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 2

Mt. Clark, circa 1908

Box 1, Folder 3

Mirror Lake, circa 1908

Box 1, Folder 4

Mirror Lake, circa 1908

Box 1, Folder 5

Mt. Clark, Merced River Canyon, circa 1908

Box 1, Folder 6

Yosemite Valley, circa 1908

Box 1, Folder 7

Camp, circa 1908

Box 1, Folder 8

Camp, circa 1908

Box 1, Folder 9

El Capitan, circa 1908

Box 1, Folder 10

Mt. Hoffman, North Dome, Basket Dome; view from Cloud's Rest, circa 1908

Box 1, Folder 11

Forest, circa 1908

Box 1, Folder 12

Yosemite Valley, circa 1908

Box 1, Folder 13

Yosemite Valley, circa 1908

Box 1, Folder 14

Mirror Lake, circa 1908

Box 1, Folder 15

Half Dome from Glacier Point, circa 1908

Box 1, Folder 16

Unidentified, circa 1908

Box 1, Folder 17

Forest, circa 1908

Box 1, Folder 18

North Dome with Merced River foreground, circa 1908

Box 1, Folder 19

Unidentified, 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 23

Vernal Falls, circa 1908

Box 1, Folder 24

Vernal Falls, circa 1923

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 27

Nevada Falls, 1923

Box 1, Folder 28

Yosemite Falls, 1923

Box 1, Folder 29

Mariposa Grove, 1923

Box 1, Folder 30

El Capitan, 1923

Box 1, Folder 31

Mt. Watkins, Mirror Lake foreground, 1923

Box 1, Folder 32

Mariposa Grove, 1923

Box 1, Folder 33

Mariposa Grove, redwoods, 1923

Box 1, Folder 34

Mariposa Grove, undated

Box 1, Folder 35

Mariposa Grove, giant sequoia, undated

Box 1, Folder 36

Yosemite Falls, 1923

Box 1, Folder 37

Incline railroad cable cars, western boundary logging, 1923

Box 1, Folder 38

Hetch Hetchy, 1923

Box 1, Folder 39

Hetch Hetchy, 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 2

Mt. Clark, circa 1908

Box 2, Folder 3

Mirror Lake, circa 1908

Box 2, Folder 4

Mirror Lake, circa 1908

Box 2, Folder 5

Mt. Clark, Merced River Canyon, circa 1908

Box 2, Folder 6

Yosemite Valley, circa 1908

Box 2, Folder 7

Camp, 1908

Box 2, Folder 8

Camp, 1908

Box 2, Folder 9

El Capitan, circa 1908

Box 2, Folder 10

Mt. Hoffman, North Dome, Basket Dome; view from Cloud's Rest, circa 1908

Box 2, Folder 11

Forest, circa 1908

Box 2, Folder 12

Yosemite Valley, circa 1908

Box 2, Folder 13

Yosemite Valley, circa 1908

Box 2, Folder 14

Mirror Lake, circa 1908

Box 2, Folder 15

Half Dome from Glacier Point, circa 1908

Box 2, Folder 16

Unidentified, circa 1908

Box 2, Folder 17

Forest, circa 1908

Box 2, Folder 18

North Dome with Merced River foreground, circa 1908

Box 2, Folder 19

Unidentified, 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 23

Vernal Falls, circa 1908

Box 2, Folder 24

Unidentified, undated

Box 2, Folder 25

Unidentified, undated

Box 2, Folder 26

Unidentified, undated

Box 2, Folder 27

Mountains, undated

Box 2, Folder 28

Trees and hills, undated

Box 2, Folder 29

Mariposa River tree door, undated

Box 2, Folder 30

Man-wagon wheel, undated

Box 2, Folder 31

Rock and falls, undated

Box 2, Folder 32

Unidentified, 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