Description
The Eagal Collection includes: 19th century Eagal family correspondence;
family scrapbooks and photograph albums containing many images of early
automobiles; business papers; published and typescript biographical material on
John H. Eagal, Sr.; and, much printed matter pertaining to Ford Motor Co.
operations in San Francisco and Stockton, Calif.
Background
John H. Eagal Sr. was one of the earliest American automobile dealers.
At the end of his life (1973) he was the oldest living Ford dealer. Eagal began
his career as a Studebaker factory worker and mechanic. Studebaker sent him
west to establish its first dealership in San Francisco (1907). He left
Studebaker for Oldsmobile (1910), then took over San Francisco's original Ford
agency, the William L. Hughson Co., in 1913. Eagal marketed the Fordson tractor
(1917) and two years later moved to Stockton as Ford's salesman for this
product. In 1920 he became Stockton's second Ford automobile dealer and there
he remained for over fifty years. Eagal was active in the California State
Automobile Dealers Association, serving as President (1937-38) and as a
Director for fourteen years.
Availability
Collection is open for research.