Guide to the Jefferson A. Beaver Papers

Sean Heyliger

African American Museum and Library at Oakland

659 14th Street

Oakland, California 94612

Phone: (510) 637-0198

Fax: (510) 637-0204

Email: aamlo@oaklandlibrary.org

URL: http://www.oaklandlibrary.org/locations/african-american-museum-library-oakland

Guide to the Jefferson A. Beaver Papers

Collection number: MS 62

African American Museum and Library at Oakland

Oakland, California

Processed by:: Sean Heyliger
Date Completed:: 06/12/2013
Encoded by:: Sean Heyliger

Descriptive Summary

Title: Jefferson A. Beaver papers

Dates: 1946-1970

Collection number: MS 62

Creator: Beaver, Jefferson A.

Collection Size: .25 linear feet (1 box + 1 oversized box)

Repository: African American Museum & Library at Oakland (Oakland, Calif.)

Oakland, CA 94612

Abstract: The Jefferson A. Beaver papers consist of photographs, correspondence, awards, newspaper clippings, and programs that document his activities as a banker, co-founder of the Transbay Federal Savings and Loan, and his service on various public and civic boards.

Languages: Languages represented in the collection: English

Access

No access restrictions. Collection is open to the public.

Access Restrictions

Materials are for use in-library only, non-circulating.

Publication Rights

Permission to publish from the Jefferson A. Beaver Papers must be obtained from the African American Museum and Library at Oakland.

Preferred Citation

Jefferson A. Beaver papers, MS 62, African American Museum and Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library. Oakland, California.

Processing Information

Processed by Sean Heyliger, 06/12/2013.

Biography / Administrative History

Jefferson Beaver (1908-1991) was born on May 20, 1908 in Warren, Arkansas to Rev. Robert Jefferson Beaver and Ethel Jordan. In 1911 Beaver relocated with his family to San Francisco, California where he graduated with a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley in 1936 and briefly attended Golden Gate Law School in San Francisco. Beaver was co-founder and executive vice president of Transbay Federal Saving and Loan, a bank which was established in 1949 to primarily serve African Americans in the San Francisco Bay area. He was also the founding director of Golden State National Bank in 1961.

Beaver was known for his civil rights work among San Francisco’s African American community, serving as president of the San Francisco Chapter of the NAACP and the Bay Area Urban League in the 1950s and was the director of San Francisco's United Community Fund. He was active in governmental affairs and was appointed to the City and County of San Francisco Advisory Committee on Urban Development, California Committee for Fair Employment Practices, and was a member of the San Francisco Council for Civic Unity. In 1959, Beaver was also part of a U.S. Department of Commerce trade delegation sent to the Soviet Union and Nigeria to stimulate trade and business opportunities between nations.

Scope and Content of Collection

The Jefferson A. Beaver papers consist of photographs, correspondence, awards, newspaper clippings, and programs that document his activities as a banker, co-founder of the Transbay Federal Savings and Loan, and his service on various public and civic boards. The papers include thirteen photographs of Beaver at speaking at assorted public events and at the 1961 Debutante Ball. Beaver’s correspondence mostly relate to his service on the City and County of San Francisco Advisory Committee on Urban Development, as a California delegate to the 1956 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, and assorted letters of congratulation on being elected to various boards.

Arrangement

Series I. Photographs Series II. Correspondence Series III. Certificates Series IV. Printed material

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Beaver, Jefferson A., 1908-1991.

African American bankers.

African Americans--California--San Francisco--History.

Bishop, Victoria. “Beaver, Jefferson A. (1908-1991).” The Black Past Remembered: An Online Reference Guide to African American History. Accessed 12-06-2013 http://www.blackpast.org/?q=aaw/beaver-jefferson-1908-1991.

Box 1:1

Correspondence 1946-1970

Physical Description: 1 folder

Series Scope and Content Summary

Includes correspondence related to Beaver's service on the City and County of San Francisco Advisory Committee on Urban Development, as a California delegate to the 1956 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, and assorted letters of congratulation on being elected to various boards.

Arrangement

Arranged by date.

Box 1:2

Photographs 1958-1961

Physical Description: 13 photographs

Series Scope and Content Summary

Includes photographs of Beaver speaking at assorted public events and attending the 1961 Debutante Ball.

Box 1:2

Jefferson Beaver standing with group of men and women in banquet hall [001] circa 1960s

Box 1:2

Jefferson Beaver shaking hands with man [002] circa 1950s

Box 1:2

Jefferson Beaver and three men inspecting proclamations on printing press [003] circa 1960s

Box 1:2

Jefferson Beaver and Byron Rumford sitting at banquet table as man speaks at the podium [004] 1958

Box 1:2

Beaver family on stage, reverse: ‘Family portrait, Dan, DeReath, Chip, Jane, Fanny, Jeff, Ethel’ [005] circa 1960s

Box 1:2

Jefferson Beaver sitting at desk next to printing press [006] circa 1960s

Box 1:2

Mrs. Neals, H.S. Neals, Mrs. Beaver, and Jefferson Beaver at open house [007] 1961

Box 1:2

Jefferson Beaver speaking at podium [008] circa 1960s

Box 1:2

Jefferson Beaver speaking at microphone surrounded by group of men and women [009] circa 1960s

Box 1:2

Jane and Jefferson Beaver holding hands on stage at debutante ball [010] 1961

Box 1:2

Jane and Jefferson Beaver dancing at debutante ball [011] 1961

Box 1:2

Chip and Jane Beaver on stage at debutante ball [012] 1961

Box 1:2

Group of women in living room [013] 1958

Box OM5

Certificates

Physical Description: 3 certificates

Series Scope and Content Summary

Includes certificates related to Beaver's service on the Housing Authority of the City and County of San Francisco, 1960-1961, as a member of the Advisory Hospital Council, and the State Small Business Advisory Council for California (Region 12).

Printed material

Physical Description: 2 folders

Series Scope and Content Summary

Includes newspaper clippings, programs, and newsletters related to Beaver's career as a banker and service on various civil rights organizations.

Box 1:3

Newspaper clippings 1948-1961

Box 1:4

Congressional record, “California Negro History” 1968

Box 1:4

The Commonwealth, Vol. XXXIX 1963

Box 1:4

Dedication ceremonies and formal opening of Milton Meyer Community Building program 1960

Box 1:4

47th annual convention program, NAACP 1956