Guide to the Baeck Family Papers, [ca. 1859-1972]

Processed by The Bancroft Library staff

The Bancroft Library.

University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, California, 94720-6000

Phone: (510) 642-6481

Fax: (510) 642-7589

Email: bancref@library.berkeley.edu

URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu

Note

History --History, California --History, Bay Area History --History, United States (excluding California) --General

Guide to the Baeck Family Papers, [ca. 1859-1972]

Collection number: BANC MSS 74/101 c

The Bancroft Library

University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, California

Contact Information:

The Bancroft Library.
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California, 94720-6000
Phone: (510) 642-6481
Fax: (510) 642-7589
Email: bancref@library.berkeley.edu
URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu

Processed by:: The Bancroft Library staff
Date Completed:: ca. 1974
Encoded by:: Xiuzhi Zhou

Collection Summary

Collection Title: Baeck Family Papers,

Date (inclusive): [ca. 1859-1972]

Collection Number: BANC MSS 74/101 c

Creator: Baeck Family

Extent: Number of containers: 7 boxes, 2 cartons, 1 scrapbook, and 2 oversize folders

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: Includes papers of Anna R. Baeck, some relating to student days at the University of California, Class of 1912; papers of her father, San Francisco Judge Timothy H. Rearden, including letters, manuscripts of writings, copies of legal decisions, etc. Contains Civil War correspondence, including letters from a cadet on the U.S.S. Constitution. Family papers also include those of Anna Baeck's uncle, Joseph D. Redding, relating to his career as a San Francisco attorney and as composer. Some papers of other members of the family also included: Benjamin D. Redding, Samuel Cowles, Anita C. Rearden, and Myra C. Redding. Correspondents include Ambrose Bierce, Ina Coolbrith, and Porter Garnett.

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], Baeck Family papers, BANC MSS 74/101 c, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information

The Baeck family papers were given to The Bancroft Library by Anne C. Baeck in 1973, with additions in 1974.

Scope and Content

The Baeck family Papers consist primarily of papers of Anna R. Baeck; papers of her father, Timothy H. Rearden, and her mother, Anita C. Rearden; and papers of her uncle, Joseph D. Redding and his wife, Myra C. Redding.

Brief Family History

Anna Wooster (Rearden) Baeck was born in San Francisco in 1888, the daughter of Anita Elizabeth (Cowles) and Judge Timothy Henry Rearden. After attending public schools in California and Illinois, she entered the University of California at Berkeley where she was a member of the Prytanean Society. In 1912, the year of her graduation, she wrote the first ''Partheneia'' to be given there by the women students. After teaching school for several years, she was married in 1917 to John Eric Baeck and resided in Berkeley almost continuously until her death in 1970. Her papers relate mainly to her academic career at the University, literary interests and family affairs.

Her father, Timothy Rearden, was born in Wooster, Ohio in 1839. He attended high school in Cleveland and was graduated from Kenyon College in 1859. Serving briefly in the Civil War, he came to San Francisco in 1863, worked in the mint while studying law and opened an office about 1872. In 1883 he was appointed by Governor Stoneman to fill a vacancy in the Superior Court; in 1884 he was elected to succeed himself and served through 1890. He was married in 1888 to Anita Cowles, daughter of his friend Judge Samuel Cowles. Rearden was a serious student of languages and literature, a member of the Chit-Chat Club and part of the literary scene which included Ambrose Bierce, Bret Harte and Fanny Osbourne. His book Petrarch and Other Essays was published after his death which occurred on May 10, 1892. His papers relate to his career, life in San Francisco, and to his studies and writings.

Joseph Deighn Redding (Anna Baeck's uncle) was born in Sacramento in 1859, the son of Mary Prescott (Putnam) and Benjamin Barnard Redding. He was graduated in 1874 from the California Military Academy in Oakland, attended Harvard Law School from 1877 to 1879, was admitted to the California bar in 1879 and practiced law in San Francisco almost continuously until several years before his death in 1932. In 1882 he was married to Myra Augusta Cowles who died in 1945. He was a member of the Bohemian Club, serving as president from 1885 to 1886, and was the author of several of its ''Grove'' plays. He also wrote the operas Natoma and Fay-Yen Fah. Redding's papers relate mainly to his career and to his musical activities.

Scope and Content

Most of the photographs have been removed and indexed separately.

A key to arrangement describes the collection in greater detail. Separate lists of significant correspondents have been prepared for each member of the family.

Box 1

Letters written by Rearden, 1859-1892.

Scope and Content Note

Originals, written mainly to his family in Cleveland, Ohio, relating to his education at Kenyon College, Civil War service, voyage to California in 1863 and activities in San Francisco. Arranged chronologically.

Boxes 1-2

Letters written to Rearden.

Scope and Content Note

Arranged alphabetically by name of person or organization. A partial list of correspondents follows. Unlisted letters have been placed in a miscellany preceding the rest of the letters.

Bierce, Ambrose, 1842-1914?

3 letters, 1872-1884.

Scope and Content Note

Photocopies.

Chit-Chat Club

Letter, Sept. 30, 1881.

Scope and Content Note

Notification of election to active membership.

Davis, Murray, d. 1877

4 letters, 1863-1870 & n.d.

Scope and Content Note

Relate mainly to experiences as a cavalry officer in the Civil War & the West. With this: 2 letters written by his wife, n.d.

Douglas, William Wallace, 1863-

Letter, Mar. 11, 1889.

Scope and Content Note

Written while Executive Secretary to Gov. R. W. Waterman.

Dwight, Theodore F.

Letter, June 28, 1873.

Scope and Content Note

Mentions Charles Warren Stoddard.

Gregg, V. A., 1844-1899

Letter, Mar. 15, 1889

Heller, Moses

Letter, May 22, 1880

Raebel, Herman C., d. 1869

7 letters, 1861-1865.

Scope and Content Note

Written while a cadet aboard the U.S.S. Constitution.

Spalding, Zepharin Swift

3 letters, 1869-1870.

Scope and Content Note

Re proposed visit to Hawaii by Rearden & Ambrose Bierce.

Stebbins, Alfred, 1834-1901

4 letters, 1873-1874.

Scope and Content Note

With this: 3 letters written by his wife, 1873-1884.

Stevenson, Fanny (Van de Grift) Osbourne, 1840-1914

59 letters, 1874-1879 & n.d.

Scope and Content Note

Transcripts. Some written for her by Belle Osbourne & others. With this: Several sets of variant transcripts; one set annotated by Anna (Rearden) Baeck, (3 folders).

Stevenson, Robert Louis, 1850-1894

Letter (incomplete copy), [Apr. 1881?].

Scope and Content Note

In handwriting of Rearden's sister.

Taussig, Rudolph Julius, 1861-1922

Letter, Feb. 2, 1891.

Scope and Content Note

Requesting Rearden to secure the services of a Superior Court Judge for his wedding.

Williams, Dora Norton [Mrs. Virgil Macey Williams]

Letter, Feb. 17, 1891.

Williams, Virgil Macey

Letter, n.d.

Wills, M. A.

35 letters, 1871-1889 & n.d.

Scope and Content Note

Some letters relate to social life in San Francisco.

Box 3

Letters written by Anita (Cowles) Rearden (later Mrs. James V. Lavery).

Scope and Content Note

Originals, arranged chronologically.

Letters written to Mrs. Rearden.

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by name of person. Unlisted letters are in a miscellany preceding listed letters.

Bierce, Ambrose, 1842-1914?

2 letters, 1912.

Coolbrith, Ina Donna, 1842-1928

Letter, Oct. 4, 1914.

Cowles, Alfred Hutchinson, 1858-1929

Letter, Sept. 6, 1906.

Cowles, Edwin, 1825-1890

Letter, Dec. 17, 1883.

Cowles, William Hutchinson, 1866-1946

4 letters, 1925-1938 & n.d.

Field, Isobel (Osbourne)

Letter, Aug. 4, 1912.

Garnett, Edna (Foote)

Letter, Apr. 9, 1912.

Hotaling, Anson Parsons

Letter, Jan. 13, 1887.

Hotaling, Lavinia J.

2 letters, 1897-1906.

Hotaling, Richard M., 1868-1925

3 letters, 1912 & n.d.

Lyons, Timothy J., 1860-1916

2 letters, 1900-1902.

Morrison, Alexander Francis, 1856-1921

Letter, Aug. 25, 1898.

Osbourne, Lloyd, 1868-1947

Letter, Nov. 30, 1899.

Scope and Content Note

Photocopy.

Redding, Joseph Deighn, 1859-1962

8 letters, 1900-1925.

Redding, Myra Augusta (Cowles), 1857-1945

100 letters, 1883-1943 & n.d.

Rowell, Joseph Cummings, 1853-1938

Letter, Dec. 19, 1924.

Stevenson, Fanny (Van de Grift) Osbourne, 1840-1914

3 letters, n.d.

Scope and Content Note

Photocopies.

Wills, M. A.

5 letters, 1895-1924.

Worcester, Joseph

8 letters, 1893-1901 & n.d.

Box 4

Letters written by Anna Wooster (Rearden) Baeck, 1902-1939 & n.d.

Scope and Content Note

Mainly drafts, arranged chronologically.

Boxes 4-5

Letters written to Mrs. Baeck

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by name of person or organization. Listed letters (see below) are preceded by a miscellany of unlisted letters.

Bates, Katharine Lee, 1859-1929

see Garnett, Porter

Bierce, Ambrose, 1842-1914?

2 letters, 1912.

Scope and Content Note

Letter dated Aug. 25 is a photocopy.

Boalt, Elisabeth Joselyn

2 letters, 1906-1912.

Scope and Content Note

Letter, dated May 4, 1906 states that Ina Coolbrith is staying with her.

Booth, Bradford A.

Letter, Dec. 5, 1954.

California. University, Berkeley. Library

2 letters, 1942.

Scope and Content Note

Written by Harold L. Leupp, Librarian.

California. University, Berkeley. Prytanean Society

Letter, Apr. 15, 1912.

Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage

2 letters, 1915.

Cornelius Fidelis, Brother, 1877-1962

Postcard, May 5, 1942.

Cowles, William Hutchinson, 1866-1946

59 letters, 1915-1945.

Scope and Content Note

Relate mainly to family finances, including those of Myra (Cowles) Redding. Included also: Letter (n.d.) from Mrs. Cowles.

Drury, Ella L. (Bishop) [Mrs. Wells Drury]

Letter, Mar. 18, 1931.

Field, Isobel (Osbourne)

Letter, Apr. 1, 1912.

Garnett, Edna (Foote) [Mrs. Porter Garnett]

19 letters, 1913-1951 & n.d.

Scope and Content Note

Includes also: 3 letters, 1917-1919 & n.d., written by Ellie [sister ?].

Garnett, Porter, 1871-1951

20 letters, 1912-1950 & n.d.

Scope and Content Note

Letter, Sept. 3, 1912, transmits letter from Katharine Lee Bates.

Letter (copy), Nov. 15, 1915.

Additional Note

Written to Mrs. William Kent.

See also Fred Yates

Hotaling, Richard M., 1868-1925

2 letters, 1912.

Howe, Will David, 1873-1946

3 letters, 1929.

Issler, Anne Roller, 1892-

Letter, Mar. 10, 1969.

Kent, Elizabeth (Thacher), 1868-1952

2 letters, 1915.

Scope and Content Note