Beck Family Papers, 1874-1995

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Summary

Creators:
Beck family
Abstract:
The collection contains personal and business papers of the Beck family, with particular focus on Violet Beck.
Extent:
4.5 Linear feet (9 boxes)
Language:
and Collection materials are in English and German.
Preferred citation:

Beck Family Papers, MS 204, San Diego History Center Document Collection, San Diego, CA.

Background

Scope and content:

A substantial amount of the material in the collection belongs to Violet M. Beck including diaries, scrapbooks, articles, and journals documenting her life and interests growing up and teaching in California. Violet’s diaries and writings begin during her high school years and continue through the late-1980s. Violet’s diaries mention her religious beliefs, family events, and daily activities, including her rental properties and tenants. While teaching, Violet wrote about her pupils and experiences. She also discusses her activities toward preserving Golden Hill. The collection also includes Violet’s poetry journals and clippings from 1926 to the 1950s, including her own poetry and the works of other poets she admired. Violet also displays her drawing skills throughout her scrapbooks, diaries and journals.

The collection also contains materials pertaining to family genealogy, real estate, and personal activities. Journals entitled “Home Folks” record genealogical information about the Beck family, as well as personal entries by Violet Beck. The collection also includes the diaries of Louise E. Beck and Eva E. Earl as well as a scrapbook of Lillian Sutton. Photographs of relatives and friends are also included. There are materials related to the rental properties owned by the Beck Family. Guestbooks document tenants that rented from Violet M. Beck and Eva Earl. The Guestbooks also include photographs of tenants.

Biographical / historical:

August Beck (b. January 26, 1845) married Louise Edith Myers (b. February 4, 1860) on November 4, 1882. August served in the Army for 30 years becoming head Chief Clerk in Omaha, NE and Chicago, IL. In Chicago, they had two daughters, Evalinda (Eva) Estella (b. 1884) and Violet Miriam (b. December 15, 1886). In the late 1880s, the family moved to San Diego, CA. Around 1895, August was sent to Fort Stockton. In the late 1890s, they moved into a house at 612 Hawthorn. August Beck died in November 1917 in Honolulu, HI. In 1919, Louise purchased a house in the Golden Hill neighborhood of San Diego, at 411 21st St. Louise lived in the home until her death in 1933. Later, Violet and Eva rented out rooms at the home on 21st Street and other family-owned properties.

Eva became a nurse and worked throughout California. She married James Clark Earl on May 20, 1909 and had three children, Lillian (b. circa 1910), John, and David. Lillian married Claude Sutton in 1932 and had two children, David and Charles. Eva died in 1965.

Violet graduated from Fowler High School in Fresno, CA, in 1904 before attending the University of California, Berkeley where she received her B.L., M.L., and teaching certification. Violet taught all over California including San Diego, Banning, Blythe, Patterson, Esparto, Covelo, Lompoc, Ramona, Lakeside, National City, and Mt. Empire. Violet was a substitute teacher for 29 years in National City, Coronado, and San Diego and also taught at the Junior College of San Diego.

Violet was a devout Christian. Church activities and bible study were a dominant part of her life. She was a member of the Philathea Class at the First Baptist Church of San Diego from 1901 to 1957.

While living in Golden Hill, Violet actively fought for the preservation of the community, specifically opposing the building of high-rise structures. From 1935 to 1957, Violet was Head of the Restriction Committee of the Golden Hill Improvement Association. Working with the association, she helped with the acquisition of Grant Hill Park and in obtaining a bridge over the freeway at 22nd Street.

Violet died on July 3, 1989 at the age of 102.

Acquisition information:
Accession number 901313.
Processing information:

Collection processed by Alison Hennessey on March 21, 2012.

Collection processed as part of grant project supported by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) with generous funding from The Andrew Mellon Foundation.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged into four series:

Series I: Beck Family

Series II: Violet Miriam Beck

Series III: Rental Property

Series IV: Miscellanea

Items within each series are arranged by subject.

Physical / technical requirements:

Diaries, journals, scrapbooks, and guestbooks have some fragile pages. Some pages in the diaries are partially detached from their bindings. Guestbook covers with mold have been separated to Box 7 for the protection of other materials. Human and horse hair have also been separated to Box 7. (March 21, 2012)

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.

Preferred citation:

Beck Family Papers, MS 204, San Diego History Center Document Collection, San Diego, CA.

Location of this collection:
1649 El Prado, Suite 3
San Diego, CA 92101, US
Contact:
(619) 232-6203
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