkeley Charter. F869.B5 B545 \x\. The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.
Berkeley Chamber of Commerce.
The story of Berkeley: Berkeley, California, a city of homes by the Golden Gate, 1908. F869.B5 B544 \x\. The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.
Pettitt George A.,
A History of Berkeley. Berkeley, Calif. Alameda County Historical Society, 1976.
Pettitt George A.,
Berkeley: the Town and Gown of it. Berkeley, Calif. Howell-North Books 1973.
Separated Material
Early license plates added to the Historical object miscellany (BANC PIC 19xx.031:002--OBJ).
City Publications cataloged separately.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Public documents--California--Berkeley.
City planning--California--Berkeley.
Community development, Urban--California--Berkeley.
Street-railroads--California--San Francisco Bay Area. (Calif.)--History.
Berkeley (Calif.)--Planning.
Key System Transit Lines (Calif.).
Southern Pacific Railroad Company.
Berkeley (Calif.). City Planning Commission.
Berkeley (Calif.). City Council.
Berkeley (Calif.). City Clerk.
Administrative Information
Provenance
The City of Berkeley California records were given to The Bancroft Library by the Berkeley City Clerk in 1953. Additions were
made in 1988.
City History
The City of Berkeley, California was incorporated on April 1, 1878 from two distinct settlements. Much of the area surrounding
Berkeley was given the Peralta family as a land grant from the Spanish king in 1820. After the gold rush and California statehood
in 1850, the large ranchero should have stayed in the Peralta hands. However, the large ranchero's unoccupied land quickly
filled with Americans, using "squatter's rights" or a right to occupy empty land. Confusion over rights to the lands was finally
settled in 1877, but by that time the land was already settled and the Peralta family sold their remaining land.
James Jacob first anchored in the area where Strawberry Creek flows into the bay in 1853. In 1854, Captain William J. Bowen
established an inn on Contra Costa Road (today's San Pablo Avenue) that became a successful stage stop. The small community
known as Ocean View encouraged industry to settle in the region, beginning with the Pioneer Starch and Grist Mill in 1855.
The industrial area steadily grew, with Z.B. Heywood's lumberyard in 1866, the Hofburg Brewery in 1869, the California Watch
Company and Standard Soap Company factories in 1875, Griffin Glove Company in 1877, and a number of chemical plants in the
1880's. In 1877 the Southern Pacific Railroad located its transcontinental mainline along the Berkeley shore, giving West
Berkeley businesses direct access to the national rail network for the first time. Ocean View (West Berkeley) thus developed
into a lively working class and agricultural community.
The other settlement, a mile east of the Ocean View, surrounded land chosen by the College of California. After the original
site in Oakland and proved too urban for the founder's ideal for the College, the trustees bought land located five miles
north of Oakland near Strawberry Creek with a spectacular western view of the Golden Gate. Ground was broken for the new college
in 1860. The community was named after George Berkeley, Bishop of Cloyne, Ireland, a strong supporter of higher education
in the new world. What particularly attracted the trustees was a line in one of Berkeley's poems: "Westward the course of
empire takes its way," a fitting tribute to a new educational community on the western frontier. The state legislature voted
to establish a state university in 1867, and the College of California combined with the proposed land grant university, becoming
the University of California in 1868. In 1869 the state School for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind was moved from San Francisco to
a new facility under construction a few blocks south of the university campus. The surrounding community grew to service the
University population, though most students and faculty came to the university by means of stage coach or rail line from living
quarters in Oakland.
An animosity between the two areas sprung up for several specific reasons, along with general social and economic differences.
When the university dammed Strawberry Creek for a water supply, Ocean View residents claimed this substantially lowered the
water level in their wells, and argued that waste from the campus area was polluting the stream. A law prohibiting the sale
of alcoholic beverages within two miles of campus would have closed down taverns in Ocean View, a matter of concern to the
hardworking community. The limit was reduced to one mile, but caused other problems as new bars opened in Ocean View catering
to students. Yet along with conflict, economic ties to the two communities grew, as the campus community used Ocean View's
shops and labor.
By the late 1870's, residents from Ocean View and Berkeley were dissatisfied with the level of services from the county government
that had jurisdiction over unincorporated areas. Moreover, Oakland seemed to be making plans to extend its borders north to
include both areas. The two sides united, incorporating on April 1, 1878. Additional annexations of territory in 1891, 1906,
1908, 1920, and 1958 brought the town to its current size.
Due to the fact that the communities were polarized, many simple things were issues. The location of the town hall was settled
by the creation of a steam rail line on Shattuck Avenue, the most convenient route to Oakland and the Southern Pacific ferry
to San Francisco for both East and West Berkeley. In 1899, the town hall was put on wheels and moved from University Avenue
and Sacramento Street to a site on Grove Street between Allston Way and Center Street, just two blocks west of Shattuck.
From 13,214 residents in 1900, Berkeley's population increased to 40,434 in 1910 and to 56,036 in 1920 due to increase in
the availability of transportation to Oakland and San Francisco. The community continued to grow, with populations reaching
82,000 in 1930 and 115,000 by 1940, fueled by a boom in defense spending, both in research at the University and in the Richmond
area shipyards. Since the 1940's, the population of Berkeley has remained relatively stable at just over 100,000 due to space
constraints and the growth of surrounding suburban communities.
The availability of transportation options such as street rail and ferries from 1900 to the 1920's promoted Berkeley's development
and growth as a suburban area. The red Southern Pacific electric streetcars were in competition with the orange San Francisco-Oakland
Terminal Railways or Key Transit System streetcars. Francis Marion "Borax" Smith established the Key Transit System routes
in 1903 to help with real estate development. The Key System street rail to a propeller driven ferry transport promised a
35-minute trip from Berkeley to San Francisco. By 1923 Golden Gate Ferry established a ferry option for those with automobiles.
Ferries could not compete after the Bay Bridge opened in 1936. More cost-effective buses over took all street rail routes
by 1948. The Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District was formed to publicly operate a local bus system in 1960.
The new community also had to face significant challenges in utilities. The water supply through Strawberry Creek and shallow
wells that first encouraged settlement proved insufficient for the growing population. Due to lack of water storage, Berkeley
residents had restricted watering for gardens as early as 1883. A series of private water companies failed, were bought out,
restructured, and failed again in a cycle from 1877 to the 1920's. Seeing a need for reliable water supply and larger water
storage, there was a move to implement municipally owned water companies and public utilities as early as 1911. The proposal
for the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) was voted on in 1923, winning in part due to lack of water supply to quell
a wildfire that burned a great deal of North Berkeley in October 1923. EBMUD turned down San Francisco's offer to share water
supply from the Hetch Hechy reservoir, creating the San Pablo reservoir from Mokelumne River water by 1929.
Fire was a constant threat in early Berkeley, due to lack of water supply, wood construction, and a dependence on wood stoves
and kerosene lamps. The first volunteer fire department was established in 1882, continuing until paid fire positions were
established in 1904 in as many as 10 firehouses. Fire continues to be a hazard in Berkeley, as seasonal drought, hot weather,
and large wildfires destroy homes. Particularly destructive fires occurred in October of 1923 and 1991.
The police department began as the town marshal and constables, elected positions. In 1905, August Vollmer, a veteran of the
Spanish American war, was elected marshal. When the 1909 charter established a professional police department, Vollmer was
appointed police chief. Chief Vollmer demanded honesty and efficiency from his force, requiring staff to know the laws they
were enforcing and wear standard uniforms while on duty. Vollmer was among the first to implement scientific investigation,
a record keeping system, and instituted codes of ethics including a ban on gratuities and drinking in uniform. During Vollmer's
40 years on the force, Berkeley grew into one of the most highly respected police forces in the country, a reputation that
continues through today.
After World War II, Berkeley faced a migration to the surrounding suburbs. The University's student population doubled from
1945 to 1948, for a total of 25,000. The University's prestige increased, in part because of participation in the Manhattan
project building the atom bomb. During the 1950's, the Regents required all university personnel to take an anti-Communist
loyalty oath. However, much of the University's faculty felt the loyalty oath was a violation of First Amendment rights and
a threat to academic freedom and tenure. Faculty that refused to take the oath were fired, and promptly sued. The California
Supreme Court ruled that the university could not impose a loyalty oath different than that required of all other state employees.
Controversies such as the loyalty oath demonstrate the liberal nature of Berkeley citizens. By 1961, the city government had
liberal majorities. The city council worked on the issues of racial justice, including housing discrimination and school desegregation.
Students at the University were also active participants in the Civil Rights movement in the early 1960's.
Berkeley activists participated in demonstrations against a San Francisco meeting of the House Committee on Un-American Activities
in 1960, employment discrimination all over the Bay area, and organized political activity on the edges of Campus. In September
of 1964, students were told that political activity would be banned from the campus edge's Bancroft Way sidewalk. Student
groups decided to use direct action and civil disobedience to oppose the administrative restrictions. The activists transformed
the structure of the protest from a "united front" of organizations to the Free Speech Movement (FSM), a separate group with
its own identity and highly informal governing process. FSM activists put their campus conflict into a broad context, beginning
an era of activism in many arenas.
Liberal politicians had long urged campus and city radicals to pursue their goals through electoral politics rather than direct
action. Berkeley's on-going legacy of the sixties has promoted laudable popular involvement in community affairs and a willingness
to defend important values and promote useful social experimentation.
Sources: City of Berkeley Home Page.
http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us (accessed 11/10/2003)
Wollenburg, Chris.,
Berkeley: A City in History.
http://www.infopeople.org/bpl/system/historytext.html (accessed 11/10/2003)
Pettitt George A.,
A History of Berkeley. Berkeley, Calif. Alameda County Historical Society, 1976.
Pettitt George A.,
Berkeley: the Town and Gown of it. Berkeley, Calif. Howell-North Books 1973.
Scope and Content of Collection
The City of Berkeley California records (1878-1954) consist of records from the city clerk's office. The collection includes
records relating to the business of city government, such as the city charter, reports, town attorney opinions, city council
minutes, planning commission information, correspondence, tax sale rolls, indices, financial records, agreements, leases,
bids, ordinances, and petitions. It also contains police and fire department reports, information on public utilities including
natural gas, water, electric power, lighting, and discussion of municipally owned utilities. Additional documentation including
street infrastructure, street railways of the Southern Pacific Railroad and the Key System Transit Company, the wharf and
harbor, school construction, Civil Works Administration projects, and clippings are included in the collection. The contents
are somewhat inconsistent over sporadic periods of time, however, a range of documentation on late nineteenth and early twentieth
century Berkeley is available.
Highlights of the collection include: documentation on the early town of Berkeley, including the charter, 1899 census documents,
tax sale rolls and indices, planning commission and street information, documentation on the street railway systems, and early
police department records.
Cartons 1-2, Oversize 1B, Volumes 16, 36
SERIES 1:
City Office Records, 1878-1954, n.d.
Arrangement
Arranged hierarchically and chronologically.
Scope and Content Note
Divided into five sub-series, Charter and Reports, City Staffing, City Council, Planning Commission and Territory, and Correspondence.
Contains records relating to the running of the city offices, including information on the city charter, reports, city staffing,
city council minutes, resolutions, financial documents, planning commission material, and correspondence.
Carton 1, Folders 1-25, Volume 16, 36
1.1:
Charter and Reports, 1878-1911, 1920
Arrangement
Arranged hierarchically and chronologically.
Scope and Content Note
Contains charter amendments by the board of freeholders, reports from the town clerk, treasurer, and board of health as well
as figures from the 1899 census.
carton 1, folder 1-8
City Charter: Amendments by the Freeholders, 1890-1916
carton 1, folder 9
County Surveyor Report, 1878
carton 1, folder 10
Taxes, Licenses, Notices, 1880-1881
carton 1, folder 11
Board of Health: Statement Regarding Cholera, Yellow Fever and Sanitation, 1885
carton 1, folder 12
Town Clerk's Record, Treasurer's Report, 1886
carton 1, folder 13
Committee Reports, 1888, 1890
carton 1, folder 14
City Treasurer, Marshall, and Tax Collector Reports, 1893-1894
volume 36
Record of Resolutions and Intentions, 1893-1895
volume 16
License Record, 1893-1911
carton 1, folder 15
Treasurer's Reports, 1894-1895
carton 1, folder 16-18
Expert's Report on City Clerk's Records, 1895, 1897, 1899
carton 1, folder 20
Town Clerk and Expert's Reports, 1901
carton 1, folder 21
Town Clerk's Report, 1902-1903
carton 1, folder 22-23
Town Clerk and Board of Trustees Reports, 1907
carton 1, folder 24
Health Officers Report on Influenza, 1920
carton 1, folder 25
Report of Commission of Public Works, 1920
Carton 1, Folders 26-54
1.2:
City Staffing, 1881-1905, 1911-1914, 1922, 1933, 1939, n.d.
Arrangement
Arranged hierarchically and chronologically.
Scope and Content Note
Consists of documentation on city staff, including town attorney opinions, material from the mayor, correspondence regarding
other town offices, and documents relating to the defeated move to make city offices civil service positions.
carton 1, folder 26-44
Opinions, 1881-1883, 1888-1901, 1905, n.d.
carton 1, folder 45
Claims Against City, 1911-1914, 1922
carton 1, folder 47
General Correspondence, 1911-1913
carton 1, folder 48
Spirit of Peace Memorial Tablet Presentation, 1912
carton 1, folder 49
Sewer System/ Garbage, 1912
carton 1, folder 52
City Staffing: Attorney, Efficiency Expert, 1911-1913
carton 1, folder 54
Initiative for Civil Service Positions for City Offices (defeated), 1939
Carton 1, Folders 55-63, Carton 2, Folders 1-6
1.3:
City Council, ca. 1937, 1940-1944, 1952-1954
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Scope and Content Note
Contains resolutions and minutes from the City Council.
carton 1, folder 55
Publicity Film Sequence, ca. 1937
carton 1, folder 58-63
City Council Minutes, 1952- June 1953
carton 2, folder 1-6
City Council Minutes, July 1953-1954
Carton 2, Folders 7-35
1.4:
Planning Commission and Territory, 1913-1935, n.d.
Arrangement
Arranged hierarchically and chronologically.
Scope and Content Note
Information on territory annexed by the city, as well as planning commission documents generally on zoning resolutions.
carton 2, folder 7
Annexation of Ocean View Precinct, 1913-1914
carton 2, folder 8-9
Territory, 1916-1917, 1935, n.d.
carton 2, folder 10
San Pablo Avenue Between Ashby and Carrison Streets, Resolution 9813 N.S., 1920
carton 2, folder 11
Solano Avenue Between the Alameda and Western City Line, Resolution 10, 189 N.S., 1920
carton 2, folder 12
South Side of Durant East of Telegraph, Resolution 10, 703 N.S., 1921
carton 2, folder 13
South Side of Addison 40 ft. East of Acton Street, Resolution 10,365 N.S. (denied)
carton 2, folder 14
Northwest Corner of Rose and Grove, Resolution 10, 658 N.S., 1921
carton 2, folder 15
Stewart Street Near Shattuck Avenue, Resolution 10,704 N.S., 1921
carton 2, folder 16
Santa Fe Tracks Between Ashby and Dwight, Resolution 737 N.S., 1921
carton 2, folder 17
On Santa Fe Railroad Along West St. from Berkeley Way to Virginia St., Resolution 10, 874 N.S., 1921
carton 2, folder 18
Southeast Corner of College and Alcatraz, Resolutions 11, 338 N.S. and 11, 339 N.S., 1922
carton 2, folder 19
East Side of College Avenue North of Russell Street, Resolution 12, 398 N.S. (denied), 1923
carton 2, folder 20
South Side of Alcatraz West of Dover, Resolution 12, 421 N.S., 1923
carton 2, folder 21
El Dorado and Hopkins Streets, Hopkins and Sutter Streets, Resolutions 12, 485 and 12, 486 N.S. (denied), 1923
carton 2, folder 22
Southwest Corner of Grove and Rose Streets, Resolution 12, 554 N.S. (denied), 1923
carton 2, folder 23
North Side of Oregon Street West of McGee Avenue, Resolution 12,900 N.S. (denied), 1923
carton 2, folder 24
North Side of Addison Street Near Bonar Street, Resolution 12,901 N.S. (denied), 1923
carton 2, folder 25
North Side University Ave East of Milvia Street, Resolution 12,937 N.S. (denied), 1923
carton 2, folder 26
East Side of Telegraph Avenue South of Stewart Street, Resolution 12,950 N.S. (denied), 1923
carton 2, folder 27
Dwight Way to Northern City Line Along Santa Fe Railroad Tracks, Resolution 13, 177 N.S., 1923
carton 2, folder 28
West Side of Grove St Near Allston Way, Resolution 13, 547 N.S., 1924
carton 2, folder 29
Dwight Way Between Grove and Grant Streets, Resolution 15, 113 N.S., 1924
carton 2, folder 30
Zoning Correspondence, 1923-1924
carton 2, folder 31
Southwest Corner of Ashby Avenue and California Street, Resolution 15, 486 N.S. (denied), 1926
carton 2, folder 32
Southwest Corner of Sacramento and Parker Streets, Resolution 15, 949 N.S., 1927
carton 2, folder 33
West Side of Adeline Street North of Ashby Avenue, Resolution 15, 953, 1927
carton 2, folder 34
West Side of Grove North of Stewart Street, Ordinance 666N.S., Resolution 16,023 N.S., 1927
carton 2, folder 35
Durant Avenue West of Telegraph Avenue, Resolution 16,417N.S., 1928
Carton 2, Folders 36-66
1.5:
Correspondence, 1868-1940, n.d.
Arrangement
Arranged hierarchically and chronologically.
Scope and Content Note
Contains correspondence filed by the city clerk from various sources including the University of California, local civic groups,
and on topics such as taxation, World War I, and miscellany.
carton 2, folder 36
College of California: Land Deed, 1868-1869
carton 2, folder 37
Correspondence, 1881, 1883, 1890, 1893, 1901-1904, 1908, 1928-1929, 1940
carton 2, folder 38
Ordinance Limiting Sale of Liquor Near Campus, 1884
carton 2, folder 39
Military Barracks (temporary), 1917, 1919
carton 2, folder 40
Complaints on Placement of Stadium in Strawberry Canyon, 1922
carton 2, folder 41
San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, 1906
carton 2, folder 42
City of Oakland, 1908, 1917, 1924
carton 2, folder 43
Event Invitations, 1909, 1918, 1920-1923, 1925, 1927, 1935
carton 2, folder 44
Chamber of Commerce, 1909, 1911, 1915, 1918, 1924-1925
carton 2, folder 45
California State Legislature, 1909, 1926-1927
carton 2, folder 46
City Club of Berkeley Bulletin, 1910
carton 2, folder 47
Berkeley Neighborhood Improvement Clubs, ca. 1910-1924
carton 2, folder 48
League of California Municipalities, 1912, 1937
carton 2, folder 49
Property Values, 1912-1914, 1916, 1920-1922
carton 2, folder 51
Panama Pacific International Exposition, 1915
carton 2, folder 52
Housing and Building Legislation, 1920
carton 2, folder 53
Berkeley Clubs, 1920, 1925, 1945
carton 2, folder 55
Alameda County Mosquito Abatement Report, 1939
carton 2, folder 56-58
Miscellany and Unidentified, 1888-1892, 1909-1951, n.d.
carton 2, folder 61
Gasoline Tax for Municipal Funds, 1924-1926, 1932-1933
carton 2, folder 62
Property Taxation: Veteran's Welfare Board, 1925
carton 2, folder 63
Belgian Soldier's Tobacco Fund, Belgian Artists Commission, 1917-1918
carton 2, folder 64
Chamber of Commerce and Berkeley Defense Corps War Garden (Food Growth), 1918
carton 2, folder 65
Berkeley's Work in Food Conservation, 1919
carton 2, folder 66
Veteran's of Alameda County: Resolution to employ discharged soldiers, 1919
Volumes 1-15, 18-35, 37-46
SERIES 2:
Tax Rolls, Personal Property Rolls, and Indices, 1879-1936
Arrangement
Arranged hierarchically and chronologically.
Scope and Content Note
Volumes include registers of treasury tax sales, assessment rolls, personal property rolls, indices, and delinquent tax sales.
Delinquent Tax Sale Rolls
volume 18-19
1931-1932, books 1-7, 8-15, June 27, 1932
volume 20-21
1932-1933, v.1-2, August 27, 1933
volume 22-23
1933-1934, v.1-2, June 27, 1934
volume 24-25
1934-1935, books 1-7, 8-15, June 27, 1935
volume 26-27
1935-1936, books 1-7, 8-15, June 1-7, 8-15
Carton 2, Folder 67-75
SERIES 3:
Financial Documents, 1928-1930, 1936-1944
Arrangement
Arranged hierarchically and chronologically.
Scope and Content Note
Includes information about bonds, receipts, and license revenue. (See also Series 7, Public Utilities, and Series 8 sub-series
on Street Railway companies for franchise receipts.)
carton 2, folder 67
Series 23 Assessment Sheets, 1928-1930
carton 2, folder 68
Street Assessments, 1936-1943
carton 2, folder 69
Series 24: North Berkeley Storm Sewers, 1937
carton 2, folder 70
Delinquent and Open, 1938
carton 2, folder 71
Series 24: Delinquent and Paid, 1939-1940
carton 2, folder 72
Receipts and Disbursements, 1937-1943
carton 2, folder 73
License Reports, 1937-1943
carton 2, folder 74
Trial Balances, 1938-1944
Cartons 3-4, Carton 5, Folders 1-15
SERIES 4:
Leases, Contracts, Agreements, and Bids, 1887-1953
Arrangement
Arranged hierarchically and chronologically.
Scope and Content Note
Includes leases, contracts, agreements and bids for a variety of city needs, such as utility infrastructure, gravel, fuels,
automobiles, fire-hose, electric lamps, sewer pipe, insurance and many other items. Contains agreements with service organizations
such as the Berkeley Day Nursery, School Lunch Program, and the Berkeley Art Association.
carton 3, folder 1-8
Leases and Contracts, 1887-1916
carton 3, folder 9-23
Agreements, 1910-1913, 1916-1942
carton 4, folder 1-11
Agreements, 1943-1949, 1952-1953
carton 4, folder 12-17
Bids, 1911, 1915-1918, 1921-1924
Carton 5, Folders 15-48, Carton 6, Carton 7, Folders 1-18
SERIES 5:
Ordinances and Petitions, 1881-1931, n.d.
Arrangement
Arranged hierarchically and chronologically.
Scope and Content Note
Divided into two sub-series: Ordinances and Petitions. Contains adopted and proposed ordinances with supporting documentation
for or against the ordinance. Also includes petitions to the city council, generally protest petitions from the Berkeley population
on a variety of topics.
Carton 5, Folders 16-36
5.1:
Ordinances, 1895-1926, n.d.
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Scope and Content Note
Includes adopted and proposed ordinances with supporting documents on topics of interest to Berkeley citizens. Some ordinances
correspond to an alphanumeric code, while other files do not contain code information.
carton 5, folder 16
Relief for Moving Ordinance Expenses, 1895
carton 5, folder 18
Street Railway Fenders, 1909-1910
carton 5, folder 19
Violation of 348A (vicious dogs), G. Liberman; People vs. John Doe, 1910
carton 5, folder 20
Violation of 55A (obstruction of sidewalks) People vs. James Pellettrini, 1910
carton 5, folder 21
Meat Shop and Slaughter House Inspections, 1912
carton 5, folder 22
Proposed: Disinfection of Doctors and Nurses Treating Infectious Diseases, 1912
carton 5, folder 23
Concerning Stables and Privies, ca. 1912
carton 5, folder 24
Proposed: Against Loitering, Picketing, and Speaking in Streets, 1913
carton 5, folder 25
Proposed: License fees for Billboards and Bill posting, 1913
carton 5, folder 26
Sale of Bottled Water; Regulating Water Wells, 1913
carton 5, folder 27
Repeal 62NS: Sanitary Condition of Fruit, Vegetable and Foodstuff Stores, 1913
carton 5, folder 28
Proposed: Housing Codes, 1914
carton 5, folder 29
Proposed: Limitation of Sale of Tobacco to Minors, Age Increase from 18 to 21, 1914
carton 5, folder 30
Underground Conduits for Wires, 1914
carton 5, folder 32
Regulations for the Disposal of Manure and Refuse, 1914
carton 5, folder 33
Proposed: Standard Size Bread Loaves, 1917
carton 5, folder 35
Proposed: Vaccination, Licensing, and Registration of Dogs (not adopted), 1926
Carton 5, Folders 37-48, Carton 6, Carton 7, Folders 1-18
5.2:
Petitions, 1881-1931, n.d.
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Scope and Content Note
Petitions to the city council. Generally petitions of request or protest on a variety of topics signed by Berkeley citizens.
carton 5, folder 37
To Postpone Purchase of Lot on University and Sacramento for Town Hall, 1881
carton 5, folder 38
To Slow Train Speeds: Current High Speed of Trains Result in Deadly Accidents, 1890
carton 5, folder 39
Against Advertising Signs, 1903
carton 5, folder 40
Against Samuel Fisher's Saloon License, 1903
carton 5, folder 41
Against Southern Pacific Railroad Freight Yard on Shattuck Avenue, 1903-1904
carton 5, folder 42
Expressmen's License, 1904
carton 5, folder 43
To Refuse License for Samuel Fisher's Saloon, 1905
carton 5, folder 44
Against "Boxing Ordinance", 1908
carton 5, folder 45
Against Granting Railway Franchises on City Streets, 1908
carton 5, folder 46
Welcome Blend Time Lock Coffee Co., Solicitor's License, 1909
carton 5, folder 47
From Residents of Ashby Station for Installation of Electric Lights, 1909
carton 5, folder 48
Nuisance Complaint: William Lowe's Sewer Lines, 1909
carton 6, folder 1-3
Against Standard Oil Tanks on Hopkins Street, 1910
carton 6, folder 4
Application for Petroleum Storage Tanks by Standard Oil (denied), 1910
carton 6, folder 5
Ownership of Cows and Livestock West of Grove Street, 1911
carton 6, folder 6
To Remove Overhead Power Lines on Woosley and Ellsworth Streets, 1911
carton 6, folder 7
Nuisance Complaint: Chicken and Cow Ranch of Mr. And Mrs. Martin at Claremont and Webster Streets, 1911
carton 6, folder 8
For an Electric Light System, 1911
carton 6, folder 9-10
Against the One Cow per Premises Ordinance, 1911
carton 6, folder 11-12
Dog Muzzling Ordinance (for and against), 1912
carton 6, folder 13
Nuisance Complaint: G.W. Rumble: Against Chicken, Dove and Rabbit Corrals, 1913
carton 6, folder 14
Nuisance Complaint: Against Electric Plant at Hearst and McGee, 1913, 1919
carton 6, folder 15
To Prohibit Sale of Tobacco to Minors Under Age 21, 1913
carton 6, folder 16
To Improve Crossings at Channing, West Street and Santa Fe Railroad, 1913
carton 6, folder 17
Against Delivery or Possession of Liquor "Saloons on wheels", 1913, 1915
carton 6, folder 18-21
Against Discontinuance of Key System on Shattuck Avenue, 1914
carton 6, folder 22
Against Building a Colored People's Church at California and Derby, 1915
carton 6, folder 23-24
Against Establishment of Lighting District No. 1, 1916
carton 6, folder 25
Pacific Wine, Brewing and Spirit Review: Libelous Publication Retraction, 1917
carton 6, folder 26
For Purchase of Real Estate for Civic Center (Block Bounded by Allston Way, Grove, Milvia, and Center Streets), 1918
carton 6, folder 27-30
To Increase in Teacher's Salaries, 1919
carton 7, folder 1
Against Renting Home at Rose and Spruce Streets to Japanese Laborers, 1920
carton 7, folder 2
Against Sale of Property to Orientals near Camelia and Stannage Streets, 1920
carton 7, folder 3
Pacific Conservation Service (Garbage), 1921
carton 7, folder 4
Establishment of a Labor Bureau for the Unemployed, 1921
carton 7, folder 5
Purchase of Real Estate for Park and Playground on Sacramento and Rose Streets at University Avenue, 1921
carton 7, folder 6
Against the Curtailment of Street Lighting, 1922
carton 7, folder 7
Against Home Used for a Convalescent Home (found not to be a Convalescent Home by City Inspector), 1922
carton 7, folder 8
Against Sale of 2211 Stewart Street to Orientals, 1923
carton 7, folder 9
To Allow Diagonal Parking on Durant Avenue, 1924
carton 7, folder 10
Against Construction of Japanese Student Clubhouse (University of California), 1924
carton 7, folder 11
To Renew Lease on Newspaper, Peanut, Popcorn and Candy Stand at Southern Pacific Terminal, 1924
carton 7, folder 12-13
Against Re-zoning Area in West Berkeley to Permit Erection of Obnoxious Establishments, 1925
carton 7, folder 14
For Six O'clock Closing of Food Stores, 1925-1926
carton 7, folder 15
For Bus Service to Connect with Key Line at The Alameda, 1926
carton 7, folder 16
For a Spur Track on Ashby Avenue, 1927
carton 7, folder 17
Against Assessment for Repaving of Oxford, Spruce, and Rose Streets, 1931
carton 7, folder 18
Against Abandonment of Thousand Oaks Street Car for Bus (Key Transit System), n.d.
Carton 7, Folders 19-40, Carton 8, Folders 1-17
SERIES 6:
Fire and Police Departments, 1902-1921
Arrangement
Arranged hierarchically and chronologically
Scope and Content Note
Divided into two sub-series, Fire Department Records and Police Department Records. Consists of documentation from the fire
and police departments.
Carton 7, Folders 19-27
6.1:
Fire Department Records, 1902-1912, 1920
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Scope and Content Note
Includes information about fire alarm and emergency telegraph systems, fire houses, fire engines, and fire hydrant placement.
carton 7, folder 19
Waterous Gasoline Fire Engine and Automatic Police Telegraph (A.J. Coffee Co. Contract), 1902-1906
carton 7, folder 20
Fire Bell, Fire Alarm System, Switchboard, 1902-1912
carton 7, folder 21-22
Peralta Fire House Agreement, 1902
carton 7, folder 23
Emerson Street Fire House Construction Contract, 1907
carton 7, folder 24
Combination Engine and Wagon, Contract with American France Fire Engine Co., 1907
carton 7, folder 25
Steam Engine Proposal, 1908
carton 7, folder 26
Fire Hydrant Placement, 1908-1909
carton 7, folder 27
Report of the Fire Department, 1920
Carton 7, Folders 28-40, Carton 8, Folders 1-17
6.2:
Police Department Records, 1906, 1909-1921
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Scope and Content Note
Consists of information on the police telegraph system, statistics, special officer nominations, and department reports.
carton 7, folder 28
Police Telegraph System (agreement with A.J. Coffee Co.), 1906
carton 7, folder 29
Police Report Statistics, 1906
carton 7, folder 30-31
Special Officer Appointments, 1906, 1909
carton 7, folder 32-40
Department Reports, 1909-1913
carton 8, folder 1-17
Department Reports, 1914-1921
Carton 8, Folder 18-37, Carton 9, Folders 1-40
SERIES 7:
Public Utilities, 1883-1927
Arrangement
Arranged hierarchically and chronologically
Scope and Content Note
Divided into six sub-series: Water, Natural Gas, Electricity, Lighting, Telegraph and Telephone, and Municipal Utilities.
Documents Berkeley's water, natural gas, electricity, lighting, telegraph and telephone systems as the community grew. Also
contains correspondence and documents regarding efforts for municipal ownership of utilities. (See also series 4, Leases and
Contracts.)
Carton 8, Folders 18-37
7.1:
Water, 1884-1927
Arrangement
Arranged hierarchically and chronologically.
Scope and Content Note
Contains information on private water companies, the search for a reliable water supply with reservoir storage capability,
and correspondence regarding municipal ownership of the water system. (See also sub-series 7.6, Municipal Utilities.)
carton 8, folder 18
Alameda Water Company, 1884, 1888-1889
carton 8, folder 20
Contra Costa Water Company, 1903, 1905
carton 8, folder 21
Prospectus for Water Supply and Electric Power from the American River near Auburn, 1907
carton 8, folder 22
Hetch Hechy Project, 1908-1913
carton 8, folder 24-25
People's Water Company, 1909-1914, 1916
carton 8, folder 27
Municipal Ownership of Water, 1912-1914
carton 8, folder 28
Water Corporation Accounts: California State Railroad Commission, 1912
carton 8, folder 29
Correspondence Regarding a Municipal Water System, 1912-1913
carton 8, folder 30
Internal Waterways of California Congress, 1914
carton 8, folder 31
Water Infrastructure, 1915
carton 8, folder 32-34
East Bay Water Company, 1917-1922, 1924, 1927
carton 8, folder 35
Bay Cities Water Supply, 1919, n.d.
carton 8, folder 36
Antioch and Sacramento San Joaquin River Water Use Rights Resolutions, 1922
carton 8, folder 37
Water District Correspondence, 1923-1924
Carton 9, Folders 1-6
7.2:
Natural Gas, 1903-1911, 1920, 1932-1933
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Scope and Content Note
Contains information about natural gas usage and rates in Berkeley.
carton 9, folder 1
Manufacture and Sale of Gas, W.R. Port, 1903
carton 9, folder 2
Gas Meter and Service Connection Controversy Raised by Mr. North and Mr. Britton, 1909
carton 9, folder 3
Oakland Natural Gas Company, Proposal for Gas Well at Berkeley High School, 1911
carton 9, folder 4
Extension of Gas Line on Bancroft Way, 1911
carton 9, folder 5
Natural Gas Rates Case Argued Before the California Railroad Commission, 1920, 1933
carton 9, folder 6
Gas Shut off Rules Regarding Shut off Valves, Case Argued Before the California Railroad Commission, 1932
Carton 9, Folders 7-21
7.3:
Electricity, 1888-1923
Arrangement
Arranged hierarchically and chronologically.
Scope and Content Note
Includes information on the electrical contracts and creation of electrical infrastructure.
carton 9, folder 8
Electricity Contracts, 1893-1897
carton 9, folder 9-10
Bay Counties Power Company, 1903-1907, 1912-1913
carton 9, folder 11
Receipts, Ordinance for Electricity Sales, 1908-1910
carton 9, folder 14
Receipts, Lines Down, 1913
carton 9, folder 16
Receipts and Correspondence, 1914-1927
carton 9, folder 17
Great Western Power Company, 1913-1917, 1923
Carton 9, Folders 22-26
7.4:
Lighting, 1883-1913
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Scope and Content Note
Consists of documentation about street light placement and the electrical infrastructure for street lighting.
carton 9, folder 23
Extension of Electric Light in Berkeley, 1889
carton 9, folder 24
Electric Light Plant, 1889-1893
carton 9, folder 25-26
Electric Lighting for City Streets, 1893-1894, 1896-1897, 1900-1910
carton 9, folder 27-28
Berkeley Electric Lighting Company, 1899-1911
carton 9, folder 29
Street Light Requests, 1908-1911
carton 9, folder 30
Street Lights Maintained by San Francisco-Oakland Terminal Railways, 1913
Carton 9, Folders 31-35
7.5:
Telegraph and Telephone, 1902-1927
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Scope and Content Note
Contains of information about the telegraph and telephone infrastructure, as well as the evolution of telephone companies
in Berkeley. (See also Series 4 Police and Fire departments for alarm telegraph.)
carton 9, folder 31
Telegraph Lines, 1902-1904
carton 9, folder 32
General (Pacific Telephone and Telegraph, Bay Cities Home Telephone Co.), 1911-1915
carton 9, folder 33
Merger of Pacific States Telephone with Home Telephone Co., 1912
carton 9, folder 34
Telephone Rates, 1912-1913, 1927
carton 9, folder 35
Pacific Telegraph and Telephone, 1919-1925
Carton 9, Folders 36-40
7.6:
Municipal Utilities, 1902, 1912-1913, 1923-1925
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Scope and Content Note
Documents the periodic investigation of municipal ownership of utilities.
carton 9, folder 37
Municipal Ownership League: Alameda Municipal Electric Light Plant, 1912
carton 9, folder 38
Municipal Water, Electric Light, and Telephone System, 1912-1913
carton 9, folder 39
Municipally Owned Utilities Correspondence
carton 9, folder 40
East Bay Municipal Utilities District, 1923-1925
Carton 9, Folders 41-46, Carton 10, Folders 1-42, Oversize Folders 2-3B, Volume 17
SERIES 8:
Transportation, 1880-1936, n.d.
Arrangement
Arranged hierarchically and chronologically.
Scope and Content Note
Divided into eight sub-series: General, Street Improvements, California Railroad Commission, Street Railways, Santa Fe Railroad
Company, Key Transit System: San Francisco-Oakland Terminal Railways, Southern Pacific Railroad Company, and Wharf and Harbor.
Consists of documentation on Berkeley and East Bay transportation structures, such as streets, street railways, wharf, and
harbor.
Carton 9, Folders 41-46, Oversize Folder 2B
8.1:
General, 1904-1933
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Scope and Content Note
Contains limited documentation on transportation subjects such as horses, automobiles, the Carquinez and San Francisco-Oakland
Bay bridges, auto traffic, and an airport.
carton 9, folder 41
Correspondence Regarding Livestock and Horses in Town, 1904-1905, 1912, 1918
oversize 2B
Water Trough Map, ca. 1909
carton 9, folder 42
Vehicle Lights, 1909-1910
carton 9, folder 43
Bridge Planning (Carquinez and San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridges), 1914, 1921-1925, 1927
carton 9, folder 44
Bridge from Oakland to Alameda, 1918
carton 9, folder 45
Pacific Coast Highway, Carmel - San Simeon Gap, 1926
carton 9, folder 46
Auto Traffic Correspondence, 1931
carton 9, folder 47
Report on Traffic Arteries connecting with the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, 1932
carton 9, folder 48
Airport Rating Certificate, 1933
Carton 9, Folders 47-62, Oversize Folders 2-3B
8.2:
Street Improvements, 1886, 1893-1913, 1920-1929, n.d.
Arrangement
Arranged hierarchically and chronologically.
Scope and Content Note
Consists of documentation of Berkeley street dedications, improvements, and repair, including some maps.
carton 9, folder 47
Request for Street Repair, California Institute for the Education of the Deaf, Dumb and Blind, 1886
volume 17
Register of Street Work, 1895-1916
carton 9, folder 49
Moody Place Dedication, 1899
carton 9, folder 50
Gilman Street Opening, 1903
carton 9, folder 51
Improvements Survey Clippings, 1904
oversize 2B
Plan for improvement of Bonte Street Map, 1907
carton 9, folder 52
Chesnut Street Opening, 1907
carton 9, folder 53
Carton Street: Proposal to widen near Ellsworth Street, 1909
carton 9, folder 54
Blake Street Improvements, 1909
carton 9, folder 55
Regent Street Opening, 1910
carton 9, folder 56
Claremont Court Dedication, 1910
oversize 3B
Claremont Court Map, 1907
carton 9, folder 57
Matthew Street Opening, 1913
carton 9, folder 58
Sacramento and Grove Streets Improvements, 1913
oversize 3B
Westmorland Park (Ashby Avenue, Stanton, Prince and Baker Streets) Map, 1913
carton 9, folder 59
Shattuck Avenue widening at Allston Way, 1920
carton 9, folder 60
Telegraph Avenue Repair and Street Parking, 1922-1923
oversize 2B
Map of Ashby Avenue near Adeline Street, n.d.
Carton 9, Folders 63-67
8.3:
California Railroad Commission, 1923-1941
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Scope and Content Note
Records of cases heard by the California Railroad Commission on topics such as rail travel, trans-bay fares, and switches
from streetcars to buses.
carton 9, folder 63
California Railroad Commission Orders, 1917-1918
carton 9, folder 64
Case for Reduction of Trans-bay Fares, 1923
carton 9, folder 66
Financial Statements from Key Lines and Southern Pacific Regarding Fare Reductions, 1932
carton 9, folder 67
Key System Railway and Motor Coach Service, 1941
Carton 9, Folders 68-75, Carton 10, Folders 1-5
8.4:
Street Railways, 1880-1936
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Scope and Content Note
Includes general information, correspondence, and complaints against the streetcar system as a whole.
carton 9, folder 69-75
General, 1900, 1903-1904, 1906-1914, 1919-1920, 1922-1926, n.d.
carton 10, folder 2
Railway Crossing Reports, 1917
carton 10, folder 3-4
Fare Reduction, Opposition to one-manned cars, 1923-1925, 1933-1936
carton 10, folder 5
Correspondence Regarding Lines and Crossings, 1923-1925, 1928
Carton 9, Folders 6-7
8.5:
Santa Fe Railway Company, 1913, 1924
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Scope and Content Note
Documentation of the Santa Fe Railway Company's business in Berkeley.
carton 10, folder 6
Spur Track on Sacramento between Woosley and Alcatraz, 1913
Carton 9, Folders 8-17
8.6:
Key Transit System: San Francisco-Oakland Terminal Railways, 1905-1926
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Scope and Content Note
Consists of information about city streetcar franchises and lines by Key Transit System, a Berkeley streetcar company owned
by the San Francisco-Oakland Terminal Railways.
carton 10, folder 8-9
Oakland Traction Company: Franchise and Services, 1905-1906, 1908, 1910, 1912-1913
carton 10, folder 10
Correspondence, 1912-1913
carton 10, folder 12
Financial Statements, 1915-1919
carton 10, folder 13
Correspondence Regarding Lines, 1919
carton 10, folder 15
Correspondence, 1925-1926
carton 10, folder 16
Application for Motor Bus Service, 1926
Carton 10, Folders 18-33
8.7:
Southern Pacific Railroad Company, 1903-1932
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Scope and Content Note
Contains records of the Southern Pacific streetcars, including tracks, lines, stops, and franchise receipts.
carton 10, folder 18
Proposed Railroad Yard: Shattuck and Ward Streets, 1903
carton 10, folder 20
Track Repair and Upkeep, 1905
carton 10, folder 21
Side Track on Sacramento Between Alcatraz and Fairview Streets, 1905
carton 10, folder 22
Franchise for Second Track on Shattuck Avenue, 1905
carton 10, folder 24
Woosley Street Line, 1911
carton 10, folder 25
Stop, Line and Flagmen Requests, 1911-1912
carton 10, folder 27
Wires on Allston Way, 1912
carton 10, folder 28
Ellsworth Street Line, 1912
carton 10, folder 29
Spur Track across Snyder Avenue, 1912-1913
carton 10, folder 30-32
Franchise Receipts, 1915-1918, 1920-1927, 1931-1932
carton 10, folder 33
Lines and Stops, 1922-1925
Carton 10, Folders 34-42, Oversize Folder 4C
8.8:
Wharf and Harbor, 1907-1918, 1926
Arrangement
Arranged hierarchically and chronologically.
Scope and Content Note
Records from the planning and use of the municipal wharf and harbor.
oversize 4C
Proposed Wharf Drawing, 1907
carton 10, folder 36
Bids for Work at Wharf, 1926
carton 10, folder 40
Proposed Ordinance for Bonds, 1914
Carton 10, Folders 42-47, Carton 11, Folders 1-8
SERIES 9:
Construction, 1915-1917, 1933-1934
Arrangement
Arranged hierarchically and chronologically.
Scope and Content Note
Divided into two sub-series, School Construction and Civil Works Administration Projects. Consists of documentation of construction
projects in Berkeley, including several school buildings and projects of the Civil Works Administration.
Carton 10, Folders 42-47
9.1:
School Construction, 1915-1917
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Scope and Content Note
Contains records from the building of Frances E. Willard and James A. Garfield Schools as well as a failed contract for John
Muir School.
carton 10, folder 43-44
John Muir School (A. H. Waid Contractor: Failed to Build), 1915
carton 10, folder 45-46
Frances E. Willard School "B" (Siebert Company), 1915-1917
carton 10, folder 47-48
James A. Garfield School "D" (Siebert Company), 1916
Carton 11, Folders 1-8
9.2:
Civil Works Administration Projects, 1933-1934
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Scope and Content Note
Documentation from Civil Works Administration projects for civic improvement.
carton 11, folder 1
Rules and Regulations, 1933
Carton 11, Folders 9-43
SERIES 10:
Clippings, 1934-1939
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Scope and Content Note
Contains newspaper clippings collected for the city manager on general topics and events in Berkeley.
carton 11, folder 9-43
Newspaper Clippings, 1934-1937