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Title: David L. Joslyn papers
Dates: circa 1850-1963
Bulk Dates: 1875-1948
Collection number: MS0056
Creator:
Joslyn, David L.
Collection Size:
2.5 linear feet
(2 boxes)
Repository:
Center for Sacramento History
Sacramento, California 95811-0229
Abstract: The David L. Joslyn papers consist of photographs and manuscripts mostly documenting Joslyn's work as a photographer and his
early memories of living in Sacramento, California. Most of the photographs were taken by David Joslyn during the 1920's while
he was an employee of the Southern Pacific Railroad. Therefore, many of the photos deal with the Southern Pacific and Central
Pacific Railroad Lines. Some of the photographs are copied from earlier photos, drawings and lithographs. Joslyn also took
numerous photographs of the State Capitol and the surrounding park as well as many shots from rooftops around the area of
downtown Sacramento. These photographs are invaluable when searching for specific locations or businesses in early 20th century
Sacramento.
Physical location: 4A1 Drawer A-B, 4D1 Drawer D-E, 4E1 Drawer D, 31C7, 53: Negatives
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Collection is open for research use.
All requests to publish or quote from private collections held by the Center for Sacramento History (CSH) must be submitted
in writing to csh@cityofsacramento.org. Permission for publication is given on behalf of CSH as the owner of the physical
items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the patron.
No permission is necessary to publish or quote from public records.
[Identification of item and/or item number], [box and folder number], David L. Joslyn papers, MS0056, Center for Sacramento
History.
The David L. Joslyn Papers were donated to the Center for Sacramento History between 1970-1985 (accessions #1970/01, 1972/08,
1979/13, 1982/74, 1982/93, 1982/100, 1982/135, 1983/15, 1983/64, 1985/80).
Inventory of the collection created by Julie Dominguez in 1979 and revised by Sherry Hatch in 1981. Biographical note written
by Judith Ann Lewinski.
Biography / Administrative History
David L. Joslyn (1886-1963) was born in Salinas, Kansas on April 8, 1886. His father, an itinerant sawmill worker, moved the
family frequently to find work. The Joslyn children consisted of three sons and one daughter. Prior to moving to Sacramento,
the family lived in Portland, Oregon until July of 1896.
In 1900, David Joslyn's father died. He and his mother began working in a cannery. He also worked as a delivery boy and bottle
washer in a soda works. In 1902 he was employed by the Southern Pacific Railroad in the Tank Shop. With his first paycheck
form the Southern Pacific, Joslyn purchased a camera and so began a life long interest in photography dealing with Sacramento.
In 1908, David Joslyn married Retha Waldau and later had two sons; David W. and Erwin D. Joslyn. His first wife died in 1915
and he remarried Frances Wiley in 1916.
During his employment with the Southern Pacific, he performed many jobs, finally becoming a draftsman in 1910. He also enrolled
in a course in locomotive drafting with the International Correspondence School. Joslyn became the official photographer for
the Sacramento shops in 1921 and also collected many early railroad photographs. He used a large format camera and was the
unofficial photographer for the Southern Pacific by volunteering his services. Joslyn also joined the Railway and Locomotive
Historical Society in 1922. He wrote many articles for the society's bulletin. He also belonged to the Union Lodge No. 58
of the Masons where he was editor of the "Messenger". Joslyn was also noted for his shots from the California Fruit Building
at the corner of 4th and J Streets. Grant Black, a draftsman and friend, held Joslyn's feet while he dangled over the edges
to obtain the best panorama view of the Sacramento skyline. He became a freelance photographer in his spare time, mainly doing
work for McCurry's and Burkett's. Joslyn retired in 1948 after forty six years of employment with the Southern Pacific. He
had contracted a heart condition due to years of exposure to copper and tin fumes in the brass foundry. During his retirement,
he did extensive research in the State Library and dealt with the early newspapers. He died in 1963.
Scope and Content of Collection
The David L. Joslyn papers consist of photographs and manuscripts mostly documenting Joslyn's work as a photographer and his
early memories of living in Sacramento, California. Most of the photographs were taken by David Joslyn during the 1920's while
he was an employee of the Southern Pacific Railroad. Therefore, many of the photos deal with the Southern Pacific and Central
Pacific Railroad Lines. Some of the photographs are copied from earlier photos, drawings and lithographs. Joslyn also took
numerous photographs of the State Capitol and the surrounding park as well as many shots from rooftops around the area of
downtown Sacramento. These photographs are invaluable when searching for specific locations or businesses in early 20th century
Sacramento.
Series 1. Photographs
Subseries 1.1 Sacramento businesses
Subseries 1.2 California State Capitol / state government
Subseries 1.3 Railroads
Subseries 1.4 Assorted
Series 2. Manuscripts
Subseries 2.1 "Sacramento general shops Southern Pacific Co. Pacific Lines," 1948 pp. 55
Subseries 2.2 "Sacramento when she was when," 1945 pp. 1
Subseries 2.3 "The streetcars of Sacramento when I was a boy," undated pp. 2
Subseries 2.4 "Railroads that have entered Sacramento," 1959 pp. 65
Subseries 2.5 "Miscellaneous information about Sacramento compiled by my father (David L. Joslyn) from personal knowledge,
talking with other folks and from informative Sacramento books," 1982 pp. 6
Subseries 2.6 "A short biographical sketch of Leland Stanford," 1936 pp. 1
Subseries 2.7 "Memories of famous events in California's history to be revived by celebration. Twelve pioneer buildings to
be marked Wednesday; history of their importance to be given; hundreds in '49 Garb to participate in parade," 1923 pp. 5
Subseries 2.8 "The autobiography of a little old lady, the life story of the locomotive C.P. Huntington (as told by herself),"
1963 pp. 50
Subseries 2.9 "The shops," undated pp. 8
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Railroads--California--History--Pictorial works
Railroads--California--Sacramento
Sacramento (Calif.)--Buildings, structures, etc.--Pictorial works
Sacramento (Calif.)--History--Pictorial works
Southern Pacific Company--Pictorial works