Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Guide to the Benbough Family Collection
MS 243
MS 243
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Title: Benbough Family Collection
Identifier/Call Number: MS 243
Contributing Institution:
San Diego History Center Document Collection
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
2.75 Linear feet
(4 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1899-1992
Abstract: This collection contains Benbough family papers and records from the family mortuary business as well as scrapbooks and newspaper
clippings pertaining to Percy Benbough’s civic career.
creator:
Benbough family
Benbough Family Collection, MS 243, San Diego History Center Document Collection, San Diego, CA.
Collection processed by Samantha Mills on March 7, 2013.
Collection processed as part of grant project supported by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) with generous
funding from The Andrew Mellon Foundation.
This collection is open for research.
The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.
Biographical / Historical Notes
Percy J. Benbough was born in Watford, England on April 14, 1884, to Isaac and Sarah Ann Benbough. His family moved to San
Diego, CA in 1889. In 1905 he married Grace Legler, a native of Valley Falls, Kansas. She moved to San Diego with him, where
they opened Benbough Mortuary. Benbough Funeral Parlors eventually grew to include mortuaries throughout Southern California
and into Arizona. Percy soon transitioned into civil service, and served as a San Diego City Councilman and Fire Chief in
1913, as Chief of Police in 1931, and as Mayor from 1935 till his death on November 4, 1942. Grace remained active in the
mortuary business and San Diego club life till her death on October 12, 1961.
George Legler Benbough (commonly referred to as Legler Benbough) was born to Grace and Percy in 1909. He managed the family
mortuary business after his father’s death. Legler was a lifelong bachelor and spent much of his time traveling and collecting
antiques. He was also a well-known philanthropist. In 1985 he established the charitable Benbough Foundation, and in 1987
he sold the 22,000 acre Benbough family ranch in Rancho Santa Fe to fund its operations. Legler died in 1998.
This collection contains Benbough family papers including Percy, Grace and Legler Benbough. Papers include correspondence,
club certificates, school papers, and newspaper clippings regarding family recreational activities and philanthropy. There
are several business records from the family mortuary business, Benbough Funeral Parlors. The collection also contains scrapbooks
and newspaper clippings regarding Percy Benbough’s service as a City Councilman, Fire Chief, Police Chief, and Mayor of San
Diego.
Collection is arranged into two series:
Series I: Benbough Family Papers
Series II: Percy Benbough Civic Papers
Items within each series are arranged by subject.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Benbough family
Benbough Foundation.
Benbough Funeral Parlors.
Benbough Mortuary.
Benbough, George Legler
Benbough, Grace Legler
Benbough, Percy J.
Cypress View Mausoleum.
San Diego (Calif.). City Council.
San Diego (Calif.). Police Dept.
San Diego (Cruiser : CL-53).
City council members
Correspondence
Funeral homes
Mayors
Mayors -- Election
Political campaigns
San Diego (Calif.)
San Diego (Calif.). Fire & Life Safety Services
School yearbooks
Scrapbooks
Undertakers and undertaking