Fisher (Irvin B.) Papers, 1909-1976

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Summary

Title:
Irvin B. Fisher Papers
Dates:
1909-1976
Creators:
Fisher, Irvin B., 1881-1980 Baisden, Renee Blodwin DesIslets, 1928-1994
Abstract:
Extent:
4 boxes (4 linear feet)
Language:
Preferred citation:

Irvin B. Fisher Papers. History San Jose Research Library

Background

Scope and content:

Fisher’s papers and photographs expand what is already known about the Perfect Christian Divine Way and Holy City’s operations and disciples. Especially intriguing is Fisher’s 1913-15 correspondence with his wife, Mamye, revealing his spiritual search and his social and familial assumptions. Fisher's later correspondence with Lucille and William Riker shed light on the rifts within the Holy City community as well as Lucille's own experience. The papers include original documents as well as photocopies made by Fisher and the donor. The chain of custody of the papers includes a woman named Renee DesIslets Baisden, who had been writing a manuscript about her mother and Holy City. That manuscript was returned to her daughter; however, the papers do include snapshots given to her by Fisher accompanied by her own typed captions. In addition, there is one folder of Holy City ephemera at the front of the papers, acquired by the donor separately. The papers have been arranged chronologically, with minimal changes made to the donor’s original order. Undated materials have been filed at the end of dated material. Photographs and oversize publications have been separated.

Biographical / historical:

Irvin Bryant Fisher was born in the farming community of Hamilton Township, Pickaway County, Ohio, on September 5, 1881. He left school in 4th grade to help support his family, eventually becoming a skilled pattern maker. Fisher joined William Riker’s PCDW in 1913. In 1908, Fisher married Columbus-native Marie Sybilla Huber, known as Mayme; however, he left his family in the mid-1910s after meeting William Riker in Indianapolis. He helped Riker build a following in Minneapolis, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, and contributed to the creation of Holy City in the 1920s in the Santa Cruz Mountains. He later endured a crisis of faith in Riker, leaving Holy City to spend most of the 1930s teaching “The Philosophy” in Los Angeles. He returned to Holy City only to be exiled two years later, in 1942, after his violent attack on two colleagues. Paroled from San Quentin in 1944, Fisher remained close to Holy City, living nearby in a Summit Road cabin until his death in 1980.

Acquisition information:
The papers were donated in 2021 to History San Jose by Dr. Shelley Bates and her husband Jeffrey. The papers had been given to Jeffrey Bates in 2016 by former Santa Clara Deputy Paul Jones, who had in turn been given them during a police call in the 1990s to the home of Renee DesIslets (nee Tuthill). DesIslets had been using the papers to write a novel about Holy City, and appears to have obtained the original material from Irvin Fisher.

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid created by History San Jose Research Library staff.
Date Prepared:
1909-1976
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using Record Express for OAC5 on July 14, 2025, 2:55 p.m.

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open to the public for research by appointment.

Terms of access:

Property rights reside with History San Jose. For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please contact History San Jose Research Library.

Preferred citation:

Irvin B. Fisher Papers. History San Jose Research Library

Location of this collection:
1661 Senter Road
San Jose, CA 95112, US
Contact:
(408) 287-2290
research@historysanjose.org
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