Collection Guide
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Register of the Van Buskirk Family Collection, 1892-1985
Ms18
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Table of contents
Title: Van Buskirk Family Collection,
Date (inclusive): 1892-1985
Collection number: Ms18
Creator:
Extent: 1.5 linear ft.
Repository:
San Joaquin County Museum.
Lodi, CA 95241
Language:
English.
Collection is open for research by appointment only.
The library can only claim physical ownership of the collection. Users are responsible for satisfying any claimants of literary
property.
[Identification of item], Van Buskirk Family Collection, Ms18, San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum.
Van Buskirk, Charles Lever (1845-1920)
Van Buskirk, Angela Crocker
Van Buskirk, Charles R.
Van Buskirk, Erle Lever
Van Buskirk family
Mokelumne River Manufacturing Company (Lodi, Calif.)
San Joaquin County Women's Christian Temperance Union
Lodi Political Study Club
Lodi Anti-Saloon League
Lodi Loyal Temperance Legion
Fraternal Order of Eagles - Awards
Businessmen - California - Lodi
Temperance - California - Societies, etc.
Parks - California - Stockton
Agriculture - California - Lodi
Japanese Americans - California - Lodi
Church and social problems - California - Lodi
Congregational churches - California - Lodi
Lodi (Calif.) - Social life and customs
San Joaquin County (Calif.) - History - Sources
Lodi businessman, Charles Lever Van Buskirk (1845-1920), came to California in 1893.
He and his brother, George, bought extensive timber lands in Calaveras and Amador counties with the intention of entering
the lumber business. At the same time Charles Van Buskirk also
acquired numerous corner lots in the city of Lodi, on which he erected the Lodi Opera House,
the Van Buskirk Building, the Telephone Building, the Sentinel Building and the School Street Garage. He was also instrumental
in obtaining for Lodi its first public library. Van Buskirk's civic-mindedness extended, as local historian George Tinkham
writes, "[into] all matters pertaining to schools, charitable organizations, the paving of streets, building of churches and
other institutions of public benefit." His was also a temperance advocate who worked to see Lodi free of saloons. Before he
came to California, Van Buskirk married Angie B. Crocker, who shared his involvement in the temperance movement and was later
President of the local Women's Christian Temperance Union (1914-1915). The Van Buskirks were also active members of the Lodi
Congregational Church. They had two sons: Charles R., a Lodi vineyardist; and, Erle Lever, also of Lodi, manufacturer of the
Van Pump. Charles R. gave park lands to both Lodi and Stockton (1950s).
The Van Buskirk Family Collection consists of family business papers and biographical materials, including a ranch ledger
of C.R. Van Buskirk (c1910), as well as records of various Lodi (Calif.) religious and temperance organizations to which diverse
family members belonged (1895-1919). The collection also contains a file relating to the gift of land by Charles R. Van Buskirk
to the City of Stockton for use as a park (1957-1976) and other clippings relating to his donation.of park land to Lodi and
to his receipt of an award by the Fraternal Order of Eagles (1957).