Guide to the McPherson family papers and photographs MS.R.006

Finding aid prepared by Patricia Glowinski, 2012.
Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine Libraries
(cc) 2012
The UCI Libraries
P.O. Box 19557
University of California, Irvine
Irvine 92623-9557
spcoll@uci.edu


Contributing Institution: Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine Libraries
Title: McPherson family papers and photographs
Creator: McPherson, George W.
Creator: McPherson, Lulu (Lucinda Edna)
Creator: McPherson, William
Creator: McPherson, Vincent (Stephen Vincent)
Creator: McPherson, Jennie Ella
Creator: McPherson, Robert
Creator: McPherson, Stephen
Identifier/Call Number: MS.R.006
Physical Description: 18.5 Linear Feet (43 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1846-1964
Abstract: This collection, measuring 18.5 linear feet, comprises the personal and professional papers of the McPherson family of Orange, California, 1846-1964. The collection primarily documents the professional and family life of teacher and farmer Stephen McPherson (1839-1917), his wife Jennie, their three children, Vincent, William, and Lulu, and members of Stephen's immediate family living in Southern California, New York State, and New Hampshire. Included are the papers of William McPherson who became a respected local historian that amassed a great collection of Californiana. The collection also documents the McPherson Bros., an agricultural business enterprise started by brothers Stephen and Robert McPherson, that became a prosperous viticulture business until the Anaheim grape blight destroyed grape crops throughout Southern California in the late 1880s. Materials in this collection include correspondence, diaries, notebooks, photographs, writings, business records, ledgers, account books, receipts, genealogies, legal documents, deeds, and ephemera.
Language of Material: English .

Access

The collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

Property rights reside with the University of California. Copyrights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permission to reproduce or to publish, please contact the Head of Special Collections and Archives.

Preferred Citation

McPherson family papers and photographs. MS-R006. Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries, Irvine, California. Date accessed.
For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.

Acquisition Information

This collection was originally acquired by gift or purchase from Don Meadows, between 1966 and 1996. A large part of the materials acquired from Don Meadows became the Don Meadows papers (MS-R001), while several regional history collections were identified and became unique collections. Don Meadows acquired the McPherson family papers and photographs following the death of William McPherson in 1962. As a longtime friend of William McPherson, Meadows was charged with salvaging materials from the McPherson family home, located in Orange, California, which had fallen into extreme disrepair in the last years of McPherson's life.

Processing History

The McPherson family papers and photographs were originally acquired as a part of the Don Meadows Papers (MS-R001). Preliminary processing of the Don Meadows papers was conducted by Special Collections and Archives staff, from 1996 to 1998, at which time the McPherson family papers and photographs were identified. In 2001, Phil Brigandi partially processed the collection. It should also be noted that it is presumed that Don Meadows had also spent time arranging materials in the collection while they were in his possession. A minimal collection-level record was created by Carole McEwan in 2012. Final processing and description was completed by Patricia Glowinski, 2012.

Processing Note

The collection was processed and described with support from the Raymond L. Watson Library Fund.

Historical Background

The McPherson family lived in what is now the city of Orange located in Orange County, California and became established farmers in the Southern California. Having migrated west from Chaumont, New York in the 1860s, brothers Stephen and Robert McPherson established McPherson Bros., circa 1872, and planted some of the first raisin vineyards in the region. They built a thriving viticulture business that became so successful that they established the town of McPherson, California (now part of the city of Orange).
The McPherson family of Orange, California where descendants of Scottish immigrants who left Scotland for America, circa 1730, and established themselves in the colony of New Hampshire. William McPherson (b. 1797), born in Deering, New Hampshire, moved to Chaumont, New York in the early 19th century where he became a successful farmer. He married Jane Forsythe and they had at least five children, including Stephen, Robert, Mary Jane, Naomi (sometimes spelled Naome), and Chiles (sometimes written as Childs). Several of the children of William and Jane McPherson migrated to California in the 1860s.
Stephen McPherson (1839-1917), born in Chaumont, New York in 1839, attended the Belleville Academy and the Jefferson County Institute in Watertown, New York. By his late teens, he was already teaching school and next enrolled at Bryant & Stratton Commercial College, located in Buffalo, New York, from which he graduated. Stephen then went to Ohio where he taught school for two years. In 1862, he travelled to California, where a few family members were already living and settled in Santa Clara County. In 1872, Stephen moved to Los Angeles County and settled in the Westminster colony (now the city of Westminster) which his relative, William G. McPherson, was one of the founders. While in Los Angeles County, Stephen also worked as a teacher.
Also in 1872, Stephen and his brother Robert bought 220 acres of land, a tract of land east of Santiago Creek, in what is now part of Orange, California. After clearing the land of brush and cactus, they planted one of the first raisin vineyards in Southern California. Within a few years, McPherson Bros. became a prosperous business, employing around 150 people. They established the unincorporated town of McPherson which was still a town in 1921. When the Anaheim grape disease destroyed their crops in late 1880s, the brothers continued in agriculture, this time growing oranges and other crops.
In 1881, Stephen built a two-story house on his property, returned to New York, and married Jennie Ella Vincent (d. 1935) in 1882. Jennie was born in Cape Vincent, New York and was also a teacher. Once married, Jennie and Stephen returned to Southern California. Between 1883 and 1887, Stephen and Jennie had three children--Stephen Vincent, William, and Lucinda Edna ("Lulu").
Stephen Vincent McPherson (1883-1962), or Vincent, worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad in San Pedro and Colton, California. He later shared in the running of the McPherson family ranch with his mother and brother. In 1951, Vincent travelled to Europe. He died in Orange, California in 1962.
William McPherson (1885-1964) became a renowned collector of Californiana and a respected local historian. In 1900, while a teenager, William won an essay contest, the prize for which was a trip to Philadelphia and Kansas City to visit the Democratic and Republican National Conventions. As a result of this journey, he took a renewed academic determination back to his local high school. After graduating in 1904 from Santa Ana High School, he earned a teaching certificate and become an elementary school teacher. He taught in San Juan Capistrano, California.
William first started collecting books and Californiana during the years he worked as a teacher. After teaching for a number of years, in 1910, William enrolled first as an engineering student and later as a law student at the University of California. While studying at Berkeley, his collecting continued and ultimately became a life-long passion.
Upon his return to Southern California, William continued assembling and organizing a unique collection of books and Southern California ephemera. In 1923, he became a lecturer and an active member of the Orange County Historical Society, and in 1935 he was asked to become a consultant on Orange County for the Work Progress Administration (WPA). In addition to his collecting, William kept a diary for over 40 years, documenting the events of 20th century Southern California. Concurrently, William also shared the duties of running the McPherson ranch for most of his life. At William's instigation, the McPherson ranch became one of the first farms to grow avocados alongside of oranges and other crops. William McPherson died in 1964.
Lucinda Edna, or Lulu, McPherson (b. 1887) married Walter L. Vieregg and lived in La Jolla, California, circa 1935, and in Hollywood.

Sources:

  1. McPherson family papers and photographs. MS-R006. Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries, Irvine, California.
  2. Armour, Samuel. History of Orange County, California: with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its earliest growth and development from the early days to the present ; Los Angeles: Historic Record Co., 1921.
  3. Meadows, Don. A California paisano; the life of William McPherson. Claremont, Calif.: Honnold Library Society, 1972.

Collection Scope and Content Summary

This collection, measuring 18.5 linear feet, comprises the personal and professional papers of the McPherson family of Orange, California, 1846-1964. Materials include correspondence, diaries, notebooks, photographs (including tintypes and cyanotypes), writings, business records, ledgers, account books, receipts, genealogies, legal documents, deeds, and ephemera.
The collection primarily documents the professional and family life of teacher and farmer Stephen McPherson (1839-1917), his wife Jennie, their three children, Vincent, William, and Lulu, and members of Stephen's immediate family living in Southern California, New York State, and New Hampshire. The bulk of the collection documents the migration, settlement, and establishment of members of the family in Southern California, as well as the family's long distant relationship between California and New York. This is best represented in the extensive correspondence between family members, circa 1846-1964. The financial and business records provide insight into Stephen and Robert McPherson's prosperous grape farming business that was located in was is now Orange, California, as the records document periods of success and decline. The photographs offer a snapshot of people and places in Southern California during the 19th and 20th centuries. Finally, the collection focuses on the professional and personal lives of Vincent and William McPherson, first generation Californians, who took over the family ranch and agricultural business. Of much interest are the writings, notebooks, and correspondence relating to William McPherson, who became a respected local historian that amassed a great collection of Californiana.

Collection Arrangement

This collection is arranged in seven series:
  • Series 1. Correspondence, 1846-1964, 8 linear feet
  • Series 2. Diaries and notebooks, 1853-1957, 2 linear feet
  • Series 3. Photographs, circa 1850-1961, 2.6 linear feet
  • Series 4. William McPherson writings and research, 1923-1944 and undated, .4 linear foot
  • Series 5. Financial and business records, 1859-1961, 3 linear feet
  • Series 6. Subject files, 1870-1962, 1 linear foot
  • Series 7. Ephemera and artifacts, circa 1870-1961, 1.5 linear feet

Related Collections

Related material can be found in the following collection:

Missing Title

  1. McPherson postcard collection. MS-R007. Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries, Irvine, California. A guide to this collection is available through the Online Archive of California at http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt9000159p
  2. William McPherson Collection. Special Collections, Claremont Colleges Library. http://libraries.claremont.edu/sc/collections/mcpherson.html

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Cyanotypes -- 20th century.
Tintypes -- 19th century.
Families -- New York (State) -- Jefferson County
Ephemera
Families -- California -- Orange County
Account books -- 19th century.
Agriculture -- California -- Orange County.
Portrait photographs
Diaries
Financial records -- 19th century.
Photographic prints -- 20th century.
Photographic prints -- 19th century.
Notebooks
Time books
Financial records -- 20th century.
Manuscripts
Visiting cards
Maps -- California.
Postal cards
Postcards -- 20th century.
Fruit growers -- California -- Orange County -- 20th century
Fruit growers -- California -- Orange County -- 19th century
Artifacts
Cartes-de-visite (card photographs)
Cabinet photographs -- 19th century.
Cabinet photographs -- 20th century.
Correspondence
McPherson, George W.
McPherson, William
McPherson, Lulu (Lucinda Edna)
McPherson, Jennie Ella
McPherson, Robert
McPherson, Stephen
McPherson, Vincent (Stephen Vincent)

 

Correspondence Series 1.  1846-1964 1860-1945

Physical Description: 8 Linear Feet(19 document boxes)

Series Scope and Content Summary

This series consists of the personal and professional correspondence of various McPherson family members, 1846-1964. The early correspondence primarily documents the lives of Stephen McPherson, his brother Robert, and their sister Mary Jane from the 1860s through the 1880s when members of the McPherson family travelled and eventually migrated to Southern California. Included are letters chronicling Stephen and Robert's separate travels across the United States. The correspondence follows Stephen as he travels to Ohio to work as a teacher and then follows him to California, where he also worked as a teacher before becoming a landowner and farmer. The early correspondence also documents the establishment, growth, and decline of McPherson Bros., Stephen and Robert's viticulture and agricultural enterprise, during the 1870s through the 1890s.
The bulk of the 20th century correspondence documents Stephen and Jennie's sons, Vincent and William. Included are letters to and from Vincent while he worked for railroads in San Pedro and Colton, California, circa 1900 to 1915, and correspondence to and from William McPherson when he worked as a teacher in San Juan Capistrano, circa 1903-1918. Finally, the correspondence follows the brothers as they take over running the family farm and documents William's activities as a local historian and collector of Californiana.

Series Arrangement

This series is arranged in two subseries:
  • Subseries 1.1 Family correspondence, 1847-1959 and undated, 3.35 linear feet
  • Subseries 1.2 Alphabetical correspondence, 1846-1964, 4.65 linear feet

Processing Note

The arrangement scheme follows the organization of the correspondence as it was found in 2012. It was obvious that someone had previously sorted some of the correspondence according to either date or correspondent. The archivist sorted the remaining correspondence following this scheme, though the subseries overlap in some instances.
 

Family correspondence Subseries 1.1. 1847-1959 and undated

Physical Description: 3.35 Linear Feet(eight document boxes)

Subseries Scope and Content Summary

This subseries consists chiefly of correspondence between members of the McPherson family. Most of the letters are postmarked from either Chaumont, New York or Orange, California. There are also letters postmarked from McPherson, California, from various cities in New Hampshire and Canada, among other places.

Subseries Arrangement

Chronological.
box 1, folder 1

1847-1859

box 1, folder 2-6

1860s

box 2, folder 1-5, box 3, folder 1

1870s

box 5, folder 1-3, box 3, folder 2-7, box 4, folder 1-6

1880s

box 5, folder 4-6

1890s

box 6, folder 1

1900-1909

box 6, folder 2

1910-1919

box 6, folder 3

1920-1959

box 6, folder 4-5

undated

 

Alphabetical correspondence Subseries 1.2. 1846-1964 and undated

Physical Description: 4.65 Linear Feet(11 document boxes)

Subseries Scope and Content Summary

This subseries consists of outgoing and some incoming correspondence to individual members of the McPherson family, extended family members, and friends and acquaintances. Also included are McPherson Bros. business correspondence. Photographs, receipts, clippings, and ephemera that were inserted in some of the letters are also included.
box 6, folder 6

Bisby, Minnie Kimball, to Jennie McPherson 1925-1927 and undated

 

McPherson, Vincent 1900-1956 and undated

box 9, folder 7

Correspondence from or about Lulu McPherson 1905-1957 and undated

box 9, folder 8

Correspondence from William McPherson from San Juan Capistrano 1906-1909

box 9, folder 9

Correspondence to 1900

box 10, folder 1, box 9, folder 10

Correspondence to 1901

box 10, folder 2

Correspondence to 1902-1909

box 10, folder 3-4

Correspondence to 1911

box 10, folder 5

Correspondence to 1912

box 10, folder 6

Correspondence to 1913

box 11, folder 1

Correspondence to 1914-1915

box 11, folder 2-3

Correspondence to 1916-1919

box 11, folder 4

Correspondence to 1923-1939

box 11, folder 5

Correspondence to 1940-1956

box 11, folder 6

Correspondence to undated

box 11, folder 7

Postal cards 1901-1902

box 12, folder 1, box 11, folder 8

Postal cards 1911-1942 1911-1916

box 12, folder 2

Postcards 1905-1911

box 7, folder 1-2

Flintham, Helen B. 1922-1929

Scope and Content Note

Also included are photographs, clippings, and ephemera. Many of the letters are addressed to William McPherson.

Processing Note

The letters were found in a box kept by William McPherson marked "Flintham letters."
box 7, folder 3

Jones, Clara (McPherson) and Richard W. Jones 1886-1905 and undated

Biographical Note

Clara (McPherson) Jones was the daughter of William Gregg McPherson, one of the founding settlers in the Presbyterian colony of Westminster (now Westminster, California). She graduated from the Los Angeles State Normal School in 1889 and was a teacher. In 1895, she married Richard W. Jones who became the manager of Hewes' Orange and Lemon Groves, part of David Hewes' 800 acre ranch, named "Anapama," near El Modena, California. Richard W. Jones emigrated from Wales to Wisconsin in 1878 and migrated to California in 1884.
box 7, folder 4

Kimball, Frank J. 1875-1879, 1919

 

McPherson, Bessie 1893-1920 1917-1918

Biographical Note

Bessie McPherson was born in Canada in 1875. She is the daughter of George W. and Margaret A. McPherson. In 1886, Bessie moved to Southern California with her parents and her brother Hugh. She is the niece of William Gregg McPherson, one of the founders of Westminster, California. She died in Pasadena, California in 1946 and is interred at Santa Ana Cemetery.

Scope and Content Note

The majority of letters are from Bert McCray to Bessie, 1917-1919.
box 7, folder 5, box 7, folder 6, box 8, folder 1-3

Correspondence to 1908-1920

box 8, folder 4-5

Postcards 1906-1918 1909-1912

box 9, folder 1

Postcards and greeting cards (blank) undated

box 9, folder 2

McPherson Bros., correspondence and receipts 1886-1903 1887-1889

box 9, folder 3

McPherson, Jennie, postcards 1901-1923 and undated

 

McPherson, Lulu 1902-1952 1902-1911

box 9, folder 4

Correspondence to 1902-1910, 1952 and undated

box 9, folder 5

Postcards 1908-1911 and undated

box 9, folder 6

McPherson, Mary Jane 1846-1874 and undated

Biographical Note

Mary Jane McPherson was the daughter of William and Jane McPherson and the sister of Stephen, Robert, Naomi, and Chiles. She lived in New Hampshire for a great portion of her life.

Note

Many letters to Mary Jane McPherson can also be found filed throughout Subseries 1.1. Family correspondence.
 

McPherson, William 1903-1964 and undated

 

Chronological correspondence 1903-1960 and undated

box 12, folder 3

1903-1904

box 12, folder 4-5

1905

box 12, folder 6

1906

box 13, folder 1

1907

box 13, folder 2-3

1908

box 13, folder 4

1909

box 14, folder 1-2

1910

box 14, folder 3-4

1911

box 15, folder 1-2

1912

box 15, folder 3-4

1913

box 15, folder 5

1914

box 15, folder 6

1915

box 16, folder 1

1920-1929

box 16, folder 2-3

1930-1939

box 16, folder 4

1940-1949

box 16, folder 5

1950-1960 and undated

 

Alphabetical correspondence

box 17, folder 3

Abbott, Clinton G., correspondence to 1930-1931

 

Albanas, Jose, correspondence to; Notebook of William McPherson, titled "Jose Albanas" circa 1920-1938

box 17, folder 6

Beattie, G.W. correspondence to 1928, 1934

box 17, folder 7

Benchley, Belle J., correspondence to 1933

box 17, folder 8

Bissell, Arthur A., correspondence to (from an unknown correspondent) 1919

box 17, folder 9

Bliss, Leslie E., correspondence to 1934-1938

box 17, folder 10

Bynum, Lindkley, correspondence to 1931-1937 and undated

box 17, folder 11

Cleland, Robert G., correspondence to 1941-1952

box 17, folder 12

Daughenbaugh, John Rustad, correspondence to 1941 December 2

box 17, folder 13

Egan, Richard, correspondence to 1919-1920

box 17, folder 14

Ellis, Arthur M., correspondence to 1925-1932

box 17, folder 15

Engelhardt, Zephyrin, Father, O.F.M., correspondence to and from 1921-1933

box 17, folder 16

Escoto, Leonarda M., correspondence to 1953

box 16, folder 7

Escoto-Cervantes, Francisco, correspondence pertaining to the immigration case of circa 1951-1953

box 17, folder 17

Guzman, Felipe, letter to 1950 [?] December 12

box 17, folder 18

Hannah, Phil, correspondence to 1931-1932

box 17, folder 19

Harrington, John P., correspondence to 1932-1934

box 17, folder 20

Hill, Laurance, L., correspondence to 1930 April 19

box 16, folder 6

Honnold Library (Claremont, California), correspondence pertaining to the donation of William McPherson's Californiana library 1958

box 17, folder 2

Italian Villa (restaurant) in Anaheim, California, correspondence to the proprietor of 1953 November 8

box 17, folder 21

Laguna Beach, California, correspondence and other material pertaining to 1933-1955 and undated

box 17, folder 22

Layne, J. Gregg, correspondence to 1929-1950

box 17, folder 24

Makerji, Dhan, correspondence to 1911-1913 and undated

box 17, folder 5

Marie [?] 1934-1935

box 17, folder 23

Meadows, Don, correspondence to 1925-1942

box 17, folder 1

Native American ceremonies, correspondence pertaining to circa 1920-1942

box 17, folder 25

Olmsted, Frank, H., correspondence to 1937-1938

box 17, folder 26

Priestley, Herbert L., correspondence to 1931-1941

box 17, folder 27

Rowland, Leonore, correspondence to 1951

box 17, folder 28

Sanaker, Otto, letter to Arthur Bissell regarding a trip to Ladd Canyon and Santiago Canyon in Orange County, California 1919 November 18

box 17, folder 29

Scott, Carroll D., correspondence to 1936-1948

box 17, folder 30

Stephenson, Terry, correspondence to 1924-1942

box 17, folder 31

Stoermer, Grace S., letter to Adeline Pleasants 1938 February 11

box 17, folder 32

Storer, Tracey I., correspondence to 1930 April 23

box 17, folder 33

Temple, Tom, correspondence to 1939-1942

box 18, folder 1

Timmons, Myrtle 1915-1920 and undated

box 18, folder 2

Tiscareno, Froylan 1955-1959

box 18, folder 3

Whitsell, Leon O., correspondence to William McPherson 1930-1941

 

Spokane, Washington, correspondence from extended family 1919-1949

Scope and Content Note

The correspondence is primarily from Lucille McPherson (?), Cora Stewart (Mrs. Art Stewart), and Winifred McPherson, cousins to Vincent and William McPherson. Most letters are addressed to William and were postmarked from Spokane, Washington. There are a few letters from Robert McPherson who resided in Seattle, Washington. Also included are black-and-white photographic prints generally showing scenes, scenery, and group portraits taken in Washington State, as well as some clippings and ephemera.
box 18, folder 4

1919-1920, 1927

box 18, folder 5

1930s

box 19, folder 1-3, box 18, folder 6-8

1940s

box 19, folder 4

Sweeten, Nettie E., postcards 1907-1914

Biographical Note

Nettie E. Sweeten was a teacher at El Modena Public School at the same time as Clara McPherson (later Jones). She was a teacher to all three McPherson children, Vincent, William, and Lulu, as documented on their report cards (school records).
 

Diaries and notebooks Series 2.  1853-1957

Physical Description: 2 Linear Feet(five document boxes)

Series Scope and Content Summary

This series consists of diaries and notebooks kept by members of the McPherson family. The diaries of George W. McPherson are especially rich as they document his personal and professional life, 1853-1898, including his work as a fish proprietor in Cape Vincent, New York, through his move to Southern California with his family in 1886. The notebooks of Vincent and William McPherson are pocket notebooks that they carried with them to record day-to-day information. Also included is the a diary of H. R. Sage who worked for the McPherson Bros.

Series Arrangement

Alphabetical by person.
box 19, folder 5

Jones, Clara McPherson, diary 1932-1934

Note

See Series 1. Correspondence for biographical information on Clara McPherson Jones.
box 19, folder 6

Jones, Elva M., diary 1948

box 20, folder 1-5, box 21, folder 1-5, box 22, folder 1-3

McPherson, George W., diaries 1853-1898

Biographical Note

George W. McPherson was a wholesale fish dealer in Chaumont, New York. He married Margaret A. Kirkpatrick of the Township of Wolfe Island, Fortenac County, Canada on April 23, 1872. They had two children, Bessie and Hugh. In 1886, George moved with his family to what is now Orange County, California. He is a cousin to Robert and Stephen McPherson.
box 22, folder 4-7

McPherson, Vincent, diaries 1902-1951 1902-1918

box 23, folder 1

McPherson, Vincent, notebooks 1912 and undated

box 23, folder 2-9

McPherson, William, notebooks 1905-1957 1932-1952

box 24, folder 1

McPherson, William, notebooks, blank undated

box 24, folder 2-7

McPherson, William, notebooks, "checked" 1908-1957 1927-1945

box 25, folder 1

Sage, H. R., diary 1886

 

Photographs Series 3.  circa 1855-1961

Physical Description: 2.6 Linear Feet(five document boxes, one print box)

Series Scope and Content Summary

This series consists of photographs documenting the lives of various McPherson family members, extended family, and friends, circa 1855-1961. The series consists primarily of portraits (studio, group, and informal) and snapshots that document everyday life, travel, and special occasions. Included are black-and-white photographic prints, cartes-de-visite, cabinet photographs, tintypes, cyanotypes, copper plates, one daguerreotype, two ambrotypes, stamp photographs, two albums, and negatives. Most of the photographs were taken in Southern California or upper New York State. There are also groups of photographs relating to extended family in Detroit, Michigan, Chicago, Illinois, and Spokane, Washington. Finally, there is a group of 8 x 10 inch black-and-white photographic prints showing the McPherson family ranch in Orange, California. The photographs show the McPherson family home after it had fallen into severe disrepair and consist primarily of interior views of the house. They were taken by Don Meadows in 1961.
Photographs can also be found among Series 1. Correspondence, Series 4. William McPherson writings and research, and Series 5. Subject files.

Series Arrangement

Alphabetical by genre.
 

Albums circa 1860-1890

box 41

Calhoun and McPherson families photograph album circa 1860-1890

Physical Description: Approximately 4.5 x 5.5 inches, 25 pages.

Scope and Content Note

Includes cartes-de-visite and tintypes showing various members of the Calhoun and McPherson families. Portraits of Ada, Lucinda, and Jay Calhoun are included as are portraits of Chiles, William, Stephen, Cora, George, and Alonzo McPherson. Also included are images of Abraham Lincoln, members of the Saunders family, Reverend Canfield, and James Bennett.
box 41

Portraits of University of Iowa students, cartes-de-visite circa 1874

Physical Description: Approximately 6 x 8 inches, 26 pages.

Scope and Content Note

It is assumed that the cartes-de-visite show University of Iowa (then Iowa State University) students (men and women), circa 1874, as the album includes a clipping showing seven staff members of the University Reporter, the school's student newspaper. The clipping incudes names of the sitters in the photograph. Some, if not all, of the University Reporter staff members depicted in the clipping are also represented in the cartes-de-visite portraits.

Historical Note

The University of Iowa, established in 1847, is the first public U. S. university to admit men and women on an equal basis and its Medical Department is America's first coeducational medical school, admitting eight women to the medical school in 1870.
box 41

Portraits, unidentified, tintypes (gems) undated

Physical Description: Approximately 3.5 x 3.5 inches, 12 pages.
 

Copper plates circa 1850-1913

box 44

Photograph of Stephen McPherson circa 1860

box 44

Engraving of wedding announcement for Lulu McPherson and Walter Lee Vieregg 1913

 

Cyanotypes 1905-1907 and undated

Scope and Content Note

Included are 14 cyanotypes. 10 are printed on linen, measuring approximately 4 x 6 inches, and show scenes of what is presumed to be California as there is a seascape view, as well as several views of landscapes showing palms and related flora. There is also views of a townscape, a woman driving a horse-drawn buggy, a child outside of a barn sitting in a wheelbarrow, and exterior views of buildings. The remaining four cyanotypes, measuring 2.5 x 3.5 inches and dating from 1905-1907, show views of the Vincent family homestead in New York State. Two of the images are labelled "Mabel and the pony "Jennie" and "Tinnie and the angora cat in the parlor."
box 25, folder data_value_missing_7fda103663289a2affef262dad27379f

Scenes of California [?] undated

box 25, folder data_value_missing_925ae05ea10a346ade79be202f0f8cbb

Vincent family homestead in New York 1905-1907

box 25, folder data_value_missing_99e321302532051fce570f716edb28db

Daguerreotypes and ambrotypes before 1865

Scope and Content Note

Included are one daguerreotype and two ambrotypes showing portraits of one woman and two men. The sitters are unidentified but one of the sitters is presumed to be Stephen McPherson when he was a young man, circa 1860. All three photographs are encased.
 

Negatives 1928-1961 and undated

Scope and Content Note

Included are negatives documenting people and events in Southern California. The collection does not contain photographic prints made from the negatives.
 

Informal portrait of two women and a man in San Juan Capistrano 1908

 

Scenes showing the aftermath of the St. Francis Dam collapse in San Francisquito Canyon, Los Angeles County, California 1928 April 20 and May 2

 

Photographic prints circa 1855-1961

Scope and Content Note

Included are black-and-white photograph prints documenting daily life, events, and things of interest to the McPherson family, circa 1855-1961. Most of the photographs document locations in Southern California, often in Orange County, and in New York State. There is also a group of photographs sent to William and Vincent McPherson, dating from circa 1930-1945, from extended family living in Spokane, Washington.
box 25, folder data_value_missing_71f78859abec043ea661701e46f02a36

Animals 1935 and undated

box 25, folder data_value_missing_cf046b05f1a3a9a71736b165f1dfa97d

Buildings and infrastructure in California, New York, and unidentified locations 1898-1927 and undated

box 25, folder data_value_missing_21bb748058e15d288b59c2ccf454849d

Landscapes and outdoor scenes 1911-1947 and undated

box 25, folder data_value_missing_f092df453f1819717edfd13b3d040927

McPherson family home in Orange, California 1961

box 25, folder data_value_missing_6b2a12fd5b1a83dc440a5ff37e739b8c

Men and children surrounding a horsecar circa 1880

box 25, folder data_value_missing_3d9a1c00ad83555e15321fc904e19371

Peking, China, American Legation Guard 1905

Scope and Content Note

Consists of two 2.75 x 3.5 inch black-and-white photographic prints showing distant group portraits of Chinese people standing outside of a hospital clinic and a "bible" house. An accompanying letter from Estelle Zimmerman [?], the photographer, to Clara and others, describes taking the photographs, as well as describes the Peking Legation District.
box 25, folder data_value_missing_1d21292ad7a68f7717afa0bc94a13387

"Pictures from Antonio Tiscareno" 1935 November

box 25, folder data_value_missing_d2ed7817fa1125cd13b85d8c10a5d55e

Squirrel Inn undated

box 26, folder data_value_missing_2fc4a3335991989eab08afb248ee4adf

Spokane, Washington circa 1930-1945

box 26, folder data_value_missing_b423a2a9c8045aa676fe635ce7a1d21d

Three girls cycling on a summer day circa 1900

box 26, folder data_value_missing_b52a3b7c824ca2e3575b2d9ffc3b1c4e

Two men clearing corn stalks and distant view landscapes showing a farm and mountains 1913 January

Scope and Content Note

Consists of four black-and-white photographic prints.
box 26, folder data_value_missing_c45f7acfedde5838538dc1ad30f11c95

Train crash in Colton, California 1907

Scope and Content Note

Two 5 x 7 inch black-and-white mounted photographic prints showing crowds surrounding the train crash site.
 

Portraits circa 1855-1961

Scope and Content Note

Included are black-and-white photographic prints consisting of studio portraits, informal portraits, group portraits, and snapshots of family, friends, and other people of interest to the McPherson family.
 

Identified

box 26, folder data_value_missing_d1f1748759d8b03a3de02fb6024d0eee

General circa 1870-1960

box 27, folder data_value_missing_72c5c23d7600dfa0a39c62e0dfdd374b

Burruel, Martina (Chola Martina) 1907 Februray 4

box 27, folder data_value_missing_25665974ea5d80372a93519dda55efd8

"Eva and family" circa 1920

Scope and Content Note

Some of the people are identified with their given name only.
box 27, folder data_value_missing_2893f580b6f33c3bc3e739855f7c417a

Lewis family (?) 1912-1915 and undated

 

McPherson family

box 28, folder data_value_missing_5c2701ed3748e5e90bd5cff970d2ea9e

Jones, Clara (McPherson) and Richard W. Jones undated

Note

See Series 1. Correspondence for biographical information on Clara McPherson Jones.
box 28, folder data_value_missing_cce0a15901eb0f1ddf600fe53f5ff118

McPherson, Bessie 1908

box 28, folder data_value_missing_ddfc4b1975bd890e45c0c6b0577b7a96

McPherson, Childs undated

Scope and Content Note

Consists of three group portraits of Childs McPherson and his family and others. The studio portraits includes Childs' wife and their daughter, Cora. and was taken by Hart, Photographer in Watertown, New York. The remaining group portraits show family and friends posed outside, in front of houses and include Childs' daughter Cora and the brother of U. S. President Grover Cleveland, "Rev. Cleveland."
box 28, folder data_value_missing_e413f0268084d9cdf3ab0a47bdf8de8e

McPherson, Hugh undated

box 28, folder data_value_missing_ede225756f976c04a24c5bb8c744ef4c

McPherson, Lucille 1913

box 28, folder data_value_missing_8ad46780999d954f8a48d97f27bb1af1

McPherson, Stephen

box 28, folder data_value_missing_2c2755281b1e6419b68474e98bc820f5

McPherson, Vincent

box 28, folder data_value_missing_eb13186a304d0df629c38a13fead259a

McPherson, William (b. 1797)

Scope and Content Note

This is Stephen McPherson's father, not his son William.
box 28, folder data_value_missing_02a77dae9fccbb82c57c0642185d6833

McPherson, William (1885-1964)

box 28, folder data_value_missing_f4ade89c8263de41fc963ccec93d94ee

Vierregg, Lulu (McPherson)

box 28, folder data_value_missing_e7b4115a7b485a300cbffb0afeb0b736

William and Vincent McPherson standing in an avocado grove on the McPherson family ranch 1935

Scope and Content Note

Includes a letter from their cousin Robert Knapf (?).
box 28, folder data_value_missing_8c4a3f9482e3ccea7b3b3e61e37622f8

Lulu, Vincent, and William McPherson 1890

box 28, folder data_value_missing_b70c1978c94dcf0d1673c4d50dbc6570

Jennie McPherson, Lulu (McPherson) Vieregg, and others before 1935

box 28, folder data_value_missing_5fd8faed182854162a0ac4414a916e1d

Men and women in military uniforms in Oakland, California 1918 August 4

Scope and Content Note

Consists of 6 black-and-white photographic prints showing informal group portraits. Some of the people are identified.
 

Parsons and Reardon families

box 29, folder data_value_missing_1c7eb314f785f1cf7091b23522a39032

Parsons, Elvira (McPherson) undated

box 29, folder data_value_missing_7644ffdcc040cac1e3be7c27ff8455f5

Parsons, Eugene W. undated

box 29, folder data_value_missing_f9f746310cc35fc4fc0a64341cc24e70

Parsons, Eva Persie 1892 and undated

Biographical Note

Married name, Mrs. Steven Reardon.
box 29, folder data_value_missing_fcba438997f10359a337278d7fb03c9e

Parsons, James (Captain) circa 1907-1915

Scope and Content Note

Includes six black-and-white mounted photographic prints showing Captain James Parsons on the deck of the steamboat Charles Hubbard. One of the photos show his wife, Elvira ("Vira"), and their dog, Watch. Some of the photos include handwritten notes on the versos.
box 29, folder data_value_missing_20f54267866b0fe48b8ceacec3ab45c8

Parsons, Louise McPherson undated

box 29, folder data_value_missing_1581f8570931433741986d3fe2709461

Perez family (?) 1929-1932 and undated

box 29, folder data_value_missing_7e6c750343bd7561556c88ee2d7eaf45

Sanaker, Otto 1918 and undated

box 29, folder data_value_missing_2c2970eb3351d825dce742a9bcebb058

Smiley, Florence Flipper, wearing Jennie McPherson's wedding dress 1933 March 3

box 29, folder data_value_missing_255d5f3334c2f482b7808368a65ec8fa

Swarthout family 1906-1915 and undated

Scope and Content Note

Most of the photographs were taken in Lodi, New York, circa 1906 to 1915, and include portraits and group portraits showing Benjamin, Cora, Joseph Vincent, Cornelia Elizabeth Swarthout, among others. Many of the photographs are informal portraits of Cornelia and include handwritten notes on the verso. A few of these are addressed to Vincent McPherson.
box 29, folder data_value_missing_f6e99561bbfab17d620002b7ebc3781c

Vincent family 1914-1931 and undated

 

Unidentified

box 29, folder data_value_missing_e9de71f367a59f3ca024b5cae235987d

General circa 1870-1930

box 29, folder data_value_missing_30cf265e9d4b2a22594babaaa4a5c67e

General, Cartes-de-visite undated

box 29, folder data_value_missing_98603c56c09f18f711939b61d8329727

"Revival Brigade at Orange" (musical band) 1904-1905

box 29, folder data_value_missing_fbc990b632bca41464d5551a4689e940

Two women at Neptune Beach, California 1918 June

box 29, folder data_value_missing_3e5c277fefd1ce089b601909e13f6350

Stamp photographs 1906-1913 and undated

Scope and Content Note

Consists of six black-and-white strips of photographic prints showing a series of 1 x 1 inch head shots of William McPherson (1885-1964) and an unknown sitter. All but one of the photographic strips show william McPherson. The photos showing William McPherson were taken at least a year apart between 1906-1913. Also included are photograph envelopes from Empire Studio and Mitchell Studio located in Los Angeles, California.
box 29, folder data_value_missing_225938f71fff218a8ae3189acc1c5803

Tintypes circa 1860-1880

Scope and Content Note

Consists of 30 tintypes showing portraits of unidentified men, women, and children. The tintypes vary in sizes and include gems (approximately .5 x 1 inch or postage stamp size), cartes-de-visite (roughly 2.25 x 3. 5 inches), and one half-plate (4.5 x 5.5 inches). Some are mounted on cardboard or are sleeved in envelopes.
 

William McPherson writings and research Series 4.  1923-1944 and undated

Physical Description: 0.4 Linear Feet(one document box)

Series Scope and Content Summary

This series contains manuscripts and published writings of William McPherson, circa 1923-1944. Subjects include the history of Southern California, historical figures of Southern California, and festivals and ceremonies of Native Americans in the western United States, some of which he attended in person. Also included are related materials such as research notes, correspondence, and maps.

Series Arrangement

Alphabetical by title or subject.
box 30, folder 1

"Admission of California" 1925 November 30

box 30, folder 2

Biography of John Trumbull Warner 1931 December 1

box 30, folder 3

Biography of Stephen McPherson circa 1931

box 30, folder 4

"The Butterfield Stage" 1925 January 26

box 30, folder 5

"The diary of Lieutenant Couts: San Diego to Yuma, 1849," notes, galley proofs, and other material 1930, 1935 and undated

box 30, folder 6

"Driving horses to Utah," manuscript and notes from the Juan Forster diary (1876) 1923 October 28

box 30, folder 7

"Fiesta de Monos" undated

box 30, folder 8

"La Fiesta de Monos" undated

box 30, folder 9

"Fiesta de Pala" 1933 March 12

box 30, folder 10

"The Indians of Southern California" (speech) 1931 December 27

box 30, folder 11

Notes and clippings, miscellaneous 1923-1944

box 30, folder 12

Notes from the Santa Ana Herald, 1886-1889 1928-1931

Scope and Content Note

Transcription of notes by Jim Sleeper, July 20, 1968.
box 30, folder 13

Notes from the Santa Ana Herald, 1886-1889, (mostly on railroads) 1943 November

box 30, folder 14

"The old Spanish and Mexican ranchos of Orange County," by W. W. Robinson undated

box 30, folder 15

"The rise and fall of the grape industry," rewrites undated

box 30, folder 16

San Juan Capistrano baseball undated

box 30, folder 17

Songs: "La Paloma," "La Golondrina," and other songs, translated by C. E. Roberts undated

Language of Material: In Spanish and English.
box 30, folder 18

"The western fur trade" 1926 November 29

box 30, folder 19

Writings on the orange industry in Orange County, Indian relics, and Joseph Edward Pleasants, with photographs and ephemera 1928, 1934 and undated

 

Financial and business records Series 5.  1848-1958 and undated

Physical Description: 3 Linear Feet(three document boxes and one oversize box)

Series Scope and Content Summary

This series contains material relating to the McPherson Bros. agricultural business activities, the McPherson family ranch, and to various McPherson family members' financial transactions. The series documents Stephen and Robert McPherson's business activities as land owners and farmers, Jennie McPherson's business and financial activities pertaining to the McPherson ranch following Stephen's death in 1917, and the business and financial activities pertaining to the McPherson ranch when Vincent and William took over running it, 1935 through 1964. Included are ledgers, account books, checks and checkbooks, deeds, legal papers, and receipts, land indentures and deeds, labor time books, road overseer labor reports, and tax receipts.

Series Arrangement

This series is arranged in two subseries:
  • Subseries 5.1 Chronological files, 1848-1958 and undated, .65 linear foot
  • Subseries 5.2 Subject files, 1865-1956 and undated, 2.35 linear feet
 

Chronological files Subseries 5.1 1848-1958 and undated

Physical Description: 0.65 Linear Feet
box 30, folder 20

1848-1859

box 30, folder 21

1860-1866

box 30, folder 22

1867

box 30, folder 23

1868

box 30, folder 24

1869

box 30, folder 25

1870

box 30, folder 26

1871

box 30, folder 27

1872-1875

box 31, folder 1

1876-1879

box 31, folder 2

1880-1889

box 31, folder 3

1890-1899

box 31, folder 4

1900-1909

box 31, folder 5

1910-1929

box 31, folder 6

1930-1939

box 31, folder 7

1940-1959

box 31, folder 8

undated

 

Subject files Subseries 5.2 1865-1956 and undated

Physical Description: 2.35 Linear Feet

Subseries Arrangement

Alphabetical.
folder XOS 1

Article of agreement between Jennie E. McPherson, S. V. McPherson, and the Orange County Rock Company to operate railroad tracks on McPherson land, with accompanying blueprint 1926 April 1

Scope and Content Note

The tract of land is "lot 9 of the A. B. Chapman Tract in the County of Orange." Blueprint information includes "Los Angeles Division, Drawing F-8882, Sheet 1 of 1, Form 30 L.A." and shows the tract of land and railroad tracks.
box 31, folder 9

Article of agreement for labor between Quong Wah and the McPherson Bros. undated

box 31, folder 10

J. M. Griffith & Co., receipt for building materials 1882

box 31, folder 11-12

Land documents 1865-1956

box 32, folder 1

Legal documents, miscellaneous 1881-1946 and undated

box 32, folder 2

McPherson Bros., checkbook 1888

box 32, folder 3

McPherson Bros., checks 1884

box 32, folder 4

McPherson Bros., checks and balance sheet 1885

box 42, folder 6

McPherson Bros., ledger, "Raisin Weights," 1886 1886-1891

 

McPherson Bros., ledgers 1886, 1891

box 32, folder 5

McPherson Bros., miscellaneous records 1884, 1886 and undated

box 32, folder 6, box OS

McPherson Bros., receipts 1883-1884

box 32, folder 7-9

McPherson, George W., account books circa 1860-1880

box 32, folder 10

McPherson, Lulu, account book 1920-1924

box 33, folder 1

McPherson Ranch time books 1882-1892 and undated

box 33, folder 2

McPherson, Robert, account book 1888

box 42, folder 6

McPherson, Robert, account book 1869

box 33, folder 3

McPherson, Stephen, account book 1896-1897

box 33, folder 4

McPherson, Stephen, receipt book - labor receipt, road poll tax 1891

box 42, folder 5

McPherson, Stephen, ledger, Buffalo 1859

box 42, folder 3

McPherson, Stephen, ledger, Buffalo 1859

box 42, folder 1

McPherson, Stephen, ledger, Buffalo 1859

box 42, folder 1

McPherson, Stephen, ledger, Buffalo 1860

box 42, folder 2

McPherson, Stephen, ledger, Ontonagon Lake Superior 1859

box 42, folder 5

McPherson, Stephen, ledger - cash, bills payable, interest, etc. 1859

box 42, folder 4

McPherson, Stephen, ledger - cash, merchandise, bills receivable, etc. 1859-1860

box 33, folder 5

McPherson, Vincent, account book 1917-1918

box 33, folder 6

Mortgages 1874-1905

box 33, folder 7

Orange Belt Oil Refining Co., transfer and pumping records 1924-1926

box 34, folder 1

Road overseer of the Orange Road District reports to the Board of Supervisors of Orange County, California 1889-1892

box 34, folder 2

Roads - correspondence, labor receipts, and other material 1890-1891 and undated

box 34, folder 3

Shipping receipts 1900

box 34, folder 4

Shipping receipts to Spokane, Washington 1937-1940

 

Subject files Series 6.  1858-1966 and undated

Physical Description: 1 Linear Feet(two documents boxes and one oversize folder)

Series Scope and Content Summary

This series documents the educational and professional activities, as well as the general interests of various McPherson family members. Included are material relating to Stephen and Jennie McPherson's education and work as teachers,as well as material pertaining to their son William's education and work as a teacher in San Juan Capistrano. Materials include legal documents, school records, certificates, address books, correspondence, writings, notes, and genealogies, among other material.

Series Arrangement

Alphabetical by subject or material type.
box 34, folder 5

Address books and ephemera 1922 and undated

box 34, folder 6

Agreement to establish a school in the northeastern part of the Santiago district undated

box 34, folder 7

Almeria grape, letter to W. G. McPherson from Newton B. Pierce regarding the coulure of the Almeria grape compared to the Malaga grape 1893 December 15

Biographical Note

Newton B. Pierce served as Special Agent for the United States Department of Agriculture, Division of Vegetable Pathology. The grape disease that decimated grape crops in Southern California (including the McPherson's) in the late 1880s was later named "Pierce's Disease" after Pierce.
box 34, folder 8

Baseball scorebook, Santa Ana High School 1903

box 39

Bibles 1872, 1908

Scope and Content Note

Consists of the 1872 bible of Stephen McPherson and the 1908 bible of William McPherson.
 

Photographs and ephemera from William McPherson's bible 1906-1922 and undated

Scope and Content Note

Consists of eight black-and-white photographic prints showing studio and informal portraits on an unidentified woman. Some of the portraits have handwritten notes on their versos. The woman may have been a silent film actress as one photograph shows her dressed at Little Red Riding Hood and one of the handwritten notes mentions the Mission Film Co. Also included are one transparency showing an interior view of an unidentified building and several pieces of ephemera.
box 34, folder 9

Bowers Museum 1936-1961 and undated

box 34, folder 10

Clippings 1867-1957

box 34, folder 11

El Modena School, autograph book 1889

box 34, folder 12

Hewes, David, agreement of employment between David Hewes (employer) and Ira Herrington 1901

Note

The document was "bought at Hewes Auction, 1916."
 

Maps 1904, 1924

folder XOS 1

"The official map of Orange County, California and portions of adjoining counties" 1924

Scope and Content Note

Compiled from official and private surveys by S. H. Finley, Civil Engineer, Santa Ana, and J. C. McBride, County Engineer, Orange County. Portions of the map have been hand colored by the owner of the map.
folder XOS 1

Topographic map, Southern California, Sheet No. 1, U.S. Geological Survey 1904

Scope and Content Note

Compiled by J. E. Rockhold. Handwritten note on verso indicates hike locations and dates of hikes, 1910, 1911, and 1918.
folder XOS 1

Topographic map, Southern California, Sheet No. 2, U.S. Geological Survey 1904

Scope and Content Note

Reduced from the nine atlas sheets covering this area; survey 1891 and 1898-1902. Handwritten notes on recto indicate hike locations, names of hikers, and dates of hikes, 1919, 1927, and 1933. Signatures or initials listed include William McPherson, Don Meadows, Roch Bradshaw, and A. E. C.
box 34, folder 13

Judd, A. Grosvenor, "mark book" 1873

box 34, folder 14

McPherson, Bessie, recipes and other material 1892-1915 and undated

box 35, folder 1

McPherson, Esther, writings and fabric cuttings undated

box 35, folder 2

McPherson family genealogy 1870-1951 and undated

box 35, folder 3

McPherson family history, written by Stephen McPherson 1882

box 35, folder 4

McPherson, Lulu, school records and other material 1894-1951 and undated

box 35, folder 5

McPherson, Robert, county election materials 1892

 

McPherson, Stephen

box 35, folder 6

Agreement to teach public school in Santa Clara, California 1868 July 1

box 35, folder 7

Autograph album 1858-1866

box 35, folder 8

California state educational diploma and school records 1859-1881

box 35, folder 9

Champions of the Red Cross clearance card 1871 December 30

box 35, folder 10

School compositions circa 1858

box 35, folder 11

McPherson, Vincent, school records and other material 1892-1952 and undated

 

McPherson, William

box 35, folder 12

Address book and ephemera 1942

box 35, folder 13

Estate records and will 1962-1966 and undated

 

Grammar school

box FB-066, folder 7

Diploma of graduation, Grammar School of Orange District 1900 June 9

box 37, folder 1

School records and other material 1892-1900 and undated

box 35, folder 14

San Francisco Examiner contest and trip 1900 and undated

 

San Juan Capistrano

box 35, folder 15

San Juan Capistrano, "class book, question book," grades 6-8 1905-1918

box 36, folder 1

San Juan Capistrano, miscellaneous material 1905-1918 and undated

box 36, folder 2

San Juan Capistrano, school notes (handwritten) 1916-1917 and undated

box 36, folder 3

San Juan Capistrano, school notes and correspondence (handwritten) 1915-1917 and udated

box 36, folder 4

San Juan Capistrano School, group portraits and letter 1905-1909

 

Santa Ana High School

box 36, folder 6

Graduation studio portraits 1904 June

Scope and Content Note

Three 3.5 x 5 inch oval black-and-white studio portraits of William McPherson, 1904. The photographs were taken by J. C. Lamb, Santa Ana, California.
box 36, folder 5

School records, correspondence, and other material 1902-1904 and undated

box 36, folder 7

Theatrical productions, photographs and programs 1903-1904

box 37, folder 2

Sponsorship letter for the entrance of Alfredo Gonzalez of Santa Maria, Jalisco, Mexico into the United States 1951 November 15

box 37, folder 3

Teachers examination material 1904

box 37, folder 4

Teaching certificates and related material 1904-1916 and undated

 

University of California

box FB-066, folder 5

Diploma of graduation [in Latin] 1914 May 12

box 37, folder 5-6

School records, ephemera, and other material 1910-1914

box 37, folder 7

Sailing race wager agreement 1883 September 17

box 37, folder 8

South Gila Canal, pamphlet and documents circa 1880

box 37, folder 9

Teachers examination questions (printed) 1865-1874 and undated

box 37, folder 10

Teachers examination material and questions (handwritten) 1868 and undated

box 37, folder 11

Vincent, Jennie (McPherson), teacher's certifcates 1878, 1881

box 37, folder 12

Water - "filing on waters of Owens River in Mono County by Robert McPherson" 1898 April 27

box 37, folder 13

Weather records, Southern California 1887, 1937

box 37, folder 14

Writings, miscellaneous (unknown authors) undated

 

Ephemera and artifacts Series 7.  1872-1961 and undated

Physical Description: 1.5 Linear Feet(two document boxes, one artifact box, and one print box)

Series Scope and Content Summary

This series contains ephemera and artifacts collected or used by various members of the McPherson family. The ephemera includes business cards, visiting cards, memorial cards, Orange County Fair award ribbons, railroad tickets, membership cards, McPherson Bros. grape labels, and bibles, among other items. The artifacts consist of two rubber stamps, fabric cuttings, a lock of hair (labelled "my father's hair when he died"), a small wooden souvenir of Memorial Hall, and a metal hand tool.

Series Arrangement

Alphabetical by subject or material type.
box 38, folder 3

Adams Female Academy, East Derry, New Hampshire, brochure undated

box 38, folder 4

Alfred University, sheet music, "Hail to thee, Alfred" 1921

box 38, folder 5

Application forms (blank) 1931 and undated

box 40

Artifacts undated

Scope and Content Note

Includes two rubber stamps, one for the McPherson Bros. and the other for William McPherson. The fabric is labelled (handwritten) "lined spun by Aunt-Sally McPherson year not-known." The lock of hair is labelled (handwritten) "my father's hair after he died [Wm?] McPherson.
box 38, folder 6

Award ribbons 1923-1931 and undated

Scope and Content Note

Award ribbons are from the Orange County Fair, California Avocado Show, and Garden Clubs of Orange County.
box 38, folder 7

Catecismo de Ripalda con un apendice 1910

Note

Inscribed "Copy of William McPherson, May 30, 1917."
box FB-066, folder 6

Decorative labels (pink flowers amid leafy branches) undated

box 38, folder 8

Draft cards 1918

box 38, folder 9

Drivers' licences 1919, 1925

box 38, folder 1-2

Ephemera, general circa 1860-1960

box 38, folder 10

Farmers pocket companion, 26th annual edition, Deere & Co. 1892

box 38, folder 11

Gaskell's Complete Compendium of Elegant Writing circa 1870

box 38, folder 12

Grape labels undated

box 38, folder 13

Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Lodge No. 52, receipts 1902-1911

box 38, folder 16

Marriage certificate, George W. McPherson and Margaret A. Kirkpatrick 1872 April 23

box 38, folder 14

McPherson Bros. raisin labels circa 1887

box 38, folder 15

McPherson, Horton, and Co., Real Estate Agents, advertising cards undated

box 38, folder 17

Membership cards 1899-1946

box 38, folder 18

Memorial cards 1898-1964

box 38, folder 19

Merit reward tickets undated

 

Miscellaneous ephemera undated

box 38, folder 20

Postcards (blank) undated

box 38, folder 21

Railway tickets and Central Pacific Railroad badge (?) 1919-1933 and undated

box 38, folder 22

Ration books 1941-1945

box 43, folder 1

Shell road map, California circa 1939

box 43, folder 2

Sunkist (oranges) stickers undated

box 43, folder 3

Visiting cards and business cards (McPherson family) undated

box 43, folder 4

Visiting cards and business cards (non-McPherson family) undated

box 43, folder 5

The Westminster Senior Quarterly, first quarter and fourth quarter 1895

box 43, folder 6

William George's Sons, "Americana" catalog and letter 1908, 1928