Geddes (Lewis) Notebooks, 1930 - 1937

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Summary

Title:
Lewis Geddes Notebooks,
Dates:
1930 - 1937
Creators:
Geddes, Lewis J.
Abstract:
Papers of Lewis Geddes, San Diego photographer and historical researcher. The bulk of the materials relate to historic adobe structures in San Diego County, Baja California, and Arizona. Included are notes and photographs created in the 1930s relating to the historic buildings. Also included are typescripts of works by others, concerning pioneer experiences in San Diego County in the 19th century, and genealogical information on early San Diego County residents.
Extent:
1.20 linear feet (4 archives boxes)
Language:
Collection materials in English
Preferred citation:

Lewis Geddes Notebooks, MSS 0129. Mandeville Special Collections Library, UCSD.

Background

Scope and content:

The Lewis J. Geddes Papers contain photographs and manuscript notes on many adobe structures from California's early history. Included are images of mission, rancho, and urban structures in California, Arizona, and Baja California, Mexico. Geddes also collected manuscript materials from several of San Diego's early pioneers. The collection is divided into two series: 1) NOTEBOOKS and 2) WRITINGS.

SERIES 1 : NOTEBOOKS

The NOTEBOOKS series provides significant image documentation of many remanent adobe structures standing at the time of Geddes' research in the 1930's. Geddes assembled in notebooks his photographs, contributed photographs, and pencil notes from different sources. The bulk of the materials relate to San Diego County and comprise four volumes arranged alphabetically by place name. As Geddes' interests widened, he created notebooks on other popular mission sites and ranchos north of San Diego and in Baja California, Mexico. Each volume begins with a table of contents.

SERIES 2: WRITINGS

The WRITINGS series contains manuscript materials related to the pioneer experience in San Diego County in the last quarter of the nineteenth century. Two interesting works on the ranching frontier are found in Herbert Crouch's reminiscences as a sheep rancher in the San Luis Rey Valley and John Kelly's life on a cattle ranch. Crouch, an Australian emigrant, included interesting sketches of pioneers and people he employed, observations on the sheep and bee businesses, and information on rainfall and floods. The experiences of a woman in San Diego County are set down in The Account of Lucy Brown Wentworth. Additionally, Geddes collected or created translations and transcriptions of early Mission San Diego baptismal and death records, notes on San Diego pioneer family genealogy, and transcriptions of gravestones of pioneers from the Mount Hope Cemetery. The series is arranged alphabetically by author and title.

Biographical / historical:

Lewis Geddes and his wife Frances came to Los Angeles, California in 1923. After five years, they moved to San Diego and setup a studio gallery in the Casa de Machado adobe in historic Old Town. Lewis, a photographer, and Frances, a painter of portrait and figure, developed an active interest in reconstructing and preserving San Diego's historic past.

Acquisition information:
Not Available

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Mandeville Special Collections Library
Date Prepared:
Copyright 2005
Date Encoded:
Machine-readable finding aid derived from database output. Date of source: 2005

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.

Preferred citation:

Lewis Geddes Notebooks, MSS 0129. Mandeville Special Collections Library, UCSD.

Location of this collection:
9500 Gilman Drive, Dept. 0175
La Jolla, CA 92093-0175, US
Contact:
(858) 534-2533
spcoll@ucsd.edu
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