Inventory of the Peter J. Shields Collection
Payne Vang
Department of Special Collections
General Library
University of California, Davis
100 North West Quad
Davis, CA 95616-5292
Phone: (530) 752-1621
Fax: (530) 752-5758
Email: speccoll@lib.ucdavis.edu
© 2005
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Creator:
Shields, Peter J., 1862-1962
Title: Peter J. Shields Collection,
Date: 1896-1968.
Extent:
4.2 linear feet
Abstract: The Peter J. Shields Collection contains both personal papers and materials related to the creation of the University of California,
Davis campus. The collection materials date from 1896 to 1968. Peter J. Shields presided as a Superior Court Judge in Sacramento
County from 1900 to 1949. In 1905, Shields wrote the legislation that led to the establishment of the University Farm. He
maintained his association with the campus until his death in 1962.
Physical location: Researchers should contact Special Collections to request collections, as many are stored off site.
Repository:
University of California, Davis. General Library.
Department of Special Collections.
100 North West Quad
Davis, California 95616-5292
Collection number: D-169
Language of Material: Collection materials in
English
Biography
Peter J. Shields was born on April 4, 1862 in Hangtown Crossing, a small farming town near Sacramento, California. At the
age of fourteen, Shields attended the Christian Brothers College in Sacramento and at seventeen he began to study law in Amos
P. Catlin's law office. After being admitted to the Bar in Los Angeles in 1884, Shields established a small law office in
Sacramento. At age twenty-three, he quit his law practice to travel. After ten years, he returned to Sacramento and started
working as a library assistant at the California State Library. Later Shields was promoted to become one of the Trustees of
the State Library. From 1896 to 1898, he worked for the Secretary of the California Code Commission and as a secretary in
Governor Budd's office. In 1899, Shields was the secretary of the State Agricultural Society. Shields and Hiram Johnson shared
an informal law partnership circa 1900. In 1900, Shields was elected as Judge of the Superior Court of Sacramento. He married
Carolee Wilsey on August 1, 1901. Shields sought the office of U.S. District Judge, in 1913, but did not get chosen for the
office. Shields retired in 1949.
Shields was one of the founding fathers of the University Farm (now the University of California, Davis campus). As the secretary
of the State Agricultural Society, he realized the need for an agricultural college. He helped to write the State legislation
bill for the creation of the university campus in 1901 and 1903; after many revisions were added to the bill, it finally passed
in 1905. He continued to share in the responsibilities of the university by keeping in contact with the the presidents of
the university and participating in events related to the university until his death. Shields interests in politics and agriculture
continued throughout his life. His award-winning Jersey cattle were his pride and joy. He often came to the Davis campus to
visit the Jersey cattle until the campus decided to make reductions in the cattle program. Shields also actively participated
in community organizations and events. His memberships included the X Club, whose members met in each other's houses and presented
papers on a variety of topics. He often referred to the X Club as the "Ex Club" in his papers. Shields died on September 28,
1962.
Sources consulted:
Calendar of Shields' correspondence, control file, Peter J. Shields Collection, D-169, Department of Special Collections,
General Library, University of California, Davis.
Shields, Peter J.
Reminiscences: Tape recorded interviews for the Bancroft Library, December 30, 1953-July 1, 1954. Transcript. [Berkeley: Bancroft Library, 1954].
Shields, Peter J.
Birth of an Institution: the Agricultural College at Davis. [Sacramento, CA: 1954].
Storer, Tracy Irwin,
Tracy I. Storer and E. Louis Proebsting: Reminiscences of the Ex [i.e. X] Club.[University of California, Davis: Library, 1973].
Scope and Content of Collection
The inclusive dates for the Peter J. Shields Collection materials range from 1896 to 1968. The collection is divided into
eight series: 1. "An Act Providing for the Purchase of a University Farm," 2. Correspondence, 3. Papers and Speeches, 4. Will
of Peter J. Shields, 5. Boye Scholarship Trust, 6. Ephemera, 7. Photographs, and 8. Realia. This collection contains several
folders relating to the founding of the University of California, Davis campus. The correspondence series includes three subseries:
general correspondence, recommendations for Judge Shields, and a letter-press book. The letter-press book includes copies
of Shields' outgoing letters on diverse subjects. From the general correspondence subseries, notable correspondents include
politicians, lawyers, judges, and university officials, such as James Farley, Hamlin Garland, Hiram W. Johnson, John F. Neylan,
Gordon Sproul, Earl Warren, Henry A. Wallace, and Benjamin I. Wheeler. The correspondence between Hiram Johnson and Shields
consists of both personal and work related letters, written prior to or after Johnson was governor of California. Shields'
speeches and papers relate to agriculture, education, Democratic Party ideals, and to his personal experience and optimistic
philosophy of life.
A small amount of correspondence relates to the cases that Shields managed as Superior Court Judge in Sacramento County. The
certificates of election show the many times that Shields was elected to the position of Superior Court Judge in Sacramento
County. Shields' wedding coat has been extracted from the collection and placed in the Design Collection at the Department
of Environmental Design, University of California, Davis.
Researchers may view a detailed calendar of Shields' correpondence in the Special Collections reading room.
Related Collections
Other materials related to the Peter J. Shields Collection may be found in the following collections at Special Collections:
AR-095: Davis Campus History Collection
D-022: Pierce Family Papers
D-170: W. Turrentine Jackson Papers
MC-187: Alyce Williams Jewett Collection
Other materials relating to the Peter J. Shields Collection may also be found in the Eleanor McClatchy Collection at the Sacramento
Archives and Museum Collection Center in Sacramento, California.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Shields, Peter J., 1862-1962--Archives.
University of California (1868-1952). College of Agriculture--History.
University of California, Davis--History.
X Club (Sacramento, Calif.).
Agriculture--California.
California--Politics and government.
Judges--California.
Yolo County (Calif.)--History.
Access
Collection is open for research under regular Reading Room rules and copyright restrictions.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Thomas J. MacBride, Alyce Williams Jewett, and Margaret M. Deterding. On October 13, 1971, Thomas J. MacBride, executor
of the Judge Shields' estate, donated the bulk of the materials in the collection. Additional materials were added to the
collection through the donation of Margaret M. Deterding in August 1991, and Alyce Williams Jewett in September 1992.
Processing Information
Payne Vang, Special Collections intern, processed the collection and created its final finding aid, under the direction of
the University Archivist, John Skarstad, and manuscript curator, Melissa Tyler. Vang and Tyler encoded the finding aid.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Peter J. Shields Collection, D-169, Department of Special Collections, General Library, University
of California, Davis.
Publication Rights
Copyright is protected by the copyright law, chapter 17, of the U.S. Code. All requests for permission to publish or quote
from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf
of the Department of Special Collections, University of California, Library, Davis 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 researcher.
Box: 1:1
Series 1.
"An Act Providing for the Purchase of a University Farm"
1905-1935,
Physical Description:
1 folder
Scope and Content Note
Contains the original draft of the bill for purchasing land for the University Farm, drawn up by Peter J. Shields, in 1905,
and Shields' letter to Dr. Howard.
Series 2.
Correspondence
1900-1962,
Physical Description:
53 folders, 1 volume
Scope and Content Note
Arranged in three subseries: General Correspondence, Recommendations for Judge Shields, and Letter-press Book.
Subseries 2.1.
General Correspondence
1900-1962,
Physical Description:
42 folders
Scope and Content Note
Arranged alphabetically by correspondent. Contains both Shields' outgoing and incoming letters.
Box: 1:13
Gannon, Chester
1917-1949
Box: 1:17
Horsford, Hester E.
1912-1914
Box: 1:20
Johnson, Hiram W.
1900-1934
Box: 1:26
Neyland, John F.
1950-1952
Box: 1:31
Roosevelt, Franklin D.
1935
Box: 1:34
Sproul, Gordon G.
1930-1961
Box: 1:39
Wallace, Henry A.
1928-1953
Box: 1:41
Wheeler, Benjamin Ide
1917
Box: 1:43
Unidentified Correspondents
1917-1948
Subseries 2.2.
Recommendations for Judge Shields
1913,
Physical Description:
11 folders
Scope and Content Note
Arranged alphabetically by author. Contains letters written in 1913 recommending Judge Shields to U.S. President Woodrow Wilson
for the office of U.S. District Judge. Also includes a bound volume of duplicates of the letters.
Box: 1:44
Bound volume, "Recommendations of Peter J. Shields"
1913
Box: 1:54
Unidentified Author
undated
Folio Box: 3:1
Subseries 2.3.
Letter-press Book
June 1899-July 1900,
Physical Description:
1 volume
Scope and Content Note
Letter-press book contains copies of letters on various topics, written by Shields.
Series 3.
Papers and Speeches
1902-1906,
Physical Description:
124 folders
Scope and Content Note
Arranged in two subseries: Shields' Works and Others' Works.
Subseries 3.1.
Shields' Works
1902-1962,
Physical Description:
113 folders
Scope and Content Note
Arranged chronologically. At the end of the chronological listing, undated materials are arranged alphabetically by subject/event.
Includes both published and unpublished articles, speeches, papers, and notes, written by Shields.
Box: 1:55
Judge Shield's Address, "High School Graduates Launch on Sea of Life"
June 1902
Box: 1:56
"Education and Agricultural Advancement"
1904
Box: 1:57
Clunie Theatre, "[Sacramento] Chamber of Commerce Meeting"
October 1908
Box: 1:58
Davis, "Dedication of Auditorium"
March 1915
Box: 1:59
Dedication of Hilgard Hall, "Solid Foundations"
October 13, 1917
Box: 1:60
"Grocers"
January 23, 1918
Box: 1:61
Senate Chamber, "Introducing Jane Addams"
March 1918
Box: 1:62
Native Sons Hall, "3rd Anniversary Italy Enters War"
May 5, 1918
Box: 1:63
"Cal. Cattle Mens Assn."
April 8, 1919
Box: 1:64
"Dixon Speech"
May 3, 1919
Box: 1:65
"Chamber of Commerce Lunch"
October 10, 1920
Box: 1:66
Rotary Club, "Thrift"
January 15, 1920
Box: 1:67
"President Wilson, Moral Hero of World War...."
March 1921
Box: 1:68
"Woodrow Wilson in 'Union'"
March 4, 1921
Box: 1:69
"Fair Oaks Farm Bureau Picnic"
May 14, 1921
Box: 1:70
"Notes on Berkeley speech, Golden Bear"
December 11, 1921
Box: 2:1
"Answer to D. Brooks Hogan in Jersey Bulletin"
July 29, 1922
Box: 2:2
X Club, "Agriculture: Its Future in America"
April 1, 1924
Box: 2:3
"Baby Show Rules"
May 4, 1924
Box: 2:4
"Article for Western Livestock Journal"
October 1924
Box: 2:5
"Baby Show"
June 21, 1925
Box: 2:6
"Rivers and Harbor Committee, Rough Notes"
October 3, 1925
Box: 2:7
[Reprint of 1925 Year Book], "A Glimpse of the Farm's Creation"
1925
Box: 2:8
X Club, "A Defense of Optimism"
About March 1926
Box: 2:10
Senator Hall, "Seedsmen"
May 24, 1927
Box: 2:12
"A Judicial Election Experience"
1927
Box: 2:13
X Club, "Education: Practical vs. Classical"
February 1928
Box: 2:14
Rio Linda, "Methodist Church"
April 1, 1928
Box: 2:15
Lion's Club, "The Tahoe Road"
April 12, 1928
Box: 2:16
"Speech to Soroptomist Club"
January 1929,
February 1929
Box: 2:17
Rotary Club, "Honorary Members"
November 7, 1929
Box: 2:18
Critic Club, "Defense of Popular Heroes"
[1929]
Box: 2:19
"Life Worth While"
April 1, 1930
Box: 2:20
"Elks Flag Day"
June 14, 1930
Box: 2:21
Hotel Senator, "University Women"
January 17, 1931
Box: 2:22
Woodman's Circle, "Fraternal Orders"
April 30, 1932
Box: 2:23
Jersey Bulletin, "Reply to E.M. Sherman"
October 1932
Box: 2:24
Critic Club, [Politics]
November 1932
Box: 2:25
"Parish House, Dean Bartlam"
November 1932
Box: 2:26
"First Draft [of Communist Oath at UC Berkeley]"
[1932]
Box: 2:27
[Notes about a Baby Girl]
[1932]
Box: 2:28
Yuba City High, "Commencement Address"
June 2, 1933
Box: 2:29
"New Year's Speech to Soroptomists"
1933
Box: 2:30
X Club, "Crime in the United States"
1933
Box: 2:31
Pratt Dinner, "R. R. Men"
Summer 1933
Box: 2:32
"Robert Callahan Memorial"
May 6, 1934
Box: 2:33
"Remarks, re Dr. S.E. Simmons"
December 1934
Box: 2:34
Critic Club, "The Day's Work"
1935
Box: 2:35
"Hecke College Degree, Written of Davis Enterprise"
March 25, 1936
Box: 2:36
"V.S. McClatchy Banquet"
1936
Box: 2:37
X Club, "Men I Have Known"
February 1936
Box: 2:38
"Breeding Ideals and the Western Livestock Journal"
November 18, 1936
Box: 2:39
"Reminiscences: Past vs. Present"
January 18, 1938
Box: 2:40
"Robert Devlin Mem. Exercise"
May 2, 1938
Box: 2:41
"$30 per Week"
September 14, 1938
Box: 2:42
"Remarks: Mrs. McClatchy's Funeral"
September 26, 1939
Box: 2:43
"McGeorge College Graduates"
1940
Box: 2:44
Del Paso Country Club, "Bar Assn Dinner"
Fall 1940
Box: 2:45
X Club Paper, "The Courts"
December 2, 1941
Box: 2:46
[Bear Flag Accepting and Address at Presentation]
1942
Box: 2:47
X Club, "Important Results of Small Things"
1943
Box: 2:49
X Club, [Post War Ruminations]
November 1945
Box: 2:50
"Judge Lemmon's Qualifications"
February 1947
Box: 2:51
"20-30 Club Notes"
April 27, 1947
Box: 2:52
"Trifles that Changed Careers"
1947
Box: 2:53
[History of U.S. Presidents]
[circa 1952?]
Box: 2:54
"Notes at 91st Birthday"
[1953]
Box: 2:55
[Old Age Reminiscence]
[circa 1953]
Box: 2:56
[Politics: Harry Truman and Communism]
[1954]
Box: 2:57
"Judge Shields, at 92, Takes a Look into the Future...."
1954
Box: 2:58
[Manuscript Draft for The Birth of an Institution: The Agricultural College at Davis]
[1954]
Box: 2:59
X-Club meeting at Shield's House, [Spiritual Needs of Country]
March 31, 1955
Box: 2:60
"Judge Shields, 93, Finds Age Bring's a Richness..."
April 4, 1955
Box: 2:61
[Journal Entry and Poetry]
March 31, 1958
Box: 2:62
[Meaning and Obligation of Life]
[1958]
Box: 2:64
[Abraham Lincoln's 150th Anniversary]
February 1959
Box: 2:65
"Judge Shields, at 97, Looks at the Future"
April 4, 1959
Box: 2:66
"Judge Shields at 98 Says California was Eden in His Youth"
April 4, 1960
Box: 2:67
[99th Birthday Notes]
[April 4, 1961]
Box: 2:68
"Judge Shields, 99, Cites Extermination Threat in War"
April 4, 1961
Box: 2:69
"Judge Shields Looks at Life -- and is Confident"
April 4, 1962
Box: 2:70
"Comments on Flag Decision-Not Published"
undated
Box: 2:71
"Comments on Hilgard Hall Speech"
undated
Box: 2:72
"Community Chest Announcement to Rotary Club"
undated
Box: 2:73
Corvallis College, Oregon, "Fifty Anniversary"
undated
Box: 2:75
[Eulogy to J.A.M.]
undated
Box: 2:76
"Folsom Reception and Banquet to Soldiers"
undated
Box: 2:78
["Great Fortunes of a Country Present the Greatest Danger"]
undated
Box: 2:79
"John Floyd Newton, Speech at Memorial Exercises"
undated
Box: 2:80
"Judge Hughes, Remarks at Memorial Exercise"
undated
Box: 2:82
"Last of the Great Scouts"
undated
Box: 2:83
"Mem. Holman's Farewell Dinner"
undated
Box: 2:84
[Modern Men vs. Ancestors]
undated
Box: 2:85
[Moral and Intellectual Development in Society]
undated
Box: 2:86
[Notes and Quotes on Various Subjects]
undated
Box: 2:87
Oroville, "Mem. of Speech at Banquet of Chamber of Commerce"
undated
Box: 2:89
[Philosophy of life]
undated
Box: 2:90
"President Roosevelt Endorses Davis' Industrial School Bill"
undated
Box: 2:91
[Soldiers Going off to War Speech]
undated
Box: 2:92
[Speech on Agriculture]
undated
Box: 2:93
[Speech on Schools in Folsom]
undated
Box: 2:94
[Speech to Veterans]
undated
Box: 2:95
"'Third Term' Answer"
undated
Box: 2:96
"The Value of Games - Sports"
undated
Box: 2:97
"Union Elected Pres. Wilson"
undated
Box: 2:98
[Unidentified Speeches and Notes]
undated
Series 3.2.
Others' Work
1924-1962,
Physical Description:
10 folders
Scope and Content Note
Arranged chronologically by date. Includes works written by authors other than Peter J. Shields.
Box: 2:99
"The Most Beautiful Will Ever Written"
November 15, 1924
Box/Folder: 2:100
"Hoover's Speech re: Abusing Hitler et als"
1940
Box: 2:101
Sacramento Rotary Club Meeting, "Tribute to Memory of Judge Peter J. Shields"
October 11, 1962
Box: 2:102
[History of Legal Profession in California]
undated
Box: 2:103
"Lester Hinsdale (?) re His Father"
undated
Box: 2:104
"Memorial to Judge Plummer"
undated
Box: 2:105
"Oliver Wendell Homes," by Walter Lippman
undated
Box: 2:106
"Particularly Appropriate in the Bull Issue," by Wallace MacMonnies
undated
Box: 2:107
"Shields Reaches for the Sublime but Finishes in the Ridiculous"
undated
Box: 2:108
[Soroptimst Club]
undated
Box: 2:109
Series 4.
Peter J. Shields' Will
December 4, 1950,
Physical Description:
1 folder
Scope and Content Note
Contains Peter J. Shields' handwritten will.
Box: 2:110
Series 5.
Boye Scholarship Trust
1917-1959,
Physical Description:
1 folder
Scope and Content Note
Contains documents relating to the Boye Scholarship Trust.
Series 6.
Ephemera
1876-1968,
Physical Description:
13 folders
Scope and Content Note
Includes an autograph album, awards and certificates, clippings, pamphlets, pedigrees, a program, and a report.
Box: 2:111
Autograph album
1876-1880
Box: 2:112
Dairy Shrine Club plaque honoring Judge Shields
October 11, 1967
Box: 2:113
"Copy of Plaque Presented to Judge Shields"
April 26, 1946
Box: 2:114
Resolutions to the Sacramento Bar Association
1896-1926
Folio Box: 3:2
Certificate of Election to the Office of Judge of the Superior Court in and for the County of Sacramento
1900-1944
Folio Box: 3:2
A tribute in recognition of Peter J. Shields
October 23, 1939
Folio Box: 3:2
"The University of California to Peter J. Shields," certificate
March 26, 1946
Folio Box: 3:2
Native Sons of the Golden West birthday resolution
March 21, 1962
Folio Box: 3:2
Resolution of the Board of Supervisors of Sacramento congratulating Judge Shields on his 100th birthday
April 4, 1962
Folio Box: 3:2
"Citation to the Honorable Judge Peter J. Shields" from the California Jersey Cattle Club and All-Jersey Milk Producers of
California Inc.
[1962]
Box: 2:115
Clippings about Judge Shields (photocopies)
1913-1968
Box: 2:116
Clippings about Judge Shields (originals)
1913-1968
Box: 2:117
Clippings on other subjects (photocopies)
1913-1943,
undated
Box: 2:118
Clippings on other subjects (originals)
1913-1943,
undated
Box: 2:119
UC Davis pamphlets: "Shields Grove" and "A Guide to the Davis Campus"
undated
Box: 2:120
Pedigrees for Jersey bulls
1931-1934
Box: 2:121
Program: 94th Charter Day Anniversary Ceremony at UC Davis
April 5, 1962
Box: 2:122
Report of the College of Agriculture and the Agricultural Experiment Station of the University of California
July 1, 1917-June 30, 1918
Series 7.
Photographs
1879-1962,
Physical Description:
14 folders
Scope and Content Note
Arranged chronologically. Included are both original and copy photographs of Peter J. Shields and others.
Box: 4:1
Shields, Peter J. and two unidentified women
circa 1879,
Physical Description:
1 print, 1 negative
Box: 4:2
Shields, Peter J. with his portrait and unidentified men
[1949]
Box: 4:3
Shields, Peter J., portrait
circa 1949
Box: 4:4
Shields, Peter J. and Carolee Shields with Jersey cattle?
circa 1950
Box: 4:6-7
Shields, Peter J.
circa 1957
Box: 4:8
Shields, Peter J. and [Harry Wellman on Charter Day]
[April 5, 1962]
Box: 4:9
Curtis, N. Greene
undated
Box: 4:11
Copy photograph of Abraham Lincoln
undated
Box: 4:13
Unidentified man at desk
undated
Folio Box: 3:3
Copy photograph of James Cabbroth
undated
Folio Box: 3:3
Copy photograph of A.P. (Amos P.) Catlin
undated
Folio Box: 3:3
Copy photograph of Henry Edgerton
undated
Folio Box: 3:3
Copy photograph of Robert Robinson
undated
Folio Box: 3:3
Copy photograph of T.B. McFarland
undated
Folio Box: 3:3
Five unidentified copy photographs: Four unidentified portraits of men and one landscape
undated
Series 8.
Realia
undated,
Physical Description:
3 items
Scope and Content Note
Unarranged
Box: 4:14
Shields' pince-nez (glasses)
undated
Box: 5
Cut-glass dish (wedding present)
undated
Row: 45a
Thermos-style pitcher (used by Shields in the courtroom)
undated