Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- Jess E. Stephens papers
- Dates:
- 1928-1977, 1999
- Abstract:
- The Saint Francis Dam disaster took place in the late night and early morning hours of March 12-13, 1928. The concrete gravity dam collapsed and sent a tide of water through the Santa Clara River Valley and out to the coastal plains of Ventura and Oxnard. The death toll was estimated at 431. Jess E. Stephens was a Los Angeles city attorney known for his work on behalf of the city regarding property and injury claims filed by Ventura County residents. This collection contains Stephens' papers relating to his handling of the claims against the City of Los Angeles following the Saint Francis Dam Disaster. Materials include correspondence, handwritten speeches and manuscripts, notes, newspaper clippings, copies of official reports.
- Extent:
- 0.57 Cubic Feet
- Language:
- English and Materials are in English.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Jess E. Stephens papers, (MVC058), Museum of Ventura County, Research Library, Ventura, California.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
This collection contains the papers of Jess E. Stephens in relation to his handling of the claims against the City of Los Angeles following the Saint Francis Dam Disaster. Materials include correspondence, handwritten speeches and manuscripts, notes, newspaper clippings, copies of the report on the dam failure, and official reports on the failure of the dam and building restoration afterwards. The official reports include: "Citizens' Restoration Committee Death and Injury Claims: Detailed Reports and Lists", "Report on Building Restoration: St. Francis Dam Disaster", and "Report to Mr. Asa Keyes, District Attorney, Los Angeles County, California, on the Failure of the St. Francis Dam".
- Biographical / historical:
-
The Saint Francis Dam disaster took place in the late night and early morning hours of March 12-13, 1928. The concrete gravity dam collapsed and sent a tide of water through the Santa Clara River Valley and out to the coastal plains of Ventura and Oxnard. The death toll was estimated at 431; however, this may not include migrant workers and the death toll may have been higher. Jess E. Stephens, born May 4, 1882 in State Line, Indiana, was a Los Angeles city attorney known for his work on behalf of the city regarding property and injury claims filed by Ventura County residents. He was also a judge for the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Stephens graduated from Stanford University and practiced law in Los Angeles. In handling the city's legal response to claims following the disaster he obtained settlements from all the claimants but one and the city won the single suit that was filed against it. He was also known to have represented Oscar T. Conklin, a Ventura resident who challenged the legality of Ventura's city charter. Stephens retired in October 1953, and died at the age of 71 on December 2, 1953, in his home in West Hollywood.
- Acquisition information:
- Sally Stephens Reeder; gift; 2020.
- Processing information:
-
Processed by Krystell Jimenez, 2020.
- Arrangement:
-
Original order has been maintained. Folders are labelled.
- Physical location:
- Stored off-site and advance notice required for timely retrieval. Please contact the Research Library reference desk prior to your visit.
- Physical facet:
- (1 half-size box and 1 flat box)
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
About this collection guide
- Sponsor:
- This finding aid was made possible in part through funding from the County of Ventura and the Heritage Fund at the Ventura County Community Foundation.
- Date Encoded:
- This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2020-12-23 20:00:50 +0000 .
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE: Open for research. Collection has been minimally processed. All requests to access materials must be made in advance by contacting the Research Library staff via email: library@venturamuseum.org
- Terms of access:
-
Property rights to the physical object belong to the Museum of Ventura County. Literary rights, including copyright, have not been determined. Contact the Research Library for further information: library@venturamuseum.org
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Jess E. Stephens papers, (MVC058), Museum of Ventura County, Research Library, Ventura, California.
- Location of this collection:
-
100 East Main StreetVentura, CA 93001, US
- Contact:
- (805) 653-0323, ext 320