Register of the Skaar (Sven) Collection, 1893-1973

Processed by Don Walker; machine-readable finding aid created by Don Walker

Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections

University Library, University of the Pacific

Stockton, CA 95211

Phone: (209) 946-2404

URL: http://www.pacific.edu/Library/Find/Holt-Atherton-Special-Collections.html

Register of the Skaar (Sven) Collection, 1893-1973

Collection number: Mss123

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
URL: https://www.pacific.edu/university-libraries/find/holt-atherton-special-collections

Processed by:: Don Walker
Date Completed:: March 15, 1994
Encoded by:: Don Walker

Descriptive Summary

Title: Skaar (Sven) Collection,

Date (inclusive): 1893-1973

Collection number: Mss123

Creator: Grace Skaar

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], Skaar (Sven) Collection, Mss123, Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library

Biography

Sven Skaar was an amateur historian and novelist who lived in Nevada City, Calif. between 1945 and 1973. He operated Ott's Assay Office as a museum there from 1963 until his death (1973). Skaar's research interests centered on persons and events associated with 19th century California. He penned two completed novels on California figures: "Murder in the Valley," based on the exploits of train robbers, Chris Evans and John Sontag; and, "One more mountain," a fictionalized biography of Henry A. Meiggs. Skaar also left an incomplete, untitled work on the Nathan Bowers Express, copious notes on the Henry Crabb party's activities in southern Arizona Territory, and a lengthy account of the activities of Idaho bandit, Henry A. Plummer.

Scope and Content

The Sven Skaar Collection consists principally of notes and clippings related to Skaar's fiction. There are also clippings and correspondence pertinent to his activities in Nevada City and to the history of 19th century Anglo California with particular emphasis on the northern mother lode.

BOX 1: SVEN SKAAR COLLECTION

1.1--EVANS & SONTAG: Clippings

1.2--EVANS & SONTAG: "Murder in the Valley" [draft]

1.3--HENRY A. MEIGGS: Clippings

1.4--HENRY A. MEIGGS: Notes

1.5--HENRY A. MEIGGS:"One more mountain"

1.6--THE NATHAN BOWERS EXPRESS: Notes

1.7--THE NATHAN BOWERS EXPRESS: Correspondence

1.8--THE NATHAN BOWERS EXPRESS: Clippings

1.9--THE NATHAN BOWERS EXPRESS: Fragmentary Draft of Novel

1.10-HENRY CRABB: NOTES

1.11-HENRY A. PLUMMER: NOTES

1.12-19th c. CALIFORNIA HISTORY CLIPPINGS: NEVADA CITY/GRASS VALLEY AREA

a)-"The Alleghany Bonanza zone has a width of nine miles...," source unident. (n.d., c1880s)

b)-"Memoirs of a pioneer woman of Nevada City," source unident. (n.d., 1920s) [L.J. Rolfe; 4 l.]

c)-"Haunts of heroes in diary of '49er will be marked," Sacto. Bee (n.d. 1937)

d)-"The story of Sweetland," Nevada City Nugget (6-8-48)

e)-"Caravan, July 23 to Moore's Flat...," source unident. (7-15-50)

f)-"The towns that were," Nevada City Nugget (n.d., 12-52) [Coyoteville]

g)-"The towns that were," Nevada City Nugget (12-11-52) [Coyoteville, pt. 2]

h)-"World getting ready to mark 50th anniversary of powered flight in December," Grass Valley Union (5-2-53)

i)-"Hydraulic era not over yet...," Grass Valley Union (7-11-53)

j)-"Amazing inside story 'uncovered' by San Francisco daily but secrets divulged can be heard on any corner," Grass Valley Union (10-10-53)

k)-"Nevada County's first thirty years," Nevada City/Grass Valley Nugget (6-10-54)

l)-"Directory tells fascinating tale of earlier time," Grass Valley Union (8-28-54)

m)-"Lyman Gilmore was far ahead of world in designing flying machine," Grass Valley Union (9-11-54)

n)-"Tales of two cities," Grass Valley Union (10-7-54) [Pelton wheel

o)-"Crossing of Sierra has been problem ever since first immigrants saw a barrier," Grass Valley Union (10-16-54)

p)-"Thornton letters to be subject of Sven Skaar at history society," Grass Valley Union (10-23-54)

q)-"It happended in Nevada County 75 years ago--1879," Grass Valley Union (n.d., 1954) [G.W. Kidd]

r)-"Many families could add to county's records," Grass Valley Union (5-14-55)

s)-"Peardale Hall, soon to give way to modernity...,"Grass Valley Union (5-23-55)

t)-"Wheel which gave west cheap power stands out among many inventions of gold country," Grass Valley Union (8-30-55) [2 l.; Pelton Wheel]

u)-"Chicago Park's history told by Fred Brandt," Grass Valley Union (9-10-55)

v)-"Dispute on name of Nevada again in spotlight," Grass Valley Union (n.d., 1955)

w)-"Guest writer tells history of hydraulicking," Grass Valley Union (8-18-56)

x)-"Stages played an important part in early days," Grass Valley Union (12-15-56)

y)-"Baruch, Zellerbach families, w/ early day roots in Nevada County, become leaders throughout the state," Grass Valley Union (1-14-57)

z)-"Professor gets much objection to West theory," Grass Valley Union (6-15-57) [Walter Prescott Webb]

aa)-"Boston Raviners showed way to joint celebration," Grass Valley Union (7-6-57)

bb)-"Great invasion of Nevada City comic incident," Grass Valley Union (3-29-58)

cc)-"Sum-Gold buys I-MM property east of G.V.," Grass Valley Union (8-13-59)

dd)-"Main tunnel adit of Mountaineer," Grass Valley Union (8-13-59)

ee)-"Wells Fargo rewarded county man for killing bandit trio," Richmond [Ind.] Palladium Item & Sun-Telegram (8-24-59)

ff)-"Dr. Huff listed Steve Venard among those making gold hunt,"Richmond [Ind.} Palladium Item & Sun-Telegram (8-25-59)

gg)-"Evidence well-documented that Bret Harte taught six months at Indian Springs near Pilot Peak," Grass Valley Union (n.d. 1960)

hh)-"Mark Twain sets out on lecture tour of mines," Grass Valley Union (7-15-61)

ii)-"Twain achieves great success in G.V. lecture," Grass Valley Union (7-22-61)

jj)-"Gold country lectures start Twain's success," Grass Valley Union (7-29-61)

kk)-"Stewart's lst days in court not happy ones," Grass Valley Union (8-19-61)

ll)-"Tommyknockers saved 60 men in mine disaster," Grass ValleyUnion (9-16-61)

mm)-"Rich gold find on Deer Creek sets off feud," Grass Valley Union (9-30-61)

nn)-"Sven Skaar reopens Ott's Assay Office...," Grass Valley Union (8-30-63)

oo)-Marvin E. Locke. "The Nevada County Narrow Gauge," Grass Valley Union (n.d., 1963) [10 l.]

pp)-"Historic treasure in danger," Sacramento Union (5-26-68) [Ott's Assay Office; 2 l.]

qq)-"Stories of Grass Valley in west Briton stirs Old Timer to reflect," Grass Valley Union (n.d.)

rr)-"California was free state but it did have slaves at Kentucky Flat," Grass Valley Union (n.d.)

1.13--19th c. CALIFORNIA HISTORY CLIPPINGS: MOTHER LODE OUTSIDE NEVADA COUNTY

a)-"Capt. Lowry, a brother of A.J. Lowry...," El Dorado Republican (1-25-94)

b)-"Scientists ask government to take charge of band of wild indians," SF Call (3-20- 11) [Mill Creek band, Tehama Co.]

c)-"Poet of sierras once served as camp cook," Grass Valley Union (3-20-13) [Joaquin Miller]

d)-"Woman recalls Marshall incident," Sacramento Bee (1-30-26)

e)-"A Columbia sketchbook--concluded," source unidentified (n.d.,1940s)

f)-"Lake will doom land behind Folsom Dam," Sacramento Union (n.d. Oct. 1950?)

g)-"Three of state's oldest schools are doomed behind Folsom Dam," Sacramento Union (n.d. Oct. 1950?)

h)-"Big Folsom Dam will doom farmland held by family for five generations," Sacramento Union (10-1-50)

i)-"Mormon Island cemetery doomed by Folsom Dam," Sacramento Union (10-22-50)

j)-"Mormon Island's wine center site will disappear," Sacramento Union (10-29-50)

k)-"Man, wife average $50 day mining American River...," Sacramento Union (11-5-50)

l)-"Mormon's part in '49 gold rush retold as Folsom Dam goes up," Sacramento Union (11- 12-50)

m)-"Family will give up land, 100 years of history to dam," Sacramento Union (11-19-50)

n)-"Benjamin Norton Bugbey--The last evidence of vast holdings will drown behind Folsom," Sacramento Union (12-10-50)

o)-"Aging son of fabulous Chinese carries on mining tradition," Sacto. Union (1-14- 51) [Kee Chin & Ma Wing Buck--Auburn]

p)-"Iowa Hill: Once America's third largest city," Sacramento Union (4-15-51)

q)-"Bodie is an honest gold ghost town," San Francisco Chronicle (9-26-52)

r)-"El Dorado county---'Gold from the American!'," San Francisco Chronicle (2-15-53) [2 l.]

s)-"Old cornerstone custom is dying out...," Grass Valley Union (7-3-53)

t)-"Cock-eye Johnson and Snow Shoe Thompson made ski history more than a century ago," Nevada State Journal (3-14-54)

u)-"49ers still hold title as world's fastest skiers," San Francisco Chronicle (3-25-54)

v)-"Snow-shoe Thompson's bout with LaPorte 'Lightning'," San Francisco Chronicle (3-26-54)

w)-"An incident in Downieville," San Francisco Chronicle (8-22-54)

x)-"The bloody arm of the Crows: Old Jim Beckwourth was all man...," San Francisco Chronicle (9-26-54)

y)-"Jeep caravan visits several old stage stops," Grass Valley Union (10-23-54)

z)-"Rocking stone near Truckee curious item," Grass Valley Union (7-8-61)

aa)-Charles D. Ferguson. "Experiences of a forty-niner," Grass Valley Union (5-15- 70)

bb)-"Sierra-Nevada counties booster," source unidentified, n.d. [J.K. Latta of Downieville]

cc)-"Tuttletown," source unidentified (n.d.)

1.14--19th c. CALIFORNIA HISTORY CLIPPINGS: Other California Sites

a)-"Shall we annex the Hawaiian Islands?," source unidentified (n.d. before 1898)

b)-Adv. pg. from Stanford University publication, 1901

c)-"Don Pedro Fages," The Grizzly Bear (12-17)

d)-"Blazed trail to the West century ago," San Francisco Chronicle (8-29-26) [2 l.]

e)-"Bits of old San Francisco," San Francisco Chronicle (7-16-28) [Stanford University]

f)-"Detective is laid to rest," source unidentified (n.d.)

g)-"Groetzinger-Lowry: A Quiet Wedding at San Francisco of interest here," source unidentified (n.d.)

h)-Lucius Beebe. "Nob Hill," Holiday (n.d., c1950) [4 l.]

i)-"Tiburcio Vasquez," source unidentified (n.d.) [photocopy]