Collection Guide
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Guide to the Fred Felsch Collection
H.Mss.0305
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Table of contents
Title: Fred Felsch collection
Dates: 1857-1997 and undated
Bulk Dates: 1950-1989
Collection number: H.Mss.0305
Creator:
Felsch, Fred, 1932-1998
Extent:
9 linear feet
Repository:
Claremont Colleges. Library. Special Collections, Honnold/Mudd Library. Claremont, CA 91711
Abstract: Professor Fred Felsch (1932-1998) taught history at Mt. San Antonio Community College during the school year and traveled
for 22 summers with his family to Yellowstone National Park where he was a seasonal park ranger. An outdoorsman who cherished
the United States National Parks, this collection focuses on Felsch's appreciation for the United States National Parks and
Western Americana ephemera. A majority of the collection consists of books, brochures, pamphlets, periodicals and other printed
matter by and about state and national forests, historical sites, memorials, monuments, parks, recreational areas and wildlife
refuges in the United States, its territories, and Canada. Artwork, photographs, ephemera and memorabilia which focus on these
areas of interest are also included such as decals, postage stamps, a scrapbook of postcards, loose postcards, a card game
from Yellowstone, commemorative coins and wooden signs. Lastly, Felsch's personal notes, in the form of spiral-bound notebooks
and 3 x 5 inch index card files, are also included in the collection.
Language of materials: Languages represented in collection: English.
This collection is open for research.
All requests for permission to reproduce or to publish must be submitted in writing to Special Collections.
[Identification of item], Fred Felsch Collection (H.Mss.0305). Special Collections, Honnold/Mudd Library, Claremont University
Consortium.
Gift from Steven Felsch and Theresa Roebuck, son and daughter of Fred Felsch, in 1999.
No additions to the collection are anticipated.
Appraised by Charles A.Goldsmid of Claremont Books and Prints.
The condition of this collection is very good with minimal wear and tear. The only item in decline is a postcard scrapbook
which has brittle pages. The scrapbook was disbound, and each page placed in mylar sleeves in order to protect the postcards
and to prevent further damage to the scrapbook pages. Any framed artwork was removed from its frame and placed in individual
mylar sleeves for preservation. The frames were discarded.
The collection contains many books, brochures, pamphlets, periodicals and other printed matter. Items were reviewed in terms
of their uniqueness, rarity and whether their accessibility should be enhanced by cataloging individually in The Claremont
Colleges online catalog, Blais. Any items cataloged individually can be found in the online catalog by using "Felsch Collection"
as a keyword search term.
Biography/Administrative History
Professor Fred Felsch (1932-1998) was an outdoorsman who cherished the United States National Parks. His admiration for the
National Parks and Western Americana led to this collection of memorabilia. In 1960, he married Joan Felsch, a Claremont resident.
The two had three children, Steven, Theresa, and Gretchen who died as a teenager. Mr. Felsch taught history at Mt. San Antonio
Community College during the school year and traveled for 22 summers with his family to Yellowstone National Park where he
was a seasonal park ranger.
Felsch died in November of 1998 of heart failure. He was survived by his wife, Joan, who later died in February of 1999; son,
Steven; and his daughter and son-in-law, Theresa and James Roebuck. Fred Felsch and his wife Joan are buried at Oak Park Cemetery
in Claremont, California.
Scope and Contents of the Collection
The collection focuses on Felsch's appreciation for the United States National Parks and Western Americana ephemera. A majority
of the collection consists of books, brochures, pamphlets, periodicals and other printed matter by and about state and national
forests, historical sites, memorials, monuments, parks, recreational areas and wildlife refuges in the United States, its
territories, and Canada. Artwork, photographs, ephemera and memorabilia which focus on these areas of interest are also included.
Ephemeral items include decals, postage stamps, a scrapbook of postcards and a card game from Yellowstone. Memorabilia includes
commemorative coins and wooden signs. Lastly, Felsch's personal notes, in the form of spiral-bound notebooks and 3 x 5 inch
index card files, are also included in the collection.
The collection is arranged into 5 series and 7 subseries:
- Series 1: Artwork and photographs, 1964, 1972, 1995 and undated
- Series 2: Books, brochures, pamphlets, periodicals and other printed matter, 1857-1997 and undated
- Subseries 2.1: State and national forests, historical sites, memorials, monuments, parks, recreational areas and wildlife refuges, 1901-1997 and undated (bulk 1950-1989)
- Subseries 2.2: Miscellaneous periodicals, 1857-1995 (bulk 1857-1912)
- Subseries 2.3: Miscellaneous printed matter, 1933-1991 (bulk 1957-1978)
- Series 3: Ephemera, 1910-1995 and undated
- Subseries 3.1: Decals, undated
- Subseries 3.2: Miscellaneous ephemera, 1924, 1930, 1949, 1995 and undated
- Subseries 3.3: Postcards, circa 1910 and undated
- Subseries 3.4: United States postage stamps, 1964-1975
- Series 4: Memorabilia, 1900, 1960, 1972 and undated
- Series 5: Personal notes, 1968-1975 and undated
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library’s online public access catalog.
Art
Bibliographical citations
Collectibles
Ephemera
Forest reserves
Maps
National monuments
National parks and reserves--Canada
National parks and reserves--United States
Postcards
Souvenirs (Keepsakes)
State parks and reserves--United States
Wildlife refuges United States