Land Family Photographs and Records MSS.319

Finding aid prepared by Leilani Silver, Pamela Nett Kruger
Processing of this collection was funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and administered by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR), Cataloging Hidden Special Collections and Archives program.
California State University, Chico, Special Collections, Meriam Library
400 West First Street
Chico, CA, 95929-0295
(530) 898-6342
SpecialCollections@csuchico.edu
2/15/2011


Title: Land Family Photographs and Records
Identifier/Call Number: MSS.319
Contributing Institution: California State University, Chico, Special Collections, Meriam Library
Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 4.0 Linear feet 8 Boxes
Date (inclusive): 1927-1957, 1987
Abstract: The collection contains the photographs and business records of Feather River Pine Mills and the Land family, including, correspondence, financial statements, reports, and legal documents. The majority of the collection consists of photographs and negatives documenting mill construction and logging operations of Feather River Pine Mills (FRPM), including Feather River Railroad, and the National Wood Treating Corporation. The Land family was heavily involved in the business and operations of FRPM.
Language of Materials note: English
Alternate Form of Material: No other forms of material.
creator: Feather River Pine Mills.
creator: Land Family

Arrangement note

The collection has been arranged into 2 series.
Series 1: Papers Series 2: Photographs/Negatives
Note: Many of the photographs contained within the collection are duplicates of the negatives in boxes 7 and 8. All negatives are nitrate based and for staff use only. Scanned copies are available.

Biographical/Historical note

A. H. Land was born November 24, 1866 in Concord, Virginia and died in Oroville, California on July 26, 1953. Land graduated as a captain from the Virginia Military Institute in 1890 and taught chemistry in the science department for several years. He was married in 1893 to Catherine Elizabeth Evans and entered the mercantile business in Bluefield, West Virginia. Holding interest in mining and lumber at various times throughout his life, Land became president of the First National Bank of Logan, West Virginia, and served as an assistant federal fuel officer during World War I. He served several terms as mayor of Bluefield, West Virginia and was the manager of the opera house. Mr. and Mrs. Land had seven children, including Charles Hunter Land, John Daniel Land, and Jacob Golden Land, all of whom were involved in Feather River Pine Mills business.
Feather River Pine Mills, Inc. was a major Northern California lumber company for a number of years. In 1920 the Hutchinson Lumber Company (a West Virginia hardwood lumber company established in 1908 by Robert Lee Hutchinson), bought the Wheeler timber tract northeast of Oroville. The company purchased large tracts of timber in Butte and Plumas counties in California and began building railroad lines, sawmills a planning mill and dry kilns. An office and plant were officially operational in Oroville in March 1922. Hutchinson Lumber Company was one of the largest lumber companies in Northern California (during its 1925 season the company cut 100,000,000 board feet of lumber).
A. H. Land served as vice-president and treasurer at the West Virginia Corporation (Hutchinson Lumber of West Virginia) for two years (February 1922-Feburary 1924). Land moved to Oroville in 1922 to help improve the financial situation of the company. In 1923 at A. H. Land’s suggestion, the California operations of Hutchinson Lumber Company was reorganized and incorporated as the Hutchinson Lumber Company of California. Land became the president and treasurer of the California Corporation and from that point on he was completely in charge of the operation of the lumber mill and other properties of Hutchinson Lumber of California. C. H. land, A. H. Land’s son, was given the responsibility of managing all operations and sales for Hutchinson Lumber of California.
Financial trouble continued for Hutchinson Lumber Company and on the morning of April 22, 1927 the real and personal property of the Hutchinson Lumber Company was offered for sale on the steps of the Butte County Courthouse in Oroville, California. A. H. Land submitted the only bid and purchased Hutchinson Lumber on behalf of himself and a group of associates for $1,960,063.13. Land and his partners formed a new firm in the space of a month, and incorporated it in Nevada under the name of Feather River Pine Mills (FRPM).
In October 1927, the mill in Oroville was completely destroyed by fire. A. H. Land began to negotiate a Federal Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) loan that was approved in February of 1938, providing $385,000 for the construction of a new mill. The Adelaide site on the outskirts of Oroville was abandoned, and the company decided to locate its operations near the town of Feather Falls. Construction work on the mill and town site soon began, and the rehabilitation of the railroad followed beginning in 1929. The new plant and railroad project were completed and ready for operation on July 1, 1940. Mr. Land organized National Wood Treating Company as a subsidiary in 1947. The plant was located in South Oroville. Feather River Pine Mills continued operations until 1955 when the Land and Cooper families sold the company to Georgia-Pacific Corporation.

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research without restriction.

Usage Restrictions

No restrictions.

Immediate Source of Acquisition note

Land Family

Publication Rights

The library can only claim physical ownership of the collection. Users are responsible for satisfying any claimants of literary property.

Preferred Citation note

Land Family Photographs and Records, MSS 319, Special Collections, Meriam Library, California State University, Chico.

Related Archival Materials note

Feather River Pine Mills Records, MSS 191, Special Collections, Meriam Library, California State University, Chico.

Scope and Contents note

The collection contains the photographs and business records of Feather River Pine Mills and the Land family, including correspondence, auditor’s reports, appraisal reports, examination reports, inventory, balance sheets, agreements, schedules, financial statements, income tax, employment record, proof of labor certificates, grant deed, deed of easement, newspaper clippings and a Leavers Official Feetage Estimator booklet. The majority of the collection consists of photographs and negatives documenting mill construction and logging operations of Feather River Pine Mills (FRPM), including Feather River Railroad, and the National Wood Treating Corporation. The Land family was heavily involved in the business and operations of FRPM. A few of the photographs are personal and depict the Land family.
Some of the records include materials relating to the following companies: Hutchinson Lumber Company, Monarch Lumber Company, Ralph L. Smith Lumber Company, Olive Products Company, Western Terminals Company, S. River Timber Company, Mooney-Andrews Lumber Company, Geo. B. Mallory Company, Spencer Candy Company, Land Nash Motor Company, Gates Hardware Store, and Hardware Stores Corporation. Names associated with the collection include, John Daniel Land, Jacob Golden Land, Jack Land, Charles Hunter Land, Andrew Hunter Land, Charles Everett, and C. R. Buchanan.

Processing Information note

Processing of the Land Family Photographs and Records was generously funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and administered by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR). The [ABC repository] was awarded a Cataloging Hidden Special Collections and Archives grant from 2010-2012, "Uncovering California's Environmental Collections," in collaboration with eight additional special collections and archival repositories throughout the state and the California Digital Library (CDL). Grant objectives included processing of over 33 hidden collections related to the state's environment and environmental history. The collections document an array of important sub-topics such as irrigation, mining, forestry, agriculture, industry, land use, activism, and research. Together they form a multifaceted picture of the natural world and the way it was probed, altered, exploited and protected in California over the twentieth century. Finding aids are made available through the Online Archive of California (OAC).

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Feather River Pine Mills.
Feather River Railway.
Hutchinson Lumber Company.
Land Family
Land, Andrew Hunter
Land, Charles Hunter
Land, Jack
Land, Jacob Golden
Land, John Daniel
Butte County (Calif.)--Photographs.
Feather Falls (Calif.)--Photographs.
Logging--California, Northern--History.
Lumber and lumbering--California, Northern--History.
Lumber and lumbering--California--Butte County--History.
Lumber camps--California--Butte County--Photographs.
Lumbering--California, Northern--Photographs.
Moore Town (Calif.)--Photographs.
Uncovering California's Environmental Collections Project
Box 1

Papers/Reports

Physical Description: (5 Folders)
 

Folder 1: Gates Hardware Store (Correspondence, Bill of Sale, Proposals). 1928

 

Folder 2: Nash Motor Company, Owned by Jack Land (Account Journal). 1928-1929

 

Folder 3: Spencer Candy Company, Owned by J. D. Land and Harry Oates (Balance Sheet, Preamble, Agreement, Schedules, Statements, and Financial Receipts). 1935-36

 

Folder 4: Income Tax and Employment Record, John Daniel Land. 1934-1936

 

Folder 5: Correspondence, Proof of Labor Certificates (recorded in Butte County), Logging Shipment/Prices, Land Business Card, 1941 Penta Treatment Added at Oroville Brochure (National Wood Treating Corporation), Hutchinson Lumber Company Opening Day Ceremonies Pamphlet, Newspaper (The Union, February 16, 1984), Newspaper Clippings, Deputy Sheriff Card, Correspondence to Mrs. J. Golden Land from J. K. Phillips A. S.

Box 2

Papers/Reports

Physical Description: (8 Folders)
 

Folder 1: Property List, with Names and Descriptions (Note: the records in Folders 1, 3, and 4 may be related)

 

Folder 2: Certificate of Title, Report, Appropriation of Water and Water Rights on Sucker Run, Butte County, State of California. March 30, 1932

 

Folder 3: Agreements (Contents from Water Ditch Envelope). 1934-1935

 

Folder 4: Deed of Easement, Grant Deed, Notes, and Correspondence. 1936

 

Folder 5: Leavers Official Feetage Estimator by J. M. Leaver (Fractional size lumber, Cut Stock, Boxes, Millwork, Furniture, Finish, Veneers, Refrigerators, Specialties, etc.)

 

Folder 6: Feather River Pine Mills, Auditor’s Report July 31, 1927

 

Folder 7: Feather River Pine Mills, Appraisal Report, Mill Property July 12, 1934, and Woods Property July 12, 1934.

 

Folder 8: Gates Hardware Store, Inventory.

Box 3

Reports

Physical Description: (19 Folders-arranged alphabetically by company name)
 

Folder 1: Feather River Pine Mills, Appraisal Report, Valuation of Re-Conditioned Mill Machinery and Equipment, October 8, 1927.

 

Folder 2: Feather River Pine Mills and Feather River Railway Company, Financial Reports, December 31, 1947, and June 30, 1954.

 

Folder 3: Geo B. Mallory Company, Audit Report, December 31, 1948.

 

Folder 4: Monarch Lumber Company (Denver Branch) Financial Statement, 1947-1948.

 

Folder 5: Monarch Lumber Company, Financial Statements, December 31, 1946, December 31, 1947, December 31, 1948, March 31, 1949, July 31, 1949, July 31, 1950, and December 31, 1950.

 

Folder 6: Monarch Lumber Company, Inc. Report, September 30, 1950 and September 30, 1952.

 

Folder 7: Monarch Lumber Company, Financial Statement, December 31, 1951, December 31, 1952, February 29, 1952, and January 31, 1953.

 

Folder 8: Monarch Lumber Company, Financial Statements, October 31, 1953, November 30, 1953, January 31, 1954, and February 28, 1954.

 

Folder 9: Monarch Lumber Company #2 and Monarch Lumber Company #1, Financial Statements, September 30, 1954 and February 28, 1955.

 

Folder 10: Monarch Lumber Company #3, Financial Statements, September 30, 1954, February 28, 1955, and February 29, 1956.

 

Folder 11: Monarch Lumber Company #1, Financial Statements, February 28, 1957

 

Folder 12: Mooney-Andrews Lumber Company Financial Statements, December 31, 1951, July 31, 1952, and November 30, 1952.

 

Folder 13: National Wood Treating Corporation, Balance Sheet Profit & Loss Statement, July 12, 1951, December 31, 1951, November 30, 1952, December 31, 1952, and November 30, 1953.

 

Folder 14: National Wood Treating Corporation, Report of Examination, April 30, 1954, and April 30, 1955, Balance Sheet, December 31, 1954, and June 30, 1955.

 

Folder 15: Olive Products Company, Report of Audit, September 30, 1950.

 

Folder 16: Ralph L. Smith Lumber Company, Report of Examination of Accounts, December 31, 1949.

 

Folder 17: South River Timber Company, Final Statements, December 31, 1951.

 

Folder 18: West Coast Lumber Company, Report of Audit (Detroit Branch of Monarch Lumber Company) April 1947.

 

Folder 19: Western Terminals Company, Report of Examination, March 31, 1947 and March 31, 1948.

Box 4

Photographs

Physical Description: (10 Folders of Feather River Pine Mills, Logging and Mill Operations photographs)
 

Folder 1: Hutchinson Lumber Company Railroad Photographs, March 18, 1922

Physical Description: (2 photographs)
 

Folder 2: Feather River Railway and Standing Timber on South Fork of Feather River

Physical Description: (12 color photo slides)
 

Folder 3: Feather River Pine Mills, Logging and Mill Operations,

Physical Description: (31 black and white photographs)
 

Folder 4: National Treating Corporation, August 20, 1951

Physical Description: (11 black and white photos of a fair display)
 

Folder 5: Feather River Pine Mills, Logging and Mill Operations, including National Treating Corporation

Physical Description: (31 black and white and 1 color photographs)
 

Folder 6: Feather River Pine Mills, Logging and Mill Operations, including National Treating Corporation

Physical Description: (70 black and white photographs)
 

Folder 7: Feather River Pine Mills, Logging and Mill Operations, including National Treating Corporation

Physical Description: (57 black and white photographs)
 

Folder 8: Feather River Pine Mills, Logging and Mill Operations, including National Treating Corporation

Physical Description: (55 black and white photographs)
 

Folder 9: Aerial Photos (Berkeley and San Francisco)

 

Folder 10: Personal Photos (possibly Land family members, and CAL Berkeley stadium)

Box 5

Photographs

Physical Description: (10 Folders of Feather River Pine Mills, Logging and Mill Operations photographs)
 

Folder 1: Feather River Pine Mills, Logging and Mill Operations

Physical Description: (42 black and white photographs)
 

Folder 2: Feather River Pine Mills, Logging and Mill Operations, including lumber yard

Physical Description: (78 black and white photographs)
 

Folder 3: Feather River Pine Mills, Logging and Mill Operations, including Feather River Railroad Company

Physical Description: (54 black and white photographs)
 

Folder 4: Feather River Pine Mills, Sawmill Construction

Physical Description: (37 black and white photographs)
 

Folder 5: Feather River Pine Mills, Logging and Mill Operations

Physical Description: (75 black and white photographs)
 

Folder 6: Feather River Pine Mills, Logging and Mill Operations, including National Treating Corporation and Mill Construction.

Physical Description: (91 black and white photographs)
 

Folder 7: Feather River Pine Mills, Logging and Mill Operations, including National Treating Corporation

Physical Description: (51 black and white photographs)
 

Folder 8: Trip through Middle Fork of Feather River

Physical Description: (46 sepia tone photographs)
 

Folder 9: Feather Falls, Oroville, CA (14 black and white photographs) and Personal Photographs, possibly Land family members, including one of Jacob Golden Land and Frank Lisbon, surveyor for FRPM (19 black and white photographs)

 

Folder 10: 1987 Feather Falls Trip by Bob Everete

Physical Description: (36 color photographs)
oversize-box 6

Oversize Photographs

 

Feather River Pine Mills, Logging and Mill Operations, 19 Oversize Black and White Photographs (2 photographs have been hand-colored, 1 has been matted, and 13 have accompanying descriptions)

Box 7

Photograph Negatives (7-1 to 7-245)

 

7-1 to 7-45: Feather River Pine Mills, Sawmill Construction, late 1930’s, Feather Falls.

Physical Description: (45 negatives)
 

7-46 to 7-111: Feather River Pine Mills, Logging Operations

Physical Description: (66 negatives)
 

7-112 to 7-168: Feather River Pine Mills, Trucks

Physical Description: (53 negatives)
 

7-169 to 7-205: Feather River Pine Mills, Railroad

Physical Description: (34 negatives)
 

7-206 to 7-221: Feather River Railway Company

Physical Description: (16 negatives)
 

7-222 to 7-245: Feather River Pine Mills, Bidwell Bar Remanufacturing Plant (8 negatives) Aerial Views of Oroville and Mill (5 negatives)

Box 8

Photograph Negatives (8-1 to 8-256)

 

8-1 to 8-127: Feather River Pine Mills, Mill Operations

Physical Description: (128 negatives)
 

8-128 to 8-173: Feather River Pine Mills, National Wood Treating Corporation

Physical Description: (46 negatives)
 

8-174 to 8-198: Feather River Pine Mills, Standing Timber

Physical Description: (25 negatives)
 

8-199 to 8-215: Feather Falls Waterfall

Physical Description: (18 negatives)
 

8-216 to 8-258: Personal Photos, Land Family, Feather Falls Town, and Other

Physical Description: (41 negatives)
Box 9

Photographs (All photographs correspond to negatives in Boxes 7 and 8)

 

7-1 to 7-45: Feather River Pine Mills, Sawmill Construction, late 1930’s, Feather Falls.

Physical Description: (37 prints)
 

7-46 to 7-111: Feather River Pine Mills, Logging Operations

Physical Description: (42 prints)
 

7-112 to 7-168: Feather River Pine Mills, Trucks

Physical Description: (42 prints)
 

7-169 to 7-205: Feather River Pine Mills, Railroad

Physical Description: (28 prints)
 

7-206 to 7-221: Feather River Railway Company

Physical Description: (13 prints)
 

7-222 to 7-245: Feather River Pine Mills, Bidwell Bar Remanufacturing Plant (7 prints) Aerial Views of Oroville and Mill (5 prints)

 

8-1 to 8-127: Feather River Pine Mills, Mill Operations

Physical Description: (117 prints)
 

8-128 to 8-173: Feather River Pine Mills, National Wood Treating Corporation

Physical Description: (37 prints)
 

8-174 to 8-198: Feather River Pine Mills, Standing Timber

Physical Description: (6 prints)
 

8-199 to 8-215: Feather Falls Waterfall

Physical Description: (10 prints)
 

8-216 to 8-258: Personal Photos, Land Family, Feather Falls Town, and Other

Physical Description: (27 prints)
Drawer Oversize MSS

Gates Hardware Store, Closing Out poster. Marysville California May 15, 1928.