Collection Highlights from the Local History Photograph and Document Collection, Circa 1890s to 1970s

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Summary

Title:
Collection Highlights from the Local History Photograph and Document Collection
Dates:
Circa 1890s to 1970s
Creators:
Monterey County Free Libraries (Calif.), Slevin, L. S. (Louis Stanislas), 1878-1945, Albert and Alzora Snyder family, and Randall, Welcome
Abstract:
The Monterey County Free Libraries' local history collection includes books, photographs, maps, and documents focused on the history of Monterey County and California from the 1890s to the 1970s. It provides historical insights into Monterey County and its significance within California history. The digitized images feature photographs, postcards, and documents depicting people, places, and buildings such as libraries, librarians, schools, missions, and industries like whaling, salt, and agriculture in areas like Aromas, Big Sur, Carmel, Gonzales, Jolon, Monterey, Moss Landing, Seaside, Pacific Grove, Salinas, Seaside, Soledad, Spreckles, and beyond. Noteworthy are images of the first county librarian, Anne Hadden, providing library service on horseback in Big Sur, and photos of farm labor camps in Monterey County around the 1960s.
Extent:
200 items including photographs, postcards and printed ephemera Online items available
Language:
Languages represented in the collection: English
Preferred citation:

Monterey County Free Libraries local history photograph and document collection. Monterey County Free Libraries, Marina, CA 93933

Background

Scope and content:

The Monterey County Free Libraries' local history collection includes books, photographs, maps, and documents focused on the history of Monterey County and California from the 1890s to the 1970s. It provides historical insights into Monterey County and its significance within California history. The digitized images feature photographs, postcards, and documents depicting people, places, and buildings such as libraries, librarians, schools, missions, and industries like whaling, salt, and agriculture in areas like Aromas, Big Sur, Carmel, Gonzales, Jolon, Monterey, Moss Landing, Seaside, Pacific Grove, Salinas, Seaside, Soledad, Spreckles, and beyond. Noteworthy are images of the first county librarian, Anne Hadden, providing library service on horseback in Big Sur, and photos of farm labor camps in Monterey County around the 1960s.

The format mainly consists of black-and-white photographs and documents, along with color photos of the farm labor camps. These images capture life and industry in early Monterey County. Of special interest are photographs taken by renowned photographer L.S. Slevin, illustrating the lifestyle, buildings, and people in the Monterey County area during the early 1900s. Also included are historical details about the early Monterey County Free Libraries and their horseback delivery service, as well as scenes from the farm labor camps of the 1960s.

Items were selected from a wide range of photographic collections housed at the Monterey County Free Libraries' Administrative Office and the Aromas Branch. The photos are indexed in a database at the administrative offices. Consult the library for more information.

Biographical / historical:

L. S. (Louis Stanislas) Slevin, a California native, came to Carmel in 1903 and photographed the whole of Monterey County from Big Sur to the Pinnacles National Monument. He left a history of the area in both prints and postcards.

Albert and Alzora Snyder were local historians for the town of Aromas which is located in the northern end of Monterey County. They left their extensive photograph and clipping collection from the 1920-1930s to the Aromas Branch of Monterey County Free Libraries.

Welcome Randall and William Crigler, sanitarians for Monterey County, photographed and documented the condition of farm labor camps in Monterey County circa the 1960s.

Monterey County Free Libraries has a large local history collection of books, maps, photographs, postcards, brochures, letters, and newspaper clippings dating from the 1890s.

Acquisition information:
Monterey County Free Libraries created this collection from donations by L.S. Slevin in the early 1900s, the Albert and Alzora Snyder family, 2009, and from the archives of Monterey County Free Libraries collected by librarians, 1912-present.
Processing information:

These materials were assembled and digitized as part of the California Local History Digital Resources Project, supported by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), administered in California by the State Librarian.

Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Monterey County Free Libraries
Sponsor:
These materials were assembled and digitized as part of the California Local History Digital Resources Project, supported by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), administered in California by the State Librarian.
Date Prepared:
© 2011
Date Encoded:
Machine-readable finding aid created by California Digital Library

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research by appointment only. Contact Monterey County Free Libraries' Administrative Office for further information.

Terms of access:

Property rights reside with Monterey County Free Libraries. Copyright of some materials is retained by the creators of the records. For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact Monterey County Free Libraries' Administrative Office.

Preferred citation:

Monterey County Free Libraries local history photograph and document collection. Monterey County Free Libraries, Marina, CA 93933

Location of this collection:
188 Seaside Circle
Marina, CA 93933, US