Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- Kenyon (Charles Patterson) Collection
- Dates:
- 1851-1974
- Abstract:
- The Charles Patterson Kenyon Collection contains material that documents the life, career, and retirement of the first administrator for San Joaquin County. It also includes bound volumes that were either owned or written by ancestors or relatives of Kenyon. Of particular note is a diary kept by Thomas Pitt, a great-grandfather of Kenyon on his mother's side, that chronicles a journey he took through California's gold fields between 1851 and 1852.
- Extent:
- 1 linear foot
- Language:
- Records written in English
- Preferred citation:
-
Preferred citation: [Item name], Charles Patterson Kenyon Collection, Ms70, San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum, Lodi, California.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The focal point of the Charles Patterson Kenyon Collection is Kenyon's career as San Joaquin County's first administrator (1959-1970). The collection includes newspaper clippings, letters and certificates of congratulation, genealogical documents, photographs, and booklets and material published by the City of Stockton and San Joaquin County. Also held in the collection are published and unpublished books owned by Kenyon's grandfather and great-aunt, Thomas Kenyon and Elizabeth Kenyon, that date from the early twentieth century, and a diary that Thomas Pitt, Kenyon's great-grandfather, kept in the early 1850s. The material has been arranged alphabetically by subject.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Charles Patterson Kenyon (1906-1994) was born in Stockton, California, to a family that traced its roots to California's Gold Rush. Educated in Stockton through his high school years, Kenyon began studies at the University of the Pacific after graduation but cut short his academic career to enter private business. In 1930, he was working for Standard Oil Company. Sixteen years later, he entered the employ of San Joaquin County, where he initially served as assistant to the county accountant and efficiency expert. In 1959, Kenyon became San Joaquin County's first administrator, a position he retained until his retirement in 1970. Kenyon's authority at the height of his career included jurisdiction over budgets, staffing, workloads, levels of service, data processing, and facility management. During his tenure, San Joaquin County constructed its third courthouse, which was dedicated in 1964.
- Physical location:
- Erickson Vault
Indexed terms
About this collection guide
- Date Prepared:
- 2012
- Date Encoded:
- Machine-readable finding aid prepared by Leigh Johnsen November 30, 2012
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Collection is open for research by appointment.
- Terms of access:
-
The library can only claim physical ownership of the collection. Users are responsible for satisfying any claimants of literary property.
- Preferred citation:
-
Preferred citation: [Item name], Charles Patterson Kenyon Collection, Ms70, San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum, Lodi, California.
- Location of this collection:
-
11793 North Micke Grove RoadLodi, CA 95241, US
- Contact:
- (209) 331-2055