Access
Accruals
Acquisition Information
Alternate Forms Available
Biographical Information
General
Preferred Citation
Processing Information
Scope and Content of Collection
Separated Material
Publication Rights
Contributing Institution:
The Bancroft Library
Title: Chester Versteeg papers
Creator:
Versteeg, Chester
Identifier/Call Number: BANC MSS 96/31 c
Physical Description:
6.5 linear feet
(5 cartons, 1 oversize folder, 1 tube
Date (inclusive): 1910-1993
Date (bulk): 1921-1960
Abstract: The Chester Versteeg papers, 1910-1993 (bulk 1921-1960), include materials produced and collected by Versteeg relating to
the Sierra Nevada and, in a more limited scope, other mountainous regions of North America.
Physical Location: Many of the Bancroft Library collections are stored offsite and advance notice may be required for use. For current information
on the location of these materials, please consult the library's online catalog.
Language of Material:
English
.
Access
Collection is open for research.
Accruals
No additions are expected.
Acquisition Information
The Chester Versteeg papers were given to The Bancroft Library by Janice Hampson and Elizabeth Todd on July 19, 1995.
Alternate Forms Available
There are no alternate forms of this collection.
Biographical Information
Chester Versteeg (1887-1963) was a Los Angeles-based insurance broker, Sierra Club officer, researcher, and author whose hobby
was the Sierra Nevada. He was an avid hiker and mountain climber; he first hiked the Sierra in 1909 and climbed over 250 peaks
in the range, including 40 first ascents. He served on the Sierra Club's editorial board and was the first chairman of the
Geographic Committee of the Sierra Club. In this capacity he was involved in proposing names for Sierra Nevada features. He
also organized the Desert Peaks section of the Sierra Club. He was an amasser of information and collected historical data
including maps and photographs, and he conducted interviews with over 400 pioneers, explorers, and settlers of the Sierra
Nevada.
General
- Finding Aid Author(s):
- Josh Roselle
- Date Completed:
-
November 2010
- Finding Aid Encoded By:
- GenX
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Chester Versteeg Papers, BANC MSS 96/31 c, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley
Processing Information
Processed by Josh Roselle in 2010.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Chester Versteeg papers, 1910-1993 (bulk 1921-1960), include materials produced and collected by Versteeg relating to
the Sierra Nevada and, in a more limited scope, other mountainous regions of North America. The collection consists primarily
of correspondence, raw and analyzed data, complied notes, and clippings. The majority of the collection relates to books he
hoped to write, including a history of saw mills in the Sierra, place names in the Sierra, and interesting place names in
the mountainous regions of North America. These books are likely unpublished. Researchers may be interested in data collected
on place names and on accounts of Sierra experiences. This material was obtained by various methods, including interviews
and written requests for information. As Versteeg was chairman of the Geographic Committee of the Sierra Club, this collection
contains proposals and correspondence regarding assigning names for previously unnamed geographic features in the California
Sierra Nevadas. Much of this correspondence is between Versteeg, representatives of the Sierra Club, the Department of the
Interior, and the Department of Agriculture. There is a small amount of correspondence with and from Francis Farquhar, president
of the Sierra Club.
Separated Material
Photographs have been transferred to the Pictorial Collections of The Bancroft Library.
Publication Rights
Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction
of some materials may be restricted by terms of University of California gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions,
privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond
that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be
commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
For additional information about the University of California, Berkeley Library's permissions policy please see: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/about/permissions-policies
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Mountaineering--California--Kings Canyon National Park
Mountaineering--California--Sequoia National Park
Mountaineering--California--Yosemite National Park.
Mountaineering--Sierra Nevada (Calif. and Nev.)
Mountaineers--California
Names, Geographical--Sierra Nevada (Calif. and Nev.)
Sierra Nevada (Calif. and Nev.)
Sierra Nevada (Calif. and Nev.)--History
Sierra Nevada (Calif. and Nev.)--Name
Clippings
Farquhar, Francis Peloubet, 1887-1974--Correspondence
Matthes, François, 1874-1948
Versteeg, Chester, 1887-1963--Archives
Sierra Club
Sierra Club. Geographic Committee