Inventory of the Resources Agency - California Advisory Committee on Geographic Names Records
Processed by Chris Deutsch
California State Archives
© 2008
1020 "O" Street
Sacramento, California 95814
Phone: (916) 653-2246
Fax: (916) 653-7363
Email: archivesweb@sos.ca.gov
URL: http://www.sos.ca.gov/archives/
California Secretary of State. All rights reserved.
Inventory of the Resources Agency - California Advisory Committee on Geographic Names Records
Collection number: R340
California State ArchivesOffice of the Secretary of State
Sacramento, California
- Processed by:
- Chris Deutsch
- Date Completed:
- June 2008
- Encoded by:
- Jessica Knox
© 2008 California Secretary of State. All rights reserved.
Title: Resources Agency - California Advisory Committee on Geographic Names Records
Dates: 1961-2004
Collection number: R340
Creator:
California Advisory Committee on Geographic Names
Collection Size:
2.25 cubic feet of textual records
Repository:
California State Archives
Sacramento, California
Abstract: In 1961, the state geologist created The California Advisory Committee on Geographic Names within the Resources Agency. The
committee began its work in July 1963, providing the federal government with advice in naming geographic features through
researching local naming practices. Committee members contacted local area residents to learn what the residents called a
geologic feature, and the committee advised the federal agency on what name to officially publish. The California Advisory
Committee on Geographic Names Records consists of two and one-quarter cubic feet of textual material covering the years 1961
to 2004 with the bulk of the records covering 1961-1980.
Physical location: California State Archives
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Collection is open for research.
For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives. Permission for reproduction or publication
is given on behalf of the California State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility
for possible infringement which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives
collections.
[Identification of item], California Advisory Committee on Geographic Names Records, R340.[Series Number], [box and folder
number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.
Acquisition and Custodial History
The California State Archives acquired the California Advisory Committee on Geographic Names Records according to state law.
In 1961, the assistant director of the United States Geological Survey discussed with the California State Geologist Ian Campbell
the likelihood of establishing a state committee to aid the United States Board on Geographic Names in deciding on geographic
names in California. As a result, the state geologist created the California Advisory Committee on Geographic Names within
the Resources Agency. This committee was intended to continue the work of the state Board of Geographic Names, which lasted
from 1928 until the mid-1940s. Campbell hoped to garner the State Legislature's approval for the Advisory Committee on Geographic
Names through Senate Bill 774 (Farr, 1963) but the bill died in the Senate. Since then, the advisory committee has operated
without a legislative mandate.
The California Advisory Committee on Geographic Names began it work in July 1963 with Ian Campbell as the chair. The committee
consists of representatives from the Departments of Water Resources, Fish and Game, Parks and Recreation, Forestry and Fire
Protection, and Conservation with each representative being responsible for a geographic region of California. The committee's
task is to provide the federal government with advice in naming geographic features through researching local naming practices.
Committee members contact local area residents to learn what the residents call a geologic feature and the committee advises
the federal agency on what name to officially publish.
The California Advisory Committee on Geographic Names Records consists of two and one-quarter cubic feet of textual material
covering the years 1961 to 2004 with the bulk of the records covering 1961-1980. The collection is organized into three series:
Committee Files; Conference Files; and Correspondence. The records primarily contain correspondence, meeting minutes, memorandum,
reports, and maps. The scope of the committee records covers the organization and recommendations of the advisory committee.
Topics include names of geographic features, geologic naming procedures, administrative procedures, the Council of Geographic
Names Authorities annual meetings, and U.S. government official geographic names.
One area of controversy was the renaming of geographic features that included derogatory words or terms. Several local regions
in California had named geographic features using racist or derogatory terms and the federal and state governments decided
to remove the discriminatory words while embracing a multicultural history. The committee's usual response was to find a similar,
non-offensive, name to the changed names or to use a historically appropriate name.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Geological formations
Geography
Place names
ID R340.01, Box 1-3, Folders 1-2
Series 1 Committee Files 1961-1988
Physical Description: 46 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically by year.
Scope and Content Note
Committee Files contain administrative documents establishing the committee's procedures for meetings and for communicating
with the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, "Decisions on Geographic Names" quarterly reports from the U.S. Board on Geographic
Names, committee member's analysis and findings on local geographic names, meeting minutes and agendas, and correspondence
with the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. The most common topic was naming conventions and decisions on specific geographic
feature names. Occasionally conflicts arose when the U.S. Board on Geographic Names refused to name a feature after a deceased
person who had died within the previous five years. The suggesting party wrote the advisory committee inquiring about the
refused name change. Following federal policy, the state committee made recommendations base upon local usage with the intent
of honoring multicultural history, acknowledging Native American history, and preserving local history. The series contains
files regarding the renaming of Mount McKinley to Mount Denali.
ID R340.02, Box 3-3, Folders 3-5
Series 2 Conference Files 2002-2004
Physical Description: 3 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Scope and Content Note
Conference Files contain correspondence, information packets, reports, and U.S. Board on Geographic Names files from the 2003
Council of Geographic Names Authorities hosted by the California Advisory Committee on Geographic Names. The conference focused
on expanding geographic naming to undersea formations as well as terrestrial features. The series includes four CD-ROMS relating
to information presented at the conference.
ID R340.03, Box 3-3, Folders 6-8
Series 3 Correspondence 1975-1981
Physical Description: 3 file folders
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Scope and Content Note
The series contains incoming and outgoing correspondence concerning various administrative aspects of the committee. The committee
communicated frequently with the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. Several citizens
wrote the committee inquiring the status of local geographic names as well as to suggest names of geological features. The
series also includes memorandum on staffing issues and the chairmanship.