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 3

WWII

Box 6, folder 4

Miscellaneous correspondence & ephemera

Box 6, folder 5

Extracts from 1915 Diary

Box 6, folder 6

Photographs of Santa Clara prune orchard & grazing cows

Box 6, folder 7

Leuna Dahl

Box 6, folder 8

Jane Dahl articles

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