Thompson (Wandalee) Collection of San Gabriel Mountains History, 1898-1987, bulk 1920-1969

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Summary

Title:
Wandalee Thompson collection of San Gabriel Mountains history
Dates:
1898-1987, bulk 1920-1969
Creators:
Thompson, Wandalee, 1914-2004
Abstract:
This collection contains the materials that Wandalee Thompson (1914-2004) collected while preparing to write a history of the San Gabriel Mountains. Though the book was never realized, Thompson collected a substantial amount of material during her research including historic maps, diaries, camp brochures and signs, postcards, newspaper articles, correspondence with camp owners, photographs, and scrapbooks. The collection also includes materials related to Thompson's forest conservation and hiking activities in the San Gabriel Mountains. Provenance: Wandalee Thompson began collecting information on the San Gabriel Mountains in 1944 with the intention of publishing a book. Recognizing their historical value, her son Muir Thompson donated the materials to the Sierra Madre Public Library in January 2002. Additional installments of the collection were donated by Muir Thompson in 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009, and 2010. The Wandalee Thompson Collection is currently stored in the Sierra Madre Public Library's California Room, which houses multiple materials and special collections related the California history.
Extent:
approximately 4.5 linear feet
Language:
Languages represented in the collection: English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of Item], 1898-1987, Wandalee Thompson collection of San Gabriel Mountains history, 2002.1, 2004.14, 2006.38, 2007.30, 2009.16, 2010.10, Courtesy of the Sierra Madre Historical Archives, Sierra Madre, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection is comprised of the materials the Thompson collected while researching San Gabriel Mountain history as well as documentation of her personal forest conservation and hiking activities. Thompson collected a wide range of materials including historic maps, manuscripts, diaries, photographs, postcards, brochures, signs, scrapbooks, photograph albums, newspaper articles, correspondence, guidebooks and ephemera. Many of these materials directly relate to the thirty four recreational camps in the San Gabriel Mountains, with significant material for Colby Ranch, Loomis Ranch, Mt. Lowe, Muir Peak, Opid's Camp, Sturtevant's Camp, Valley Forge Lodge, and Mt. Wilson. There is also significant material regarding early modes of mountain transportation. Thompson's research notes are included in the collection. Her personal materials include items related to her conservation activities, including newspaper articles and numerous photographs of tree planting and dedication ceremonies.

Biographical / historical:

Wandalee Thompson was born on July 8, 1914 in Wichita, Kansas to Ersa and Ransome Nickell. Four years later, the Nickell family moved to Glendale, California, where Thompson's lifelong love of mountaineering and conservation work began. She joined the Sierra Club at age 18, and moved to Sierra Madre in 1938 with her newly wed husband, Kenneth B. Thompson. Thompson began researching the San Gabriel Mountains and acquiring historical materials through her friendships with camp proprietors, forest rangers, and other researchers. Thompson was a dedicated conservationist, actively planting trees in the 1940s and 1950s throughout the San Gabriel Mountains. In 1951, she became the first living person to receive the James McLachlan Bissell medal for forest conservation, awarded for her volunteer reforestation efforts and her work educating hikers about trail safety and fire prevention measures. Thompson passed away in 2004.

Materials range in date from Wilbur M. Sturtevant's journal of accounts from 1898 to Thompson's correspondence from 1987. The bulk of the materials range from 1920 to 1969.

Acquisition information:
Wandalee Thompson began collection information on the San Gabriel Mountains in 1944 with the intention of publishing a book. Recognizing their historical value, her son Muir Thompson donated the materials to the Sierra Madre Public Library in January of 2002. Additional installments of the collection were donated by Muir Thompson in 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009, and 2010. The Wandalee Thompson Collection is currently stored in the Sierra Madre Public Library's California Room, which houses multiple materials and special collections related to California history.
Arrangement:

The collection is arranged into two series: 1) San Gabriel Mountains Research and Collecting, and 2) Personal Activities. The San Gabriel Mountain Research and Collecting series includes sub-series such as General San Gabriel Mountain History, Angeles National Forest, Transportation: Modes of the Mountain, and Resorts and Recreation. The Personal Activities series is dividing into sub-series including Book Writing, Conservation Work and Research, Natural Disasters, Tree Planting and Hiking, and Will Thrall Peak. This arrangement is an extension of Thompson's original system of grouping materials into envelopes marked with designated subject categories.

Physical location:
California Room, Sierra Madre Public Library
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Debbie Henderson, Shelia Afnan-Manns, and Amanda Milbourn
Date Prepared:
© 2011
Date Encoded:
Machine-readable finding aid created by Amanda Milbourn. Machine-readable finding aid derived from MS Word. Date of source: December 8, 2011.

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research. Please contact the Archives to schedule an appointment.

Terms of access:

Copyright restrictions may apply. All requests for permission to publish, quote, or reproduce materials from the Collection should be submitted to the Associate Librarian-Archival Collection. A copy of the work in which collection materials are published must be donated to the Archives.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of Item], 1898-1987, Wandalee Thompson collection of San Gabriel Mountains history, 2002.1, 2004.14, 2006.38, 2007.30, 2009.16, 2010.10, Courtesy of the Sierra Madre Historical Archives, Sierra Madre, California.

Location of this collection:
440 West Sierra Madre Blvd.
Sierra Madre, CA 91024, US
Contact:
(626) 355-7186
Website