A collection of research notes, correspondence, and copies of documents relating to Mill Valley and Marin County history, compiled by Lucretia Hanson Little, first town historian for Mill Valley, California. Many of the documents are about the Reed family, one of the first settlers of the area. The collection also includes typed transcripts of personal Hanson family letters, and Lucretia Little’s bible.

Lucretia Hanson Little (1908-1977) was born in Alexandria, Virginia, the daughter of Charles Hanson and the former Lucretia Garfield Kays. In 1919, the family moved to Mill Valley, where the elder Lucretia eventually became a journalist for the Mill Valley Record and a community leader. Lucretia Hanson attended Summit School and Tamalpais Union High School (now Tamalpais High School). She then enrolled in Marin Junior College (now the College of Marin), and later Northwestern University where she met and married Robert Little. They had a child, Robert Little, Jr. She worked as the assistant to Ida B. Wise Smith, the president of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. In 1950, having divorced her husband, she returned to Mill Valley and worked as the Mill Valley Deputy City Clerk from 1951-1973. She often collected maps, objects, and paper materials City Hall felt were redundant, but she saw their historical value. In 1969 she was appointed City Historian by the mayor, and she continued conducting research on the history of California, particularly Mill Valley and Marin County. Her goal was to create a Mill Valley “Heritage Library” to house artifacts and papers, and she convinced the Mill Valley Public Library to dedicate space for this. The Lucretia Hanson Little History room opened on June 5, 1977, with her collection forming the bulk of its materials. Lucretia Little passed away on November 18, 1977.

1.75 linear feet (4 boxes), 1 book

Collection is open for research. Original materials may be viewed with permission from staff. Digital copies of materials may be available. Materials in this collection do not circulate.