Guide to the Records of the California State Parks Council
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© 1996
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Note
History --History, California Geographical (By Place) --California Social Sciences --Urban Planning and Environment
Guide to the Records of the California State Parks Council
Collection number: BANC MSS 68/125 c
The Bancroft Library
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California
Contact Information:
- Encoded by:
- Campbell J. Crabtree
© 1996 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Collection Summary
Creator:
California State Parks Council.
Collection Title: Records of the California State Parks Council
Collection Number: BANC MSS 68/125 c
Extent:
3 boxes, 1 carton.
Repository: The
Bancroft Library
Berkeley, California 94720-6000
Physical Location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Abstract: Relating to the campaign for a comprehensive state park program. Included are copies of letters written by Newton B. Drury
and staff, incoming correspondence, interoffice memoranda, minutes of meetings, press releases, articles prepared for newspapers
and magazines, speeches and statements, lists of speakers and speaking engagements, clippings, and reference materials, particularly
relating to parks in other states.
Languages Represented:
English
Information for Researchers
Access
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright has not been assigned to The Bancroft Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts
must be submitted in writing to the Head of Public Services. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Bancroft
Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which
must also be obtained by the reader.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Records of the California State Parks Council, BANC MSS 68/125 c, The Bancroft Library, University
of California, Berkeley.
History
The California State Parks Council (known originally as the California State Parks Committee) was formed in January 1925 to urge legislation which would give California a comprehensive state park program. The change
in nomenclature was made in 1927. The Save-the-Redwoods League furnished headquarters and general office facilities for the Council, and Newton B. Drury, secretary of the League undertook the direction of the legislative campaign. The major objective was attained in 1927 when
the California Legislature passed three bills, introduced by Senator Arthur H. Breed, providing for a State Park Commission and a state park survey (which was undertaken by Frederick Law Olmsted), and authorizing a State Parks Bond issue. The $6,000,000 bond issue came before the voters as Amendment 4 on the ballot in
November 1928. The publicity campaign which the Council sponsored resulted in wide-spread popular support, and the bond issue
was overwhelmingly approved.
Scope and Content
These records, which were given to the Bancroft Library by the Save-the-Redwoods League in April 1968, relate to the efforts
of the Council in its legislative program and in the bond campaign. They include copies of the letters written by Mr. Drury
and staff, incoming correspondence, inter-office memoranda, minutes of meetings, press releases, articles prepared for magazines
and newspapers, speeches and statements, lists of speakers and speaking engagements, clippings, and reference materials, particularly
relating to parks in other states. Two additional folders, gift of Mr. Drury, June 1969.
Box 1
Outgoing letters, 1922-1929
Scope and Content Note
Carbon copies of letters written primarily by Newton B. Drury. Arranged chronologically. The few letters written prior to 1925 relate to the formation of a California State Parks Association
in Los Angeles.
Boxes 2&3
Incoming correspondence
Scope and Content Note
Arranged alphabetically by name of individual or organization. A miscellany for single letters precedes the rest of the files.
A partial list of correspondents follows the Key. At the end of the files are three folders of miscellaneous letters grouped
as follows: letters re speakers for meetings; letters re magazine and newspaper publicity and photographs letters from various
state departments of conservation, superintendents of parks, etc.
Box 3
Interoffice memoranda
Scope and Content Note
Arranged chronologically. Carton California State Parks Council -minutes of meetings, reports, etc. N. B. Drury's report to
the Council on the campaign -draft State Parks conference, San Francisco, Jan. 5, 1925 -minutes of meeting, list of conferees, extracts from minutes, etc, State Parks Conference, Los Angeles, Feb. 8, 1928 -list of those attending State Parks Conference, San Francisco, Mar. 19, 1928 -Minutes of meeting, list of projects prepared State Park Legislation -copies of bills proposed in California Legislature
Material relating to proposed survey of state parks -outlines and revised outlines; report on scope and limitation of the
survey, method of conducting it, etc. Data re State Park Bond -manual of information for campaign workers, publicity brochures
and other campaign materials Schedules for plan of campaign MSS of articles (4 folders) -Include articles written by William & Colby, Melville W. Erskine, Francis P. Farquhar, J. D. Grant, Joseph R. Knowland, Duncan McDuffie, John C. Merriam, E. J. Murphy and Charles B. Wing. Copies of newspaper editorials'; clippings from newspapers and magazines, etc. Speeches, excerpts from speeches, statements,
resolutions, etc. Carton Press releases (3 folders) Photographic projects Special writers Lists of California newspapers Lists
of radio stations and various organizations Schedules of meetings; lists of suggested speakers Lists of state parks and monuments;
list of proposed parks List of organizations endorsing State Park Bond Registration statistics -elections California State
Parks Association -material re organization of Clippings re election returns; notes re estimates of vote on Amendment 4 Miscellaneous
material re need for state parks, surveys of state park laws and organization, etc. (2 folders) Material re parks in other
states (2 folders) Miscellaneous notes Newton B. Drury Trips Reports, etc.
Correspondence Miscellany (single letters)
Breed, Arthur Hastings, 1865-1953
California Forest Protective Association
Letter, Oct, 14, 1926. Enclosure: draft
Chandler, Harry, 1864-1944
Crocker, William Henry, 1861-1937
Goethe, Charles Matthias, 1875-1966
Gregg, John William, 1880-
Jones, Herbert Coffin, 1888-
Letter, Sept. 29, 1928. Copy, with facsimile
Native Sons of the Golden West
Brackenridge, William Algernon
California Academy of Sciences
6 letters, 1928, From Barton Warren Evermann, Director.
California Development Association
California State Parks Association
Chaney, Ralph Works, 1890-
Colby, William Edward, 1875-1964
Commonwealth Club of California
31 letters, 1925-1928. Many are unsigned carbon copies.
Mather, Stephen Tyng, 1867-1930
National Conference on State Parks
National Parks Association
2 letters, 1927-1928. From Robert Sterling Yard.
Natural History Museum, Balboa Park, San Diego
6 letters, 1928, Signed by Clinton G. Abbott.
Phelps, Ralph L, 1880-1957
Redwood Empire Association
Sacramento Region Citizens Council
11 letters, 1928, Written primarily by Simon J. Lubin.
San Joaquin Valley Tourist and Travel Association
Sierra Club, San Francisco
Sproul, Robert Gordon, 1891-
State Parks Association of California
Wilbur, Ray Lyman, 1875-1949
Young, Clement Calhoun, 1869-1947
5 letters, 1928, Written while governor of California, Two are written for him by his private secretary, Charles A. Whitmore.