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Acorne family letters, 1915-1973
(bulk, 1915-1919 and 1942-1945)
SPC.00041
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Title: Acorne family letters
Dates: 1915-1973
Date (bulk): (bulk, 1915-1919 and 1942-1945)
Identification: SPC.00041
Creator:
Acorne, John B.
Creator:
Acorne, Melville G.
Creator:
Acorne, Beatrice Marian
Physical Description:
0.5 linear foot
1 archival postcard box
Language of Material: Materials are in English.
Repository:
Sonoma County History and Genealogy Library, Sonoma County Library
Abstract: This collection contains letters from Melville G. "Curley" Acorne to his wife Beatrice Marian (Bomani) Acorne, 1915-1919;
and letters from John B. "Jack" Acorne to his parents Melville G. and Beatrice M. Acorne, 1942-1945. Collection also includes
undated letters, postcards, newspaper clippings, funeral notice for Curley Acorne.
Biography/Organization History
Melville G. (Curley) Acorne (Apr. 4, 1898-July 13, 1973) came to Petaluma, California in 1908 from Humboldt County, California.
A man of many talents, he worked as a driver for a bakery, was employed by the Petaluma SIlk Mill, the Corlis Engine Works,
and the Pioneer Hatchery--all before entering World War I. Upon his return, Acorne managed the Merritt Ranch and then went
to work for the Poehlmann Hatchery. In 1925, he became owner of AA Electric Hatchery, located at 1106 Petaluma Boulevard North,
near Shasta Avenue. (Source:
Rinehart, Katherine J.
Petaluma : a history in architecture. Charleston, SC : Arcadia Publishing, 2005, page 51). Curley Acorn was married to Beatrice Marian (Boman) Acorne (June 12, 1898-Jan. 26, 1973) and had two sons, John B. Acorne
and Robert Edwin Acorne (July 5, 1920-Aug. 7, 2009).
Jack Acorne (July 17, 1922-Jan. 30, 1952) was the son of Melville G. "Curley" Acorne and Beatrice Marian Acorne. He served
in the Marine Air Corps during World War II and remained in the Reserves following his discharge after the war. He worked
as a salesman with the Gene Paige Motor Company in Petaluma and was married to Helen Acorne. They had a son shortly after
the end of the war, Michael J. Acorne. Acorne died at age 29 of stomach wounds incurred in a suicide attempt in Cypress Hill
Cemetery on January 24, 1952 after he cashed $1,000 in bad checks, including one to his employer. Acorne was never charged
prior to his death.
Personal letters of Melville G. "Curley" Acorne and John B. "Jack" Acorne, as well as undated letters, postcards, newspaper
clippings, funeral record collected by the Acorne family.
Organized into three series:
- Letters from Melville G. "Curley" Acorne to his wife Beatrice Marian (Bomani) Acorne, 1915-1919
- Letters from John B. "Jack" Acorne to his parents Melville G. and Beatrice M. Acorne, 1942-1945
- Miscellaneous documents, 1918-1973
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection.
Acorne, John Burton, 1922-1952--Correspondence
Acorne, Melville G., 1898-1973--Correspondence
Acorne, Beatrice Marian, 1898-1973--Correspondence
Acorne famly--Correspondence
Letters (correspondence)
Personal correspondence
Clippings (information artifacts)
Postcards
Archival materials
Important Information for Users of the Collection
Access Information
This collection is partially processed. Please contact the Sonoma County History and Genealogy Library for access; for contact
info and current hours, see
https://sonomalibrary.org/locations/sonoma-county-history-and-genealogy-library
Conditions of Use
Collection does not circulate and may be photocopied or photographed by arrangement only.
Property rights reside with the Sonoma County Library. The Sonoma County Library makes no assertions as to ownership of any
original copyrights to digitized work and can claim only physical ownership of the work (s) described in these records. However,
these materials are intended for Personal or Research use only. Any other kind of use, including, but not limited to commercial
or scholarly publication in any medium or format, public exhibition, or use online or in a web site, may be subject to additional
restrictions including but not limited to the copyrights held by parties other than the Library. USERS ARE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE
for determining the existence of such rights and for obtaining any permissions and/or paying associated fees necessary for
the proposed use. Preferred credit line is: Courtesy, the Sonoma County Library. Please see additional reproduction and reuse
information at
https://sonomalibrary.org/locations/sonoma-county-history-and-genealogy-library/order-photo
[Identification of item], Acorne family letters, 1915-1973 (bulk, 1915-1919 and 1942-1945). SPC.00041, History and Genealogy
Library, Sonoma County Library, Santa Rosa, CA.
GIft: Michael Acorne,
September 7, 2017