Description
This collection contains materials related to the family of George F. Hodges, with a significant contribution of materials
from his daughter, Grace Evelyn Wahrer (nee Hodges). Many of the materials relate primarily to the Hodges’ experience in the
WWII home front in San Jose. Hodges was active in the San Jose community and in the San Jose Defense Council as a Senior Precinct
Warden. Included in this collection are photographs of the Wahrer family, recipes, a substantial assemblage of play and concert
programs, posters and ticket stubs, and newspaper clippings from attended shows, as well as magazines, newsletters, newspaper
clippings of the “When Santa Clara County Was Young” column, and various other ephemera.
Background
George Franklin Hodges (1887-1971) was born on December 5, 1887, in Warrensburg, Ohio, living in Delaware County until 1910
when, at the age of 23, he moved to Bowles near Fresno, California. Here, Hodges worked in fruit and dairy farming until,
in 1914, he completed a business course at the Fresno Heald’s Busines College. Hodges then accepted an accounting position
with the Santa Fe Railroad where he worked for three years, then moved on to a position at Sun Maid Raisin Growers where he
worked for eight years in charge of Plant Accounting and Auditing. In 1927, Hodges moved with his family to San Jose where
he spent 12 years in the accounting department of a large canning and dried fruit company. During World War II, Hodges was
active in San Jose Civilian Defense, serving as a precinct captain for San Jose Precinct 145. After the war, Hodges was appointed
to a position as Auditor for the United States Maritime Commission in Richmond, California, then transferring to the National
Housing Agency in Vallejo, California where he remained until retirement. Hodges married Laura “Audie” Helen Bagby (1887-1968?)
on July 7, 1914 in Fresno, CA. The Hodges had four children, all born in Fresno County - Grace “Evelyn” Hodges, George “Wilfred”
Hodges, Warren Franklin Hodges and Mary Leona Hodges.