Guide to the Patricia Loomis Collection
2008.132
Finding aid prepared by Catherine Mills
History San Jose Research Library
1650 Senter Road
San Jose, CA, 95110
(408) 287-2290
research@historysanjose.org
10/05/2011
Title: Patricia Loomis Collection
Identifier/Call Number: 2008.132
Contributing Institution:
History San Jose Research Library
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
6.0 Linear feet
(6 boxes)
Date (bulk): Bulk, 1939-1998
Date (inclusive): 1850-2008
Abstract: Loomis's professional work as a San Jose Mercury News journalist, member of the Argonauts Historical Society, and author of
several San Jose (Calif.) local history books is documented through correspondence, bylines, research notes, manuscript drafts,
and a large collection of news clippings of local interest.
General Physical Description note: Most of Loomis's notes, bylines and clippings are on newsprint paper and already show signs of fading. Her notes were stored
in a variety of acidic paper envelopes. Because of the extent of the collection and expense of transferring the materials
to non-acidic materials, it was decided to keep these materials in their original form. To the extent possible, paper clips
and staples were removed.
creator:
Loomis, Patricia, 1920-2010
Conditions Governing Access note
Materials are open to the public for research by appointment.
Conditions Governing Use note
Property rights reside with History San Jose. For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please contact History San Jose
Research Library.
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
Materials were donated by Pat Loomis to History San Jose in November 2008.
Scope and Contents note
Loomis's professional work as a San Jose Mercury News journalist, member of the Argonauts Historical Society, and author of
several San Jose (Calif.) local history books is documented through correspondence, bylines, research notes, manuscript drafts,
and a large collection of news clippings of local interest.
Loomis's research notes and clippings provide a wealth of information for those interested in the history of Santa Clara County
and its families, particularly those families who came west during the Gold Rush. While much of her research draws upon primary
sources available elsewhere, she profiles many families who are not well-known, and draws a picture through her work of everyday
life in San Jose. In many cases she has interviewed family members and neighbors. The sheer variety and wealth of background
information she amassed is testament to her personal interest in local history, as well as her tenacity, attention to detail
and professionalism in her journalism. Her articles are touched with a sense of whimsy and humor that breathe life into her
profiles.
Records from the early Statehouse Replica Museum and San Jose Historical Museum, as well as Loomis's detailed notes and itineraries
from her Argonauts educational tours, illustrate her relationship with Clyde Arbuckle and their shared, lifelong commitment
to promoting the history of the American West, particularly Nevada, California and Oregon.
Of particular note in her manuscripts is the background material on the San Francisco International Airport. Ernie Renzel,
the impetus behind the airport's development, gave Loomis all of his original correspondence with the Civil Aviation Commission,
San Jose City Council, and the estate of Mary Ives Crocker, providing a rich backdrop to San Jose's development as it headed
out of World War II.
Biographical/Historical note
Loomis was born in June 1920 in San Francisco, California, to Ivan and Christine Loomis. She grew up in Arroyo Grande, California,
where her family had resided since 1882, descendants of prominent pioneers E. C. and Clara Loomis. After graduating from San
Jose State University in 1943 with a Bachelor's degree in Journalism, she went to work at the San Jose Mercury News, where
she worked for 40 years. She started out writing church notices, articles based on letters from soldiers, reports on frost
and weather for farmers and then moved up to cover the police department and City Hall.
Loomis is best known for her Mercury News column "Signposts" which ran from 1971-1981 and detailed through vignettes the lives
of pioneers whose surnames are reflected on streets in the San Jose-South Bay area. A selection of these columns was published
as "Signposts" (1982) and "Signposts II" (1985), then combined and reprinted as "Signposts Revisited" in 2009. Her interest
in local history also provided the basis for several other publications, "Milpitas: the Century of 'Little Cornfields,' 1852-1952"
(1986), "San Jose International Airport" (1991), "A Walk through the Past: San Jose's Oak Hill Memorial Park" (1998), and
"The Wealth of California - Today's Agriculture, Yesterday's Gold" (1999).
As an active member of the San Jose Argonauts and the Oregon-California Trails Association, Loomis led or contributed to several
group tours tracing pioneer trails through Nevada, Oregon and California and spent considerable personal time researching
pioneer history in the U.S. West. She established the Pat Loomis Preservation Fund to help pay for preservation of the Oregon
and California trails. Loomis was an original member of the San Jose Historical Museum, and her commitment to advocating for
local history was recognized by History San Jose, who dedicated "Loomis Lane" in History Park in 2006. She received the Austen
Warburton Award from the California Pioneers of Santa Clara County in March 2006. Also in 2006, the South County Historical
Society opened the Patricia Loomis History Library and Resource Center in Arroyo Grande.
Loomis moved back to Arroyo Grande in 2007 where she authored two books on that area: "Arroyo Grande Cemetery" and "Streets
of Arroyo Grande" and spent time pursuing her other passions for fishing, gardening and canning. In 2010 the South County
Historical Society named her Historian of the Year.
Loomis passed away in Arroyo Grande in July 2010.
Preferred Citation note
Patricia Loomis Collection 2008-132, History San Jose Research Library, San Jose, California 95112-2599.
Appraisal note
During processing, some records already held by History San Jose were removed from the collection. Many non-personal and duplicate
news items were also removed.
Related Archival Materials note
Loomis's collection overlaps with many other collections held by History San Jose, including
Ernie Renzel Papers (2008-29). Renzel was instrumental in developing the San Jose Airport. Loomis's collection contains Renzel's
original correspondence on the subject, as well as her manuscript on the airport's history.
The Research Library maintains copies of all of Loomis's publications.
Separated Materials note
Loose printed matter was removed for Library cataloging in 2009. In the summer of 2010, loose photographs were removed to
be cataloged and stored with the Photographs Collection. Maps and blueprints are housed in the map room. Ephemera and some
news clippings were also removed and stored separately. These remain part of the same accession but are not included in this
guide. PastPerfect records are available in-house.
Processing Information note
Personal papers were arranged and cataloged by a volunteer archivist during the fall of 2010 and spring of 2011. Any existing
order established by Loomis was preserved.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
San Jose Mercury-news.
Genealogy
Local history--research
Overland journeys to the Pacific
Pioneers--California--Santa Clara County
REPORTER (print. & pub.; radio-tv broad.)
San Jose (Calif.)
Santa Clara County (Calif.)
Box 1
Personal correspondence and biographical clippings 2008-132 (1000-1002)
1951-2005
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.5 Linear feet
(3 folders)
Scope and Contents note
Correspondence between Loomis and friends, members of the public. Most were requests for historical research and local information.
Very few are personal letters. A full Container List is available in-house. Three biographical clippings detail Loomis's Milpitas
book release, a 1986 history award, and a California Trail history trip in 1977.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
clippings (information artifacts)
correspondence
Box 1
San Jose Historical Museum records 2008-132-1003
1964-1991
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.25 Linear feet
(1 folder)
Scope and Contents note
Includes institutional records from the Statehouse Replica Museum and the San Jose Historical Museum (precursor to History
San Jose). Museum clippings, Park Bench Program records, Loomis's notes for related articles. A full Container List is available
in-house.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
History San Jose. (San Jose, Calif.)
San Jose Historical Museum Association.
Statehouse Replica Museum. (San Jose, Calif.)
business records
Museums--California--San Jose
Box 1, Box 1
Historical tour materials 2008-132 (1009-1013)
1974-1986
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.3 Linear feet
(5 folders)
Scope and Contents note
Contains itineraries, postcards, clippings, passenger lists and notes from Loomis's historical tours: Anza Trail Tour of Arizona
1974; Argonaut Tour of Overland Trails 1977; Mendocino County Argonauts Trip (1979); Anza Trail Tour and other tours 1979-1980;
Carson City to Tragedy Springs Tour (1986).
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Anza, Juan Bautista de, 1735-1788
Arbuckle, Clyde, 1903-
Argonauts Historical Society. (San Jose, Calif.)
Metropolitan Adult Education Program. (San Jose, Calif.)
Oregon-California Trails Association.
Mendocino County (Calif.)
Santa Fe National Historic Trail
Sierra Nevada (Calif. and Nev.) Description and travel.
Box 1
ByLines 2008-132 (1014-1035)
1940-1982
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.5 Linear feet
(3 folders, 19 envelopes)
Scope and Contents note
Three folders contain loose clippings, mostly from the Mercury News, of Loomis's own stories. They are arranged chronologically.
Signpost articles that were found loose, without notes, are included in her bylines. Articles that included her research notes
are found in the Research Notes. Loomis also kept 9.5x14" envelopes of her clippings arranged by year, with topics written
on front.
Box 3, Box 2
Signpost research and articles 2008-132 (1037-1105)
1970-1981
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
1.5 Linear feet
(1.5 boxes)
Scope and Contents note
Contains all of Loomis's notes, drafts, and in many cases, final copies, of her "Signposts" articles for the Mercury News.
For the most part they are maintained in Loomis's original envelopes and arranged alphabetically by the subject that either
Loomis designated or that has been ascertained from examining the article. This is usually the street name or the family name
of the related person. Loomis conducted many interviews with relatives and acquaintances during the course of her research;
as a result her notes are useful for genealogy. The subject matter of this series touches on many of the prominent and pioneer
families, as well as the history of mining, agriculture, ranching and academics, in the South Bay. Each of Loomis's envelopes
was catalogued by subject; an index is available in-house.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
clippings (information artifacts)
drafts (documents)
research notes
Street signs
Streets--California--San Jose--History.
Box 2
Signposts research and articles A-Me
1970-1981
Language of Material:
English
Box 3
Signposts research and articles Mo-Z
1970-1981
Language of Material:
English
Box 5, Box 4, Box 3
Research notes by subject 2008-132 (1140-1304)
1850-2000
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
2.5 Linear feet
(2.5 boxes)
Scope and Contents note
Loomis's research notes and background materials organized by topic. They have been kept in their original envelopes except
where the envelopes were too torn to preserve, and are filed alphabetically according to either Loomis's subject notes on
the envelope, or by examining the contents. The subject matter covers a wide geographical area across San Francisco, Santa
Clara County, Alameda County, San Benito County and San Leandro County, as well as a comprehensive set of local history and
related persons.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
clippings (information artifacts)
research notes
Greely-Grant Letter 2008-132-1206
1897
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.1 Linear feet
(1 folder)
creator:
Grant, Robert
Scope and Contents note
Original and copies of a letter to "Bro. Greely" from "R. Grant M." dated August 8, 1897, from Pacific Grove, California.
The letter also mentions a "Vostrovsky". A note from Loomis reads, "I was unable to find any Greely. Looked in county histories
and in 1882 and 1905 directories." A note on the envelope the letter was stored in reads "Came from old house at [Edenvale]
Historical Society interested?"
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Greely, Bro. -- Correspondence
Vostrovsky, Jerome
Monterey County (Calif.)--History
Pacific Grove (Calif.)
Gish, Hughs, Hellyer, Goodyear, Hensley, Belden research notes 2008-132-1198
January 1986
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.1 Linear feet
(1 folder)
Scope and Contents note
Background notes and clippings on several families pertaining to Overland Trails. Of interest is a letter to Loomis from Gage
McKinney including a detailed history of the Gish-Hughs Families.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Gish, David Ellington
Gish, Mary Jane Glover
Hughes, Thomas Mason
Douglas genealogy 2008-132-1182
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.1 Linear feet
(1 folder)
Scope and Contents note
Douglas/Douglass family genealogy of unknown origin. Handwritten. Includes several original papers.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Douglas family
Douglass family
birth certificates
Families--California--History--19th century
Methodist Episcopal Church (Charleston, S.C.)
Mining claims
Scots--California--San Jose--Biography
Memorandum of Domestic Occurrence
January 23, 1825
Language of Material:
English
Scope and Contents note
Handwritten birth record on back of Spring Valley Water Works payment record for Wm. A. Douglas, born January 23, 1825. His
mother Sarah Elisa Douglas died on the 11th February 1825. Isaac Richardson and Sarah Elisa Douglas were married between the
12th and 14th of February 1823.
Letter to Mrs. Douglass from Bessie M. Robinson
October 28, 1903
Language of Material:
English
Scope and Contents note
Handwritten letter sent to 859 Morrison (or Harrison) Street in Oakland, California, starts "Mother had the most uncomfortable
day she has had in a long time yesterday; today she is up quite bright and cheerful...I send you a little information about
that Balgay property. We should get it but all of this 'red-tape' and English law is tantalizing..." She goes on to detail
her family history in Britain, possible links to wealth, and references a Mr. S. Donohoe, millionaire, in San Rafael.
Holland and Douglas family tree
Language of Material:
English
Scope and Contents note
Handwritten family tree beginning with John Campbell Holland, b. June 30, 1824, and spouse Sarah Marie Holland, b. March 20,
1830. Children are listed, then one listing for Katherine Emerson Douglass, b. September 28 [year not noted]. "My twin sister"
is written next to her name.
Douglas family history
Language of Material:
English
Scope and Contents note
Handwritten, four-page history of the Douglas family in Scotland, undated.
Charleston land title
October 11, 1824
Language of Material:
English
Scope and Contents note
Original agreement between Mr. and Mrs. Douglass and "Committee" consisting of Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
for a lot on Hasell Street in Charleston, South Carolina, next to the historic Trinity Church.
Mining deed for Ravenswood, Lander County, Nevada Territory
December 24, 1863
Language of Material:
English
Scope and Contents note
Original mining deed given to William H. Hoburg and William A. Douglass for fifty dollars for rock containing precious metals
of gold, silver and copper, described as "Twenty five undivided feet in the Ozark Ledge. Twenty five undivided feet in the
Hudson River Ledge and Twenty five feet in the Eclipse Ledge all three of the above ledges being consolidated into one company
and known as the George Washington."
San Jose Broom Factory correspondence 2008-132-1264
1926 June - September
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.1 Linear feet
(1 folder)
creator:
Wilcox, Irwin M.
Scope and Contents note
Original set of letters to and from the San Jose Broom Factory (doing business at White & Alameda, San Jose, Calif.). May
be the same company as Wilcox I. M. broom manufacturer, listed in a 1926 San Jose business directory.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
San Jose Broom Factory. (San Jose, Calif.) -- Correspondence
Brooms and brushes
Factories--California--San Jose
Box 6
Manuscripts and related research 2008-132 (1305-1315)
1939-2008
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.5 Linear feet
(11 folders)
Subjects and Indexing Terms
correspondence
manuscripts (document genre)
research notes
San Jose Airport 2008-132 (1305-1310)
Bulk, 1939-1952
1939-1991
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.25 Linear feet
(6 folders)
Scope and Contents note
The San Jose Historical Museum published Loomis's "San Jose International Airport" in 1991. These materials include original
correspondence between then-Councilman Ernie Renzel and various government agencies involved in the development of the San
Jose Municipal Airport as well as correspondence between Ernie Renzel and the attorneys for the Estate of Mary Ives Crocker
regarding purchase of the Stockton Ranch land for airport development. Loomis's undated manuscript with corrections is also
included. Item-level lists and descriptions are available in-house.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Aikins, Bronte M.
Anderson, Jack Z., (Jack Zuinglius), 1904-1981
Crocker, Mary Virginia Ives, b. 1863
Nissen, James N., 1915-1994
Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (Calif.).
Renzel, Ernest H., Jr., 1907-2007
Schmidt, R. F. W.
Milpitas 2008-132 (1311-1312)
Bulk, 1980-1985
1876-1985
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.1 Linear feet
(2 folders)
Scope and Contents note
Loomis's book titled "Milpitas: the Century of 'Little Cornfields,' 1852-1952" was published in 1986 by the California History
Center in Cupertino, Calif. Folders contain typed drafts circa 1985, background notes, maps and correspondence.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Milpitas (Calif.)
Oak Hill Cemetery 2008-132 (1313-1314)
1996-1998
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.2 Linear feet
(2 folders)
Scope and Contents note
The San Jose Argonaut Historical Society published "A Walk through the Past: San Jose's Oak Hill Memorial Park" in 1998. includes
Loomis's biographical research on the many pioneers buried in this cemetery.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Cemeteries--California--Guidebooks
Oak Hill Memorial Park (San Jose, Calif.)
Signposts Revisited 2008-132-1315
circa 2009
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.1 Linear feet
(1 binder)
Scope and Contents note
Binder used during creation of "Signposts Revisited" to track changes and request artwork. Includes a copy of Signposts I
and II with new additions, as well as email correspondence.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Street signs
Streets--California--San Jose--History.
Box 6
News clippings, third-party 2008-132 (1316-1371)
1931-1974
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.5 Linear feet
(55 envelopes)
creator:
Barrett, Dick
creator:
O’Brien, Robert, 1911-
Scope and Contents note
Loomis kept extensive clippings files for reference. These include Robert O'Brien's "Riptides" column for the San Francisco
Chronicle, Dick Barrett's column in the Mercury News, the "Autologues" series in the Mercury News, and many articles from
the Mercury News and other local papers, organized alphabetically by subject and/or year.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
San Francisco Chronicle.
San Francisco (Calif.) History
Riptides series 2008-132-1316
1948
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.1 Linear feet
(1 folder)
Scope and Contents note
Robert O'Brien's "Riptides" local history series was published from 1939 until 1952 in the San Francisco Chronicle. Only September
and October 1948 are included.
Dick Barrett column 2008-132-1317
1969-1971
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.1 Linear feet
(1 folder)
Autologues 2008-132 (1318-1337)
1926-
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.25 Linear feet
(19 folders)
Scope and Contents note
Clippings of articles written for the Mercury Herald, suggesting and recounting "autologues" that reveal the history of Santa
Clara County. Incomplete. Amanda M. Miller wrote the series from 1926, John V. Young appears to have taken over in 1939, and
then Carroll Hurd in 1941. 1940 is not included.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Automobile travel--California--San Francisco Bay Area
Clippings by subject 2008-132 (1338-1371)
1930-1974
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.25 Linear feet
Scope and Contents note
Loomis's clippings are arranged alphabetically by subject, including clippings from a variety of local newspapers. Subjects
include "California History 1936-1974," "California Counties History 1931," "California Centennial 1949," "Agnew (Calif.)
1948-1953," "Boats--River," "Santa Clara University 1951," "Santa Cruz Mt. Towns," "Yosemite." A full index is available in-house.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Agnew (Calif.)
