Finding Aid to the Elsa S. McGinn Papers, 1891-1971
Jack Doran
The Bancroft Library
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-6000
Phone: (510) 642-6481
Fax: (510) 642-7589
Email: bancref@library.berkeley.edu
URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/
© 2012
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Finding Aid to the Elsa S. McGinn Papers, 1891-1971
Collection number: BANC MSS 99/318 c
The Bancroft Library
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-6000
Phone: (510) 642-6481
Fax: (510) 642-7589
Email: bancref@library.berkeley.edu
URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/
- Finding Aid Author(s):
- Jack Doran
- Date Completed:
-
June 2012
- Finding Aid Encoded By:
- GenX
© 2012 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Collection Summary
Collection Title: Elsa S. McGinn papers
Date (inclusive): 1891-1971
Collection Number: BANC MSS 99/318 c
Creator:
McGinn, Elsa Searing
Extent:
2 cartons, 5 oversize boxes, 1 oversize folder
4 linear feet
Repository: The Bancroft Library.
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-6000
Phone: (510) 642-6481
Fax: (510) 642-7589
Email: bancref@library.berkeley.edu
URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/
Abstract: The Elsa S. McGinn papers consist of materials pertaining to her activity as a public figure in San Mateo County, as well
as her personal life. The collection is divided into four series: Business Papers, Civic and Municipal Papers, Correspondence,
and Personal Papers.
Languages Represented: Collection materials are in English
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.
Information for Researchers
Access Information
Collection is open for research.
Conditions of Use
Materials in this collection 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.
All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from, or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the
Head of Public Services, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley 94720-6000. See: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/reference/permissions.html
.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Elsa S. McGinn Papers, BANC MSS 99/318 c, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley
Alternative Form of Materials Available
There are no alternate forms of this collection.
Separated Material
Photographs have been transferred to the Pictorial Collections of The Bancroft Library (BANC PIC 1998.069--ALB).
Posters have been transferred to Pictorial Collections of The Bancroft Library.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog
McGinn, Elsa Searing -- Archives
San Mateo (Calif.) -- Politics and government
Clippings
Scrapbooks
Administrative Information
The Elsa S. McGinn papers were given to the Bancroft Library by Thomas McGinn Smith on June 30, 1998.
No additions are expected.
Processing Information
Processed by Jack Doran in 2012.
Biography/Organization History
Elsa McGinn was born Elsa Waller Searing on May 4, 1880 in Sherwood, New York. Her father, Edward Whelan Searing, was an
attorney who served on the New York State Assembly and her mother, Laura Redden Searing, was an accomplished journalist and
poet who wrote under the name Howard Glyndon.
Laura Searing’s declining health compelled her to take up and go West with Elsa in 1887. They settled in Santa Cruz, California,
where Elsa spent her childhood before leaving to study at Miss Head’s Preparatory School for Girls in Berkeley, California.
Upon completing her studies in 1898, she moved back to Santa Cruz and briefly took a job as a stenographer before marrying
Roderick J. Marston in October 1899. She soon relocated to Dawson City, Yukon where Marston owned a gold mine. The two separated
in 1901 (divorced in 1903) and Elsa took a job in Nome, Alaska as a stenographer and typesetter for John L. McGinn, a prominent
mining attorney whom she would eventually marry on April 20, 1904.
Elsa returned to California in 1909 to care for her mother, eventually settling in San Mateo in January 1916. Here, she began
a tireless public career. Some of the more prominent of her many titles over the next few decades were President of San Francisco
Girls Welfare Home (1917-1920), Chairman of the Liberty Loan campaigns and head of the California State Council of Defense
during World War I, Commissioner of Public Health and Safety of San Mateo (1920-1922), acting mayor of San Mateo (1920) and
President of the San Mateo Women’s Club (1924-1928). As a member of the San Mateo County Planning Commission (1931-1952),
Elsa helped establish some of the first municipal parks in San Mateo County. She was also the first woman nominated for a
seat on the California State Assembly (1926), an election that she lost.
She gave birth to two children—Laura Edith and John W. McGinn—and was remembered by her friends and community as a fearless
and tactful, yet compassionate leader. She died on May 13, 1963 at the age of 83.
Scope and Content Note
The Elsa S. McGinn papers consist of materials pertaining to her activity as a public figure in San Mateo County, as well
as her personal life. The collection is divided into four series: Business Papers, Civic and Municipal Papers, Correspondence,
and Personal Papers.
Business Papers, Series 1, consists of correspondence and titles for several mines in Mexico in which Elsa McGinn owned a
share.
Civic and Municipal Papers, Series 2, includes correspondence regarding McGinn’s participation in World War I bond drives,
women’s clubs, various civic and municipal positions in San Mateo and her run for State Assemblyman.
Correspondence, Series 3, consists of personal letters, primarily written by John L. McGinn and Laura E. McGinn, as well as
holiday cards from friends of the McGinn family.
Personal Papers, Series 4, has been divided into six subseries: General; John L. McGinn; Laura E. McGinn; Laura C.R. Searing;
Writings; and Ephemera. Included are scrapbooks kept by McGinn, mementos from her childhood and materials relating to her
marriage to John McGinn. Also included are papers of both John L. McGinn and Laura E. McGinn and copies of two books published
by Laura Searing (Howard Lyndon) as well as a variety of ephemera.
Series 1
Business Papers
1923-1933
Physical Description:
carton 1, folders 1-4
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically
Scope and Content Note
This series consists of correspondence and titles for several mines in Mexico in which Elsa McGinn owned a share.
carton 1, folders 1-2
Harrington, Knight and Smith Mexican Gold Mines - Correspondence
1923-1933
carton 1, folder 3
Harrington, Knight and Smith Mexican Gold Mines - Titles
1923-1928
carton 1, folder 4
San Mateo Tide Lands Company
1927, 1931
Series 2
Civic and Municipal Papers
1915-1953
Physical Description:
carton 1, folders 5-10; oversize boxes 1-4; oversize folder 1
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically
Scope and Content Note
This series includes correspondence regarding McGinn’s participation in World War I bond drives, women’s clubs, various civic
and municipal positions in San Mateo and her run for State Assemblyman.
oversize-box 1, volumes 1-2
Woman's Club of San Mateo- Scrapbooks
1915-1929
carton 1, folder 5
National Woman's Liberty Loan Committee
1918-1919
oversize-box 1, volume 3
Women's Committee of National and State Defense Scrabpook
1918-1919
oversize-box 2, volumes 4-5
oversize-box 3, volume 6
Scrapbook of Political Activities and War Work
1919-1925
oversize-box 3, volume 7
Board of Trustees Scrapbook
1920-1923
oversize-box 4, volume 8
Board of Trustees and Police Deparment Scrapbook
1922-1923
carton 1, folder 7
Election materials
1923, 1926
carton 1, folder 8
San Mateo Women's Club- newspaper clippings
1924-1931
oversize-box 4, volume 9
Campaign Scrapbook
1925-1926
oversize-folder 1A
Assembly Candidacy- placards and ballot
1926
carton 1, folder 9
Correspondence- Political
1934-1943
oversize-folder 1A
War Finance Committee- ephemera
circa 1945
carton 1, folder 10
List of Offices Held by Elsa McGinn
1953, undated
Series 3
Correspondence
1891-1959
Physical Description:
carton 1, folders 11-21
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically
Scope and Content Note
This series consists of personal letters, primarily written by John L. McGinn and Laura E. McGinn, as well as holiday cards
from friends of the McGinn family.
carton 1, folders 11-13
McGinn, John L.
1904-1953
carton 1, folders 15-17
McGinn, Laura E.
1911-1931
carton 1, folder 21
Holiday Cards, Announcements and Invitations
circa 1917
Series 4
Personal Papers
1893-1971
Physical Description:
carton 1, folders 22-40; box 1; oversize boxes 4-5; oversize folder 1
Arrangement
Arranged hierarchically.
Scope and Content Note
This series has been divided into six subseries: General; John L. McGinn; Laura E. McGinn; Laura C.R. Searing; Writings; and
Ephemera. Included are scrapbooks kept by McGinn, mementos from her childhood and materials relating to her marriage to John
McGinn. Also included are papers of both John L. McGinn and Laura E. McGinn and copies of two books published by Laura Searing
(Howard Lyndon) as well as a variety of ephemera.
Subseries 4.1
General
1897-1971
Physical Description:
carton 1, folders 22-33; oversize boxes 4-5
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
carton 1, folder 22
Miss Head's School for Girls- Berkeley, California
1897-1898
carton 1, folder 23
Divorce from R.J. Marston
1903-1904
carton 1, folder 24
McGinn, Elsa and John- Memory Book
1904
carton 1, folder 25
McGinn, Elsa- newspaper clippings
1904-1959
carton 1, folder 28
Silhouettes of family members
1915
carton 1, folder 29
Scrapbook- World War I
1918-1919
oversize-box 4, volume 10
Scrapbook- Personal
1920-1931
oversize-box 5, volume 11
carton 1, folder 31
McGinn, Elsa- Memory Book
1935-1963
oversize-box 5, volume 12
carton 1, folder 32
Vital Records and Membership Cards
1954, 1961, undated
carton 1, folder 33
McGinn and Smith Families- Newspaper clippings
1923-1971
Subseries 4.2
McGinn, John L.
1893-1960
Physical Description:
carton 1, folders 34-40; oversize folder 1
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
oversize-folder 1A
California State Bar- Certificate of Admittance
1893
carton 1, folder 34
Family Correspondence
1902-1948
carton 1, folder 35
Professional Correspondence
1909-1956
carton 1, folder 36
Newspaper Clippings
1928-1955
carton 1, folder 37
Canceled Will and Last Testament
1930
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
carton 1, folder 38
California State Bar Correspondence and Certificates
1931-1955
carton 1, folder 39
John McGinn v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue
1942
carton 1, folder 40
Biographical and Memorial Materials
1959-1960
Subseries 4.3
McGinn, Laura E.
1907-1926
Physical Description:
box 1, folders 1-3
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
box 1, folder 1
Memorabilia of Birth and Infancy
1907-1908
box 1, folder 3
Newspaper clippings
1922, 1925
Subseries 4.4
Searing, Laura C.R.
1897-1923
Physical Description:
box 1, folders 4-5
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
box 1, folder 4
Books of Poems by Laura C.R. Searing (Howard Glyndon
1897, 1907
box 1, folder 5
Newspaper clippings
1923, undated
Subseries 4.5
Writings
1928-1935
Physical Description:
box 1, folders 6-7
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically.
box 1, folder 6
Poems and Short Stories
1930, undated
box 1, folder 7
Speeches and Rememberances
1928, 1935
Subseries 4.6
Ephemera
1903-1960
Physical Description:
box 1, folders 8-12
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
box 1, folder 11
San Mateo Politics and Women's Club
1919-1938