The McLane/Harris Family papers measure 4 linear feet and date from 1865 to 1963. The papers are arranged in five series: Artifacts, Harris Family, Charles McLane, Related families and Photographs.

Charles Lourie McLane was born on April 4, 1862 in Scotland County, Missouri. In 1885, he graduated from Northern Indiana Normal school. Two years later, he received his B.S. from Valparaiso College. He married his first wife, Frances Diademma (Demma) Best, in December 1891. They had a daughter, Frances Marguerite, born February 2, 1893. His first wife died in 1931 and in 1939 McLane married Elizabeth Price. His career as an educator in Fresno started in 1891 and by 1896, he was principal of Fresno High School. He also served as Superintendent of Fresno City Schools from 1899 to 1913. McLane later went on to serve as the first president of Fresno State Normal School from 1911 to 1927, which eventually became California State University, Fresno. McLane was also the president of the California State Board of Education from 1926 through 1932. He died on August 17, 1949.

Copyright has been transferred to California State University, Fresno.

The collection is open for research.