Finding aid of the Jerry Briscoe Collection of Stockton, California Oral Histories

Processed by Melani Wilkie
Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections
University of the Pacific Library
3601 Pacific Ave.
Stockton, CA 95211
Phone: (209) 946-2404
Fax: (209) 946-2942
URL: http://www.pacific.edu/Library/Find/Holt-Atherton-Special-Collections.html
© 2005
University of the Pacific. All rights reserved.

Finding aid of the Jerry Briscoe Collection of Stockton, California Oral Histories

Collection number: MSS 308

Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections

University of the Pacific Library

Stockton, California
Processed by:
Melani Wilkie
Date Completed:
2005
Encoded by:
Shan Sutton
© 2005 University of the Pacific. All rights reserved.

Descriptive Summary

Title: Jerry Briscoe Collection of Stockton, California Oral Histories
Dates: 1994-2000
Collection number: MSS 308
Creator: Briscoe, Jerry B.
Collection Size: .2 linear feet
Repository: University of the Pacific. Library. Holt-Atherton Dept. of Special Collections
Stockton, California 95211
Abstract: This collection consists of audio tapes and typed transcripts of oral history interviews conducted by Dr. Jerry Briscoe between 1994-1996. Interviewees are predominately residents of Stockton or San Joaquin County who were active in political or civic activities.
Physical location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the library's online catalog.
Languages: Languages represented in the collection: English

Access

Collection open for research.

Publication Rights

Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections 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.

Preferred Citation

Jerry Briscoe Collection of Stockton, California Oral Histories. Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library.

Biography / Administrative History

Dr. Jerry Briscoe was a Professor of Political Science at University of the Pacific.

Scope and Content of Collection

This collection consists of audio tapes and typed transcripts of oral history interviews conducted by Dr. Jerry Briscoe between 1994-1996. Interviewees are predominately residents of Stockton or San Joaquin County who were active in political or civic activities. Interviews cover the twentieth century history of Stockton and nearby areas including agricultural and water issues, development and redevelopment, and local political or social organizations. Dr. Briscoe began this oral history project with the goal of interviewing political figures who have knowledge of various local institution and agency histories.

Arrangement

Collection is arranged into two series: I. Transcripts of Oral History Interviews; II. Audio Tapes of Oral History Interviews. Files within each series are arranged alphabetically by the interviewees last name.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Benjamin, Theodosia
Davis, Olive
DeCarli, Dean, 1908-
Dunlap, Yvonne
Waidhofer, Joseph
Lofthus, Ort J.
Nelson, Hal
Ross, Leon T., 1931-
Agriculture - California - San Joaquin County
Real estate development - California - Stockton
San Joaquin County (Calif.) - History
Stockton (Calif.) - History
San Joaquin County (Calif.) - Politics and government
Stockton (Calif.) - Politics and government


 

Series I: Transcripts of Oral History Interviews, 1994-2000

 

Box 1

 

I.1.1: Transcript of Theodosia Benjamin Interview, 1996.

Scope and Content Note

Theodosia Benjamin (b. September 13, 1905). Legal secretary, poet, artist. Interview includes information on: Westerners; apricot production and harvest; memories of Stockton, 1910 – 1925; Tone Ranch; Audubon party of 1849.
 

I.1.2: Transcript of Olive Davis Interview, April 7, 1995.

Scope and Content Note

Olive Davis (b. November 16, 1922). Executive Director of California Agricultural Exposition; retired turkey farmer; author of Sunrise Port on the San Joaquin; The History of the Slow, Tired, and Easy Railroad; and A Biography of Captain William S. Moss. Interview includes information on: agitating for causes in the town of Linden including the opening of the first bank and the provision of local telephone service throughout Linden and into Stockton, 1970s; water issues regarding the Calaveras River and irrigation in Linden and Stockton; turkey farming and innovations her family made in turkey feed and breeding; her husband’s (Warren Davis) design of a round barn for horse training, now built in multiple locations; working as Linden correspondent for the Stockton Record, 1968-1973; the publication of her local historical interest books; waterfront development in Stockton; the founding of the Ag Expo; farming innovations that were developed in California and spread into the Midwest.
 

I.1.3: Transcript of Dean DeCarli Interview, September 1, 1995.

Scope and Content Note

Dean DeCarli (b. March 24, 1908). Dairyman, former Mayor of Stockton, former member of Stockton City Council and Stockton Redevelopment Commission. Interview includes information on: Stockton city government during 1950s; changes in dairy industry, 1920s to 1950s; Stockton politics including William Carlisle and Mike DeYoung; water issues in Stockton and the Cal Water Company; growth of the frozen foods industry, 1950s to 1990s; Coffee Club; Stockton Kiwanis Club, scholarship work; working as a volunteer at Ag Expo.
 

I.1.4: Transcript of Wilbur Earley Interview, 2000.

Scope and Content Note

Wilbur Earley (b. January 8, 1915). Mechanical Engineer. Interview includes information on: memories of living pre-electricity; working at Stockton ship yards, 1940s; mechanical engineering with Zimmerman and others; the building and operation of canal machines.
 

I.1.5: Transcripts of Ort J. Lofthus Interview, August 12, 1994. File contains 3 different drafts of transcript.

Scope and Content Note

Ort J. Lofthus (b. June 29, 1925). Radio Broadcaster, former president of Stockton Chamber of Commerce. Interview includes information on planning and civic activities in Stockton including: radio stations KJOY and KJAX; the Yosemite Club; Stockton’s Chamber of Commerce during the 1960s; Downtown redevelopment during the 1950s; completion of Interstate 5; completion of the Crosstown Freeway; California’s loss of bid for the Super Collider project in 1987-88; Stockton Image Committee, 1986-87; founding of the Dawn House women’s center.
 

I.1.6: Transcript of Leon T. Ross Interview, November 9, 1994.

Scope and Content Note

Leon T. Ross (b. June 6, 1931) Retired Officer of the United States Air Force. Retired Deputy County Administrator of San Joaquin County. Interview includes information on: his father’s service with other African Americans in the First Army 369th Infantry Division in World War I; his own experiences and accomplishments in the U.S. Air Force during the 1950s and 60s; researching and writing on local California Black History; Black pioneer Jim Beckworth; schooling and segregation in Stockton before 1900; local Ku Klux Klan activities into the 1970s; equal opportunity experiences with women and ethnic minorities in San Joaquin County.
 

I.1.7: Transcript of Joseph J. Waidhofer Interview, August 8, 1994.

Scope and Content Note

Joseph J. Waidhofer (b. 1916) Member of many civic boards including Stockton East Water District. Interview includes information on: 1955 Stockton Flood, New Hogan Dam, Planning, Interstate Five, Recall 1966-1967, Groundwater and Surface water supplies, New Melones Dam, and other water topics in Stockton.
 

I.1.8: Transcript of Jane Gordon Roberts Interview, Spring 1995.

Scope and Content Note

Jane Gordon Roberts (b. December 25, 1921 – Sept 15, 2010) She taught music for Stockton Unified School District for 29 years. Folder also contains photographs, clippings and other personal material from Roberts. Interview includes information on: College of the Pacific, Stockton Symphony, Stockton Unified School district.
 

Series II: Audio Tapes of Oral History Interviews, 1994-1996

 

Box 2

 

II.2.1: Theodosia Benjamin (b. September 13, 1905). Legal secretary, poet, artist.

 

II.2.2: Olive Davis (b. November 16, 1922). Executive Director of California Agricultural Exposition, retired turkey farmer, author.

 

II.2.3: Dean DeCarli (b. March 24, 1908). Dairyman, former Mayor of Stockton, former member of Stockton City Council and Stockton Redevelopment Commission.

 

II.2.4: Yvonne Dunlap.

 

II.2.5: Wilbur Earley (b. January 8, 1915). Mechanical Engineer.

 

II.2.6: Ort J. Lofthus (b. June 29, 1925). Radio Broadcaster, former president of Stockton Chamber of Commerce.

 

II.2.7: Hal Nelson (b. January 10, 1911). Stockbroker.

 

II.2.8: Leon T. Ross (b. June 6, 1931) Retired Officer of the United States Air Force. Retired Deputy County Administrator of San Joaquin County.

 

II.2.9: Joseph J. Waidhofer (b. 1916) Member of many civic boards including Stockton East Water District.

 

II.2.9: Jane Gordon Roberts (b. December 25, 1921 – Sept 15, 2010) She taught music for Stockton Unified School District for 29 years.