LaForce Collection, 1909-1983, bulk Bulk, 1952-1983

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Summary

Title:
LaForce Collection
Dates:
1909-1983, bulk Bulk, 1952-1983
Creators:
LaForce, Beatrice and LaForce, James
Abstract:
This collection contains property and fire damage appraisals produced by James LaForce during his career as an independent appraiser of agricultural land in the 1950s to 1970s, as well as reports on Warner Ranch and reports prepared for the City of San Diego.
Extent:
7.0 Linear feet (7 boxes)
Language:
Preferred citation:

LaForce Collection, MS 297, San Diego History Center Document Archives, San Diego, CA.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains property and fire damage appraisals produced by James LaForce during his career as an independent appraiser of agricultural land in the 1950s to 1970s, as well as reports on Warner Ranch and reports prepared for the City of San Diego.

The property appraisals were primarily for individual land owners, but also included corporations and other organizations. The bulk of appraisals of fire damage were for properties damaged by the Mesa Grande fire in the Pine Mountain region of San Diego County in September 1956. The quarterly and annual reports on Warner Ranch were prepared for the owners, Vista Irrigation District, between 1960 and 1977, and include information on conditions of the range and cattle herd as well summaries of other activities and agricultural issues.

In his role as Agricultural Consultant/Farm Manager for the City of San Diego, LaForce prepared reports for the City Manager on property leased by the City, including a large number of acres in the San Pasqual Valley. Additionally, this collection contains maps that are unrelated to specific reports, as well as items from Beatrice LaForce that do not pertain to her husband’s agricultural consulting business. Her items include photos of Alpine, the 1928 diary of an unknown woman who lived in Alpine, and a publication on the Burgess Ranch in San Pasqual Valley.

Biographical / historical:

James Clayburn LaForce lived in Alpine and was a resident of San Diego County beginning in 1910. LaForce graduated from the University of California with a degree in Economics, with additional work in Animal Husbandry and Agronomy. He worked for twelve years with the Agricultural Commissioner and State Department of Agriculture in the areas of agricultural research and agricultural law enforcement. He also had extensive experience in San Diego County in short-term agricultural financing and farm management. In 1959, LaForce served as Agricultural Consultant for the City of San Diego, responsible for leasing and managing the City’s agricultural properties.

LaForce worked as an independent appraiser throughout the County from the early 1950s to the late 1970s primarily working with agricultural land: farms, ranches, and other properties used for cattle grazing. He appraised property throughout San Diego County, but his most frequently visited areas included San Pasqual Valley, San Luis Rey Valley, and the Laguna Mountains. LaForce also prepared a number of appraisals for property in the Salton Sea Basin.

His wife, Beatrice, also referred to as Bea, frequently served as photographer and her photos were often included in LaForce’s appraisal reports. Beatrice LaForce also wrote a book on the history of Alpine.

Acquisition information:
Accession #s 810204; 821021A; 890330; 2000.085; 2004.131
Processing information:

Collection processed by Frank Sweeney in August 2012.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged into six series:

Series I: Appraisals: Property;

Series II: Appraisals: Fire Damage;

Series III: Warner Ranch;

Series IV: Miscellaneous Reports;

Series V: Miscellaneous Maps;

Series VI: Miscellanea.

Series I is arranged alphabetically by last name of the property owner, or by ranch or property name depending on the original description.

Series II is arranged alphabetically.

Series III is arranged chronologically.

Series IV through VI are arranged alphabetically.

Physical / technical requirements:

The majority of the appraisals and reports have been removed from their original folders and placed in archival folders. Photographs were often included with appraisals, usually attached with glue. These were not removed and remain fragile.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Samantha Mills
Date Prepared:
January 25, 2017
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2017-01-26T12:57-0800

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:

LaForce Collection, MS 297, San Diego History Center Document Archives, San Diego, CA.

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