Description
Christina Murphy Allison and David N. Allison lived in Santa Barbara after marrying in 1980. She was an accomplished soprano
who traveled widely for her performances. He was a well-known tractor collector and scholar. He also authored several articles
on tractor collecting and farm literature. This collection was amassed over a 50-year period by David Allison and donated
by Christina Allison. The majority of the materials are manuals, brochures, books, and magazines on the subject of farm equipment
and machinery. The focus of the collection is tractors. However, there are also publications on various types of engines and
antique cars (mainly Fords) in this extensive collection.
Background
Christina Murphy Allison donated this collection on behalf of her late husband in 2006. She was born in Brooklyn in 1939 and
raised in Vancouver, British Columbia. She was an accomplished soprano and sang with European opera companies for many years.
She moved to Southern California in the mid-1970s and married David N. Allison in 1980. David Allison's mother was a Knapp,
a family that has a long history in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. The collection was assembled over a 50-year period
by David, who was a well-known tractor collector and scholar. He also authored several articles on tractor collecting and
farm literature, some of which are included in the collection.
Extent
31.58 Cubic Feet
(25 boxes)
Restrictions
Property rights to the physical object belong to the Museum of Ventura County. Literary rights, including copyright, are retained
by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue
the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where the museum does not hold the copyright.
Availability
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE: Open for research. All requests to access materials must be made in advance by contacting the
Research Library staff.