Conner (Casper Martin) Collection, 1842-1974, bulk Bulk, 1914-1974

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Summary

Title:
Casper Martin Connery Collection
Dates:
1842-1974, bulk Bulk, 1914-1974
Creators:
Connery, Blanche and Connery, Casper Martin
Abstract:
This collection contains 62 daily diaries of Casper Martin Connery, a civil engineer who worked on Navy and Marine projects during World War I and World War II, as well as 12 travel journals and assorted family papers of Casper and his wife Blanche Connery.
Extent:
5.0 Linear feet (10 boxes)
Language:
Preferred citation:

Casper Martin Connery Collection, MS 301, San Diego History Center Document Archives, San Diego, CA.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains 62 daily diaries of Casper Martin Connery, a civil engineer who worked on Navy and Marine projects during World War I and World War II, as well as 12 travel journals and assorted family papers of Casper and his wife Blanche Connery. Casper’s diaries cover the years 1907 and 1914-1974. The majority of the travel diaries were written by Blanche. Casper’s papers include correspondence, school papers, his employment record, and his draft papers. Other papers include Blanche’s school papers as well as correspondence and funeral expenses from Blanche’s side of the family.

Biographical / historical:

Casper was born December 8, 1887. He grew up in Massachusetts, where he graduated from Williston Academy in 1907. In 1911 he received his Civil Engineer degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. In 1914, he moved to Los Angeles, where he met Blanche Hill. They married on April 30, 1917. Casper was exempted from the draft that year, but then ordered to Washington, D.C., where he worked in the Navy Yard through World War I. In 1919 he was transferred to San Diego, where he and Blanche spent the rest of their lives.

Casper worked primarily at North Island Naval Air Station, the Navy Hospital, and the Marine Base. During World War II he also worked on the Destroyer Base and Naval Repair Base, primarily doing maintenance work. From 1929 to 1943 they lived on a ranch at 100 E. Mt. Vernon Street in Lemon Grove, where they maintained avocado and citrus orchards. In 1943 they moved to 2411 Montclair St. in San Diego, where they remained thereafter. Casper retired in 1947, after which he and Blanche took annual road trips around the country and otherwise spent much of their time at home or with friends.

Blanche was born Blanche Miles on March 16, 1886, to James and Martha Miles. She grew up in Indiana and her family later relocated to Los Angeles. By the time she married Casper in 1917 her last name had changed to Hill. She worked at a bank in San Diego till 1923, and later worked in the office of the Naval Repair Base from May 1944 to May 1945.

Processing information:

Collection processed by Samantha Mills in May 2014.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged in four series:

Series I: Casper Martin Connery Daily Diaries;

Series II: Casper and Blanche Connery Travel Diaries;

Series III: Casper Martin Connery Papers;

Series IV: Casper and Blanche Connery Family Papers.

Physical / technical requirements:

Daily diaries for 1920 and 1921 have flaking leather covers and deteriorating spines.

Travel diary 1 has a crumbling cover that is separated from the spine.

The Holy Bible has deteriorating covers that have separated from the spine.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Samantha Mills
Date Prepared:
November 16, 2015
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2015-11-17T09:48-0800

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.

Preferred citation:

Casper Martin Connery Collection, MS 301, San Diego History Center Document Archives, San Diego, CA.

Location of this collection:
1649 El Prado, Suite 3
San Diego, CA 92101, US
Contact:
(619) 232-6203
Website