Register of the Claire D. Sprague Collection, 1942-1972

Processed by Don Walker

Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections

University Library, University of the Pacific

Stockton, CA 95211

Phone: (209) 946-2404

Fax: (209) 946-2810

URL: http://library.pacific.edu/ha

Register of the Claire D. Sprague Collection, 1942-1972

Collection number: Mss42

Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections

University Library

University of the Pacific

Contact Information

Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections
University Library, University of the Pacific
Stockton, CA 95211
Phone: (209) 946-2404
Fax: (209) 946-2810
URL: http://library.pacific.edu/ha

Processed by:: Don Walker
Date Completed:: March 18, 1994
Encoded by:: Don Walker

Descriptive Summary

Title: Claire D. Sprague Collection,

Date (inclusive): 1942-1972

Collection number: Mss42

Creator: Sprague, Claire D.

Extent: 0.5 linear ft.

Repository: University of the Pacific. Library. Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections

Stockton, CA 95211

Shelf location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the library's online catalog.

Language: English.

Administrative Information

Access

Collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Claire D. Sprague Collection, Mss42, Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library

Biography

Claire D. Kelly Sprague (1896-1989) was an teacher and author who was educated at San Francisco Normal School---now San Francisco State University---(1916) and the University of the Pacific (B.A., 1955). She taught in the Stockton, Calif. public schools, where she worked with Japanese American children at the time of their relocation to internment camps (1942). Later Sprague taught gifted students when special programs were first created for their benefit (1957-1961). In 1952 Clair Sprague took coursework in California history at COP with Rockwell D. Hunt. In her work with Hunt, she focussed on the early history of her hometown, San Francisco. Later, Sprague published articles on local history in various periodicals (incl. "Making it with bread," Pacific Historian 17:2 [Sum 1973]). She also published a book of verse, as well as an autobiography styled Rocking Chair Memories (1967). Mrs. Sprague gave her papers to Holt Atherton Special Collections in 1975.

Scope and Content

The Claire Sprague Collection consists of materials relating both to Mrs. Sprague's teaching and to her writing career. One important component is a set of letters written to Mrs. Sprague by interned Japanese American 6th graders, formerly of French Camp School. Another element consists of the various drafts of Mrs. Sprague's local history writings and poetry. Lastly, there is a small file of correspondence from Mrs.Sprague's son, Irvine, who was an aide to President Lyndon Johnson, as well as brief notes from President Lyndon B. Johnson and his wife, Lady Bird.

Box-folder 1.1-1.3

Japanese American Students

Box-folder 1.1

Correspondence

Box-folder 1.1

Letter written by Mrs. Sprague about her former Japanese students, 4/42 [also copy of letter]

Box-folder 1.1

Abe, Kazuye 6/8/42