Guide to the Grover Barnes papers CEMA 115
Processed by Callie Bowdish, Danely Segoviano, Daisy Martinez, and Mari Khasmanyan
UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections
June 2009
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara 93106-9010
Phone Number: (805) 893-3062
special@library.ucsb.edu
Contributing Institution:
UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections
Title: Grover Barnes papers
Identifier/Call Number: CEMA 115
Physical Description:
8.5 Linear Feet
9 document boxes, 3 binder boxes and 2 oversize boxes
Date (inclusive): 1920-2009
Date (bulk): 1985-2006
Abstract: This collection chronicles the life of Grover Barnes, the man whom Santa Barbara has dubbed "The Ambassador of Hospitality."
His extraordinary charm and service as a "Bell Captain" at the Hotel Miramar Resort has made him famous in the community.
He lived a life of civic involvement and participated in many local groups such as the NAACP Santa Barbara Chapter, the Eastside
Study Group, the George Washington Carver Scholarship Society and the St. Paul AME Church in Santa Barbara. He received many
honors on his 100th birthday. Barnes' correspondence, editorials, original writings, and photographs are featured in this
collection.
General Physical Description note: 9 document boxes, 3 binder boxes and 2 oversize boxes
Language of Material:
English
.
Conditions Governing Access note
Service copies of audiovisual items may need to be made before viewing or listening. Please consult Special Collections staff
for further information.
Biographical/ Historical note
Grover Cleveland Barnes was born to John R. and Nannie Barnes on November 18, 1906 in Percialla, Texas. He left the farm in
1922 for Grockett, Texas where he worked in a private home. He later graduated from high school earning an athletic scholarship
to Bishop College. Due to difficulties he was unable to finish his almost complete degree in History.
Grover Barnes moved to Tyler, Texas where he worked in construction and cleaning and pressing. Grover immigrated to California
in the 40's. He became a porter at the Hotel Miramar Resort and was a "Bell Captain" from 1947 until 1981. It has been said
that Grover Barnes is an inimitable part of history of the city of Montecito. His level of service is remembered by generations
of guests. He was known for his warm hospitality to the young and old, the rich and famous, and the not so rich and famous.
Mr. Barnes was also close friends with the Gawzner family who owned the Miramar Resort at the time.
Barnes resided in Santa Barbara for over half a century with his wife Ethel, and at one point was the oldest man alive in
the city. In 2001,
The Santa Barbara Independent designated him as a Local Hero in Santa Barbara and affectionately called him "The Ambassador of Hospitality." He was actively
involved in many community organizations including the NAACP Santa Barbara Chapter, the Brotherhood of Santa Barbara, The
Mason Lodge, the Eastside Study Group and the George Washington Carver Scholarship Society. Grover Barnes was a member of
the St. Paul AME Church in Santa Barbara for over 50 years.
Grover Barnes passed away at the age of 103 on May 3, 2010 at his home in Santa Barbara.
Preferred Citation note
Grover Barnes Papers, CEMA 115, Department of Special Collections, University Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.
Processing note
Processed by Callie Bowdish, Danely Segoviano, and Mari Khasmanyan
Related Collections
Santa Barbara African American Local History Collection (CEMA 99), Santa Barbara Afro-American Oral History Project Collection
(CEMA 42), James McMillan Papers (CEMA 007), and Anita Mackey Papers (CEMA 57)
Scope Note
This collection covers Grover Barnes records from the 1920s to 2009. It consists of nine document boxes, three photo albums
(binder boxes) and two oversize boxes. There are seven series that cover personal biographical information, his correspondence,
original writings and editorials, church documents, the Miramar Hotel related documents, photos from the 1940s-2000's, and
items like plaques and Miramar memorabilia.
Series Description
Series I Personal and Biographical, 1906-1992
This series housed in box 1 and oversized boxes 5 and 6 includes awards and plaques, articles about Grover, his telephone
books, birthday guest sign in books, and a collage that was presented to Grover Barnes.
Series II Correspondence, 1956-2007
In boxes 1-3 are incoming letters to Barnes and copies of outgoing letters from Barnes that were collected over the years.
The bulk of these are letters and cards to him. These letters include the envelopes with some of his notes about their contents.
Barnes remained active in the Santa Barbara community after his retirement by writing letters to the editor of the
Santa Barbara News Press. His letters to the editor were published on a regular basis. Copies of his letters sent are included in the four folders
titled under
Santa Barbara News Press.
Series III Original Writings, 1985-2008
Barnes wrote consistently and submitted articles for his church newsletters. These and other writings, including articles
about holidays like Mother's Day and Father's Day are included in this series.
Series IV Churches, 1950-2006
Barnes was active in various Santa Barbara churches such as the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church and St. Paul's African
Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. Included in this series are various newsletters and documents related to such churches,
as well as an audio casette of a sermon.
Series V Miramar Hotel
Having worked as a Bell Hop Captain at Miramar for about 35 years, Barnes was closely connected with other co-workers and
staff and has many memorabilia from those years. This series contains his written work
Does a Bellman Talk?, various hotel related documents, his bell hop jacket, and magazine articles he collected relating to the Miramar.
Series VI Subjects and Publications
This series contains side projects and events related to Barnes' life. Subjects include various collage materials, the Black
Santa Barbara Historical Calendar, and collections of magazines and articles pertaining to black history. Barnes corresponded
with a wide variety of people and wrote to local officials as well as prominent national figures such as then-U.S. Senator
Barack Obama who was a presidential contender and this is included in the political folders of this series. NAACP documents
are also included, as well as documents relating to his fund named after his wife, Ethel B. Barnes.
Series VI Photos, 1940s-2000s
Photos represent various moments in Grover Barnes' life. There are photos of his family and friends in the Santa Barbara area
as well as photographs of the Grover Barnes Centennial Birthday Celebration dinner. Photos range from Polaroids to digital
copies.
Conditions Governing Use note
Copyright has not been assigned to the Department of Special Collections, UCSB. 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 as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply
permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Miramare
Bellhops
Montecito (Calif.)
African Americans -- California -- Santa Barbara
African Methodist Episcopal Church
Centenarians
Santa Barbara County (Calif.) -- History, Local
Series I Personal and Biographical
1906-2006
box 14
100th Birthday Guest List Sign in Book
box 14
Birthday Guest List Sign in Book
2002
box 1, folder 1-3
Address and Telephone Books
box 1, folder 4
Articles on Grover Barnes
box 1, folder 5-8
Awards and Certificates
2001-2005
box 7, folder 13
Barnes Centennial Celebration
2006
box 1, folder 9
Biographical Information
1947-2007
box 13
Plaque given to Martha Clyde from Grover Barnes
box 1, folder 15-26
Martha Clyde Scrapbook on Grover Barnes
box 1, folder 27-28
Montecito Magazine "Welcome to the Miramar Mr. Grover, Sir!"
Fall 2000
Series II Correspondence
1956-2007 and undated
box 4, folder 30-34
Santa Barbara News Press - Letters to the Editor
1993-2008
Series III Original Writings
1985-2008 and undated
box 5, folder 1-2
Articles by Grover Barnes
Series IV Churches
1950-2006
box 6, folder 1
African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church
1950-2002
box 6, folder 5
Miscellaneous Church Documents
box 6, folder 9
Saint Paul AME Church Business Records
1990s
box 6, folder 10
Santa Barbara African American Church Anniversaries
item A17251
Santa Barbara High School Visitors Concert
undated
item A17249
Sister Bernadette 1st Sermon, Family Meeting Mosleys and LLL
undated
box 5, folder 3-6
Does a Bellman Talk?
20 July 1966
box 8, folder 7
Miramar-Business Proposal for Creative Food Company
September 2001
box 14
Miramar Bell Hop Jacket with Name Tag
box 9, folder 6
Montecito Magazine "Behold the Miramar! A Seaside Resort with Old-Time Flavor"
Fall 1989
box 9, folder 7
Montecito Magazine "Harold Doulton's Historic Photos and Childhood Memories of.. Growing Up at the Miramar"
Fall 1997
Series VI Subjects and Publications
1976-2009 and undated
item A17249
About Mrs. Shirley with Big Jim
undated
box 7, folder 14
Black Santa Barbara Historical Calendar
1995
box 7, folder 21
Ethel B. Barnes Fund
2002
box 8, folder 1-2
Magazine Covers featuring African Americans
box 9, folder 1-5
Miscellaneous-Events
undated
box 9, folder 8-11
NAACP - National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
Series VII Photos
1940s-2000s
box 10
Grover Barnes Photo Album 1
box 11
Grover Barnes Photo Album 2
box 12
Grover Barnes Photo Album 3
