Guide to the W. C. Crandall Collection, 1911-1930
Penelope Neder-Muro
California Institute of Technology Archives and Special Collections
2020
1200 East California Blvd.
MC B215-74
Pasadena, California 91125
archives@caltech.edu
Contributing Institution:
California Institute of Technology Archives and Special Collections
Title: W. C. Crandall Collection
Creator:
Crandall, W. C. (Wesley Clarence),
1878-1947
Identifier/Call Number: CrandallWC
Physical Description:
2.63 linear feet
(1 archival box, 1 half size archival box, 2 oversize
boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1911-1930
Language of Material:
English .
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research. Researchers must apply for access in writing and by
creating an
Aeon
account. Contact the archives for more information.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The W. C. Crandall Collection was acquired through the donation of the Wheeler J. North
Papers. The collection was removed and processed separately from the North papers. According
to
North's oral
history
, the papers were given to him by Ken Norris, curator at Marineland of the
Pacific.
Processing Information
This collection was separated from the Wheeler J. North papers. The collection was
processed by Penelope Neder-Muro and Andy Gaston. The papers were removed from acidic
folders and replaced with acid-free folders. Most rusted metal fasteners were removed,
though some have remained in order to protect the fragile paper. Acid-free bond paper has
been placed in between some pages to help prevent further staining. The oversize kelp bed
maps were carefully removed from their original box, which they were originally bound to,
and placed into oversize archival boxes.
Physical Condition
The majority of the papers in this collection are in poor condition. The paper is highly
acidic and has become brittle. There are also multiple pages that have unidentified stains,
possibly from previous vermin contamination.
Existence and Location of Copies
Scope and Contents/Arrangement
This collection consists of correspondence written to and from W. C. Crandall regarding his
government sponsored work along the Pacific coast, specifically the Southern California kelp
beds and kelp harvesting for potash. Also includes the maps from Potash from Kelp Beds by
Frank K. Cameron. The correspondence are arranged in chronological order.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Kelps
Potash
Scripps Institution of
Oceanography
box 1, folder 1
Correspondence
1911
Scope and Contents
Correspondence written to Crandall from Frank K. Cameron (United State Department of
Agriculture, Bureau of Soils). Re: his work to be conducted off the shore of San Diego,
studying sea algae, kelps, and their use as a source of potash. Also Pacific Kelp Mulch
Co.
box 1, folder 2
Correspondence
1912
Scope and Contents
Correspondence to and from Frank K Cameron of USDA, Pacific Coast Beef & Provision
Co., memo from James Wilson, Secretary of USDA, Pacific Kelp Mulch Co.
box 1, folder 3
Correspondence
1913
Scope and Contents
Correspondence to and from Frank K. Cameron (USDA), Pacific Kelp Mulch Co., Pacific
Products Company, The Harbor Sales Company, Representative William Kettner
box 1, folder 4
Correspondence
1914
Scope and Contents
Correspondence written by Crandall to and from Frank K. Cameron (USDA), Representative
William Kettner, Pacific Products Company, Brunswig Drug Company
box 1, folder 5
Correspondence
1915
Scope and Contents
Purchase orders (laboratory certificates) from Wrana, King, & Company, Frank K.
Cameron (USDA), William Kettner correspondence
box 1, folder 6
Correspondence
1916
Scope and Contents
Correspondence with Frederick W. Brown (USDA) Chief Bureau of Soils, Fred R. Francher,
Board of Trustee of City of Redondo Beach, Hercules Powder Co.
box 1, folder 7-8
Correspondence
1917
Scope and Contents
Correspondence to and from State of California Fish and Game Commission, Hercules
Powder Company, The Lorned Manufacturing Company, William E. Brown of California
Legislature
box 2, folder 1
Correspondence
1918
Scope and Contents
J. W. Turrentine (USDA), Kelp Trip personal note (itinerary), Hercules Powder Co.
box 2, folder 2
Correspondence
1919
Scope and Contents
J. W. Turrentine (USDA), correspondence re: kelp supply
box 2, folder 3
Correspondence
1920
Scope and Contents
Correspondence with William Kettner, personal notes (itineraries), J. W. Turrentine,
William Whitney (USDA)
box 2, folder 4
Correspondence
1921
Scope and Contents
Correspondence with J. W. Turrentine, kelp bed condition updates
box 2, folder 5
Correspondence
1921-1923
1930
Scope and Contents
Correspondence with J. W. Turrentine, kelp notes, Frank K. Cameron
box 2, folder 6
Kelp graphs and manuscripts
1917
1919
Scope and Contents
Kelp growth graphs, sketches of kelp, manuscript drafts with note Possibly in Fisherman
1-22-1919, kelp harvest data of various companies for 1918 including Hercules,
Swift.
boxes 3-4
Potash from Kelp: Kelp Groves of the Pacific Coast and Islands of the U.S. and
Lower California
1914
Scope and Contents
Oversize maps from the Frank K. Cameron report of the same title. The maps were
documented by Crandall in 1912 and were originally bound into two volumes. The pages
were removed from the binding and were kept in original order. Each book is stored in
its own box. Part one includes 28 pages, and part two includes 30 pages. (The archives
does not hold a copy of the accompanying report.)
