Burrel Leonard Photographs and Fruit Labels

Finding aid created by History San Jose Research Library staff using RecordEXPRESS
History San Jose Research Library
1661 Senter Road
San Jose, California 95112
(408) 287-2290
research@historysanjose.org
http://www.historysanjose.org/
2023


Descriptive Summary

Title: Burrel Leonard Photographs and Fruit Labels
Dates: 1900-1983 (bulk 1920-1945)
Collection Number: 2003-22
Creator/Collector: Leonard, Burrel (1911-2000)
Extent: 4.5 linear feet
Online items available
Repository: History San Jose Research Library
San Jose, California 95112
Abstract: Photographs and fruit labels from the John and Burrel Leonard families, documenting the history of one of Cupertino's ranching families from the 1850s to their management of a prominent canning operation in the early 20th century, and later development of their land into the Vallco Fashion Mall, one of the first shopping malls in the South Bay Area.
Language of Material: English

Access

The materials are available for researchers by appointment through the Curator of Library and Archives.

Publication Rights

The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be "used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research." If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use," that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgement, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item]. Burrel Leonard Photographs and Fruit Labels. Collection Number: 2003-22. History San Jose Research Library

Acquisition Information

Gift to History San Jose in 2003 by the Estate of Burrel Leonard

Biography/Administrative History

According to Mary Lou Lyon’s “Early Cupertino” (Arcadia Publishing : San Francisco, 2006), Leonard Burrel was the only child of John Leonard, son-in-law of Margaret C. Glendenning Burrell, and his wife Grace. Leonard was born January 12, 1911, and attended local schools, graduating from Stanford University. He worked with his father John at the family’s fruit ranch, where they produced and sold prunes and apricots to Gerber Baby Food. In 1964, Leonard sold 100 acres of his ranch to Varian Associates, the foundation of the Vallco business park, named for its primary developers: Varian and Leonard, as well as the Lester, Craft, and Orlando families. Leonard served as President of Vallco Park, Ltd. The business park was later developed into Vallco Fashion Park, which opened in 1976. Leonard passed away in December 2000.

Scope and Content of Collection

Three linear feet of photographs depict workers and operations at the John Leonard prune and apricot orchards and processing locations in and around Cupertino in Santa Clara Valley, California; the opening of Vallco Fashion Park in 1976; several images of Hewlett-Packard buildings in Cupertino; and a small amount of Glendenning/Leonard family photographs. Also included are 1.5 linear feet of “Leonard’s prepared prunes” labels. Related collections in local repositories are The California Western Americana Collection (Cupertino Library, 10800 Torre Avenue Cupertino, CA 95014) and the Glendenning and Leonard files (Cupertino Historical Society, 10185 N. Stelling Road, Cupertino, CA 95014).

Indexing Terms

Fruit trade--California--Santa Clara County
Orchards--California--Cupertino
Prune
Apricot
Leonard, John
Glendenning family
Leonard family
Vallco Shopping Mall (Cupertino, Calif.)
Cupertino (Calif.)
photographs
photograph albums
crate labels
can labels