Finding Aid to the Allen Lawrence Chickering Papers,
1937-1957
MS 371
Finding aid prepared by Finding aid prepared by California Historical
Society staff; revised by Tanya Hollis.
California Historical Society
678 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA, 94105
415-357-1848
reference@calhist.org
2001, revised 2009
Collection Summary
Collection Title: Allen Lawrence Chickering papers
Date (inclusive): 1937-1957
Collection Number: MS 371
Creator:
Chickering, Allen Lawrence,
1877-1958
Physical Description:
Extent: 2 boxes
(1.0 linear feet)
Repository:
California Historical Society
678 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA, 94105
415-357-1848
reference@calhist.org
URL: http://www.californiahistoricalsociety.org/
Physical Location: Collection is stored onsite.
Language of Materials: Collection materials are in English.
Abstract: Correspondence, news clippings, ephemera, printed
materials, and other documents pertaining to the discovery, investigation, and
custody of Drake's Plate of Brasse, found in Marin County in 1937, which carried an
inscription declaring Sir Francis Drake's claim of the land on behalf of the English
monarch; together with some general correspondence of the California Historical
Society and its publication, California Historical Society Quarterly (1947-1956).
Chickering organized subscriptions to finance acquisition of the plate and was
involved in the controversy regarding its authenticity. Includes metallurgists'
reports, with photographic plates, concerning related archaeological study and
objects found in the vicinity of the plate's discovery.
Access
Publication Rights
Copyright has been assigned to California Historical Society. Materials in these
collections are protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) and may not
be used without permission of California Historical Society. Use may be restricted
by terms of CHS gift or purchase agreements, privacy and publicity rights, licensing
terms, and trademarks. All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from, or otherwise
use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Director of the Library
and Archives, North Baker Research Library, California Historical Society, 678
Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94105. Restrictions also apply to digital
representations of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to
research and educational purposes.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Allen Lawrence Chickering Papers, MS 371, California
Historical Society.
Donor
Gift of Allen Chickering.
Biography
Chickering was president of California Historical Society in 1937 when the supposed
Drake "Plate of Brasse" was found. He organized subscriptions to finance its
acquisition and was involved in the controversy regarding its authenticity. He was
also in touch with the later archaeological work carried out in Marin County.
Scope and Contents
Correspondence, news clippings, ephemera, printed materials, and other documents
pertaining to the discovery, investigation, and custody of Drake's Plate of Brass,
found in Marin County in 1937, which carried an inscription declaring Sir Francis
Drake's claim of the land on behalf of the English monarch; together with some
general correspondence of the California Historical Society and its publication, The
California Historical Society
Quarterly (1947-1956).
Chickering organized subscriptions to finance acquisition of the plate and was
involved in the controversy regarding its authenticity. Includes metallurgists'
reports, with photographic plates, concerning related archaeological study and
objects found in the vicinity of the plate's discovery.
Index
Golden Gate International Exposition, 1939
Marin Conservation League
Miwok Indians--Antiquities
Redwood Empire Association
Royal Geographic Society, London
Royal Geographic Society, London (F1, Miscellaneous Correspondence
1937-38; F11, Authenticity)
Sir Francis Drake Association
U.S. National Park Service
Chickering, Allen L., Jr.
Menzies, Winifred (Mrs. Robert)
Separated Materials
Photographs and negatives transferred to Photography Collection, shelved under:
General Subjects--Drake Plate.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
library's online public access catalog.
California Historical Society.
Drake, Francis, Sir, 1540?-1596
Archaeology--California--Marin County
Forgery of antiquities--California
Marin County (Calif.)--Antiquities
Box 1, Folder 1
Drake: Miscellaneous Correspondence
1937-1938
Box 1, Folder 2
Drake: Miscellaneous Correspondence
1939-1941
Box 1, Folder 3
Drake: Miscellaneous Correspondence
1942-1948
Box 1, Folder 4
Drake: Miscellaneous Correspondence
1949
Box 1, Folder 5
Drake: Miscellaneous Correspondence
1950-1956
Box 1, Folder 6
California Historical Society: Correspondence
1947-1951
Box 1, Folder 7
California Historical Society: Correspondence
1952-1954
Box 1, Folder 8
California Historical Society: Correspondence
1955-1956
Box 1, Folder 9
Drake: Manuscript Material
Box 1, Folder 10
Drake: Discovery of Plate and Rights of Ownership
Box 1, Folder 11
Drake: Authenticity of Plate
Box 2, Folder 12
Drake: Subscriptions - Funds for Purchase, Subsequent Digs, and
Publications
Box 2, Folder 13
Drake: Donation to U.C. & Exhibition of Plate
Box 2, Folder 14
Drake: Requests for Replicas & Photos of Plate
Box 2, Folder 16
Drake: Related Excavations
(1947-48-49)
Box 2, Folder 17
Drake:
Metallographic Examination of Old Iron Spikes and
Nails
,
By Colin G. Fink & E.P. Polushkin,
Columbia University
1948 September
Box 2, Folder 18
Drake:
Report on Metal Spikes Found Near Point Reyes,
Drake's Bay Area, California
,
By Colin G. Fink &
E.P. Polushkin
1949 November
Box 2, Folder 19
Drake:
Metallographic Examination of Two Heavy Iron Rods
and of Two Small Spikes Submitted to Us
by Dr. Robert
F. Heizer of the University of California
1949 September
Box 2, Folder 20
Drake: Miscellaneous Ephemera
Box 2, Folder 21
Drake: MS Report by Aubrey Neasham
Box 2, Folder 22
Drake: News Clippings and Pamphlets
