Guide to the Lester J. Bodin Papers

Carl Schmitz

African American Museum & 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 Lester J. Bodin Papers

Collection number: MS 171

African American Museum & Library at Oakland

Oakland, California

Processed by:: Carl Schmitz
Date Completed:: 2014-09-23
Encoded by:: Carl Schmitz

Descriptive Summary

Title: Lester J. Bodin papers

Dates: 1904-1926

Collection number: MS 171

Collector: Bodin, Lester J.

Collection Size: .25 linear feet (1 box)

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

Oakland, CA 94612

Abstract: The Lester J. Bodin Papers include photographs, union membership cards, certificates, and yearbooks. Certificates consist of a certificate of promotion from Clawson School and a vaccination certificate from the Oakland Health Department.

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 Lester J. Bodin Papers must be obtained from the African American Museum & Library at Oakland.

Preferred Citation

Lester J. Bodin papers, MS 171, African American Museum & Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library. Oakland, California.

Acquisition Information

The collection was donated to the African American Museum & Library at Oakland in 1990.

Processing Information

Processed by Carl Schmitz, September 23, 2014. Finding aid edited by Sean Heyliger on January 6, 2015 addition of union membership cards(Accession 2016-011).

Biography / Administrative History

Lester J. Bodin was born in Alameda, California, on June 18, 1910, the eldest son of William and Ida Bodin. Bodin is listed in the 1940 census as a stock clerk for a canning company. Bodin would become president of the Cannery Workers’ Union, leadership training chairman for the Live Oak District of the Boy Scouts of America, president of the Kiwanis Club of Jack London Square, and was active in the Eastbay Radio Club. Bodin passed away in Oakland on November 28, 1993.

Scope and Content of Collection

The Lester J. Bodin Papers include photographs, union membership cards, certificates, and yearbooks. Certificates consist of a certificate of promotion from Clawson School and a vaccination certificate from the Oakland Health Department. The papers are arranged into four series: photographs, union membership cards, certificates, and yearbooks. Included in certificates and yearbooks are items pertaining to Bodin’s sisters, Audrey and Florence. The collection documents schools in Oakland during the 1920s.

Arrangement

Series I. Photographs Series II. Union membership cards Series III. Certificates Series IV. Yearbooks

Indexing Terms

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

Bodin, Lester J.

High school yearbooks.

Oakland (Calif.) -- History.

African Americans--California--History.

Oakland Tribune, Dec. 3, 1965, p. 10. Oakland Tribune, Nov. 22, 1970, p. K12. Oakland Tribune, July 2, 1976, p. 25.

Photographs

Physical Description: 5 photographs

Series Scope and Content Summary

Photographs of Oakland school classes from circa 1917 to 1926.

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically

Box 1:1

Clawson School class photo. Verso: “ca. 1917 Clawson School; Florence Bodin sister of Lester [2nd row fr. front].” circa 1917

Box 1:2

6th grade class at Cole School. Verso: “William Greer [top right], Lester Bodin [first row right], George Craig [3rd row, 6th from left], Harriet Frye [2nd row, 7th from left], and Albertine La Beet [2nd row, 9th from left]; 6th grade class.” 1920

Box 1:3

7th grade class at Cole School. Verso: “Lester Bodin [3rd row, 5th from left], Clay Wilson [3rd row, 6th from left], and Albertine La Beet [1st row, 2nd from left]; 7th grade class.” 1922

Box 1:4

8th grade class at Cole School. Verso: “8th graduation class; Albertine La Beet [2nd row, 4th from left], Clay Wilson [3rd row, 2nd from left], and Lester Bodin [3rd row, 14 from left].” 1923

Box 1:5

Oakland High School ROTC platoon. Verso: “Oakland High School ROTC, 1926 / The Winning Platoon of 1926 / Corporal Lester Bodin is seen in first center row.” 1926

Union membership cards

Physical Description: Nine union membership cards

Series Scope and Content Summary

Nine union membership cards of William Bodin, father of Lester Bodin.

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically

Box 1:10

William Bodin union membership card, International Hod Carriers & Building Laborers' Union, Local No. 73 Stockton, California 1904

Box 1:10

William Bodin union membership card, Building Trades Council of San Joaquin County, California, Hod Carriers No. 73 1904

Box 1:10

William Bodin union membership card, Building Trades Council of San Joaquin County, California, Hod Carriers 1904

Box 1:10

William Bodin union membership card, International Hod Carriers & Building Laborers' Union, Local No. 73 Stockton, California 1905

Box 1:10

William Bodin union membership card, Building Trades Council of San Joaquin County, California, Hod Carriers No. 73 1905

Box 1:10

William Bodin union membership card, Building Trades Council of San Joaquin County, California, Hod Carriers No. 73 1906

Box 1:10

William Bodin union withdrawal card, Building Trades Council of San Joaquin County, California, Hod Carriers No. 73 1906

Box 1:10

William Bodin union membership card, Alameda County Building Trades Council Plasterers No. 112 1907

Box 1:10

William Bodin union membership card, Alameda County Building Trades Council Plasterers No. 112 1907

Certificates

Physical Description: 2 certificates

Series Scope and Content Summary

Certificates of promotion and vaccination from 1913 and 1921.

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically

Box 1:6

Clawson School Certification of Promotion for Florence Bodin from A 3rd to B 3rd, dated June 27, 1913. 1913

Box 1:6

Oakland Health Department Vaccination Certificate for Lester Bodin dated May 17, 1921. 1921

Yearbooks

Physical Description: 3 yearbooks

Series Scope and Content Summary

Yearbooks from Oakland High School from 1919 to 1924.

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically

Box 1:7

"The Aegis," Oakland High School yearbook, fall term 1919. 1919

Box 1:8

"The Aegis," Oakland High School yearbook. 1921

Box 1:9

"The Aegis," Oakland High School yearbook. 1924