Laumann Yosemite Collection
Special Collections, Robert E. Kennedy Library
California Polytechnic State University
San Luis Obispo, CA 93407-0605
Phone: (805) 756-2305
Fax: (805) 756-5770
URL: http://www.lib.calpoly.edu/specialcollections/
Email: archives@calpoly.edu
© 2008
Trustees of the California State University. All rights reserved.
Laumann Yosemite Collection
Special Collections Department
Robert E. Kennedy Library
1 Grand Avenue
California Polytechnic State University
San Luis Obispo, CA 93407—0600
Contact Information
- Special Collections Department
- Robert E. Kennedy Library
- 1 Grand Avenue
- California Polytechnic State University
- San Luis Obispo, CA 93407—0600
- Phone: 805/756-2305
- Fax: 805/756-5770
- Email: archives@calpoly.edu
- URL: http://www.lib.calpoly.edu/departments/special_collections/index.html
- Processed by:
- Ken Kenyon
- Date Completed:
- 2008
- Encoded by:
- Byte Managers and Marisa Ramirez 2008
© 2008 Trustees of the California State University. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Laumann Yosemite Collection,
Date (bulk): circa 1908,
Date (bulk): 1923
Date (bulk): (bulk circa 1908)
Collection number: MS 153
Creator:
Laumann, Frank E., 1888-1957
Laumann, Una C., 1921 -
Extent:
3 boxes
Languages:
English
Repository:
Special Collections, Robert E. Kennedy Library
California Polytechnic State University
San Luis Obispo, California 93407
Abstract: The Laumann Yosemite Collection consists of photographic prints and glass plate negatives of two of the Laumann family's visits
to Yosemite National Park and the Sierra, the first in circa 1908 and the second in 1923. Photographs taken by Frank E. Laumann
include familiar landmarks such as El Capitan, Mirror Lake, Vernal Falls, Half Dome and Hetch Hetchy as well as Laumann family
and friends. The Laumann family donated the collection in 2006.
Provenance
Donated by Una Laumann in 2006.
Restrictions on Access
Collection is open to qualified researchers by appointment only. For more information on access policies and to obtain a copy
of the Researcher Registration form, please visit the Special Collections Access page.
Collection stored remotely. Advance notice for use required.
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
In order to reproduce, publish, broadcast, exhibit, and/or quote from this material, researchers must submit a written request
and obtain formal permission from Special Collections, Cal Poly, as the owner of the physical collection. Researchers should
also consult with an appropriate staff member regarding literary or other intellectual property rights pertaining to this
collection.
Photocopying of material is permitted at staff discretion and provided on a fee basis. Photocopies are not to be used for
any purpose other than for private study, scholarship, or research. Special Collections staff reserves the right to limit
photocopying and deny access or reproduction in cases when, in the opinion of staff, the original materials would be harmed.
Preferred Citation
Laumann Yosemite Collection, Special Collections, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
Biography
Pioneers of Sonoma County, California, the Laumann family originally immigrated to the United States from Darmstadt, Hesse,
Germany, settling in Peotone, Illinois. In the latter part of the nineteenth century, Lawrence and Margareta Laumann came
to California by wagon with son John Laumann. John and his wife Hannah had six children, including Frank Emil Laumann, who
was born May 8, 1888, in Sonoma County, California and Amelia, known as Millie, who was born in 1895.
Frank Laumann married Dorothy Meyer on February 25, 1914, in Sonoma County, and they made their home in Fulton, California.
Frank owned a woodshop, built small houses, ran a store, and weighed plum-filled trucks. Their son George C., who taught mathematics
at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo for 27 years, was born April 7, 1915. As a boy, he helped his father and learned woodworking
skills from him. He attended local schools before going to the University of California at the age of 16.
George Laumann served stateside during World War II, making the rank of staff sergeant. He married Una Bergmann in 1950, returned
to college and earned his bachelor's degree in 1952, his master's degree in 1953 at Chico State, and also did additional graduate
work at the University of Oregon and UCLA. He began teaching mathematics at Cal Poly in 1957. His love of nature was shared
with his family until his death at Wawona campground at Yosemite National Park on June 4, 1984. His wife, Una, established
the Cal Poly George C. Laumann Scholarship in Mathematics in his memory.
Sources
Una C. Laumann
Robert Pavlik
California Death Index, Ancestry.com
Ancestry World Tree, Ancestry.com
Scope and Content Note
The Laumann Yosemite Collection contains 39 photographic prints and 32 glass plate negatives of locations in Yosemite National
Park and the Sierra.
The collection documents two trips to Yosemite and the Sierra by the Laumanns, the first about 1908 and the second in 1923.
The Laumanns traveled to Yosemite, probably circa 1908, in a Mark West Stage, a horse-drawn surrey. The journey from their
home in Fulton, California, took more than five days, with a horse dying on the way. Upon arrival, they made camp at the base
of Yosemite Falls. While at Yosemite, Frank Laumann took photographs of familiar landmarks, such as Mirror Lake, El Capitan,
Vernal Falls and Hetch Hetchy, and of family and friends, including his sister Millie.
The original organization of the Laumann Yosemite Collection has been preserved and is divided into 2 series:
1. Photographs and Glass Plate Negatives
2. Family History and Ephemera
Two boxes contain prints and glass plate negatives, and one box contains a brief family history and ephemera.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Subjects
Yosemite National Park (Calif.) -- Pictorial works
Yosemite National Park (Calif.) -- History
Yosemite National Park (Calif.) -- Description and travel
Genre and Forms of Materials
Photographic prints
Glass plate negatives
Genealogical chart
Ephemera
1. Photographs and Glass Plate Negatives,
circa 1908 and 1923
Scope and Content Note
Contains two subseries: A. Photographic Prints and B. Glass Plate Negatives.
A. Photographic Prints
Scope and Content Note
Contains black-and-white photographs from two trips to the Sierra, circa 1908 and 1923. Prints in folders 1 through 23 have
corresponding plate glass negatives in Series B; the remaining do not. Arranged in original order. 1 box.
Box 1, Folder 1
Frank Laumann & sister Millie, Yosemite,
circa 1908
Box 1, Folder 5
Mt. Clark, Merced River Canyon,
circa 1908
Box 1, Folder 6
Yosemite Valley,
circa 1908
Box 1, Folder 10
Mt. Hoffman, North Dome, Basket Dome; view from Cloud's Rest,
circa 1908
Box 1, Folder 12
Yosemite Valley,
circa 1908
Box 1, Folder 13
Yosemite Valley,
circa 1908
Box 1, Folder 15
Half Dome from Glacier Point,
circa 1908
Box 1, Folder 18
North Dome with Merced River foreground,
circa 1908
Box 1, Folder 20
Tenaya Canyon, taken from Cloud's Rest,
circa 1908
Box 1, Folder 21
Half Dome, back side,
circa 1908
Box 1, Folder 22
Yosemite Falls, camp,
circa 1908
Box 1, Folder 25
Bridal Veil Falls,
circa 1923
Box 1, Folder 26
Mariposa Grove, Frank and George Laumann (8 years old),
1923
Box 1, Folder 31
Mt. Watkins, Mirror Lake foreground,
1923
Box 1, Folder 33
Mariposa Grove, redwoods,
1923
Box 1, Folder 35
Mariposa Grove, giant sequoia,
undated
Box 1, Folder 37
Incline railroad cable cars, western boundary logging,
1923
B. Glass Plate Negatives
Scope and Content Note
Contains glass plate negatives from two trips to the Sierra, circa 1908 and 1923. Plate negatives in Folders 1 through 23
have corresponding print copies in Series A; the remaining do not. Arranged in original order. 1 box.
Box 2, Folder 1
Frank Laumann & sister Millie, Yosemite,
circa 1908
Box 2, Folder 5
Mt. Clark, Merced River Canyon,
circa 1908
Box 2, Folder 6
Yosemite Valley,
circa 1908
Box 2, Folder 10
Mt. Hoffman, North Dome, Basket Dome; view from Cloud's Rest,
circa 1908
Box 2, Folder 12
Yosemite Valley,
circa 1908
Box 2, Folder 13
Yosemite Valley,
circa 1908
Box 2, Folder 15
Half Dome from Glacier Point,
circa 1908
Box 2, Folder 18
North Dome with Merced River foreground,
circa 1908
Box 2, Folder 20
Tenaya Canyon, taken from Cloud's Rest,
circa 1908
Box 2, Folder 21
Half Dome, back side,
circa 1908
Box 2, Folder 22
Camp, foot of Yosemite Falls,
circa 1908
Box 2, Folder 29
Mariposa River tree door,
undated
2. Laumann Family History and Ephemera
Scope and Content Note
Contains one subseries: A. Laumann family history and ephemera
A. Laumann family history and ephemera
Scope and Content Note
Contains a short biography of the Laumann family, Laumann family records, Yosemite National Park postcard and Standard Oil
Company ephemera. Arranged in original order. 1 box.
Box 3, Folder 1
Laumann family history and family group sheet
Box 3, Folder 2
Yosemite postcard, Standard Oil Company ephemera, and photograph of Theodore Roosevelt and John Muir at Yosemite