Collection Guide
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McPherson postcard collection
MS.R.007
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine Libraries
Title: McPherson postcard collection
Creator:
McPherson, William
Identifier/Call Number: MS.R.007
Physical Description:
4.1 Linear Feet
(10 boxes and 1 oversize folder)
Date (inclusive): circa 1900-1962
Abstract: This collection comprises thousands of postcards collected by William McPherson. The geographic focus of the collection is
Southern California, although postcards from other U.S. states and other countries are also included. These materials feature
a wealth of images from California including most of the California missions. Many of these postcards were used for correspondence,
providing insights into early 20th century living.
Language of Material:
English
.
Collection is open for research.
Property rights reside with the University of California. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and
their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please contact the Head of Special Collections and University Archives.
McPherson Postcard Collection. MS-R07. Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries, Irvine, California. Date
accessed.
For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this
collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.
Acquired, circa 1966-1996, as part of the Don Meadows Papers (MS-R01). Meadows acquired the McPherson Postcard Collection
as part of William McPherson's files in the early 1960s and held them as a distinct entity within his larger collection of
Orange County and Southern California research and ephemera files.
Processed by Andre Ambrus, 2002.
William McPherson, a prominent Southern California collector, was born in 1885 in Orange County, California. He was raised
in a ranching environment, near the city of Orange, where his family grew numerous crops.
In 1900, McPherson won an essay contest, the prize for which was a trip to Philadelphia and Kansas City, to visit the Democratic
and Republican National Conventions respectively. As a result of this journey, he took a renewed academic determination back
to his local high school. After graduating in 1905, his desire for knowledge led him to earn a teaching certificate and become
an elementary school teacher.
He first started collecting books and Californiana during the years he worked as a teacher. After teaching for a number of
years, in 1910, McPherson enrolled first as an engineering student and later as a law student at the University of California.
While studying at Berkeley, his collecting continued and ultimately became a life-long passion.
Upon his return to Southern California, McPherson continued assembling and organizing a unique collection of Southern California
ephemera. In 1923 McPherson became a lecturer and an active member of the Orange County Historical Society, and in 1935 he
was asked to become a consultant on Orange County for the WPA (Work Progress Administration, see collection MS-R10, Special
Collections and Archives, UC Irvine Libraries). In addition to his collecting, he kept a diary for over forty years, documenting
the events of 20th century Southern California.
William McPherson died in 1964.
Collection Scope and Content Summary
This collection comprises thousands of postcards collected by William McPherson. The geographic focus of the collection is
Southern California, although postcards from other U.S. states and other countries are also included. These materials feature
a wealth of images from California including most of the California missions. Many of these postcards were used for correspondence,
providing an insight into early 20th century living.
The collection is organized geographically, with Orange County cities followed by other California counties, U.S. states,
and foreign countries. The final groupings of postcards are topical, with a substantial number depicting the California missions.
Blank postcards are undated and are filed separately from those that include messages. Unless otherwise indicated all postcards
are blank
11 Tustin postcards and 1 Santa Ana postcard donated by Helen Smith were removed from this collection and reunited with the
Kenyon, Stanley, and Crellin families papers (MS-R049).
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Postcards -- West (U.S.) -- 20th century.
Postcards -- 20th century.
Postcards -- California -- 20th century.