Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Tribune Publishing Company (Oakland, Calif.)
- Abstract:
- The Oakland Tribune is a daily newspaper published in Oakland, California. The Oakland Tribune Records consist of files that the Knowland family compiled during their ownership of this newspaper.
- Extent:
- Number of containers: 35 cartons Linear feet: 43.75
- Language:
- Collection materials are in English
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The Oakland Tribune Records consist of files that the Knowland family compiled during their ownership of the newspaper. The bulk of the collection is comprised of administrative files, documenting the day-to-day operations of the newspaper, as well as materials documenting their associated broadcasting ventures, publishing company, and building company; also prominent in the collection are the Knowland family's correspondence and financial records. The collection encompasses a range of materials-including correspondence, financial records, and ephemera-most notably documenting: the newspaper business and radio station KLX; politics and business in the city of Oakland; the Pacific Branch of the American Red Cross during the second World War; and the Golden Gate International Exposition.
The Oakland Tribune Records are subdivided into five series:
- Series I: Newspaper Administration
- Series II: Broadcasting Files
- Series III: Tribune Publishing Company
- Series IV: Tribune Building Company
- Series V: Knowland Family Files
- Biographical / historical:
-
The Oakland Tribune is a daily newspaper published in Oakland, California. Founded in 1874 by George Staniford and Benet A. Dewes as The Tribune, William Dargie bought the newspaper in 1876, and officially changed its name to the Oakland Tribune in 1891. Dargie ran the newspaper for 35 years, until his death in 1911. Joseph R. Knowland bought the Oakland Tribune from Dargie's widow, Hermina Peralta Dargie in 1915 and became the newspaper's president, publisher and editor, positions that he held for almost 50 years. After buying the newspaper, Knowland also started the radio station KLX in 1921 (which the family sold in 1959) and moved both businesses into the Tribune Tower in downtown Oakland in 1924. Knowland's eldest son, Joseph Russell "Russ", served as Assistant Publisher of the Oakland Tribune until his death in 1961; upon his brother's death, William Knowland became heir to the newspaper, taking over as publisher after his father passed away in 1966. Upon his death in 1974, William left the newspaper operations to his children, Joseph Knowland and Emelyn Jewett. The Knowland family sold their interests in the Oakland Tribune a few years later, in 1977, to Combined Communications Corporation. The newspaper has been sold many times since leaving the Knowland family's control, from Combined Communications Corporation to Gannett to Robert and Nancy Maynard to the Alameda Newspaper Group, and is currently part of the Bay Area News Group (formerly the Alameda Newspaper Group).
- Acquisition information:
- The Oakland Tribune Records were given to The Bancroft Library by Emelyn Jewett in 1979.
- Physical location:
- Many of the Bancroft Library collections are stored offsite and advance notice may be required for use. For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
- Rules or conventions:
- Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard
Access and use
- Location of this collection:
-
University of California, Berkeley, The Bancroft LibraryBerkeley, CA 94720-6000, US
- Contact:
- 510-642-6481