Guide to the Julian Bagley Collection
Sean Heyliger
African American Museum and Library at Oakland
659 14th Street
Oakland, California 94612
Phone: (510) 637-0198
Fax: (510) 637-0204
Email: aamlo@oaklandlibrary.org
URL: http://www.oaklandlibrary.org/locations/african-american-museum-library-oakland
© 2013
African American Museum and Library at Oakland. All rights reserved.
Guide to the Julian Bagley Collection
Collection number: MS 108
African American Museum and Library at Oakland
Oakland, California
- Processed by:
- Sean Heyliger
- Date Completed:
- 01/29/2013
- Encoded by:
- Sean Heyliger
© 2013 African American Museum and Library at Oakland. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Julian Bagley collection
Dates: 1925-1981
Bulk Dates: 1951-1981
Collector:
Gerrits, Elwood Burton
Creator:
Bagley, Julian, 1892-1981
Collection Size:
.1 linear foot
(1 box)
Repository:
African American Museum and Library at Oakland (Oakland, Calif.)
Abstract: Julian Elihu Bagley was born in South Jacksonville, Florida in 1892. He earned a degree in agriculture from the Hampton Institute
and served in the Army during World War I. He moved to San Francisco in 1922 to open a waterfront hotel, and he became well-known
as the concierge of the San Francisco War Memorial Opera House. He served as the opera house’s official greeter for 39 years
beginning on its opening night on October 15, 1932. Bagley was also the author of a book of animal folktales,
Candle-lighting time in Bodidalee, a collection of African folktales set in his native Florida. The collection includes five photographs, nine pieces of correspondence,
newspaper clippings, and programs from the author’s memorial service.
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Access
No access restrictions. Collection is open to the public.
Access Restrictions
Materials are for use in-library only, non-circulating.
Publication Rights
Permission to publish from the Julian Bagley Collection must be obtained from the African American Museum and Library at Oakland.
Preferred Citation
Julian Bagley collection, MS 09, African American Museum and Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library. Oakland, California.
Acquisition Information
Collection was donated by Elwood Burton Gerrits to the African American Museum and Library at Oakland in March 2004.
Biography / Administrative History
Julian Elihu Bagley was born in South Jacksonville, Florida in 1892. He earned a degree in agriculture from the Hampton Institute
and served in the Army during World War I. He moved to San Francisco in 1922 to open a waterfront hotel, and he became well-known
as the concierge of the San Francisco War Memorial Opera House. He served as the opera house’s official greeter for 39 years
beginning on its opening night on October 15, 1932. Bagley was also the author of a book of animal folktales,
Candle-Lighting Time in Bodidalee, a collection of African folktales set in his native Florida.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Julian Bagley Collection includes five photographs, nine pieces of correspondence, newspaper clippings, and programs from
the author’s memorial service. The collection is organized into four series: photographs, correspondence, newspaper clippings,
and assorted printed materials. All of the correspondence is written to Elwood Burton Gerrits who assembled and donated the
collection to the African American Museum and Library at Oakland.
Arrangement
Series I. Photographs
Series II. Correspondence
Series III. Newspaper clippings
Series IV. Assorted printed materials
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Bagley, Julian, 1892-1981
Photographs
Physical Description: 1 folder
Series Scope and Content Summary
Consists of five photographs of Julian Bagley with Joon Sutherland, Brother Cosimer, and unidentified man.
Box 1:1
Unidentified man [001]
undated
Box 1:1
Julian Bagley with Joon Sutherland at the War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco, California [002]
1966
Box 1:1
Brother Cosimer, Monk Lasalle, Napa, California [003]
undated
Box 1:1
Julian Bagley at his desk (negative) [004]
undated
Correspondence
Series Scope and Content Summary
Correspondence between Julian Bagley and Burton Gerrits.
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Box 1:2
To: Burt Gerrits and Robert Beck
1951
Box 1:2
Memorial service programs
1981
Box 1:3
Newspaper clippings
1957-1977
Assorted printed materials
Series Scope and Content Summary
Series includes a credit certificate, two postcards, and a copy of Bagley's book,
Candle-lighting time in Bodidalee
Box 1:4
Scrap paper with names
undated
Box 1:4
Credit certificate from the University of California
Box 1:4
Postcards to Burton Gerrits
1975 and undated
Box 1:4
Candle-lighting time in Bodidalee
1971
