Ralph Arnold Addenda : Finding Aid

Finding aid prepared by Katrina Denman.
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
Manuscripts Department
The Huntington Library
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2191
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
© 2011
The Huntington Library. All rights reserved.


Descriptive Summary

Title: Ralph Arnold Addenda
Dates: Approximately 1848-1961
Collection Number: mssArnold addenda
Creator: Arnold, Ralph, 1875-1961
Extent: Approximately 540 items in 7 boxes and 3 oversize folders
Repository: The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. Manuscripts Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2191
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract: The collection chiefly focuses on correspondence, school records, and ephemera related to Winninette Arnold Noyes, the daughter of California geologist and petroleum engineer Ralph Arnold (1875-1961), as well as correspondence, diaries, and other papers and ephemera relating to the Arnold family of Southern California, their friends, and colleagues.
Language of Material: The records are in English.

Access

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Administrative Information

Publication Rights

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Ralph Arnold addenda, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Acquisition Information

Gift of the Dr. Patricia Noyes estate through the Oregon Pacific Bank Wealth and Management Services and Cheryl Gruez, September 8, 2011.

Biographical Note

Ralph Arnold was born in Marshalltown, Iowa, on April 14, 1875. His father, Delos Arnold, was a lawyer and Iowa state senator who became interested in the study of fossils after the discovery of crinoids fossils in LeGrand, Iowa. The Arnolds moved to Pasadena, California, in 1886, and Ralph attended both Pasadena High School and Throop Polytechnic School (now Cal Tech) before receiving his B.A. in geology and mining from Stanford in 1899. He continued at Stanford to complete his M.A.(1900) and Ph.D. (1902) in geology and paleontology. In 1899 Arnold married Frankie Winninette Stokes. The couple had two daughters, Winninette, who married chemist Richard M. Noyes, and Elizabeth (McKee). Arnold worked for the U.S. Geological Survey from 1900 to 1909, and from 1903-1909 published a variety of paleontological articles. He was active in petroleum surveys throughout the United States, and organized the Petroleum Branch of the U.S. Bureau of Mines. In 1910 he left the USGS and spent 1911-1916 surveying petroleum resources in Trinidad and Venezuela, about which experiences he later published a book, The First Big Oil Hunt: Venezuela, 1911-1916. In the 1920s Arnold’s interests turned to politics, and he was actively involved in the Herbert Hoover presidential campaign. He remained committed to the California Academy of Sciences, the Cooper Ornithological Society, and the Sierra Club, among other organizations. Arnold died in Santa Barbara in 1961.

Scope and Content

The collection focuses on correspondence, school records, and ephemera related to Ralph Arnold’s daughter, Winninette Arnold Noyes. There is also a variety of other correspondence by members of the Arnold family, as well as their friends and colleagues; diaries kept by Delos Arnold (1856), Ralph Arnold (1891-1901), and Winninette Stokes Arnold (c.1921-1934); an account book including John N. Noyes (1848-1867); ephemera and photographs from South Pasadena Junior High School (1930s); some professional papers related to Ralph Arnold; photographs of the Rose Parade (1930s); a large Arnold family tree; Arnold family photographs; and some printed texts and maps.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in eight series: correspondence; diaries and address books; certificates; miscellaneous manuscripts and ephemera; photographs and slides; scrapbook; printed books and maps; and oversize.

Indexing Terms

Personal Names

Arnold, Ralph, 1875-1961.

Subject

Domestic relations--California.
Mining engineers--West (U.S.)--Archives.
Petroleum geologists--California--Archives.
School reports--United States.
Surveyors--California.
Tournament of Roses.

Geograhic Areas

California--History--20th century.
Coalinga Region (Calif.)--Maps.
Pasadena (Calif.)--History.
Yosemite National Park (Calif.)--Maps, Topographic.

Genre

Diaries--California--19th century.
Family Papers--California--20th century.
Letters (correspondence)--California--20th century.
Topographic maps--California--20th century.


Box 1

Correspondence. 1921-1961.

Folder 1

Arnold, Ralph. Letter (1921, Mar.15) to “Aunt Mary.” R.M.S. Imperator.

Physical Description: 1 item.
Folder 2

Arnold, Ralph. Letters (1938-1940) to Winninette Arnold Noyes.

Physical Description: 3 items.
Folder 3

Arnold, Ralph. Letters (1922, Sep.17-18) to Elizabeth Arnold McKee and Winninette Arnold Noyes.

Physical Description: 2 items.
Folder 4

Arnold, Winninette Stokes. Letters (1923-1940) to Winninette Arnold Noyes.

Physical Description: 6 items.
Folder 5

“Auntie Ra.” Letter [undated] to Winninette Arnold Noyes.

Physical Description: 1 item.
Folder 6

Braz, Cora Juanita. Letter (1929, May 7) to Winninette Arnold Noyes. South Pasadena, Calif.

Physical Description: 1 item.
Folder 7

Frey, Elsie. Letter (1937, Jan.8) to Winninette Arnold Noyes. New York, N.Y.

Physical Description: 1 item.
Folder 8

Josephine. Letter [undated] to Winninette Arnold Noyes.

Physical Description: 1 item.
Folder 9

Mears, Helen. Letter (1928, Mar.19) to Winninette Arnold Noyes. Seattle, Wash.

Physical Description: 1 item.
Folder 10

McKee, Elizabeth Arnold. Letter (1939, May 22) to unknown.

Physical Description: 1 item.
Folder 11

O’Gwinn, Edna. Letters (1961) to Elizabeth Arnold McKee and Winninette Arnold Noyes.

Physical Description: 12 items.
Folder 12

Smith, Bernard. Letters (1932-1935) to Winninette Arnold Noyes regarding her diabetes.

Physical Description: 3 items.
Folder 13

Steiny, Homer. Letters (1961) to Winninette Arnold Noyes.

Physical Description: 3 items.
Folder 14

The White House. Invitation (1932, Nov.) to Ralph Arnold and Winninette Stokes Arnold.

Physical Description: 4 items.
Folder 15

Wilbur, Ray L. Telegram (1922, Nov.7) to Ralph Arnold. New York, N.Y.

Physical Description: 1 item.
Folder 16

Letters (1961-1963) to Edna O’Guinn.

Physical Description: 9 items.
Folder 17

Letter (1938, Jan.10) to Winninette Arnold Noyes, including photographs. Wembley Park, London, England.

Physical Description: 8 items.
Folder 18

Letters (1923-1940) to Winninette Arnold Noyes regarding stamp collecting.

Physical Description: 9 items.
Folder 19

Miscellaneous letters (1927-1961) to Winninette Arnold Noyes.

Physical Description: 17 items.
Folder 20

Miscellaneous correspondence (1961).

Physical Description: 5 items.
Folder 21

Flower cards from the funeral of Ralph Arnold (1961).

Physical Description: 28 items.
Folder 22

Address lists.

Physical Description: 4 items.
Box 2

Diaries and address books. 1848-approximately 1960.

Folder 1

Arnold, Delos. Diary (1856). Marietta, Iowa.

Physical Description: 1 item.
Folder 2

Arnold, Ralph. Diary (1891).

Physical Description: 1 item.
Folder 3

Arnold, Ralph. Diary (1892).

Physical Description: 1 item.
Folder 4

Arnold, Ralph. Diary (1896).

Physical Description: 1 item.
Folder 5

Arnold, Ralph. Diary (1898).

Physical Description: 1 item.
Folder 6

Arnold, Ralph. Diary (1899).

Physical Description: 1 item.
Folder 7

Arnold, Ralph. Diary (1900).

Physical Description: 1 item.
Folder 8

Arnold, Ralph. Diary (1901).

Physical Description: 1 item.
Folder 9

Arnold, Winninette Stokes. Diary and address book (c.1921-1934).

Physical Description: 1 item.
Folder 10

Noyes, John N. et al. Account book (1848-1867).

Physical Description: 1 item.
Folder 11

Noyes, Winninette Arnold. Address books [before 1961].

Physical Description: 2 items.
Box 3

Certificates. 1908-1942.

Folder 1

Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. Award of distinguished service in foreign trade to Ralph Arnold (1942). With letter.

Physical Description: 2 items.
Folder 2

Panama-Pacific International Exhibition. Commemorative medal of bronze to Ralph Arnold (1915).

Physical Description: 1 item.
Folder 3

Society of Sigma Xi. Membership certificate to Ralph Arnold (1916).

Physical Description: 1 item.
Folder 4

University of Pittsburgh. Honorary degree to Ralph Arnold (1908).

Physical Description: 1 item.
Folder 1

Arnold, Delos. Notes on Yosemite (1892).

Physical Description: 1 item.
Folder 2

Arnold, Ralph. Bibliography and summary of autobiography (1956, Dec.1).

Physical Description: 2 items.
Folder 3

Nordenskiold, A.E. About drilling for water in primary rocks: essay [undated].

Physical Description: 1 item.
Folder 4

Noyes, Winninette Arnold. Kitchen notes [undated].

Physical Description: 1 item.
Folder 5

South Pasadena City Schools. Report cards for Winninette Arnold Noyes (1926-1932).

Physical Description: Approximately 65 items.
Folder 6

South Pasadena High School. Programs and ephemera (1920s-1930s).

Physical Description: 20 items.
Folder 7

South Pasadena Junior High School. “La Torre”: newsletter (1930-1932) and other school papers.

Physical Description: 16 items.
Folder 8

South Pasadena High School. Diplomas to Winninette Arnold Noyes. (1932-1935).

Physical Description: 2 items.
Folder 9

Steiny, Homer. Dr. Ralph Arnold: biography (1961).

Physical Description: 2 items.
Folder 10

Miscellaneous notes [undated].

Physical Description: 5 items.
Folder 11

Programs (c.1920s).

Physical Description: 5 items.
Folder 12

Newspaper and magazine clippings (c.1922-1931).

Physical Description: 20 items.
Folder 13

Ephemera.

Physical Description: 11 items.
Box 4

Miscellaneous manuscripts and ephemera. Approximately 1892-1961.

Box 5

Photographs. Approximately 1890s-1960.

Folder 1

Photograph of Ralph Arnold [undated].

Physical Description: 1 item.
Folder 2

Photograph of Hannah Mercer Arnold [undated].

Physical Description: 1 item.
Folder 3

Photograph of Winninette Arnold Noyes [undated].

Physical Description: 1 item.
Folder 4

Miscellaneous Arnold family photographs [undated].

Physical Description: 2 items.
Folder 5

Rose Parade [undated].

Physical Description: 8 items.
Folder 6

Baker Oil Tools, Inc., employee photograph [1945, May]. With identifying sheet.

Physical Description: 2 items (rolled).
Folder 7

Marengo Avenue School class photograph (1924, Nov.21).

Physical Description: 1 item (rolled).
Folder 8

South Pasadena Junior High School class photograph (1932, June).

Physical Description: 1 item (rolled).
Folder 9

South Pasadena Junior High School Band photograph (1932, May 24).

Physical Description: 1 item (rolled).
Folder 10

South Pasadena Junior High School Orchestra photograph (1931, June 10).

Physical Description: 1 item (rolled).
Box 5a

Removed negatives and slides. Approximately 1890s-1960.

Folder 1

Kodak Negative Album (1932-1933), Book No.11 [Arnold family / Tournament of Roses].

Physical Description: 1 item.
Folder 2

Kodak Negative Album (c.1930), Book No. 27 [Arnold family].

Physical Description: 1 item.
Folder 3

Kodak Negative Album [undated], Book No.30 [Arnold family].

Physical Description: 1 item.
Folder 4

Packet of Rose Parade negatives (c.1930s).

Physical Description: 13 item.
Folder 5

Packet of Rose Parade negatives [undated].

Physical Description: 25 items.
Folder 6

Packet of Rose Parade negatives [undated].

Physical Description: 52 items.
Folder 7

Packet of beach negatives [undated].

Physical Description: 54 items.
Folder 8

Bag of slides [Pasadena, c.1950ss-1960s].

Physical Description: Approximately 85 items.
Box 6

Scrapbook. Approximately 1916-1923.

Scrapbook containing correspondence and cartes-de-visite related to the Arnold family.
Box 7

Printed books and maps. 1883-1958.

Folder 1

Higgins, James W. (ed.). A guide to the geology and oil fields of the Los Angeles and Ventura regions:book of essays. Los Angeles, Calif.: Pacific Section of American Association for Petroleum Geologists, 1958. Published copy,

Physical Description: 1 item.
Folder 2

Wood, J.W. A California Santa Claus:storybook. Pasadena, Calif., c.1925. Published copy,

Physical Description: 1 item.
Folder 3

A Southern California Paradise, being a historic and descriptive account of Pasadena, San Gabriel, Sierra Madre, and La Canada…: guide book. Pasadena, Calif.: R.W.C. Farnsworth, 1883. Published copy,

Physical Description: 1 item.
Folder 4

Maps of the Coalinga Oil District, c.1907.

Physical Description: 5 items.
Folder 5

Topographic map of Yosemite National Park, 1932.

Physical Description: 1 item.
 

Oversize

Oversize Folder

Photograph of Ralph Arnold. Undated.

Oversize Rolled Item

Arnold family tree. Undated.

Oversize Rolled Item

Map of the City of South Pasadena. 1929, Jan.1.