Finding aid of the John A. Sanborn papers
0027
Finding aid prepared by Rebecca Hirsch and Mandeep Condle
The processing of this collection and the creation of this finding aid was funded by the generous support of the National
Historic Publications and Records Commission.
USC Libraries Special Collections
Doheny Memorial Library 206
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, California, 90089-0189
213-740-5900
specol@usc.edu
2009
Title: John A. Sanborn papers
Collection number: 0027
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Special Collections
Language of Material:
English
Container: 1
Physical Description:
1.25 Linear feet
1 box
Date (inclusive): 1909-1942
Abstract: This collection contains the diaries kept by John A. Sanborn (1850-1942) between 1909 and 1942. Sanborn was a farmer who lived
in Covina and Compton, California.
creator:
Sanborn, John A., 1850-1942
Biographical Note
John A. Sanborn was born in Illinois on January 21, 1850 and died in Southern California on July 24, 1942. He grew oranges
and other produce in Covina, California, until 1922, when he moved to Compton.
Acquisition
The John A. Sanborn papers were donated to USC in 1967 by Edith Sanborn, the daughter of the collection's creator.
Scope and Content
This collection contains the diaries kept by John A. Sanborn, a farmer and resident of Covina and Compton, California, for
the years 1909-1942. For every day from January 1, 1909, until his death on July 24, 1942, Sanborn kept a brief record of
his cash account, the weather and his activities. Most of the clippings and other ephemera found in the diaries have been
separated into subject files and annotated with the date by which they were found. Included in the collection are clippings
about the March 10, 1933, Long Beach earthquake and photographs documenting the collapse of buildings in Compton.
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder# or item name], John A. Sanborn papers, Collection no. 0027, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University of
Southern California.
Conditions Governing Use
The collection contains published articles; researchers are reminded of the copyright restrictions imposed by publishers on
reusing their articles and parts of books. It is the responsibility of researchers to acquire permission from publishers when
reusing such materials. The copyright to unpublished materials belongs to the heirs of the writers. Permission to publish,
quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.
Conditions Governing Access
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SIT.: Advance notice required for access. Consult finding aid for additional information.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Sanborn, John A., 1850-1942 -- Archives
California, Southern--History--Archival resources
Clippings
Compton (Calif.)--Archival resources
Compton (Calif.)--Photographs
Covina (Calif.)--Archival resources
Diaries
Earthquake damage--California, Southern--20th century--Archival resources
Earthquakes--California--Long Beach--1933--Archival resources
Ephemera
Farm life--California, Southern--Archival resources
Long Beach (Calif.)--Archival resources
Photographs
Box 1
Diaries
1909-1942
Scope and Content
34 bound volumes
Box 1, Folder 1
Photographs of Compton in the aftermath of the 1933 Long Beach, California, earthquake,
1933 March 10
Scope and Content
23 items.
Box 1, Folder 2
Letters to the Editor
Scope and Content
Clippings of Letters to the Editor written by John A. Sanborn and published in the Long Beach Press-Telegram. Clippings deal
primarily with Long Beach civic issues, including sewage drainage and the build-up of the Port of Long Beach. (25 items.)
Box 1, Folder 3
Articles about health and religion
Scope and Content
Clippings about health and religion. Many of the clippings were taken from Sanborn's diaries and are marked on the back with
the day from which they were taken.
Box 1, Folder 4
Articles about the 1933 earthquake
Scope and Content
Clippings of the coverage of the 1933 Long Beach earthquake. (10 items)
Box 1, Folder 5
Articles about state and national affairs
Scope and Content
Clippings about state and national affairs. (27 items)
Box 1, Folder 6
Articles about people and places of Southern California, primarily Compton and Covina, California and inspirational and poetry
columns.
Scope and Content
Clippings about people and places of Southern California, primarily Compton and Covina, California and of inspirational and
poetry columns. (49 items)
Box 1, Folder 7
Ticket to Los Angeles Olympic Games,
1932 August 4
Box 1, Folder 7
Ink blotter with advertisement
