Guide to the Milton D. Eisner Papers, 1854-1961 (bulk 1933-1958)
Processed by Albert Park, Jenny Yoshida, and Joanne Chung
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 Milton D. Eisner Papers, 1854-1961 (bulk 1933-1958)
Collection number: BANC MSS C-R 155
The Bancroft Library
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California
Contact Information:
- Processed by:
- Albert Park, Jenny Yoshida, and Joanne Chung
- Date Completed:
- March 2001
- Encoded by:
- James Lake
© 2003 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Collection Summary
Collection Title: Milton D. Eisner Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1854-1961
Date (bulk): (bulk 1933-1958)
Collection Number: BANC MSS C-R 155
Creator:
Eisner, Milton Daniel, 1886-1959
Extent:
Number of containers: 2 cartons, 1 box, 4 oversize folders
Linear feet: 3.1
Repository: The
Bancroft Library
Berkeley, California 94720-6000
Abstract: Consists of papers from the Eisner/Reinstein family and subject files collected by Eisner regarding postal and express services
in early California and the West, philatelic and numismatic materials, miscellaneous materials relating to San Francisco and
the Bay Area, Californiana, and Americana. Also includes transcript of a radio interview with Eisner about express mail pioneer
Pilsbury "Chips" Hodgkins and a biographical sketch of Hodgkins. Formats include: printed ephemera, clippings, publications,
and correspondence.
Physical Location: 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 not been assigned to The Bancroft Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts
must be submitted in writing to the Head of Public Services. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Bancroft
Library 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.
Preferred Citation
Milton D. Eisner papers, BANC MSS C-R 155, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.
Related Collections
Title: Photographs from the Milton D. Eisner Papers,
Identifier/Call Number: BANC PIC 1962.025
Title: Page, Bacon & Co. Records,
Identifier/Call Number: BANC MSS C-G 297
Material Cataloged Separately
- Printed materials have been transferred to the book collection of The Bancroft Library.
- Photographs have been transferred to Pictorial Collections of The Bancroft Library.
Administrative Information
Provenance
The Milton D. Eisner Papers were given to The Bancroft Library by Mrs. Milton D. Eisner in 1961.
Biographical Sketch
Milton Daniel Eisner was born in San Francisco on July 15, 1886. His father, Milton S. Eisner was a prominent San Francisco
attorney, his mother, Lena Reinstein Eisner was a member of a prominent San Francisco family, her brother Jacob B. Reinstein,
having served as a Regent of the University of California at the turn of the century. Both of Eisner's parents were native
Californians. He obtained his primary education in the San Francisco schools, graduating from Lowell High School in 1905.
He was a student at the University of California during a part of 1905 and 1906. He married Belle Bluckman, a schoolmate,
on September 11, 1910, and they had three children, Robet H. Eisner, Helen Eisner Rice, and Willard B. Eisner.
Eisner worked in real estate, and his business activity included long service with Citizens Federal Savings & Loan Association.
Eisner served as Cititzen's director in 1921, its president from 1932-1953, and was the chairman of the board of directors
until his death.
Notwithstanding his dedication to business activities, Eisner devoted much of his time to helping others. A leading member
of the San Francisco Pacific Philatelic Society, Eisner conceived of the idea of introducing patients in Children's Hospital
to stamp collecting. When that program was well established, Eisner then undertook to establish a similar program at Letterman
General Hospital, becoming known as "Mr. Stampman" to the sick and wounded servicemen there. Eisner was also deeply involved
in Boy Scouts of America, and served that organization for 35 years. In recognition of his services he was made a member of
BSA's Court of Honor.
Eisner also took great interest in the accumulation of documents relating to the early history of the West, particularly California.
He was an enthusiastic member of the California Historical Society for 25 years.
Milton Eisner died on Sunday, December 17, 1959.
(Adapted from Colbert Coldwell's tribute to Milton D. Eisner in the
California Historical Society Quarterly, Vol. XXXLIX, No. 1, March 1960, pp. 77-79.)
Scope and Content
The Milton D. Eisner Papers, 1854-1961 (bulk 1933-1958), consist of correspondence, clippings, and ephemera from Eisner and
his mother, Lena Reinstein Eisner, but the papers are primarily composed of subject files gathered by Eisner. Much of Eisner's
philatelic collectibles were sold, and some of the notable Californiana collectibles (such as the Page, Bacon & Co. Records)
have been cataloged separately.
The bulk of the subject files are in regard to postal and express services in early California and the West. Additional subject
files include philatelic and numismatic materials, and materials relating to the San Francisco Bay Area, California, and America.
Carton 1, folders 1-16
Series 1:
Biographical and Family Materials, 1873-1959
Scope and Content Note
Arrangement
Divided into two subseries: Milton D. Eisner and Family. Arranged chronologically.
Consists of correspondence, business ledgers, notes, clippings.
Carton 1, folders 1-10
Subseries 1.1:
Milton D. Eisner
carton 1, folder 6
Wants of collectors
1946-1950, n.d.
carton 1, folder 7
E Clampus Vitus - Clampers
1948-1959
carton 1, folder 8
Radio interview about "Chips" [Pilsbury Hodgkins]
1950
carton 1, folder 9
Harrison & Eisner Real Estate
n.d.
carton 1, folder 11
Miscellany
1873-1916, n.d.
carton 1, folder 12
Correspondence with Warner Family
1891-1922, n.d.
carton 1, folder 15
Photo of Lena R. Eisner with children Milton D. Eisner and Helen Eisner Friedman
1924
carton 1, folder 16
Miscellany
1880, 1895, n.d.
Carton 1, folders 17-62, Carton 2, folders 1-79, Box 1, folders 1-41, Oversize folders 1-4
Series 2:
Subject Files and Collectibles, 1849-1961
Scope and Content Note
Arrangement
Arranged hierarchically. Divided into six subseries: Historic Mail Service and Philately Materials, Numismatic Materials,
San Francisco and Bay Area, Californiana, Americana, and Miscellaneous Collectibles.
Includes Eisner's notes, articles, newspaper clippings, event programs, catalogs, and some collectibles.
Carton 1, folders 17-62, Carton 2, folders, 1-15
Subseries 2.1:
Historic Mail Service and Philately Materials, 1854-1959
Scope and Content Note
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically.
Includes notes, articles, clippings, programs, awards concerning stamp collecting and the history of mail delivery in the
Old West.
carton 1, folder 17
Adam's and Co.'s Shasta Express
n.d.
carton 1, folder 18
American Philatelic Society Convention Program
1939
carton 1, folder 19
The American Philatelist
1932, 1933
carton 1, folder 20
American Philatelist clippings
ca. 1920's-1957
carton 1, folder 21
Auction Programs
1934-1959, n.d.
carton 1, folder 22
Banta's Bicycle Mail
1894, n.d.
carton 1, folder 23
Black Bart, P.O. 8
1947, n.d.
carton 1, folder 24
Brown's Express
1933, n.d.
carton 1, folder 25
California Ocean Mail
1940, 1943
carton 1, folder 26-28
California Post Offices
1892-1958, n.d.
carton 1, folder 29
The City Delivery Letter Expresses of San Francisco
1944
carton 1, folder 30
Covers Estimate of Values
1908-1959, n.d.
carton 1, folder 32
Dated Revenues - Match and Medicine Envelopes
1945-1953, n.d.
carton 1, folder 34
Everts, Davis, Snell, Wilson
1854, 1931, n.d.
carton 1, folder 35
Expresses Western
1940-1955, n.d.
carton 1, folder 37
Gregory's Express
1944, n.d.
carton 1, folder 39
Horsley and Brastow Express
ca. 1856, 1933, n.d.
carton 1, folder 40
Hunter and Co.'s Express
n.d.
carton 1, folder 41
Kicking Mule
1935, 1958, n.d.
carton 1, folder 42
Langton's Express
1854-1949, n.d.
carton 1, folder 44-47
Letterman Army Hospital Stamp Club
1948-1959
carton 1, folder 48
The National Stamp Exhibition of 1934
1934
carton 1, folder 49
Oregon postmarking
1943-1952
carton 1, folder 50
Overland Mail
1934-1944, n.d.
carton 1, folder 51
Overland Mail Centennials
1958
carton 1, folder 52
Pacific Express
1863, 1936
carton 1, folder 53
Philatelic awards and newspaper clippings
1934-1958, n.d.
carton 1, folder 54
Philatelic booklets
1941-1956, n.d.
carton 1, folder 55
The Philatelic Californian
1896
carton 1, folder 56-57
Philatelic miscellany
1885-1956, n.d.
carton 1, folder 58
Pioneer and Spear
1949-1950, n.d.
carton 1, folder 59
Pony Express
1929-1957, n.d.
carton 1, folder 60
Postmarks - California cancellations
1929-1950, n.d.
carton 1, folder 61
Postal Markings
1942-1943
carton 1, folder 62
Postal Markings of the U.S. 1847-1851
1938
carton 2, folder 1
Reynolds and Todd Companies
1932, n.d.
carton 2, folder 2
Rumrill's Express
1930, n.d.
carton 2, folder 3
Schedule of Nicaragua Steamship Line and California Ocean Mails
1937-1939, n.d.
carton 2, folder 4
San Francisco Stamp Society
1934
carton 2, folder 6
Sonora, SF View Data, Cascade City
1942-1952, n.d.
carton 2, folder 7
Stamp articles
1933-1947, n.d.
carton 2, folder 8-9
Stamps and covers
1905-1958, n.d.
carton 2, folder 10
State revenues
1940-1947, n.d.
carton 2, folder 11
Steinberger's P.O.
1958, n.d.
carton 2, folder 12
Theo F. Tracy and Company's Express
1935-1941, n.d.
carton 2, folder 13
Western Cover Society
1951-1958
carton 2, folder 14
Western franks, cuts, articles and letters
1864, 1933, n.d.
Carton 2, folders 16-18
Subseries 2.2:
Numismatic Materials, 1938-1956
Scope and Content Note
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically.
Includes coin collecting catalogs and bulletins.
carton 2, folder 16
The American Catalogue and Premium List of All United States Coins
1938
carton 2, folder 18
Numismatic miscellany
1956, n.d.
Carton 2, folders 19-75
Subseries 2.3:
San Francisco and Bay Area, 1849-1958
Scope and Content Note
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically.
Includes clippings, articles and programs concerning life in San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area. Also includes series
of views of San Francisco after the 1906 Earthquake from the San Francisco Examiner.
carton 2, folder 19
Bay bridges
1908, 1934-1936
carton 2, folder 20
Behind Your Faucet
1947-1950
carton 2, folder 22
Broderick - Terry duel
n.d.
carton 2, folder 23
The Charter of the City of Oakland
1910
carton 2, folder 26
Denman School Souvenir
1911
carton 2, folder 27
Early San Francisco newspaper clippings
1878, 1916, n.d.
carton 2, folder 28-38
Earthquake of 1906 from the
San Francisco Examiner
1906
Birdseye View of San Francisco from Twin Peaks
Birdseye View of the Ruins of San Francisco
Market Street - Looking Toward Ferry
Panorama of ... Russian Hill to Telegraph Hill
Panorama of ... Telegraph Hill to the Base of Rincon Hill
Panoramic View ... from the Fairmont Hotel
Panoramic View of San Francisco from the Waterfront
Panoramic Views of the Ruins of San Francisco
Refugee Camp at Golden Gate Park
The Stretch of Ruin from Nob Hill to Russian Hill
carton 2, folder 40
Emergency Cistern Supply article
1942
carton 2, folder 41
Emperor Norton (Joshua Abraham Norton)
1945, 1955
carton 2, folder 43
Girls High School
1884-1914
carton 2, folder 45
Laurel Heights Home Digest
1948
carton 2, folder 46
Life of Pilsbury Hodgkins
1892
carton 2, folder 47
Lincoln Elementary School
1883-1931
carton 2, folder 48
Lowell High School
1905-1956, n.d.
carton 2, folder 49
Marin County, California by Sir Francis Drake
1915
carton 2, folder 50
Memoirs of George H. Murray
1952
carton 2, folder 51
Menus and Hints on Housekeeping
ca. 1870's
carton 2, folder 52-55
Newspaper clippings, articles and letters
1866-1958, n.d.
carton 2, folder 56
Notes and articles on San Francisco post office
1940-1954, n.d.
carton 2, folder 57
Oakland and Alameda County
1870-1943
carton 2, folder 58
Oakland High School
1899-1900
carton 2, folder 59
Pacific Diary for 1873: San Francisco
1873
carton 2, folder 60-61
Real Estate
1887- ca.1950s
carton 2, folder 62
San Francisco Fire Department
1850, n.d.
carton 2, folder 63-64
San Francisco - General
1914-1958, n.d.
carton 2, folder 65
San Francisco Mint
1948, n.d.
carton 2, folder 66
San Francisco street cars
1875-1948, n.d.
carton 2, folder 67
San Mateo County
1946-1950, n.d.
carton 2, folder 69
Stanford University
1891-1933
carton 2, folder 72-73
University of California, Berkeley
1899-1953
Carton 2, folders 76-79, Box 1, folders 1-15, Oversize folders 1 A, 2 B
Subseries 2.4:
Californiana, 1853-1961
Scope and Content Note
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically.
Includes articles, brochures, pamphlets, catalogs and other miscellany relating to California.
carton 2, folder 77
Brochures and pamphlets
1905-1958, n.d.
carton 2, folder 78
California and the West catalogue
1957
carton 2, folder 79
California Historical Society
1950-1959
box 1, folder 1-2
Centennial Celebrations
1946-1950
box 1, folder 5
Masonry - early California lodges
1854-1958
box 1, folder 6
Miner's Ten Commandments
n.d.
Oversize folder 1 A
The Pictorial Union [reproduction]
1855
box 1, folder 7
Pioneers of the West
1853, 1891, n.d.
Oversize folder 2 B
Residence and Farm of Benjamin Ely, Winters, CA
n.d.
box 1, folder 9
Raynes, Alonzo E.
1933, n.d.
box 1, folder 10
Society of California Pioneers
1882-1894
box 1, folder 12
Wells Fargo and Co.
1891-1958, n.d.
box 1, folder 14
Wine industry articles
1955, n.d.
Box 1, folders 16-26
Subseries 2.5:
Americana, 1849-1957
Scope and Content Note
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically.
Includes legislative bills, insurance company documents, a facsimile Declaration of Independence made for the United States
Centennial, as well as articles, notes, and clippings regarding the United States of America.
box 1, folder 16
Legislative Acts and Bills
1890, n.d.
box 1, folder 17
Biographical Sketches of Presidential Candidates
1912
box 1, folder 18
The Chicago Fire and the Fire Insurance Companies
1871
box 1, folder 19
Declaration of Independence Centennial
1876
box 1, folder 20
Four Centuries of Americana 1556-1954
1954
box 1, folder 23
Personalized American History
1956
box 1, folder 24
Railway Express Service
1928
box 1, folder 25
Spanish American War
1898
box 1, folder 26
What Do You Know About Old Glory?
1939
Box 1, folders 27-41, Oversize folders 3 A, 4 A
Subseries 2.6:
Miscellaneous, 1852-1958
Scope and Content Note
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically.
Includes miscellaneous bank check forms, liquor licenses, receipts, stocks and bonds, and other documents.
box 1, folder 28
Autographs
1929-1934, n.d.
box 1, folder 30
Business cards
1911, n.d.
box 1, folder 31
Electric Oil Stoves
1894-1895
Oversize folder 3 A
The Ladies Home Journal
1891
box 1, folder 32
Liquor licenses
ca. 1880, 1911
Oversize folder 4 A
National Guard of California, membership and discharge of M.H. Strout
1873-1874
box 1, folder 34
Receipts
1852-1876, ca.1900
box 1, folder 35
Stocks and bonds
1876-1946
box 1, folder 36
Tickets and sports memorabilia
1904-1958, n.d.
box 1, folder 37
Transportation fares, tickets, passes and transfers
1871-1906
box 1, folder 38
U.S. and state stamped checks
ca. 1870's-1947