Lucretia Hanson Little Collection
Finding aid created by Mill Valley Public Library staff using RecordEXPRESS
Mill Valley Public Library
2022
375 Throckmorton Avenue
Mill Valley, California 94941
415-389-4292 x203
refdesk@cityofmillvalley.org
http://www.millvalleylibrary.org/
Title: Lucretia Hanson Little Collection
Dates: 1908-1977
Collection Number: MS.1981.140
Creator/Collector:
Extent: 1.75 linear feet (4 boxes), 1 book
Repository:
Mill Valley Public Library
Mill Valley, California 94941
Abstract: 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.
Language of Material: English
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.
[Identification of item]. Lucretia Hanson Little Collection. Collection Number: MS.1981.140. Mill Valley Public Library
Biography/Administrative History
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.
Scope and Content of Collection
This collection contains research materials, Hanson family letters, and Lucretia Little’s personal bible. The research materials
include notes, copies of documents, and correspondence related to Lucretia Little’s research into Mill Valley and Marin County
history. The letters, correspondence between various members of the Hanson family during the years 1926 through 1949, are
in the form of typed transcriptions.
Bibles
California--History, Local
Portuguese—California
Ranchos
Research notes
Tax lists
Bucklew, B. R
Clar, John
Fremont, John C.
Douglas, David
Garcia, Rafael
Marsh, John
Murphy, Timothy
Murrieta, Joaquin
Reed, John Thomas
Reynolds, William
Sommerville, Rev T.
Deffenbach Family
Gardner Family
Hanson Family
Reed Family
Sanchez Family
Corte Madera (Calif.)
Marin County (Calif.)
Mill Valley (Calif.)
Petaluma, (Calif.)
Sonoma (Calif.)
Vallejo (Calif.)