Guide to the Arthur L. Dahl Papers JL022
Processed by Special Collections staff; machine-readable finding aid created by Michael G. Olson
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
2001 ; revised 2023
Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford 94305-6064
specialcollections@stanford.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Arthur L. Dahl papers
Identifier/Call Number: JL022
Physical Description:
6 Linear Feet
(12 boxes)
Date (inclusive): circa 1900-1970
Abstract: Arthur L. Dahl held various positions in the United States Civil Service, among them personal secretary to Gifford Pinchot,
who was then National Forester. Dahl was transferred to San Francisco in 1908 as Chief of Maintenance in the Bureau of Forestry
District #5. By 1918 he had quit the civil service and was involved in the oil business.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use.
Biographical / Historical
Missing Title
1880, Oct. 16 |
Born in Port Leavenworth, Kansas. |
1900, Dec. 17 |
Becomes stenograher for George Wright, U.S. Indian Inspector for Indian Territory at Muscogee. |
1901, Dec. |
Passes Civil Service Stenographer and Typewriter test. |
1902, Dec. |
Post Office Department. |
1903, Dec. 26 |
Bureau of Forestry, Department of Agriculture as Clerk, Stenographer and Typewriter. Becomes personal secretary of Gifford
Pinchot.
|
1905, June |
Graduated with Bachelor of Laws degree from George Washington University. |
1905 |
Involved in oil - member of Santa Paula Oil Association, Secretary of Willard Canyon Oil Co., Director of Climax Oil Co. |
1923 |
Involved with Insurance Exchange, S.F. |
1927 |
With Hammon Engineering Co., S.F. |
1932 |
With Life Department of the Aetna Life Insurance Co. |
1933, Aug |
Appointed Secretary and returns to former work as Pacific Coast correspondent and representative of several trade publications. |
1952 (?) |
Year of death. |
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Arthur L. Dahl, Jr. to the Jackson Library of Business, 1972. Transferred to Special Collections in 1979.
Preferred Citation
Arthur L. Dahl Papers. JL022. Dept. of Special Collections, Stanford Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
Scope and Contents
The collection, which was given by Arthur Dahl's son, consists of some correspondence and documents relating to his early
civil service jobs, his oil associations and his position with the Insurance Broker's Exchange. However, the great majority
of the collection is lists and copies of articles that Dahl had published in various magazines and other periodicals between
1910 and 1937. Writing was a profitable hobby, at which he spent his spare hours from his business career. The articles range
from highly technical articles about agricultural machines and methods to anecdotes with morals. In some cases the entire
periodical, in which an article by Dahl is reproduced, has been preserved, and they provide interesting and rare reading material.
A Good example of this is the issues of
Grit dated from 1916 to 1925.
Conditions Governing Use
While Special Collections is the owner of the physical and digital items, permission to examine collection materials is not
an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission
or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns.
Box 1, folder 1
George Washington University
Box 1, folder 2
Civil Service Papers and Correspondence
1900 Dec - 1908 Oct
Scope and Contents note
Contains letters to and from Congressman and other government bureaucrats concerning changes in Dahl's job (switches position,
agency or Department).
Box 1, folder 3
Oil Stock: Willard Canyon Co., Kimerick Co. and Santa Paula Oil Association
1916 Jan - 1927 Sept
Scope and Contents note
Contains stock certificates, correspondence and contracts concerning these three companies. Dahl was an officer (Secretary)
of Willard and Santa Paula.
Box 1, folder 4
Albert E. Boynton and Wendell C. Hammon
Scope and Contents note
Contains a biography of Boynton written by Dahl; and memorandums, written by Dahl, noting that he had served as a witness
to the wills of both of these men, who were business associates (oil) and friends.
Box 1, folder 5
Insurance Broker's Exchange
1933 Sept - 1936 Aug
Scope and Contents note
Contains articles giving a brief biography of Dahl upon the occasion of his appointment as Secretary of the Exchange; then
one letter and clippings of articles regarding his resignation from that same position.
Box 1, folder 6
Lists of Articles Published
1910 - 1937
Scope and Contents
Handwritten lists of articles found in the bound volumes.
Box 1, folder 7
Correspondence concerning article titled "Victory Dock Seamen"
Box 1, folder 8
Original and Carbon Copies of Submitted Articles
Scope and Contents note
Most of these articles were rejected by publishers, N.D.
Box 1, folder 9
Horst's Evaporated Vegetables
Scope and Contents note
Includes diffferent articles and brochures written by Dahl about evaporated vegetables, and correspondence from E. Clemens
Horst about the articles.
Box 1, folder 10
Loose Articles
1916 - 1939
Scope and Contents note
Folder containg about ten articles from different magazines on vastly different subjects.
Box 1, volume 11
Articles, Arthur L. Dahl (bound)
1914 - 1921
Scope and Contents
Contains articles, the majority of which are about forestry and agriculture, in various magazines including
Scientific American, A
merican Thresherman, and
Farm Power. Arranged in groups of same magazine, chronologically within each group.
Box 2
Articles, Arthur L. Dahl (bound)
1917 - 1937
Box 3
Various magazine issues with articles by Arthur Dahl
1911 July - 1936 Dec.
Scope and Contents note
Contents vary but predominantly the articles are concerned with agricultural and technical topics. Periodicals: Technical
World, Overland Monthly, Munsey's Magazine, Masonite Publications, etc. Note: Overland Monthly - 1923 July contains: 1. Eulogy
of Jane Lathrop Stanford and 2. an article about the Hoover Library, neither written by Dahl.
Box 2
Scrapbook
1907 - 1916
Scope and Contents note
Articles written by Dahl.
Box 4
Scrapbook
1916 - 1920
Scope and Contents note
Articles written by Dahl.
Box 5
Scrapbook
1921 - 1925
Scope and Contents note
Articles written by Dahl.
Box 6, folder 1
Peninsula Housing Association
Box 6, folder 2
Wendell Wilkie Volunteers
Box 6, folder 4
Miscellaneous correspondence & ephemera
Box 6, folder 6
Photographs of Santa Clara prune orchard & grazing cows
Box 6, folder 9
Theater and music programs
Box 7
Banking, investments and real estate
Box 8
Arthur Dahl, Jr. class notes & papers
1936-1938
Box 9, Box 10
Correspondence, business, civic & philanthropy records, Stanford, other ephemera
circa 1939-1960
Box 10
Capital Issues Committee Regular Meetings
1918
Box 11
Masonic sash & small American flag
Box 11
Third Annual Institutional Investor Conference packet
1970
Box 11
San Francisco Stock Exchange book
1930