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Inventory of the William H. Birdsall Collection
P 116
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Title: William H. Birdsall
Collection
Date (inclusive): 1949-1964
Collection number: P 116
Creator:
Birdsall, William H.
Extent:
1 linear ft., including 30 photographs
Repository:
Roseville Public Library History Collection
Roseville, California
Abstract:
William Henry Birdsall was born on July 28, 1909 in Imlay, Nevada to Fred R.
Birdsall and Jennie L. Peterson. Birdsall served on the City of Roseville Library
Board from 1951 to 1976 as President, Secretary, and board member. He also acted
and directed local theater groups. He joined the board of the Roseville Little Theatre
Guild as Secretary soon after the non-profit theater group organized under the sponsorship
of the City of Roseville Recreation Department in October 1948. The William H. Birdsall
Collection is arranged in six series: 1. Correspondence, 2. Diaries, 3. Publications,
4. Ephemera, 5. Cartographic Documents, and 6. Photographic Material. Items span the years
1949-1964.
Physical location: Roseville Public Library
Languages: Languages represented in this collection:
English
Collection is open for research.
For permission to reproduce or publish, please consult Roseville Public Library History
Collection staff. Permission for reproduction or publication is given on behalf of the
Roseville Public Library History Collection, Roseville, as the owner of the physical items.
The researcher assumes all responsibility for possible infringement that may arise from
reproduction or publication of materials from the Roseville Public Library History Collection.
[Identification of item], William H. Birdsall Collection, P 116: [box: folder number],
Roseville Public Library, History Collection, Roseville, California.
The executors of the William H. Birdsall estate donated this collection in 1989.
Lola Aguilar processed this collection and created its finding aid in 2008.
William Henry Birdsall was born on July 28, 1909 in Imlay, Nevada to Fred R. Birdsall
and Jennie L. Peterson. Both parents were born in Iowa in 1876 and were married there in
1899. The family moved to Nevada when Fred started working first as a fireman, and then
as an engineer for the railroad. William was the youngest of four Birdsall children,
which included Fred L., Alice, and Flora.
By 1930, Birdsall worked for the railroad in
Carlin, Nevada, where he lived as head of the household with his by then divorced mother
and older brother Fred. Accompanied by his mother, he moved to Roseville in 1942 to work
for the Southern Pacific Railroad Company as a train master's clerk. He joined the
Brotherhood of Railway Clerks No. 298 and continued working for the railroad until his
retirement in 1972.
An active member of the community, Birdsall served on the City of
Roseville Library Board from 1951 to 1976 as President, Secretary, and board member. He
also acted and directed local theater groups. He joined the board of the Roseville Little
Theatre Guild as Secretary soon after the non-profit theater group organized under the
sponsorship of the City of Roseville Recreation Department in October 1948. Their first
play, "Her Step-Husband", opened in January 1949. From the start, Birdsall filled any job
that was necessary for a successful production, from set design to acting. After the
Spotliters, Inc. organized in 1950, Birdsall worked for Roseville's newest theater group
as assistant director, business manager, actor, and program designer.
Wiiliam H. Birdsall lived alone at his home on 621 Lincoln Street after his mother's death
on January 2, 1962. He died on August 15, 1988 at Roseville Hospital and was buried at the
Roseville Cemetery.
The William H. Birdsall Collection is arranged in six series: 1. Correspondence, 2. Diaries,
3. Publications, 4. Ephemera, 5. Cartographic Documents, and 6. Photographic Material.
Items span the years 1949-1964.
The first series, Correspondence, consists of one file
folder and is arranged chronologically. Items include one postcard and two letters from
Birdsall's family members. The second series, Diaries, consists of one file folder and
includes Birdsall's undated address book. Series 3, Publications, consists of one file
folder and is divided into news releases and news clippings, each arranged chronologically.
The fourth series, Ephemera, consists of one file folder and is arranged chronologically.
Items include theater programs and brochures from local theater groups. Series 5, Cartographic
Documents, consists of one file folder and includes one city map. The last series, Photographic
Material, consists of thirty photographs. Birdsall's personal photographs are arranged first,
followed by theater production photographs. Both groups are arranged chronologically.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
library's online public access catalog.
Birdsall, William H.
Roseville (Calif.)
Roseville (Calif.)--History
Roseville Little Theater
Spot Liters, Inc.
Chic Courter Collection P 104
City of Roseville Library Board of Trustees Collection LG 203