A Guide to the Papers of Frances Evelyn Bishop

Processed by Victoria Yturralde

State of California Department of Parks and Recreation, Calaveras Big Trees State Park

1416 9th Street

Sacramento, CA 95814

May 23, 2002

Note

History--California History--Bay Area History Geographical (By Place)--California--Bay Area

243.1

A Guide to the Papers of Frances Evelyn Bishop

State of California Department of Parks and Recreation

>Calaveras Big Trees State Park

Contact Information

State of California Department of Parks and Recreation
Calaveras Big Trees State Park
PO Box 120
Arnold, CA 95223
Phone:(209) 532-0150
Fax:(209) 532-5064
Email: info@bigtrees.org

Processed by:: Victoria Yturralde
Date:: September 21, 2001

Descriptive Summary

Title: A Guide to the Papers of Frances Evelyn Bishop

Date (inclusive): 1852-1987

Date (bulk): 1852-1900 and 1975-1985

Collection number: 243.1

Creator: Bishop, Frances Evelyn

Extent: 4.5 Cubic Feet

Repository: California State Parks. Calaveras Big Trees State Park

PO Box 120

Arnold, CA 95223

Abstract: The papers of Frances Bishop were donated to the Department of Parks and Recreation and consist of 4.5 cubic feet of materials. The papers date between 1852 and 1987, with the bulk of the materials between 1852 and 1900 and 1975-1985. Document types include annotated manuscript drafts and typescripts, research notes and note cards, correspondence, articles and news clippings, and photographs.

Physical location: Please contact the Calaveras Big Trees State Park for information regarding the location of this collection.

Language: English.

Administrative Information

Access

This collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

Please contact the Calaveras Big Trees State Park for information regarding publication of any material from this collection.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Francis Evelyn Bishop Papers. 243.1. Calaveras Big Trees State Park, Arnold,CA.

Acquisition Information

The papers of Frances Bishop were donated to the Department of Parks and Recreation.

Biographical Notes

Frances Bishop was born in Sacramento and grew up in the Stockton area, attending school in both Stockton and the town of Lodi. She was a descendent of a pioneer family, and her aunt and uncle, Frances and Charles Gann, owned grazing land along Highway 4 above Cottage Springs. Bishop and her husband, Thomas Bishop, moved to the town of Arnold in 1967.

As a historian, researcher, and writer, Bishop's life work focused on the history of the Calaveras Big Trees, with an emphasis on the Ebbett's Pass area. For nearly 30 years, Bishop gathered facts from various repositories and individuals for her articles, brochures, and unpublished manuscript. She served as historian for the Calaveras Big Trees Association for 13 years, often contributing articles to the organization's newsletter. Although her major work remains unpublished, Bishop's influence permeates the brochures, trail guides, maps, and interpretation of Calaveras Big Trees State Park.

Scope and Content

Arrangement

The papers of Frances Evelyn Bishop have been organized into four series and four subseries.

Series I: Publications
Series II: Background Research
- Subseries I: Individuals
- Subseries II: Places and subjects
- Subseries III: Graphics
- Subseries IV: General background materials
Series III: Personal Papers
Series IV: Calaveras Big Trees Association

The papers of Frances Bishop were donated to the Department of Parks and Recreation and consist of 4.5 cubic feet of materials. The papers date between 1852 and 1987, with the bulk of the materials between 1852 and 1900 and 1975-1985. Document types include annotated manuscript drafts and typescripts, research notes and note cards, correspondence, articles and news clippings, and photographs.

Folder headings were copied and material were rehoused in acid-free folders and boxes. Harmful fasteners, such as brads and paper clips, were removed and replaced with plastic clips. Photographs were sleeved in polyethylene sleeves. Newspaper articles were photocopied and the originals discarded.

Often, it is unclear which notes and graphical materials correlate with which writing effort, and occasionally several articles or manuscript drafts will use the same graphics. No attempt has been made to separate background research materials and relate them to specific efforts.

Arrangement

Frances Bishop was an extremely meticulous researcher, often questioning her sources and her own conclusions. For this reason, and because her major work was still in progress, the vast majority of her handwritten notes and her research note cards have been retained and kept in their original order when possible.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Personal Names:

Anable, Henry Sheldon
Atwood, Henry
Baker, Isaac W.
Bernasconi, Barney
Blake, William P.
Case Philip H.
Curtis, Charles A.
Cutting, Ephraim
Davis, Ina
DeLaittre, John
Doble, John
Dowd, Augustus T.
Dunbar, Freeman
Dunbar, Willis
Farquhar, Francis P.
Flanders, Ira M.
Fricot, Desire
Gibbes, Charles D.
Graves, Newton H.
Greeley, Horace
Greenlaw, Louise
Horn, Alexander
Hutching, James M.
Hutchinson, James Sloan
Jameson, Phoebe Caroline
Jaquith, Abram
Journeay, James
Lapham, William W.
Libby, William J.
Manuel, John
Ordway, Ed
Sequoyah
Silliman, Benjamin
Smith, Andrew J.
Smith, Jedediah Strong
Smith, Leslie James
Sperry, James L.
Sperry, Mehitable Berry Felton
Taylor, Bayard
Thompson, John A. "Snowshoe"
Tourtillott, Jane Augusta Holbrook
Turrill, Charles B.
Watkins, Carleton E.
Wheeler, George M., Lt.
Whiteside, Elizabeth
Whitney, J. D.
Wooster, John Marshall

Manuscripts and Drafts:

The big tree story The Mammoth Tree Ranch The big tree, the big stump, and the first hotel A brief history of the big tree and the big stump The Winter of the Flood: 1861-1862

Geographical Names:

Arnold (Calif.)
Cottage Springs (Calif.)
Dorrington (Calif.)
Douglas Flat (Calif.)
Ebbets Pass (Calif.)
Mosquito Lake (Calif.)
Murphys (Calif.)
Silver Valley (Calif.)
Squaw Hollow (Calif.)
Tamarack (Calif.)

Corporate Names:

Blagen Lumber Company
Calaveras Timber Company
Union Water Company.

I/1-24. Series I. Publications 1850-1978

Physical Description: .5 cf.

Scope and Content Note

This series includes unpublished manuscript drafts and fragments for Bishop's major work, which at various times was titled "The Big Tree Story" and "The Mammoth Tree Ranch;" several articles, and her published brochure. Also included in this series is research correspondence and publisher and reader correspondence.

Box 1, Folder 1

The Big Tree Story, table of contents

Box 1, Folder 2-3

The Mammoth Tree Ranch, chapters 1-5

Box 1, Folder 4

The Big Tree Story, chapters 1-5

Box 1, Folder 5-6

The Big Tree Story, chapters 6-9

Box 1, Folder 7-9

The Big Tree Story, notes

Box 1, Folder 10-11

The Big Tree Story index

Box 1, Folder 12

The Big Tree Story, mss. fragment: trails and roads

Box 1, Folder 13

The Big Tree Story, appendices

Box 1, Folder 14

The Big Tree Story, bibliography

Box 1, Folder 15

The Big Tree Story, mss. corrections and additions

Box 1, Folder 16

The Big Tree Story, Dutton's critique, chapters 1-6

Box 1, Folder 17

The Big Tree Story, Dutton's critique, chapters 7-appendices

Box 1, Folder 18-19

"The story of the big tree and the big stump": excerpts from the author's forthcoming book The Mammoth Tree Ranch, 1985

Box 1, Folder 20

The big tree and the big stump, and the first hotel, 1977

Box 1, Folder 21

A brief history of the big tree and the big stump

Box 1, Folder 22

The winter of the flood 1861-1862

Box 1, Folder 23

Correspondence, 1975-1979

Box 1, Folder 24

Correspondence, 1980-1986

II/1-4/varied. Series II. Background Research 0000

Physical Description: 2.4 cf.

Scope and Content Note

Materials in this series were acquired and used to support Bishop's various manuscripts, and include clippings, articles, and notes on historical figures and places at Calaveras Big Trees and the surrounding towns. Also included are photographs, sketches, and other graphics to be included in her book and brochure.

Box 1

II/1/1-50 Subseries 1. Individuals No dates were provided for this series

Physical Description: .75 cf.

Scope and Content Note

Materials in this series were used to support Bishop's various manuscripts, and include clippings, articles, and notes on historical figures at Calaveras Big Trees and the surrounding towns. Also included are photographs, sketches, and other graphics to be included in her book and brochure.

Box 1, Folder 1

Anable, Henry Sheldon

Box 1, Folder 2

Archbishop of San Francisco

Box 1, Folder 3

Atwood, Henry

Box 1, Folder 4

Baker, Isaac W.

Box 1, Folder 5

Bernasconi, Barney

Box 1, Folder 6

Blake, William P.

Box 1, Folder 7

Case, Philip H.

Box 1, Folder 8

Curtis, Charles A.

Box 1, Folder 9

Cutting, Ephraim

Box 1, Folder 10

Davis, Ina

Box 1, Folder 11

DeLaittre, John

Box 1, Folder 12

Doble, John

Box 1, Folder 13

Dowd, Augustus T.

Box 1, Folder 14

Dunbar, Freeman and Willis

Box 1, Folder 15

Farquhar, Francis P.

Box 1, Folder 16

Flanders, Ira M.

Box 1, Folder 17

Fricot, Desire

Box 1, Folder 18

Gibbes, Charles D.

Box 1, Folder 19

Graves, Newton H.

Box 1, Folder 20

Greeley, Horace

Box 1, Folder 21

Greenlaw, Louise

Box 1, Folder 22

Horn, Alexander

Box 1, Folder 23

Hutching, James M.

Box 1, Folder 24

Hutchinson, James Sloan

Box 1, Folder 25

Jameson, Phoebe Caroline

Box 1, Folder 26

Jaquith, Abram

Box 1, Folder 27

Journeay, James

Box 1, Folder 28

Lapham, William W.

Box 1, Folder 29

Libby, William J.

Box 1, Folder 30

Manuel, John

Box 1, Folder 31

Ordway, Ed

Box 1, Folder 32

Sequoyah

Box 1, Folder 33

Silliman, Benjamin

Box 1, Folder 34

Smith, Andrew J.

Box 1, Folder 35

Smith, Jedediah Strong

Box 1, Folder 36

Smith, Leslie James

Box 2, Folder 37-39

Sperry, James L.

Box 2, Folder 40

Sperry, Mehitable Bery Felton

Box 2, Folder 41

Taylor, Bayard

Box 2, Folder 42

Thompson, John A. "Snowshoe"

Box 2, Folder 43

Tourtillott, Jane Augusta Holbrook

Box 2, Folder 44

Turrill, Charles B.

Box 2, Folder 45

Watkins, Carleton E.

Box 2, Folder 46

Wheeler, Lt. George M.

Box 2, Folder 47

Whiteside, Elizabeth

Box 2, Folder 48

Whitney, J.D.

Box 2, Folder 49

Wooster, John Marshall

Box 2, Folder 50

Miscellaneous, A-Z

II/2/1-38. Subseries 2. Places and Subjects No dates were provided for this series.

Physical Description: .75 cf.

Scope and Content Note

Materials in this series were used to support Bishop's various manuscripts, and include clippings, articles, and notes on historical places at Calaveras Big Trees and the surrounding towns. Also included are photographs, sketches, and other graphics to be included in her book and brochure.

Box 2, Folder 1

Arnold

Box 2, Folder 2-3

Avery Station (Halfway House)

Box 2, Folder 4

Big Bar Bridge

Box 2, Folder 5

Blagen Lumber Co.

Box 2, Folder 6

Calaveras Timber Co.

Box 2, Folder 7

Camels

Box 2, Folder 8

Camp Connell

Box 2, Folder 9

Cattle Drives

Box 2, Folder 10

Civilian Conservation Corps

Box 2, Folder 11

Cottage Springs

Box 2, Folder 12-13

Dorrington

Box 2, Folder 14

Douglas Flat

Box 2, Folder 15-16

Ebbetts Pass

Box 2, Folder 17

Emigrant Road

Box 2, Folder 18

Evans Cruise

Box 2, Folder 19

Expositions 1850-1903

Box 2, Folder 20

Felling Machines

Box 2, Folder 21

Fire

Box 2, Folder 22

Historic Sites and Roads

Box 2, Folder 23

Hoe Printing Press

Box 2, Folder 24

Hotel Registers

Box 2, Folder 25

Memorial Groves

Box 2, Folder 26

Mosquito Lake

Box 2, Folder 27

Murphys

Box 2, Folder 28

Pioneer Cabin

Box 2, Folder 29

Plants

Box 2, Folder 30

Raggio Sawmill

Box 2, Folder 31

Ralston Wedding Party

Box 2, Folder 32

Silver Valley

Box 2, Folder 33

Squaw Hollow

Box 2, Folder 34

Stopping Places

Box 2, Folder 35

Tamarack

Box 2, Folder 36

Trees, General

Box 2, Folder 37

Union Water Co.

Box 2, Folder 38

Woodruff's Lower Ranch

II/3/1-13. Subseries 3. Background Materials No dates were provided for this series.

Physical Description: .5 cf.

Scope and Content Note

Materials in this series contain background and research information used in composing Bishop's manuscripts and consist of clippings, articles, an unbound book, assessment rolls, historical accounts, correspondence and other undefined items.

Box 2, Folder 1

Assessment Rolls

Box 2, Folder 2-3

State Surveyor General (2)

Box 2, Folder 4

Historic accounts from Bancroft Library

Box 2, Folder 5

Historic accounts (See also oversize box 5)

Box 2, Folder 6

Biographies and Visitors

Box 3, Folder 7

Engbeck, Johseph, The Enduring Giants (unbound)

Box 3, Folder 8-10

Clippings and articles (See also box 4)

Box 3, Folder 11-12

Research notes and mss. fragments (See also box 4)

Box 3, Folder 13

DPR correspondence and notes

II/4/1-15. Subseries 4. GraphicsNo dates were provided for this series.

Physical Description: .4 cf.

Scope and Content Note

This series contains photographs, stereopticon views and information in the form of histories and correspondence pertaining to those items.

Box 3, Folder 1-2

Graphics correspondence and notes

Box 3, Folder 3

Stereopticon history

Box 3, Folder 4

Anthony, E. and H.T. and Company

Box 3, Folder 5

Scripture, John Calvin

Box 3, Folder 6

Steropticon views (photocopies)

Box 3, Folder 7

Steropticon views: notes

Box 3, Folder 8

Photographs from Vischler's Views of California

Box 3, Folder 9-11

Photographs and captions

Box 3, Folder 12-14

Uncaptioned photographs

Box 3, Folder 15

Images (photocopies)

Box 4

Research note cards (undated)

Physical Description: No physical description for this subseries was provided.

Scope and Content Note

This subseries contains research note cards.

III/1. Series III. Personal PapersNo dates were provided for this series.

Physical Description: .1 cf.

Scope and Content Note

Included in this series are Frances Bishop's personal papers.

Box 3, Folder 1

Frances Bishop biographical materials

IV/1-9. Series IV. Calaveras Big Trees AssociationNo dates were provided for this series.

Physical Description: .3 cf.

Scope and Content Note

This series contains information regarding Calaveras Big Trees Association in the form of general information, membership information, printed publications, maps and histories.

Box 3, Folder 1

CBTA general information

Box 3, Folder 2

CBTA membership

Box 3, Folder 3

CBTA brochures, guides, and lists

Box 3, Folder 4

Programs

Box 3, Folder 5

Big Tree Bulletin 1984-1987 (See also oversize box 5)

Box 3, Folder 6

Big Tree Bulletin 1988-1991

Box 3, Folder 7

Big Tree Bulletin 1992-1994

Box 3, Folder 8

Big Tree Bulletin 1995-1998

Box 3, Folder 9

Calaveras County Historical Society 1963, 1969

Box 5, Folder 1

V/1-3. Series V. OversizeNo dates were provided for this series.

Physical Description: No physical description information was provided for this series.

Scope and Content Note

This series contains oversized materials.

Box 5, Folder 1

Big Tree Bulletin,1858

Physical Description: No physical description information was provided for this folder.

Scope and Content Note

This series contains an oversized copy of the Big Tree Bulletin, 1858.

Box 5, Folder 2

Maps and Drawings

Physical Description: No physical description information was provided for this folder.

Scope and Content Note

This series contains oversized maps and drawings.

Box 5, Folder 3

Historical accounts

Physical Description: No physical description information was provided for this folder.

Scope and Content Note

This series contains oversized historical accounts.