Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Chester, Mortimer
- Abstract:
- Diaries and photographs of Mortimer Chester, documenting trips to California and his service as a chaplain with the California Civilian Conservation Corps.
- Extent:
- 0.21 Linear Feet (1 half box)
- Language:
- Materials are in English.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item]. Mortimer Chester papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
Two diaries, one documenting Mortimer Chester's first trip to California in 1912 and his permanent move there in 1914, and another describing his experiences with the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the Sierra Nevada mountains during the Depression. His travel diary chronicles two cross country trips from Boston and demonstrates how he became convinced to move to California. Chester's account of the CCC camps describes camp operations, living conditions, and the character of the workers there. Photographs are undated but depict people and buildings, and some are labeled with locations, including Texas, Arizona, and Utah. Other photos are most likely of the CCC camps in the Sierra Nevadas, and depict snow removal and camp personnel, including a group of Black workers.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Mortimer Chester was a priest with the Episcopal church. Born in Massachusetts, he moved to southern California at the age of 22 after visiting an uncle who had relocated to Pasadena. Chester settled near Corona, California and became involved with the Episcopal church there. He was ordained as a priest in 1919 and ministered at churches in Hemet, Santa Maria, and Woodland, California. As a reserve officer in the Army, he helped establish the Civilian Conservation Corps camps in the Sierra Nevada mountains from 1933 to 1937. He served as an Army chaplain during World War II and was sent to Utah, where he remained after the war ended.
- Acquisition information:
- Gift of Robert C. Johnson, April 2020.
- Processing information:
-
Processed by Kelly Kress in February 2022.
- Arrangement:
-
Materials arranged chronologically by subject.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.
- Terms of access:
-
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item]. Mortimer Chester papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
- Location of this collection:
-
1151 Oxford RoadSan Marino, CA 91108, US
- Contact:
- (626) 405-2191