Gump family papers, 1871-1990, bulk bulk 1920-1970

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Summary

Creators:
Gump family
Abstract:
Papers of the Gump family of San Francisco, consisting of family correspondence and other personal documents as well as some Gump's Department Store correspondence and business records.
Extent:
6.4 linear feet (4 cartons, 1 oversize box, 2 boxes, 1 volume, and 1 oversize folder), 2 sound tape reels, 1 film reel, and 6 sound discs
Language:
English , English .
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Gump family papers, BANC MSS 2013/156, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.

Background

Scope and content:

While a portion of the Gump Family Papers collection includes correspondence and documents related to the S and G Gump Company, the majority of the collection is comprised of Gump family papers. The business papers make up the first series. They consist of financial documents and promotional material (including catalogs) as well as less formal correspondence and memos, documenting the ways in which the business was run. The business papers also document the Gumps' real estate business and work in Honolulu. Although a majority of the correspondence centers around the Gumps' store, it also includes World War II related correspondence and business correspondence with William Randolph Hearst. Most business records are from the 20th century. The second, larger series is dedicated to family papers, which also includes correspondence, financial documents, and other family papers. These papers document the Gumps' charitable involvement, family dynamics, and other aspects of their personal lives. A subseries is dedicated to Richard Gump, as his personal papers are a large portion of the series. The Richard Gump series exhibits his more creative pursuits; much of the material is related to his band, the Guckenheimer Sour-Kraut band and his Polynesian Symphony. Other family members with a significant presence in the collection include Abraham Livingston Gump, his son Robert Gump, and Richard's son Peter Gump.

Biographical / historical:

After buying out his brother in-law's mirror and frame shop in 1861, immigrants Solomon Gump and his brother Gustav founded the S and G Gump Company. They remained owners of the shop until Solomon's son, Abraham Livingston (widely referred to as A.L.), took over at the turn of the century. When the 1906 earthquake demolished the store, A.L. was forced to start anew. It was this event and his love for far Eastern design that made Gump's the high-end, San Francisco attraction it came to be. The launch of their catalog in the 1950s made their store nationally recognizable as their goods were now accessible across the country. Following his father, A.L.'s, death in 1947, Richard Gump took control and became president of the company until he retired and sold the store in 1975. Two years later, he began communicating with UC Berkeley about donating his property on the island of Moorea. As of the official signing in 1981, the property became the Richard B. Gump South Pacific Research Station. The Bancroft Library conducted an oral history with Richard Gump in 1989.

Acquisition information:
The Gump family papers were gifted to the Bancroft Library by Marilyn Gump in 2013. Additions received from the family in 2018.
Processing information:

Processed by Sibba Hartunian in 2013. Additions processed by Lara Michels in 2022.

Accruals:

No future additions are expected.

Physical location:

Many of the Bancroft Library collections are stored offsite and advance notice may be required for use. For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.

Audiovisual materials in this collection have the call numbers: Phonodisc 791, No. 1-7 and Phonotape 4061 and are physically stored with the phonodisc and audiotape collections of the Bancroft Library.

Rules or conventions:
DACS

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research with the exception of archival audiovisual materials. ARCHIVAL AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS RESTRICTED DUE TO FRAGILITY. Audiovisual materials must be reformatted for research access. Inquire with Bancroft Public Services regarding the creation of reading room viewing copies of archival audiovisual items in the collection

Terms of access:

Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction of some materials may be restricted by terms of University of California gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user. For additional information about the University of California, Berkeley Library's permissions policy please see: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/about/permissions-policies

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Gump family papers, BANC MSS 2013/156, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.

Location of this collection:
University of California, Berkeley, The Bancroft Library
Berkeley, CA 94720-6000, US
Contact:
510-642-6481
bancref-library@berkeley.edu
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