A collection of papers related to the McNair family of Pennsylvania and California.

The McNair family were descendants of Thomas McNair (1737-1830) a native of the Parish of Donaghmore, County Donegal, Ireland, who came to America and settled in Hanover Township, Lancaster (now Dauphin) County, Pennsylvania. His son Thomas McNair (1790-1847) fought in the War of 1812, and from 1820 to 1840 was a merchant and contractor in Berwick, Pennsylvania. The most prominent among the next generation of McNairs, were Thomas Speer McNair (1824-1901) a prominent Pennsylvania civil and mining engineer and civic leader and Thomas Ferguson McNair (1869-1901) the city solicitor for Hazleton, Pennsylvania. In 1899, Thomas Speer McNair purchased a ranch in Glendora, California, and after his death in 1901, his family moved to Southern California. His children included: Anna Agnes McNair (1867-1922) who graduated from the University of California, Berkeley and taught in Los Angeles, Glendora, and Pasadena schools; William Righter McNair, M.D. (1874-1935) who ran several successful businesses and practiced medicine in Glendora and Los Angeles; Jean Ferguson McNair (1876-1955) who served as a public health nurse in Los Angeles and Pasadena; Rebecca Sharon McNair (1884-) who graduated from the University of California, Berkeley and headed the school and order departments of Los Angeles Free Library; and James Birtley McNair (1889-1967) who was a botanist and chemist.

35.24 Linear Feet (42 boxes, 2 envelopes, 1 oversize folder)

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