Ron Chapman Papers and Photograph Collection, 1880s-2010s

Don Romero
Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections
University of the Pacific Library
3601 Pacific Ave.
Stockton, CA 95211
Phone: (209) 946-2404
Fax: (209) 946-2942
URL: http://www.pacific.edu/Library/Find/Holt-Atherton-Special-Collections.html
© 2013
University of the Pacific. All rights reserved.

Ron Chapman Papers and Photograph Collection, 1880s-2010s

Collection number: MSS 344

Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections

University of the Pacific Library

Stockton, California
Processed by:
Don Romero
Date Completed:
2021
Encoded by:
Don Romero
© 2013 University of the Pacific. All rights reserved.

Descriptive Summary

Title: Ron Chapman papers and photograph collection
Dates: 1880-2010
Bulk Dates: 1970-2010
Collection number: MSS 344
Creator: Chapman, Ron, 1943-2019
Collection Size: 11 linear feet
Repository: University of the Pacific. Library. Holt-Atherton Dept. of Special Collections
Stockton, California 95211
Abstract: The collection consists of materials collected and created by Ron Chapman, including photographs, slides, negatives, early and modern business cards, maps, business invoices and correspondence, and many different examples of Stockton-related ephemera.
Physical location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the library's online catalog.
Languages: Languages represented in the collection: English

Access

Collection open for research.

Publication Rights

Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

Preferred Citation

Ron Chapman papers and photograph collection. MSS 344. Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library.

Digital Collections

Biography / Administrative History

Ronald H. Chapman was born on November 4, 1943. He graduated from Stagg High School in Stockton, California, and after serving in the U.S. Army, worked for Johns-Manville. After the plant closed, he began a second career with the Stockton Police Department as Senior Evidence Technician beginning in 1982; he worked for the SPD for the next 27 years.
After his retirement in 2009, Ron volunteered as a historian for the SPD. His work was important, discovering and preserving artifacts and documentation which would have been otherwise lost or forgotten. He was also a moderator and contributing member of the Stockton History Facebook group.
He collected postcards, Stockton-based ephemera, trade cards (early business cards), maps, vintage photos, including early Stockton photographers and studios, which are a part of the collection. Chapman was also a photographer; he documented many Stockton construction and demolition projects, buildings, signs, businesses, air shows at the Stockton Metropolitan Airport, as well as many other views of Stockton.
Ron Chapman died on May 21, 2019.

Scope and Content of Collection

The collection consists of materials collected and created by Ron Chapman, including photographs, slides, negatives, early and modern business cards, maps, business invoices and correspondence, and many different examples of Stockton-related ephemera. The ephemera includes promotional items from Stockton businesses, flyers, restaurant menus, Stockton Chamber of Commerce materials, event tickets, and a variety of other items.

Arrangement

Collection is organized into six series: 1. Photographs; 2. Trade Cards; 3. Business Cards; 4. Stockton Promotional Materials and Ephemera; 5. Maps; and 6. Stockton Businesses Invoices, Checks, and Correspondence

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Stockton (California) - History - Pictorial works
Historic buildings - California - Stockton - Pictorial works
Stockton (California) - Buildings, structures, etc. - Pictorial works
Maps - California - San Joaquin County
Maps - California - Stockton
California - Stockton

Related Material

Chapman also contributed nearly 3000 postcards to MSS 346 Stockton in Vintage Postcards Collection, 1890-2010.

 

Photographs, Negatives, and DVDs circa 1880s-2010s

Box 1

Early Stockton photographers and studios circa 1880s to circa 1950s

 

1.1: J. Pitcher Spooner, includes St. John’s Church, portrait of Mrs. K.A. White

 

1.2: Logan and Logan’s Studio, includes portrait of Emma Katona

 

1.3: Logan and Logan’s Studio, includes U.S. Federal building

 

1.4: Babcock (studio)

 

1.5-1.11: Various photographers and studios [incl. Lafayette School 3rd grade class, Wallace Drug store, N.V. Williams, Meta and Sam Peterman]

Box 2

Early Stockton photographers and studios, circa 1880s to circa 1950s circa 1880s to circa 1950s

 

2.1-2.7: Various photographers and studios [incl. Charles Schiffman, panoramic view of downtown Stockton (damaged), ships, Lottie Grunsky School 1925 5th grade class, parades, 1953 College of the Pacific football team, soldiers, other Stockton views and buildings, El Dorado School 6th grade class of 1932, snapshot booklets]

 

2.8-2.11: Facsimile of album: Glimpses of Stockton 1904. Views used in geography work

 

2.12: Digital prints and photocopies of view of Stockton

Box 3

Stockton photographs circa 1940s to circa 2010s

 

3.1-3.6: “Appraisal of Houses and Buildings” Digital prints of various houses and structures with addresses circa 1939-1990s (bulk 1940s)

 

3.7-3.11: Construction of parking garage and U.S. Post Office at 240 Channel Street, 2005. Weber/American, Channel/California construction and demolition projects, circa 2004. Police building at El Dorado and E. Weber, circa 2004. Views of Stockton and construction, 2004-2005

 

3.12: Removal of Fox Theater sign, 2004

 

3.13-3.19: Colberg Boat Works [incl. shipbuilding, shipyards, family photos and correspondence]

Box 4

Stockton photographs circa 1940s to circa 2010s

 

4.1-4.9: Buildings [incl. Trinity Lutheran School, construction of Janet Leigh Plaza (2005-2006), streets, parks, waterways, construction and demolition projects, Hotel Stockton, Banner Island Ballpark, Argonaut Hotel building, former Pacific State Bank building, Stockton Arena, contact sheets, locomotives (circa 1990s-2000s)]

 

4.10-4.11: Aerial views, includes Weber Point Events Center, Victory Park and areas Northeast (circa 1960s-2000s)

 

4.12-4.13: Photographs of medicine, milk, beer, soda bottles

Box 5

Stockton photographs circa 1940s to circa 2010s

 

5.1-5.2: Miner Avenue subway construction, June, 1980. New steeple for St. Mary’s church, 1982-1984.

 

5.3: Removal of train at Louis Park, Stockton, 1984

 

5.4-5.10: Stockton air shows and airport, circa 1970s-1980s

Box 6

Stockton photographs circa 1940s to circa 2010s

 

6.1-6.4: Neon signs, marquees, building facades in Stockton, circa 1970s-1980s

 

6.5-6.10: Buildings, streets, businesses, schools, demolition of Victory School, 1977, Lottie Grunsky School, Stockton High School, 1977,passenger train cars and train station, various construction and demolition projects, Weber Point Events Center, fire near Hotel Wolf, circa 1980s, photo exhibit in park, 2006

Box 7

Stockton photographs circa 1940s to circa 2010s

 

7.1-7.10: Construction of Stockton Event Center, 2004-2005

 

7.11-7.13: Various buildings and streets

Box 8

Stockton photographs, oversize items circa 1940s to circa 2010s

 

Stockton views; Stockton College: Unit T, Class of 1949; Stockton Marina; construction projects; aerial/bird’s eye views of Stockton; panoramic views

Box 9

DVDs, negatives, and slides circa 1960s-2010s

 

9.1-9.2: DVDs: Construction of San Joaquin County Administration building, 2006-2009; Grohman house before and after demolition, 2006; Cheadle Building before and after demolition; Pollardville Demolition, April and May, 2010; University of the Pacific Women’s Field Hockey first game. September 12, 2014; University of the Pacific football stadium (Amos Alonzo Stagg Memorial Stadium) and demolition, 2012, 2014

 

9.3-9.5: Negatives: Billy Hebert Field, Stockton; Stockton 99 Speedway; Demolition of Clark Hotel; Buildings and Streets; Hammer/Westlane Drive-In; Pilgrim Street Firehouse; Skid Row; Stockton neon signs; Flying Scotsman locomotive; Crosstown freeway; Pollardville; Schools

 

9.6-9.7: Slides: Buildings; Trains; Flooding; El Dorado school carnival and class photos; Folk dance camp at University of the Pacific, 1966; Stockton Courthouse dedication, 1964; Helicopter

Box 10

Negatives circa 1970s-2000s

 

10.1: Trains, circa 1970s-1980s; U.S.S. Kitty Hawk, 1983

 

10.2-10.4: Airports: Oakland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Long Beach, 1980s; Air Shows: Madera, Watsonville, Stockton, Oakland, 1980s; Concorde at Sacramento Airport

 

10.5-10.11: Views of Stockton incl. buildings, streets Crosstown Freeway, 1987; Stockton High School; Fiesta Mexicana Restaurant, 2006; St. Mary’s Church renovation, 1982; medicine, milk, beer, and soda bottles; Asparagus Festival, 2004, 2006; Stockton Sheraton, 2006; Hoosier Inn, 2006; Downtown Transit Center dedication 2006; Stockton Ports-Opening game and Law enforcement night, 2006; Waterfront, 2006; B.A.S.S. (fishing) Tournament, 2007; Janet Leigh Plaza dedication, 2006; Fire engines; Marina Towers, 2004; Stockton Event Center, 2004; Fox Theater sign removal, 2004; Weber Channel, 2005; World Trade Center display at City Hall, 2003; Downtown multiplex theater, 2003.

 

Series II Trade cards circa 1870s to circa 1900s

Box 11

Approximately 800 trade cards

 

Series III Modern business cards circa 1970s to circa 2010s

Box 12

Approximately 6,000 business cards

 

Series IV Stockton Promotional Materials and Ephemera circa 1980s to 2010s

Box 13

Flyers and pamphlets for shows, performances, sporting events, restaurants; Bumper stickers; Hotel Stockton materials; 9/11 memorial flyers; Menus; Programs; Shopping bags from Stockton retailers; Campaign materials; Promotional magnets; Transit information including Amtrak and San Joaquin RTD; Pollardville Chicken Festival; Stocktoncon 2016; Stockton city guides; Show/event tickets; Deed to cemetery plot; Wedding and commencement announcements and invitations; School report cards and diplomas; Shopping directories; Hotel and motel flyers; Stockton City Council resolutions, 1923 (photocopy); Stockton city manager history; Directions for self-guided walking tour of downtown Stockton; Stockton promotional CD/DVD; Port of Stockton CD/DVD.

Box 14

Collection of Stockton photography ephemera; Historic building records; Pollardville Showboat Dinner Theater receipts; Flyers and pamphlets for shows, performances, sporting events, restaurants; Port of Stockton 50th Anniversary program; Port of Stockton Annual Report, 1993-1994; Stockton Visitors Guides; Susan B. Anthony Awards program, 2014; Menus; Event tickets; Membership cards; Calendars; Coin holders from banks; Campaign cards; Advertisements; Reward of Merit student cards; Poker chips from Pollardville Saloon; Loose pages from Stockton City Directories, 1931; Newspapers and clippings.

 

Series V Maps circa 1903-20002

Box 15

 

15.1-15.4: H.T. Compton: Stockton, 1903 (photocopied pages)

 

15.5: Thomas Bros: Stockton and San Joaquin County, circa 1920s (photocopied pages)

 

15.6: Stockton Public Works Department: Traffic Calming Projects, 2012

 

15.7: Pease Press: Stockton’s Japantown, Chinatown, and Little Manila, 2004

 

15.8: Kierski and Bro. Stationers: Stockton and Environs, 1861 (digital print); P. Hammond: Stockton and San Joaquin Valley, 1849 (digital print); Hand-drawn map of Stockton blocks (possibly by Ron Chapman); Stockton Chamber of Commerce: Stockton (4 different copies); AAA: Stockton, 1988, 2003

 

15.9: Stockton Chamber of Commerce: Three-in-one map of Stockton (3 different copies); Stockton City Lines: Time Schedule and Route Map, 1948; AAA: Stockton, 1977 and circa 1950s; CSAA: Roads of San Joaquin County, 1931

 

15.10: Pacific Storage-Moving: Stockton City map (2 different copies); The Holden Drug Company: Stockton, 1897; Stockton Chamber of Commerce: Stockton, 1943

 

15.11: Union Oil Company (Union 76): Stockton (6 different copies)

 

15.12: Standard Oil Company: Stockton Streets and Vicinity, 1964; Union Oil Company (Union 76): Stockton (2 different copies)

 

15.13: Compass Maps: Stockton and San Joaquin County (2 different copies); Stockton Metropolitan Transit District: Ride Guide; Bekins Van Lines: Three-in-one map of Stockton; Stockton Chamber of Commerce: Stockton

 

15.14: AAA: Stockton and Vicinity, 1987, 1990; AAA: City Series- Stockton, 2007

 

15.15: W.G. Hunter: Stockton, showing water system of P.G. & E Company, proposed extensions, hydrants, mains and fire houses owned by the city, 1921 (photocopies); History of P, G & E water system (photocopied pages); H.T. Compton: Stockton and Vicinity, 1884 (digital print)

 

15.16: City of Stockton: Plans for street project (photocopies); Plat map of Deed D1833-73, Van Buren, Monroe, and Market Streets, and related information; Stockton city blocks (photocopied pages)

 

15.17: Thomas Bros.: Stockton and San Joaquin County (2 different copies); Map Corporation of America: Stockton and Vicinity, circa 1955

 

15.18: Stockton Chamber of Commerce: Stockton San Joaquin County, 1915; Willow Glen housing development; List of Stockton parks and facilities, 1990

 

15.19: San Joaquin County; Port of Stockton-hand-drawn copy; AAA: San Joaquin County; Stockton Chamber of Commerce: Stockton

 

15.20: AAA Stockton and Vicinity, circa 1960s, 1984, 1992; Stockton Chamber of Commerce: Stockton

 

Series VI Stockton Businesses: Invoices, Checks, and Correspondence circa 1890s-1950s

Box 16

 

16.1-16.4: Invoices and Correspondence [incl. Stockton Milling Company invoice, 1891; San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors letter, 1908; Commercial Hotel letter, 1915; Hickinbotham Bros. invoices; Morningstar Lodge (Masons) 1911, 1937; Singer Sewing Machine Company letter, 1916

 

16.5-16.7: Various Stockton bank and payroll checks

 

16.8: Business permit letters

 

16.9-16.40: A-Z collection of invoices and correspondence including: Austin Brothers, Bank of Italy, California Moline Plow Company, Coca-Cola, College of the Pacific, DeYoung Memorial Chapel, Electric and Machine Equipment Company, Fisk Tire Company, Globe Foundry and Machine Works, Hampton and Starkey, Imperial Hotel, KXOB Radio Lauxen & Catts, Maxwell Motor Supply, National Ice and Cold Storage, Owl Grocery, Pacific Gas & Electric, Rosenbaum & Son, St. Lawrence Stables, San Joaquin County, M. Schneider & Sons, H.C. Shaw Company, Sperry Flour Company, Stockton Junk Company, Stockton Milling Company, Stockton Rural Cemetery Association, Top Filling Station, B.C. Wallace Funeral Director, Wells Fargo & Co. Express