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Guide to the Dick Yale Papers
MS-0541
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Table of contents
Collection Title: Dick Yale Papers
Dates: 1913-2002
Bulk Dates: 1970-1990
Identification: MS-0541
Creator:
Yale, Richard B. (Dick), 1910-2004
Physical Description: 10.92 linear ft.
Alternate Extent Statement: 17 boxes
Language of Materials:
English
Repository:
Special Collections & University Archives
5500 Campanile Dr. MC 8050
San Diego, CA, 92182-8050
URL: http://library.sdsu.edu/scua
Email: askscua@mail.sdsu.edu
Phone: 619-594-6791
Richard B. (Dick) Yale was a historian, publisher, printer, photographer and bibliophile. Yale was born in Waynesfield, Ohio
on December 11, 1910. In 1931 Yale married his wife Juanita. During the 1930s Yale was a correspondent for the Associated
Press in Ohio. Yale came to San Diego during World War II, where he served with the Navy’s Radio and Sound Lab on Point Loma.
Yale worked as a photographer during the 1940s and early 1950s. He then pursued a career in printing and operated the Yale
Printing and Lithograph Co., at 330 “G” Street, during the 1950s-1960s.
From 1967 to his retirement in 1989 Yale was curator of the San Diego Union Newspaper Museum in Old Town San Diego State Historic
Park (2626 San Diego Avenue). The museum recreated a mid-nineteenth century newspaper pressroom, with working printing presses,
cases of letterpress type, and hand-cut wood type. Yale was a colorful character, often dressing in period nineteenth century
clothing, and was named the Honorary Mayor of Old Town.
Yale was a bibliophile and member of the Zamorano Club, with a special interest in the history of frontier printing and newspapers
in the old west, and wood type. He was a member of several historical associations, including the Westerners (San Diego Corral),
E Clampus Vitus (Clampers), Cabrillo Historical Association, First San Diego Courthouses, Inc., and the Pioneer Hook and Ladder
Firehouse Museum.
Yale’s wife Juanita died in 1991. Dick Yale died on December 29, 2004 at age 94, at a veterans home in Aurora, Colorado.
This Collection is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.
Old Town (San Diego, Calif.)
San Diego (Calif.)--History
San Diego (Calif.)--Pictorial works
American Western Life
Americana
Bibliography
Letterpress Printing
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park (Calif.)
Printing--History
Gift.
Lucas Buresch, 2018.
The copyright interests in these materials have not been transferred to San Diego State University. Copyright resides with
the creators of materials contained in the collection or their heirs. The nature of historical archival and manuscript collections
is such that copyright status may be difficult or even impossible to determine. Requests for permission to publish must be
submitted to the Head of Special Collections, San Diego State University, Library and Information Access. When granted, permission
is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical item and is not intended to include or imply permission
of the copyright holder(s), which must also be obtained in order to publish. Materials from our collections are made available
for use in research, teaching, and private study. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including
but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials.
This collection is open for research.
Identification of item, folder title, box number,
Dick Yale Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Library and Information Access, San Diego State University.
I. Fine Press Printing
II. Western Americana
III. San Diego History
IV. Personal Files
V. Photographs
The
Dick Yale Papers (1913-2002) includes material related to Dick Yale’s interests in the fine press printing, the history of printing and newspapers,
San Diego area history, and Western Americana. The collection consists of a wide variety of materials, including: fine press
ephemera, newspapers, manuscripts, correspondence, photographs, films, printing artifacts and memorabilia. The collection
is organized into five series:
Fine Press Printing,
Western Americana,
San Diego History,
Personal Files,
Photographs.
The
Fine Press Printing (1930-2002), arranged alphabetically, series includes announcements, ephemera, and fine press keepsakes from bibliophilic
organizations, such as the Book Club of California, Roxburghe and Zamorano Clubs, and various academic libraries friends groups.
This series also includes two undated manuscripts by Dick Yale, “
California’s Pioneer Presses from Z to A and B!”, and “
History of American Wood Type and its Uses”.
The
Western Americana series (1913-2001), arranged alphabetically, includes material related to Yale’s interest in the American West, including
files on the Westerners, E Clampus Vitus (the Clampers), and manuscripts of essays and screenplays.
The
San Diego History series (1929-2002), arranged alphabetically, includes files and artifacts related Yale’s interest in San Diego area history.
The San Diego area newspaper sports writer and Agua Caliente race track publicist Ken Bojens is also represented in this series.
The Bojens material includes: correspondence and photographs with J. Edgar Hoover at the Agua Caliente race track, a file
on the 50th reunion of San Diego High School’s Class of 1929 (1979), and two 16mm films (
Kickin’ It Around and
Grunts and Groans) attributed to Bojens.
The
Personal Files (1940-2001) documents Yale’s military service during World War II, and inclues personal correspondence, family history, etc.
This series follows Yale's arrangement of the files. Also included here is Yale's camera case and camera equipment, ca. 1950s-1960s.
The series of
Photographs (1940-1990), arranged alphabetically, includes a large collection of photos of events at Old Town San Diego State Historic
Park, Yale’s curatorship of the San Diego Union Newspaper Museum, photos of Westerners and E Clampus Vitus member events.
Yale’s work as a photographer in the early 1950s is represented by photos of Al Bahr Shriner events and members, photos of
professional baseball players from several southern California teams, and photos of Baja California. Also included here are
Yale’s photos of the Navy’s Radio and Sound Laboratory on Point Loma during World War II.