Guide to the The Union Lumber Company Records, 1854-1960
Processed by The Bancroft Library staff
The Bancroft Library
© 1996
The Bancroft Library
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720-6000
bancref@library.berkeley.edu
Note
History --History, California --History, Northern California
Biological and Medical Sciences --Agriculture --Forestry
Geographical (By Place) --California --Northern California
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
The Bancroft Library
Title: Union Lumber Company Records,
creator:
Union Lumber Company
Identifier/Call Number: BANC MSS 68/21 c
Physical Description:
157.4 linear feet
(1 box, 16 cartons, 1 oversize folder, and 547 volumes)
Date (inclusive): 1854-1960
Physical Location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Abstract: The collection contains correspondence, office files, and financial records. The bulk of the collection is composed of stock
and financial records, 1854-1952, including such items as lists of stockholders, financial statements, invoices, various ledgers,
and payroll sheets. Another substantial portion of the collection is correspondence, found in series 1 through 5, with the
greatest concentration of letters in the Union Lumber's daily files of outgoing correspondence, 1928-1936, including correspondence
of company officers Charles Russell Johnson, Otis W. Johnson and Otis R. Johnson. Of note in the series Strike files, 1943-1947,
are a set of strike posters and other publicity materials. Includes records of the Glen Blair Lumber Company, Mendocino Lumber
Company, Pacific States Lumber Company, Acme Lumber Company, Fort Bragg Electric Company, Fort Bragg Redwood Company, Atlas
Tank Manufacture, National Steamship Company, and statements of the Coos Bay Lumber Company. Also included are files of the
California Redwood Association, 1933-1849, and correspondence of E.C. (Edwards C. Williams), founder of the Mendocino Lumber
Company.
Language of Material: English
Access
Collection is open for research. This finding aid does not include information on more recent additions to the collection.
CARTONS 17-40 AND VOLUMES 549-665 are UNPROCESSED AND UNAVAILABLE FOR USE. Inquiries regarding the UNPROCESSED materials should
be submitted to The Bancroft Library via the Notice of Interest in Unprocessed Collections form.
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 Sevices .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], Union Lumber Company Records, BANC MSS 68/21 c, The Bancroft Library, University of California,
Berkeley.
Materials Cataloged Separately
Photographs have been transferred to Pictorial Collections of The Bancroft Library
Acquisition Information
The Union Lumber Company Records were given to The Bancroft Library by Union Lumber Company via Russell Johnson in 1967, with
additions made in April 1991
Corporate History
UNION LUMBER COMPANY -In December, 1882, Charles Russell Johnson, youthful, energetic and determined, age 23, and recently
from Michigan and Wisconsin, bought into the Mill Creek (Ten Mile River) operations of Calvin Stewart and James Hunter. From
this partnership of Stewart, Hunter, and Johnson has grown Union Lumber Company.
C.R. , as Mr. Johnson would be known throughout his long and eventful career, brought perseverance, integrity, and a basic feeling
of worth and dignity of the individual from his ancestral inheritance. On this concept he established an enterprise that would
strongly influence the history of the redwood industry. From its inconspicuous beginnings at Mill Creek, Union Lumber Company
has pioneered enlightened forest practice policies and developed plant and product innovations that have insured the stability
of the community through continuous employment through all the business ups and downs since its founding.
C.R.'s initial step was forming the Fort Bragg Redwood Company and moving to the site of the old abandoned army post at Fort Bragg.
This move provided an abundance of land for plant site and harbor where boats could load alongside a wharf. The new Fort Bragg
mill commenced operations November 16, 1885. The first shipment of lumber left the new wharf on board the steam schooner West
Coast. The need for additional timber saw the incorporation on August 17, 1891, of Union Lumber Company. This brought the
property and assets of White and Plummer along the Noyo River into the new venture with W.P. Plummer becoming the General
Manager. In 1905, the Little Valley Lumber Company was purchased and part interest in the Glen Blair Lumber Company and the Mendocino Lumber Company was acquired. Through the
years other Mendocino County properties have been added to allow for planned growth programs. The latest, being he properties
of the Pacific Coast Company in 1960, including timber and mills at Willits and Leggett. To ship forest products to market
and bring merchandise to Fort Bragg, the National Steamship Company was founded in June, 1901, as a subsidiary of Union Lumber
Company. The company operated a fleet of ships along the Pacific Coast until the late 1930's. Some ships owned were the National
City, Brunswick, Coquelle River, Arctic, and three named Noyo. Another subsidiary, California Western Railroad was incorporated
June 30, 1905, taking over the logging railroad of Union Lumber Company. In December, 1911, the first through-train reached
Willits thus giving Fort Bragg and Western Mendocino County direct rail connection with the rest of the continent. To assure
perpetuity of its natural resources, Union Lumber Company pioneered a reforestation program and established its own nursery
in the 1920's. The program showed that natural reforestation from sprouts and seedlings would do a better job and the nursery
project was abandoned. Union Lumber Company now subscribes to the principles of Tree Farming and was an early Redwood Region
leader in the movement, dedicating the C.R. Johnson Tree Farms on May 19, 1951. Today, all Company forest land has been placed
under the Tree Farm program. This is an assurance that the forest products industry will always be a major influence on the
economy of Mendocino County. A strong research facility exists to develop new products from redwood bark, tanoak, and certain
common grades of lumber. Through research and development, new products and new techniques will continue to evolve. These,
in turn, will bring new jobs and career opportunities to Union Lumber Company people. Although not a
company town, Fort Bragg has always been considered in the Company's plans since
C.R. Johnson laid out the town site and was elected its first mayor in 1889. In 1965, and excess of $8,000,000 was paid out in
wages and local purchase of services and materials; 27% of County taxes were paid by Union Lumber Company.
from
History of Mendocino County, California, Mendocino County Historical Society, 1967 (pp 798-799).
Scope and Content
The Union Lumber Company Records are incomplete and miscellaneous in nature, spanning the period from 1854 to 1960. The collection
contains correspondence, miscellaneous office files, history and strike files, and stock and financial records, providing
insight to the various aspects of the company's long history in Northern California. Included also is correspondence and records
from Glen Blair, Mendocino, and Pacific States Lumber Companies, which were acquired, in whole or in part, by Union Lumber
Company. Much of the collection is correspondence, found in Series 1 through 5, with the greatest concentration of letters
in Union Lumber's daily files of outgoing correspondence, 1928-1936. The correspondence of Charles Russell Johnson, 1883 to
1934, documents some of the activities of
C.R., who in 1882 bought into the Mill Creek operations which became Union Lumber Company. Johnson also founded Fort Bragg Redwood
Company, which started operations at a new mill in 1885; he was elected Fort Bragg's first mayor in 1889.
Series 6: Miscellaneous Office Files, 1898-1954, are a scattered assortment of memoranda, minutes, agreements, reports, statements,
contracts, and printed materials, that provide an additional glimpse of the timber industry. These include some records from
the California Redwood Association, in addition to a brief run of minutes from the meetings of the Redwood Operators Committee.
Series 7: Strike Files, 1943-1947, record primarily the company's side of the strike. These contain preliminary strike correspondence
and other materials documenting the start of the strike, through much of its duration. Of note is a set of strike posters
and other publicity materials. The history files (in Series 8), though more limited, provide additional insight to the history
of the area. They include the letterpress books of E.C. Williams, founder of Mendocino Lumber Company.
Series 9: Stock and Financial Records, 1854-1952 constitute the bulk of the collection and includes such items as lists of
stockholders, financial statements, invoices, various ledgers, and payroll account sheets. The largest part of this series
is the 547 volumes listed, by company, wherever possible. Minimal effort was made to further identify or arrange this group,
which retains the volume numbers given upon receipt.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Union Lumber Company
SERIES 1: OUTGOING CORRESPONDENCE
1928-1936
Physical Description: Cartons 1-5, Carton 6, folders 1-12
carton 1, folder 1-7
Daily files
May-Dec. 1928
carton 1, folder 8-13
Daily files
Jan.-June 1929
carton 1, folder 14-19
Daily files
July-Dec. 1929
carton 2, folder 1-6
Daily files
Jan.-June 1930
carton 2, folder 7-12
Daily files
Jan.-June 1931
carton 2, folder 13-18
Daily files
July-Dec. 1931
carton 3, folder 1-6
Daily files
Jan.-June 1932
carton 3, folder 7-12
Daily files
July-Dec. 1932
carton 3, folder 13-18
Daily files
Jan.-June 1933
carton 3, folder 19-24
Daily files
July-Dec. 1933
carton 4, folder 1-7
Daily files
Jan.-June 1934
carton 4, folder 8-12
Daily files
July-Dec. 1934
carton 4, folder 13-18
Daily files
Jan.-June 1935
carton 5, folder 1-6
Daily files
July-Dec. 1935
carton 6, folder 1-6
Daily files
Jan.-June 1936
carton 6, folder 7-12
Daily files
July-Dec. 1936
SERIES 2: INCOMING CORRESPONDENCE,
1927-1941
Physical Description: Carton 6, folders 13-18
carton 6, folder 18
Letters, miscellaneous
1927-40
SERIES 3: CORRESPONDENCE OF C.R. JOHNSON,
1883-1934
Physical Description: Cartons 7-8, Carton 9, folders 1-5
OUTGOING LETTERS,
1883-1922
INCOMING LETTERS,
1893-1934
carton 8, folder 6-7
Otis W. Johnson
1893-1919
carton 9, folder 2-3
Clark L. Poole and Company
1912-13
carton 9, folder 4
Coos Bay and Pacific States Lumber Company
ca. 1910-26
carton 9, folder 5
Coos Bay Lumber Company - Reorganization
1915-27
SERIES 4: CORRESPONDENCE OF GLEN BLAIR LUMBER COMPANY,
1903-1928
Physical Description: Carton 9, folders 6-17, Cartons 10-12
OUTGOING LETTERS,
1912-1920
INCOMING LETTERS,
1903-1919
carton 10, folder 6
Letters, miscellaneous
1905-07
carton 10, folder 16
Letters, miscellaneous
1909-10
GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE,
1921-1928
carton 12, folder 12
Letters, miscellaneous
1926-27
carton 12, folder 15
Letters, miscellaneous
1928
carton 12, folder 16-20
Advertisements for equipment
ca. 1920
carton 12, folder 21-29
Turner Letters, A-Z
ca. 1920
SERIES 5: CORRESPONDENCE OF MENDOCINO LUMBER COMPANY,
1886-1906
Physical Description: .Carton 13, folders 1-2
carton 13, folder 2
Mendocino Lumber Company
1906
SERIES 6: MISCELLANEOUS OFFICE FILES,
1898-1954
Physical Description: Cartons 13, folders 3-11, Carton 14; Oversize folder 1
carton 13, folder 3
National Steamship Company
1906-26 (cont.)
carton 13, folder 4
Noyo and Ft. Bragg Harbors
1906-27
PACIFIC STATES LUMBER COMPANY,
1915-1938
carton 13, folder 8
Consolidation agreements
1915-25
carton 13, folder 10
Reports and statements
ca. 1922-38
TIMBER AND LAND,
1920-1935
LUMBER AUTHORITY CODES,
1933
carton 14, folder 6-8
Lumber Code Authority
1933
carton 14, folder 9
Lumber Code Authority - bulletins and miscellaneous
1933
CALIFORNIA REDWOOD ASSOCIATION,
1933-1949
carton 14, folder 10-13
Redwood Lumber Cost Reports
1941-49
carton 14, folder 19
Lumber Record Bureau , Domestic and Foreign Shipments
1898
carton 14, folder 20
Redwood Operators Committee minutes
1947-48
SERIES 7: STRIKE FILES,
1943-1947
Physical Description: Carton 15, Oversize folder 1
carton 15, folder 1-2
Preliminary Strike correspondence and start of Strike
1946
carton 15, folder 3-4
Strike correspondence
1946
carton 15, folder 5
Pre-Strike materials
1945-46
carton 15, folder 7
Dolber and Carson Case--Travel Time
1945-47
carton 15, folder 8
Wage Adjustments/Job Classification
1943-44
carton 15, folder 9
Post-war Wage Adjustments
1945-46
carton 15, folder 11
Legal statements, briefs, and miscellaneous
1943-44
carton 15, folder 12
War Labor Board / West Coast LumberCommission documents
1943-44
carton 15, folder 13
National War Labor Board
1944-45
carton 15, folder 14-15
Employers' statements
1943-44
carton 15, folder 16
Employers' comments on Panel Report
1944-47
carton 15, folder 17
Redwood Industrial Relations Committee Strike files
ca. 1946
carton 15, folder 18-19
Strike files of Kenneth Smith,
California Redwood Association
1946-47
carton 15, folder 20
Case files of Kenneth Smith,
California Redwood Association
1944-45
carton 15, folder 22
Strike advertisements and publicity
1946
carton 15, folder 25
Job Classification, Study of the Small Industry Douglas Fir Region
1943
carton 15, folder 26
Collective Bargaining [pamphlet]
1943
SERIES 8: HISTORY FILES,
1862-1960
Physical Description: Carton 16, folders 1-11
carton 16, folder 2-3
Redwood Region
ca. 1931-53
carton 16, folder 4
Correspondence re Memories of the Mendocino Coast
ca. 1948-60
carton 16, folder 5
Oral History Interviews
1953
carton 16, folder 6
Redwood Industry brochures
ca. 1960
carton 16, folder 7
Field book (unidentified)
Undated
carton 16, folder 8
E.C. Williams correspondence
1866-1954
carton 16, folder 9
E.C. Williams letterpress book
1862-65; 1906-08
carton 16, folder 10
E.C. Williams letterpress book
1908-10
carton 16, folder 11
E.C. Williams letterpress book
1910-11
SERIES 9: STOCK AND FINANCIAL RECORDS,
1854-1937
Physical Description: Carton 16, folders 12-17, Box 1, Vols. 1-548
carton 16, folder 12
List of stock holders and statements
1918-37
carton 16, folder 13-15
Financial correspondence and statements
1893-1935
carton 16, folder 16
Trust Mortgage, Union Lumber Company to Michigan Trust Company
1930
carton 16, folder 17
Miscellaneous invoices
1881-1900
box 1, folder 1
Wells and Johnson's Mill ledger
1854-57
box 1, folder 2
Account ledger/ C.R. Johnson journal
1892-1902
box 1, folder 3
Payroll account sheets
1914-35
volume 133-141
Cash disbursements
1918-34
volume 143-195
Individual ledgers and balances
1892-1905
volume 247-254
General ledgers
1892-1922
volume 324-330
General Merchandise journals
1893-1908
volume 121-132
Cash disbursements
1921-34
volume 86-87
Yard Office, general cash books
1893-1902
volume 196-204
Individual ledgers and balances
1916-46
volume 255
Yard Office, general ledger
1893-99
volume 256
Storage Accounting (New York, etc.), general ledger
1921-23
volume 302-323
Merchandise sales journals
1894-1905
volume 338-348
Lumber shingle sales ledgers
1894-1910
volume 349
Lumber sales journal
1919-24
volume 523-526
Cash books, store
1910-31
volume 531
Transfer of Funds
1904-05
UNIDENTIFIED [UNION LUMBER COMPANY?]
volume 84-85
Cash books--miscellany
1907-27
volume 257
Department journal
1915-22
volume 281
Newport, ledger and balances
1883-85
volume 359-369
Operating costs and expense analyses
1910-52
volume 377-379
Segregation Merchandise
1909-21
volume 413
Log scaling report
1904-06
volume 428
Merchandise supply bills
1911-12
volume 429
Order book, San Francisco Office
1906
volume 350
Cargo sales to yard
1903-04
volume 353
Unidentified sales ledger
1937
volume 522
Labor Earned Working Papers
1935-39
volume 544-548
Unidentified journals
1860-1924
GLEN BLAIR REDWOOD COMPANY
volume 435-439
Letter books, remittances
1903-19
volume 451
Anglo Bank journal sheets
1906-09
volume 452-453
Time books and payroll
1906-09
volume 456-459
Individual ledgers
1904-20
volume 469
Account book (Fort Bragg)
1912-13
volume 470
Journal--company merchandise purchased
1903-05
volume 472
Register of insurance policies
1926-30
volume 142
Cash disbursements
1927-36
volume 206-213
Indiviual ledgers and balances
1859-1945
volume 258-278
Fort Bragg, general ledger
1860-1925
volume 279-280
San Francisco, general ledger
1909-15
volume 333
Merchandise sales journals
1907-09
volume 351-352
Miscellaneous sales ledgers
1906-21
volume 433
Accounts receivable
1925-34
volume 516
Daily sawing and logging report
1882-1902
volume 528
Supplies distribution
1906-09
volume 287-289
General ledgers [see also: v. 531]
1908-23
volume 430-431
Sales record
Jan.-July 1937
volume 434
Accounts receivable
1937-39
volume 530
Sales distribution
1933-37
FORT BRAGG REDWOOD COMPANY
volume 214-225
Individual ledgers and balances
1883-91
volume 331-332
Merchandise sales journals
1888-92
volume 334-337
Lumber shingle sales journals
1886-1894
CALIFORNIA WESTERN RAILROAD AND NAVIGATION COMPANY
FORT BRAGG ELECTRIC COMPANY
NATIONAL STEAMSHIP COMPANY
volume 487
Account book, Union and Mendocino Rail
1934
volume 495
Vessel shipments (Mendocino Lumber Company)
1935-37
volume 497
Steamer manifests
1923-37
volume 498
Statement of shipment and products
1907-08
volume 505-508
Journal and cash books
1911-18
volume 512
Account book for steamers Alcatraz and Helen P. Drew
1916-17
volume 513-514
Manifest of steamer Noyo
1932-35
volume 515
Shipping register for Glen Blair Redwood Company
1903-04
volume 520
San Jose Lumber cash book
1936-37
volume 527
Irvine and Muir Lumber Compan y sales sheets
1910
volume 532-533
The Dean Reversible Window Company ledger
1909-14
volume 534
West Coast Timber Company ledger
1909-14
volume 535
Noyo Lumber Company ledger
1886-92
volume 536
Bay City Lumber and Supply Company ledger
1907-19
volume 537
Noyo Grape Packing Company ledger
1923-32
volume 539
Noyo Land and Cattle Company ledger
1920
volume 540
San Jose Lumber Company ledger
1934-40
volume 541
C.A. Perkins and Perkins Bros. ledger
1902-05
volume 542
A.R. Johnston Company ledger
1902-05
volume 543
Old Big River Lumber Company ledger
1864-67
oversize Folder 1
Coos Bay Lumber Company statements
1920
Facts About the Redwood Strike (posters issued by Redwood Industrial Relations Committee on behalf of struck companies)
1946