Guide to the Fort Tejon State Historic Park Collection
Processed by Margo Lentz-Meyer
California State Parks Archives
4940 Lang Avenue Suite 114
McClellan, CA 95652
Phone: 916-263-0779
FAX: 916-663-0859
Email: department.archives@parks.ca.gov
URL: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1080
© 2015
California State Parks Archives. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Fort Tejon State Historic Park Collection
Date (inclusive): 1845-2009
Date (bulk): (bulk 1980-1991)
Collection number: CSPA-351
Creator:
Fort Tejon State Historic Park
Extent:
7 linear feet, including 1 map folder
Repository:
California State Parks
McClellan, California 95652
Abstract: Fort Tejon State Historic Park is located in the San Emigdio Mountains near the top of the Grapevine Canyon, on the west side
of Hwy 5 near the city of Lebec, California. The park was established in 1940 and contains 647 acres of oak-wooded hillsides,
grassland, wetlands, riparian vegetation, restored and reconstructed buildings, and the ruins of Fort Tejon. The Fort Tejon
State Historic Park Collection is arranged in fifteen series: 1. Correspondence, 2. Histories, 3. Ranger Logs, 4. Interpretation,
5. Subject Files, 6. Legal Documents, 7. Financial Documents, 8. Facilities Documents, 9. Maintenance Records, 10. Publications,
11. Ephemera, 12. Cartographic Material, 13. Photographic Material, 14. Media, and 15. Reports. Items span the years 1845-2009
with the bulk of the material falling between 1980-1991.
Physical Location: California State Parks Archives
Languages: Languages represented in this collection:
English
Access
The collection is open for research. Cultural and archaeological site maps are restricted. Reports with sensitive data may
be restricted. Consult repository for details.
Publication Rights
For permission to reproduce or publish, please consult the California State Parks Archives archivist. Permission for reproduction
or publication is given on behalf of the California State Parks Archives, McClellan as the owner of the physical items. The
researcher assumes all responsibility for possible infringement that may arise from reproduction or publication of materials
from the California State Parks Archives.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Fort Tejon State Historic Park Collection, CSPA-351: [box: folder number], California State Parks
Archives, McClellan, California.
Acquisition Information
Fort Tejon SHP donated the majority of the material in this collection in 2001. Additional correspondence and maps were added
from Central Records in 2015.
Processing Information
Ethan Tratner processed part of this collection in 2013. Margo Lentz-Meyer finished processing and created and encoded its
finding aid in 2015.
Administrative History
Fort Tejon State Historic Park is located in the San Emigdio Mountains near the top of the Grapevine Canyon, near the city
of Lebec, California. Established in 1940, the park contains 647 acres of oak-wooded hillsides, grassland, wetlands, riparian
vegetation, and the ruins of Fort Tejon.
The U.S. Army established Fort Tejon in 1854 to replace Fort Miller, control the Indians living on the Sebastian Indian Reservation,
and to protect both the Indians and white settlers from raids by regional Indian groups. From 1854-1864 various regiments
manned the Fort, including the 1st U.S. Dragoons. On September 11, 1864 the Federal government abandoned the Fort; the property
became privately owned ranchland.
During the Fort's ten years of operation the Dragoons campaigned against the Indians, maintained civil order, and transported
goods and people throughout the area. An interesting feature of the Fort was the U.S. Camel Corps. In the 1850s the U.S. Army
experimented with the use of camels for transport across the arid south west. The project was quickly scrapped after the first
official test in 1860 between Los Angeles and Fort Mojave. Prior to the Army's purchase, the camels were used to haul supplies
for Edward F. Beale, former California Superintendent of Indian Affairs, and Samuel Bishop, Tejon Ranch owner.
The site of the fort is also well known for the grave marker of Peter LeBec, an early frontiersmen and fur trapper, mauled
by a bear. Little further evidence of LaBec has surfaced but many fantastical stories have circulated creating a mysterious
and exciting past for the man buried under LeBec Tree.
In 1936 Fort Tejon was listed as California Historic Landmark #129 (not dedicated until 1954). In 1940 Tejon Ranch donated
seven acres of land to the state for the establishment of the park. Between 1940 and 1955 Tejon Ranch donated an additional
199 acres. The Department of Parks and Recreation owns the majority of the area associated with the garrison portion of the
Fort Tejon complex. Portions of the site � including the quartermaster facilities and storehouses � are not state owned property.
In June 1962 the park was officially classified and renamed Fort Tejon State Historic Park. Since then small portions of the
original fort complex have been reconstructed or preserved. The buildings at the park feature a number of interpretive displays
where re-enactors teach park guests about the daily lives of the soldiers stationed at the fort. Other museum exhibits cover
topics of army life and local history. The park features a campground, picnic area, hiking trails, and civil war re-enactments.
The fort was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. In the mid-2000s a second donation of property from
a private landowner added an additional 442 acres to the park.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Fort Tejon State Historic Park Collection is arranged in sixteen series: 1. Correspondence, 2. Histories, 3. Ranger Logs,
4. Interpretation, 5. Subject Files, 6. Legal Documents, 7. Financial Documents, 8. Facilities Documents, 9. Maintenance Records,
10. Publications, 11. Ephemera, 12. Cartographic Material, 13. Photographic Material, 14. Media, 15. Reports, and 16. Restricted
Material. Items span the years 1845-2009 with the bulk of the material falling between 1980-1991.
Series one, Correspondence, is divided into three categories: General Correspondence, Civil War Association of America Correspondence
and Legal Correspondence. Series two, Histories, contains bibliographic material, general research, and histories on the park
and local area.
Series three, Ranger Logs, contains copies of Ranger Logs � from the years 1948-1951 � recording daily conditions and operations
at the park. Series four, Interpretation, includes interpretive plans, programs, collections documentation, and exhibition
materials. Series five, Subject Files, is divided into two subseries: General Plan and Archaeology.
Series six, Legal Documents, includes agreements, deeds, contracts, and rules and regulations documents. Series seven, Financial
Documents, contains contracts, budgets and project proposals. Series eight, Facilities Documents, consists of building descriptions.
Series nine, Maintenance Records, includes maintenance project proposals, schedules, and plans.
Series ten, Publications, encompasses articles, newspaper and magazine clippings, workshop materials, and guides not published
by parks. Series eleven, Ephemera, contains post cards, event flyers, stationary, and pamphlets from Fort Tejon State Historic
Park and Tejon Ranch. Series twelve, Cartographic Material, includes blue-prints, architectural drawings, and maps. Series
thirteen, Photographic Material, consists of slides, negatives, and prints. Series fourteen, Media, consists of microfiche,
audio cassettes, and CDs.
Series fifteen, Reports, includes reports produced by State of California Department of Parks and Recreation and cultural
resource management contractors. Series sixteen, Restricted Material, consists of cultural and archaeological records and
reports containing sensitive information.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
California. Department of Parks and Recreation
Chumash Indians
Cultural resources
Esthetic resources
Fort Tejon (Calif.)
Lebec (Calif.)
Natural resources
Recreational resources
Sebastian Indian Reservation
United States. Army. Camel Corps
Box 1 : 1 - 4 : 8
Series 1.
Correspondence
1934-2009
Physical Description: 32 file folders
Series Scope and Content Summary
Correspondence is arranged chronologically and is divided into three categories: General Correspondence, Civil War Association
of America Correspondence, and Legal Correspondence. The content's whereabouts for the years 1941-1944, 1960-1961, 1973, and
1975 are unknown.
Box 1 : 1
General Correspondence
1934-1940
Box 1 : 2
General Correspondence
1945-1949
Box 1 : 3
General Correspondence
1950-1951
Box 1 : 4
General Correspondence
1952
Box 1 : 5
General Correspondence
1953
Box 1 : 6
General Correspondence
1954-1959
Box 1 : 7
General Correspondence
1962-1972
Box 1 : 8
General Correspondence
1974
Box 2 : 1
General Correspondence
1976-1979
Box 2 : 2
General Correspondence
1980-1984
Box 2 : 3
General Correspondence
1985
Box 2 : 4
General Correspondence
Jan 1986 - Mar 1986
Box 2 : 5
General Correspondence
Apr 1982 - July 1982
Box 2 : 6
General Correspondence
Aug 1986 - Dec 1986
Box 2 : 7
General Correspondence
Jan 1987 - Apr 1987
Box 3 : 1
General Correspondence
May 1987 - June 1987
Box 3 : 2
General Correspondence
July 1987 - Aug 1987
Box 3 : 3
General Correspondence
Sep 1987 - Dec 1987
Box 3 : 4
General Correspondence
Jan 1988 - Mar 1988
Box 3 : 5
General Correspondence
Apr 1988 - June 1988
Box 3 : 6
General Correspondence
July 1988 - Dec 1988
Box 3 : 7
General Correspondence
Jan 1989 - Apr 1989
Box 3 : 8
General Correspondence
May 1989 - Dec 1989
Box 3 : 9
General Correspondence
Jan 1990 - June 1990
Box 4 : 1
General Correspondence
July 1990 - Dec 1990
Box 4 : 2
General Correspondence
1991
Box 4 : 3
General Correspondence
2002
2009
Box 4 : 4
Civil War Association of America Correspondence
1983
Box 4 : 5
Legal Correspondence
1952-1956
Box 4 : 6
Legal Correspondence
1957-1958
Box 4 : 7
Legal Correspondence
1959-1963
Box 4 : 8
Legal Correspondence
1964-1965
Box 4 : 9 - 5 : 8
Series 2.
Histories
1851-1991
undated
Physical Description: 9 file folders
Series Scope and Content Summary
The series is arranged alphabetically. It contains bibliographic material, general research, and histories of the park and
local area.
Box 4 : 9
Bibliographic Cards (1 of 2)
undated
Box 5 : 1
Bibliographic Cards (2 of 2)
undated
Box 5 : 2
Camel Corps Articles and General Background
1857-1979
undated
Box 5 : 3
Essays on Fort Tejon by George Stammerjohan
1989
Box 5 : 4
Fort Tejon Muster Rolls
1855-1859
Box 5 : 5
General Histories, A-F
undated
Box 5 : 6
General Histories, G-W
undated
Box 5 : 7
Information on William Tudor Gardiner
1855-1991
Box 5 : 8
Native Americans at Fort Tejon
1851-1986
undated
Box 6 : 1 - 6 : 2
Series 3.
Ranger Logs
1948-1951
undated
Physical Description: 2 file folders
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series contains copies of Ranger Logs describing environmental conditions and daily operations at the park. The logs
are arranged chronologically.
Box 6 : 2
Ranger Logs
1950-1951
undated
Box 6 : 3 - 8 : 6
Series 4.
Interpretation
1957-1991
undated
Physical Description: 26 file folders
Series Scope and Content Summary
The series includes interpretive plans, programs, collections documentation, and exhibition materials. The materials are arranged
alphabetically by subject or title.
Box 6 : 3
Collections Correspondence
1983-1987
Box 6 : 4
Interpretation Correspondence
1957-1987
Box 6 : 5
Catalogue Cards 082
1967-1984
Box 6 : 6
Catalogue Cards 243 and 304
1967-1986
Box 6 : 7
Catalogue Cards 517
1968-1987
Box 7 : 1
Catalogue of Museum Objects: 082-x and 082-z
1987-1988
Box 7 : 2
Comments on Museum Rooms at Fort Tejon by the Inventory Team
1983
Box 7 : 3
Dedication of Display at Fort Tejon
1977
Box 7 : 4
Environmental Living Program
1975
Box 7 : 5
Exhibit Rehabilitation Projects
1985-1986
Box 7 : 6
Exhibit Text and Graphics
1986-1987
undated
Box 7 : 7
Fort Tejon Interpretive Building Notes
1968-1991
undated
Box 7 : 8
Index of Purchase Documents
1988
Box 7 : 9 - 7 : 10
Interpretive Collections Inventory
undated
Box 7 : 11
Interpretive Planning for Quartermaster's Building
1991
Box 7 : 12
Interpretive Themes
undated
Box 7 : 13
Interpretive Work Requests
1985-1990
Box 7 : 14
Inventory by Object, Fort Tejon: Officer's Quarters, Barracks, and Visitor Center
1988
Box 7 : 15
Inventory of Native American Objects for Exhibit
1986
Box 8 : 1
Inventory of Objects in the Officer's Quarters
1972
Box 8 : 2
List of Museum Objects
1988
Box 8 : 3
Museum Exhibit Recordings
1965
Box 8 : 4
Preliminary Interpretive Plan Documents
1986
Box 8 : 5
Visitor Center: Exhibit Text
1986
Box 8 : 6
Visitor Center: Exhibit Text
1987
Box 8 : 7 - 9 : 5
Series 5.
Subject Files
1932-1991
undated
Physical Description: 15 file folders
Series Scope and Content Summary
The series is divided into two subseries and arranged alphabetically. The two subseries are: General Plan and Archaeology.
Box 8 : 7 - 8 : 12
Subseries 5.1.
General Plan
1932-1989
undated
Physical Description: 6 file folders
Subseries Scope and Content Summary
This series contains drafts and correspondence about the Fort Tejon General Plan. The folders are arranged alphabetically.
Box 8 : 8
Draft Reviews of Resource Element
1988
Box 8 : 9
Environmental Impact Report Draft Comments
1989
Box 8 : 10
General Plan Draft Comments
1989
Box 8 : 11
Kern County Chamber of Commerce � Why Fort Tejon Should be Preserved as a State Park
1932
1950
Box 8 : 12
Land Use and Facilities Element Draft Comments
1988
Box 8 : 13 - 9 : 5
Subseries 5.2.
Archaeology
1988-1991
undated
Physical Description: 9 file folders
Subseries Scope and Content Summary
Arranged chronologically, contains: artifact catalogues, accession records, and interagency agreements.
Box 8 : 13
Archaeological Accession Record
1988
Box 8 : 14
Archaeological Catalogue P953
1991
Box 8 : 15 - 8 : 16
Archaeological Catalogue - Interagency Agreement 4-378-8405 for Work Performed on the Archaeological Collection at Fort Tejon
1988-1989
Box 9 : 1
Archaeological Catalogue- Interagency Agreement 4-378-8405 for Work Performed on the Archaeological Collection at Fort Tejon
1988-1989
Box 9 : 2
Artifacts Excavated at Fort Tejon
1998
undated
Box 9 : 3
Fort Tejon Project 17-F2-157: Notes, Indexes, and Sketches
undated
Box 9 : 4
Statewide Resource Management Program Project Status Report
1987-1988
Box 9 : 5
Utility Line Excavations
1989
Box 9 : 6
Series 6.
Legal Documents
1953-1958
undated
Physical Description: 1 file folder
Series Scope and Content Summary
Arranged chronologically. The series includes: agreements, deeds, contracts, and rules and regulations documents.
Box 9 : 6
Legal Documents
1953-1958
undated
Box 9 : 7 - 10 : 3
Series 7.
Financial Documents
1983-1988
Physical Description: 6 file folders
Series Scope and Content Summary
The series contains contracts, budgets, and project proposals. The documents are arranged alphabetically by subject.
Box 9 : 7
Dorfman Museum Figures Contracts
1987-1988
Box 9 : 8
General Financial Documents
1949
1985-1986
Box 9 : 9
Museum Furnishing Contracts, (1 of 2)
1987
Box 10 : 1
Museum Furnishing Contracts, (2 of 2)
1987
Box 10 : 2
Museum Furnishing Contracts
1988
Box 10 : 3
Tree Hazard Control and Roofing Bids
1983
Box 10 : 4
Series 8.
Facilities Documents
1988
Physical Description: 1 file folder
Series Scope and Content Summary
The series consists of one folder containing short descriptions of the buildings at Fort Tejon. Arranged chronologically.
Box 10 : 4
Fort Tejon Structures: Compiled by George Stammerjohn and John Kelly
1988
Box 10 : 5 - 10 : 7
Series 9.
Maintenance Records
1982-2000
Physical Description: 3 file folders
Series Scope and Content Summary
Arranged chronologically, the series consists of maintenance project proposals, schedules, and plans.
Box 10 : 5
Pedestrian Foot Bridge Proposals and Drawings
1982
Box 10 : 6
Schedule for Maintenance or Housekeeping
1983
Box 10 : 7
Stabilization Projects
1989-2000
Box 10 : 8 - 11 : 6
Series 10.
Publications
1853-1994
undated
Physical Description: 13 file folders
Series Scope and Content Summary
Arranged alphabetically by title, with the exception of newspaper, journal, and magazine clippings, these are arranged chronologically.
Box 10 : 8
California's Historical Monuments, Forward by Governor Edmund G. Brown
1965
Box 10 : 9
Camels in Texas, by The San Jacinto Museum of History Association
1956
Box 10 : 10
Camels in the West, by Deane and Peggy Robertson
1979
Box 10 : 11
The Expedition of Captain J.W. Davidson from Fort Tejon to the Owens Valley in 1859, Edited by Philip J. Wilke and Harry W.
Lawton
1976
Box 10 : 12
Fort Tejon State Historic Park Newsletters, No. 1-8
1988-1989
Box 10 : 13
Gateways to California, by Don J. Baxter
1968
Box 10 : 14
Historic Chronology of Kern County: In the Days of '49, by Richard C. Bradley
1966
Box 11 : 1
Journal Articles
1930-1994
undated
Box 11 : 2
Magazine Articles
1944-1956
Box 11 : 3
Newspaper Clippings
1853-1990
undated
Box 11 : 4
The Life and Death of Peter Lebec, by Raymond F. Wood
1954
Box 11 : 5
Overland to the Pacific - Information Pamphlet - Brochure No. 1
1956
Box 11 : 6
Quarterly Bulletins
1954-1959
Box 11 : 7
Series 11.
Ephemera
1986-1988
undated
Physical Description: 1 file folder
Series Scope and Content Summary
The series contains post cards, event flyers, stationary, and pamphlets from Fort Tejon State Historic Park and Tejon Ranch.
Box 11 : 7
Fort Tejon and Tejon Ranch Ephemera
1986-1988
undated
Box 11 : 8 - 11 : 10
Series 12.
Cartographic Material
1855-1989
undated
Physical Description: 3 file folders
Series Scope and Content Summary
The series includes blue-prints, architectural drawings, and maps. These are arranged chronologically. Contact archivist for
a complete list.
Box 11 : 8
List of Drawings by Unit and Type: CA DPR
1987
Box 11 : 9
Maps and Floorplans
1855-1989
undated
Box 11 : 10
Oversized Maps
1952-1980
undated
Box 11 : 11 - 11 : 16
Series 13.
Photographic Material
1845-2002
undated
Physical Description: 6 file folders
Series Scope and Content Summary
All of the photographs are separated by type and arranged chronologically. The series consists of slides, negatives, and prints.
Box 11 : 12
Negatives
1980
1989
1991
undated
Box 11 : 13
4 x 6 Prints
1936-2002
undated
Box 11 : 14
8 x 10 Prints: Archaeological Digs, 300713-300738
undated
Box 11 : 15
8 x 10 Prints: Landscapes and Portraits
undated
Box 11 : 16
Reproductions of Francis B. Mayer Drawings
1845
Box 11 : 17
Series 14.
Media
1871-2009
Physical Description: 1 file folder
Series Scope and Content Summary
The series consists of microfiche, audio cassettes, and CDs. Items are arranged chronologically.
Box 11 : 17
Media Inventory
1871-2009
Box 12 : 1 - 16 : 10
Series 15.
Reports
1934-2007
undated
Physical Description: 55 file folders
Series Scope and Content Summary
Documents produced by California State Parks or Parks contractors are arranged alphabetically by title. Reports are arranged
alphabetically by first letter of the report to coincide with the Department Unit Data File System.
Box 12 : 1
A Report on Fort Tejon in 1859
1987
Box 12 : 2
An Archeological Report on Fort Tejon State Historic Monument
1961
Box 12 : 3
Application for Registration of Historical Point of Interest � Fort Tejon
1934
Box 12 : 4
Archaeological Data Recovery Excavations at Site of Proposed Interpretation Facility
1992
Box 12 : 5
Archaeological Investigations at the Hospital Building Site
undated
Box 12 : 6
California Historical Landmark Series: Fort Tejon Landmark #129
1936
Box 12 : 7
DPR 183: Project Evaluation
2004
Box 12 : 8
DPR 656: Resource Management Project Proposal
1984-1990
Box 12 : 9
DPR 659: Cultural Resource Evaluation
1980-1985
Box 12 : 10
DPR 663: Archaeological Accession Record
1991
Box 12 : 11
DPR 750: Historic Building Survey
1970
Box 12 : 12
Excavation Plan Lower Officer's Quarters
2000
Box 12 : 13
Field Assessment and Preservation/Seismic Study Recommendations
2001
Box 12 : 14
Fort Tejon Resource Element, Draft
1982
Box 12 : 15
Fort Tejon State Historic Park, "A Short Interpretive History"
1992
Box 12 : 16
Fort Tejon State Historic Park Furnishing Plan Barracks
1986
Box 12 : 17
Fort Tejon State Historic Park Furnishing Plan Officer's Quarters
1986
Box 13 : 1 - 13 : 2
Fort Tejon State Historic Park General Plan
1989
Box 13 : 3
Fort Tejon State Historic Park General Plan
1989
Box 13 : 4
Fort Tejon State Historic Park General Plan, Interpretation of Barracks Building #1
1969
Box 13 : 5
Fort Tejon State Historic Park General Plan: Interpretation Report
undated
Box 13 : 6 - 13 : 7
Fort Tejon State Historic Park General Plan: Interpretation Plan
1986
Box 14 : 1
Fort Tejon State Historic Park General Plan, Preliminary
1989
Box 14 : 2
Fort Tejon State Historic Park Interpretive Program
1986
Box 14 : 3
Fort Tejon State Historic Park Interpretive Prospectus, South Valley Area
1975
Box 14 : 4 - 14 : 5
Fort Tejon State Historic Park, Part 1: Historic Analysis of Siting and Construction of Fort Tejon
1984
Box 14 : 6
Fort Tejon State Historic Park Preliminary Resource Inventory
1987
Box 14 : 7
Fort Tejon State Historic Park � Teacher Handbook
1988
Box 14 : 8
Fort Tejon State Historic Park � The Student Living History Program: Teacher's Handbook
2001
Box 14 : 9
Fort Tejon State Historic Park � Volunteer Handbook
1989
Box 14 : 10
Inland Region Activities CEQA Evaluation
1987-1989
Box 14 : 11
Interpretive Element for Fort Tejon State Historic Park, Preliminary Subject to Review
1988
Box 14 : 12
Monitoring Report for Fort Tejon State Historic Park
2002
Box 15 : 1
Museum Artifact Collections from Fort Tejon
1989
Box 15 : 2
Museum Collections Inventory: Interpretive Collections Section
1983
Box 15 : 3
Museum Collections Inventory: Interpretive Collections Section with Notes
1983
Box 15 : 4
National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form
1970
Box 15 : 5 - 15 : 6
Non-Commissioned Officers of Company A: Fort Tejon Reader 3
1990
Box 15 : 7
Park Potential Study: Fort Tejon State Historical Monument
1965
Box 15 : 8
Preliminary Historic Structure Report: Barracks #1, Fort Tejon State Historic Park
2000
Box 15 : 9
Proposal for Archaeological Research at Fort Tejon, Kern County
1968
Box 16 : 1
Report of Archaeological Testing at the 1850s Guardhouse and Prison
1986
Box 16 : 2
Report on Interior Furnishings of the Enlisted Men's Barracks at Fort Tejon and Fort Humboldt
1965
Box 16 : 3
Report on the Preliminary Investigation of Fort Tejon, Kern County
1936
Box 16 : 4
Report on the Small Fort Tejon Exhibit Figures and Others by Henry Dolim
1987
Box 16 : 5
Resource Inventory � Appendix AL-I � Animal Species List Fort Tejon State Historic Park
1988
Box 16 : 6
Site Visit Report � Fort Tejon State Historic Park and Tule Elk State Reserve
2007
Box 16 : 7
Soil Analysis Report for the Fort Tejon Samples
1989
Box 16 : 8
Test Excavation at Interpretive Facility Fort Tejon State Historic Park
1991
Box 16 : 9
The Building of Fort Tejon
1932
Box 16 : 10
The Post Bakery and its Bakers: Fort Tejon Reader, No. 2
1990
