Guide to the Edna W. Phelps collection MS.R.043
Finding aid prepared by Laura Clark Brown, 1997; machine-readable finding aid created by Lynette J. Stoudt, 2001.
Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine Libraries
(cc) 2001
The UCI Libraries
P.O. Box 19557
University of California, Irvine
Irvine 92623-9557
spcoll@uci.edu
Note
Geographical (By Place)--California--Los Angeles AreaHistory--California History--Los Angeles AreaArts and Humanities--Art--Photography
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine Libraries
Title: Edna W. Phelps collection
Creator:
Phelps, Edna W.
Identifier/Call Number: MS.R.043
Physical Description:
2.1 Linear Feet
(5 boxes and 1 oversize folder)
Date (inclusive): circa 1810-1981
Date (bulk): 1880-1910
Abstract: The Edna W. Phelps Collection contains photographs, correspondence, diaries, and family documents representing the history
of at least four generations of the Phelps, Gulick, Davidson, Humiston, Gooch, Huntley, Schultz, Willson, and Turner families
from 1847-1978. The bulk of the collection documents the Gulick family from ca. 1880-ca. 1920. Also included are topical files
and biographical/subject research files on other various families and locations in Tustin and the vicinity from ca. 1810-1981.
Language of Material:
English
.
Access
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
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 Archives.
Preferred Citation
Edna W. Phelps Collection. MS-R43. 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.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Edna W. Phelps in 1971, 1981, and 1984.
Processing History
Preliminary arrangement by Laura Clark Brown in 1997 included preservation photocopying and discarding of original documents
(photocopies and newspaper clippings). Processed by Lynette J. Stoudt, February 1999.
Biography
Edna W. Phelps collected family photographs, correspondence, diaries, and family documents dating back four generations to
her ancestors in Plainview, Illinois. She also collected materials relating to the history of Tustin and the surrounding vicinity
from ca. 1810-1981.
In addition to these collecting activities, Edna Phelps edited family diaries and writings and wrote a short document, which
is included in this collection, entitled, "One by One the Gulicks Came West." Edna also conducted interviews on early Southern
California history with William Huntley (her distant cousin) and George Bartley, whose family settled in El Modena, California
in 1882. In 1968-1969 she edited an unpublished work by Helen Gulick Huntley and William M. Huntley (distant cousins of hers)
entitled "Tustin Scrapbook," which is located at the California State Library.
Aside from her fascination with family and Orange County history, little else is known about Edna Phelps. She is the great
granddaughter of Martin Nickolas Gulick, who is the earliest member of her family represented in this collection.
Martin Nickolas Gulick (1815-1900) was married three times. His first marriage was in 1841 to Eleanor Welch (Edna Phelps'
great grandmother) and resulted in three children: Mary Jane (Edna Phelps' grandmother), James Harvey and Eleanor Matilda.
This brief marriage ended in 1848 with the death of Eleanor Welch Gulick. Family names of Edna Phelps' aunts, uncles and cousins
by this marriage include: Barrett, Crouch, Davidson, Hewitt, Huntley, Munger, Page, Palmer, Reid, Ruggles, Schultz, Scovil,
Thompson, Wichersham and Willson.
Martin N. Gulick's second marriage took place in 1850 to Jane Vanarsdall. They had no children, and she died in 1857.
His third marriage to Annis C. Phelps occurred in 1860 and resulted in the birth of five daughters: Sadie, Alice, Olive, Hattie
and another who died in early childhood. Only two of their daughters married, and as far as the information in this collection
recounts, no grandchildren survived early childhood. Annis and her daughters, who corresponded through much of the latter
part of the 19th century, generated much of the Gulick correspondence in this collection, with topics ranging from descriptions
of dress patterns to discussions of living conditions.
The marriage of Martin and Annis Gulick resulted in the meeting and courtship of Mary Jane Gulick (Edna Phelps' grandmother)
and Louis Ransom Phelps (half-brother of Annis C. Phelps). Ultimately Mary and Louis were married, at which time Mary was
disowned by her father for unknown reasons. The banished couple lived in Jerseyville, Illinois for many years with very few
ties to the Gulick family. Their first born (of twelve children) was Ernest Phelps, Edna Phelps' father. Edna may have spent
a portion of her childhood in Southern California, as documents in this collection indicate that her grandparents followed
her parents there in 1904, settling in Pasadena. Many photographs of the Phelps family are included in this collection.
Most of the Gulick family began moving West during the railroad rate wars that prompted a boom in ca. 1880, sending many Midwesterners
to California. Work opportunities and a reduced cost of living were just two of the attractions that appealed to the Gulicks.
However, the most attractive aspect of the West seems to have been the weather. As Eleanor Davidson (Edna Phelps' aunt) said
in early 1888 as she arrived in San Bernardino, California, by train from Illinois, "I could hardly believe we were in the
land of summer till the girls went out and seen flowers and oranges in abundance and it was so warm."
Many of the Gulicks settled in Orange County and the surrounding vicinity. Their occupations included orchard fumigation,
walnut production, and preaching. One cousin was known as the jack-of-all-trades, moving his family around as work became
available in various cities.
By the 1920s, the point at which the bulk of the material in this collection ends, a network of Edna Phelps' relatives, all
descendents of the Gulicks, were well established in many areas of Southern California.
Collection Scope and Content Summary
The Edna W. Phelps Collection contains photographs, correspondence, diaries, and family documents representing the history
of at least four generations of the Phelps, Gulick, Davidson, Humiston, Gooch, Huntley, Schultz, Willson, and Turner families
from 1847-1978. The bulk of the collection documents the Gulick family from ca. 1880-ca. 1920. Also included are topical files
and biographical/subject research files on other various families and locations in Tustin and the vicinity from ca. 1810-1981.
Because the originals of these materials reside at other institutions (e.g., Bowers Museum, Tustin Area Museum, Western Association
for the Advancement of Local History) or were obtained from outside research sources, many documents are photocopies of originals.
The locations of originals are noted on the photocopies, when known.
The research files in Series 4 were created by Helen Gulick Huntley. They are made up of both handwritten and typed notes,
many of which were generated in ca. 1960. Also included in Series 3 is a typescript biography on Columbus Tustin by Helen
Gulick Huntley.
The collection is organized in four series:
- Series 1. Photographs, 1855-1967. 0.6 linear ft.
- Series 2. Correspondence, 1852-1978. 0.7 linear ft.
- Series 3. Topical materials, 1847-1972. 0.5 linear ft.
- Series 4. Research files, ca. 1810-1981. 0.3 linear ft.
Separation Note
Two items were removed from this collection and cataloged individually:
-
Orange County Masonic Bulletin, Dedication Edition, October 1931
-
Orange County Masonic Bulletin, August 1932
Related Collections
The following collections in Special Collections at the UCI Libraries contain related materials:
- MS-R24. Alice Gulick Gooch Photographs (Step-great aunt of Edna Phelps by Martin N. Gulick's third marriage)
- MS-R26. Quinn and Jesse Gulick Photographs (Second cousins of Edna Phelps by Martin N. Gulick's first marriage)
- MS-R28. Huntley Collection
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Photographic prints -- California -- Orange County.
Tintypes (prints)
Maps -- California -- Orange County.
Photographic prints -- California.
Diaries
Phelps, Edna W. -- Archives
Gulick family -- Archives
Phelps family -- Archives
Photographs Series 1.
1855-1967.
Physical Description: 0.6 Linear Feet
General Physical Description note: no content
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series primarily contains black and white photographs. Other photographic material has been noted on the container list
and includes tintypes and a color slide. This series is organized in two subseries.
The series is organized in 2 subseries:
- Subseries 1.1. People, 1855-1967. 0.4 linear ft.
- Subseries 1.2. Places, 1890-1920. 0.2 linear ft.
People Subseries 1.1.
1855-1967.
Physical Description: 0.4 Linear Feet
General Physical Description note: no content
Subseries Scope and Content Summary
This subseries includes photographs of family members, both individual and groups, school classes and friends of the family.
It is composed primarily of Phelps and Gulick family material and is arranged alphabetically by surname or the name of the
place or institution documented.
box 1, folder 4
Chestnutwood, Mrs. A. J.
1870
box 1, folder 6
El Modena Elementary School
ca. 1892-1921
box 1, folder 8-12
Gulick Family
ca. 1875-1967.
Physical Description: 5 folders.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 1, folder 15
Huntley Family
ca. 1882-1940
box 1, folder 16
Modjeska, Madame Helena
1894-1904
box 1, folder 18
Olive School, 5th-8th grade
undated
box 1, folder 20-24
Phelps Family
1855-1960.
Physical Description: 5 folders.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 1, folder 29
Tustin Elementary School, 9th grade
1899
box 1, folder 30
Tustin Grammar School
1885-1901
box 1, folder 31
Villa Park School, 1st and 2nd grade
1934
box 1, folder 33
Unidentified
undated.
General Physical Description note: Includes 2 tintypes.
Places Subseries 1.2.
1890-1920.
Physical Description: 0.2 Linear Feet
General Physical Description note: no content
Subseries Scope and Content Summary
This subseries includes photographs of places in Orange County and other California locations, as well as images of Kansas,
Oklahoma, and Illinois. It is arranged alphabetically by place name within Orange County, then California and the rest of
the United States.
box 2, folder 2
Laguna Beach and San Juan Capistrano Mission
undated
box 2, folder 6
Buena Vista Rancho
undated
box 2, folder 6
East Lake Park, Los Angeles
undated
box 2, folder 6
Henshaw Lake, San Diego
1927
box 2, folder 6
Long Beach
1971.
General note
Color slide.
box 2, folder 6
Santa Barbara earthquake
1925
box 2, folder 7
Plainview, Illinois
ca. 1890
Correspondence Series 2.
1852-1978.
Physical Description: 0.7 Linear Feet
General Physical Description note: no content
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series consists of both handwritten original letters and photocopies of originals. Some files also contain typescript
transcriptions of original correspondence, accompanied by notes of Edna Phelps that describe relations of people and places
mentioned in the correspondence. Most of the correspondence in this series was not received by Edna Phelps, but by other family
members. The series is arranged alphabetically by surname of the author, with the exception of postcards, which are filed
together.
box 3, folder 4
Carson, Harlan Page
1886-1932
box 3, folder 5
Cochran, Winona Barr
1902
box 3, folder 8
Davidson, Colin
1888-1891
box 3, folder 9
Davidson, Eleanor (Nell) Gulick
1897-1900
box 3, folder 12
First American Title Insurance and Trust Co., Santa Ana, California
1965
box 3, folder 13
Gooch, Alice Gulick
1883-1908
box 3, folder 14
Gulick, Annis C.
1883-1904
box 3, folder 15
Gulick, Harriet (Hattie)
1886-1905
box 3, folder 16
Gulick, James Harvey
1888
box 3, folder 17
Gulick, Martin N.
1859-1894
box 3, folder 19
Humiston, Sadie Gulick
1889-1935
box 3, folder 20
Huntley, Helen Gulick
1909-1965
box 3, folder 21
Lindsley, Elisa M. P.
1855
box 3, folder 23
McFadden Lumber Company, Santa Ana, California
1889
box 4, folder 1
Phelps, Louis Ransom
1912
box 4, folder 2
Phelps, Mary Jane (Mollie) Gulick
1889-1912
box 4, folder 4
Postcards from various people
1908-1911 and undated
box 4, folder 13
Willson, Sue Davidson
1888-1890
box 4, folder 14
Willson, Walter
1975-1978
box 4, folder 15
University of California, Berkeley
1891
box 4, folder 16
Utt, C.E. Grower and shipper, Tustin, California
1904.
box 4, folder 17
Unidentified authors
1888-1892
Topical material Series 3.
1847-1972.
Physical Description: 0.5 Linear Feet
General Physical Description note: no content
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series contains diaries of various family members, historical writings about the Gulick and Tustin families, and ephemera.
Much of this material consists of photocopies of originals; in some instances the legibility of these reproductions is quite
poor. The series is arranged alphabetically by surname of the author when available, otherwise by title or genre of materials.
box 4, folder 18
Bartley, George. Transcripts of interviews by Edna Phelps
1971-1972
box 4, folder 19
Davidson, Eleanor Gulick. "Short diary of a journey from Plainview, Illinois to Santa Ana, California 1887-1888," transcript
by Edna Phelps
1971
box 4, folder 20
Davidson, Sue and Laura. "Letters of Sue and Laura Davidson to Aunt Ollie and Aunt Hattie (Gulick)," selected and edited by
Edna Phelps and Ellen Lee
1981
box 4, folder 21
Deeds and assessment for taxes, Orange County
1866-1875
box 4, folder 22
Ebell Club Garden Fete, souvenir program
1910
box 4, folder 23-24
Grabe, Helen. "Tustin family," includes draft
1963.
Physical Description: 2 folders.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 4, folder 25
Gulick, Laura Palmer. "Laura Palmer Gulick relates her family's trip by team and wagon from Olive to National City and back
through Corona and Riverside in August and September 1900," transcript by Edna Phelps
undated
box 4, folder 26-27
"Columbus Tustin and his city," includes draft and source material
1963.
Physical Description: 2 folders.
General Physical Description note: no content
box 4, folder 29
Huntley, Laura Helen Gulick. "Little girl recalls her life in county in years 1887-1890, being notes written up in 1940-1942
by Laura Helen Gulick Huntley," edited by Edna Phelps
undated
box 4, folder 30
"California desert journey" (1898), transcript of interview by Edna Phelps
1969
box 4, folder 31
Transcript of interview by Edna Phelps
1969
box 4, folder 32
Knights of Columbus Arrangement Committee, program
undated
box 4, folder 33
Land sales in Tustin, California and vicinity
1869-1880
box 4, folder 34
Lockett, Lucy Hill. "My early recollections of Newport Beach, about 1886-1903"
undated
box 4, folder 35
Maps of property owners and street addresses from Santa Ana, Tustin, San Joaquin, and an unidentified area
undated
box 4, folder 36
Meadows, Don. "Tustin"
undated
box 4, folder 37
"Miscellaneous readings on background material about Orange County"
undated
box 4, folder 38
News clippings on Orange County history
1951-1975
box 4, folder 39
"Short diary of a journey in 1847 from Chicago to St. Louis," annotated by Edna Phelps
1979
box 4, folder 40
"Story of Grandma Gulick's trip" (ca. 1848), transcript by Edna Phelps
1984
box 4, folder 41, box 5, folder 1
box 5, folder 1
"One by one the Gulicks came west," including excerpts
undated
box 5, folder 2
"Sadie's account of her visit to Aunt Julia's in 1896"
undated
box 5, folder 3
Schultz family Bible, 4-page fragment containing birth, death and marriage information
1837-1942
box 5, folder 4
Scotland Academy, South Dakota, commencement invitation
1891
box 5, folder 5
"Silent majority of early Tustin"
undated
box 5, folder 6
Spurgeon, Charles. Report cards, Diamond Public School
1881
box 5, folder 7
Stafford, E. P. "Pioneer days in Santa Ana"
undated
box 5, folder 8
Tustin family burial plot description and map, Fairhaven Memorial Park
undated
box 5, folder 9
Tustin, Samuel. Notes
undated
box 5, folder 10
Tustin Women's Christian Temperance Union program
1906-1907
box 5, folder 11
World's Columbian Commission Citrus Fruit Award, International Exposition, Chicago
1893.
General note
Awarded to Martin N. Gulick.
box 5, folder 12
Writings, unidentified
undated
Research files Series 4.
ca. 1810-1981.
Physical Description: 0.3 Linear Feet
General Physical Description note: no content
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series includes historical notes, chiefly those assembled by Helen Gulick Huntley, on residents, locations, and living
conditions in Tustin and the vicinity. It is organized in two subseries.
The series is organized in 2 subseries:
- Subseries 4.1. Biographical notes, ca. 1810-ca. 1960. 0.2 linear ft.
- Subseries 4.2. Subject notes, ca. 1850-1981. 0.1 linear ft.
Biographical notes Subseries 4.1.
ca. 1810-ca. 1960.
Physical Description: 0.2 Linear Feet
General Physical Description note: no content
Subseries Scope and Content Summary
This subseries contains brief historical notes including birth, death and marriage dates, occupations and other information
on past Tustin residents. Other miscellaneous biographical notes from this collection, in addition to those by Helen Gulick
Huntley, have been filed here as well. The subseries is arranged in alphabetical order by surname of the subject individual.
None of the material is dated.
Subject notes Subseries 4.2.
ca. 1850-1981.
Physical Description: 0.1 Linear Feet
General Physical Description note: no content
Subseries Scope and Content Summary
This subseries includes brief historical notes on locations (e.g., banks, churches, houses) and living conditions (e.g., wages,
recreation, real estate, irrigation) in Tustin and vicinity and is arranged alphabetically by subject. Very little of the
material is dated.
box 5, folder 35
African-American residents
box 5, folder 35
Chinese pump (Chiney pump)
box 5, folder 35
Events (e.g., gasoline shortage)
box 5, folder 37
Ranch house, Santa Margarita y Los Flores