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Register of the California Weather Bureau Journals, 1893-1927
Mss234  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Descriptive Summary
  • Administrative Information
  • Biography
  • Scope and Content

  • Descriptive Summary

    Title: California Weather Bureau Journals,
    Date (inclusive): 1893-1927
    Collection number: Mss234
    Creator: C. Robert Elford
    Extent: 2 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], California Weather Bureau Journals, Mss234, Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library

    Biography

    C. Robert Elford was the State Climatologist of California, serving in the San Francisco Office between 1958 and 1972. The San Francisco Office was at one time the principal west coast office and made forecasts for the wesern United States. Later, forecasting was moved to South San Francisco and the former San Francisco Office became a Climatological Center. In 1973 field offices were closed and staff was directed to dispose of records. At that time Elford salvaged these early diaries.
    In the early days each Weather Bureau Office kept a diary of daily activities in handwritten form. Many of the entries found in these journals are very routine, but some contain interesting accounts. The Weather Bureau maintained its own communication lines to its remote locations, such as the Farallon Islands, Mt. Tamalpais and Point Reyes. Maintenance was often difficult and required frequent innovation.

    Scope and Content

    The collection consists of thirteen ledgers of weather observations from various California weather stations, including: Independence (1894-1925); Mt. Tamalpais (1898-1921); the Farallon Islands (1906-1913); San Francisco (1906-1917); and, Point Reyes (1893-1927).