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Register of the Cannon-Walker Family Collection, 1891-1950
Mss255
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Title: Cannon-Walker Family Collection,
Date (inclusive): 1891-1950
Collection number: Mss255
Creator:
Donald B. Walker
Extent: 3.5 linear ft.
Repository:
University of the Pacific. Library. Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections
Stockton, CA 95211
Shelf location: For current information on the location of these
materials, please consult the library's online catalog.
Language:
English.
Collection is open for research.
[Identification of item], Cannon-Walker Family Collection, Mss255, Holt-Atherton
Department of Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library
Cannon, Marion (1834-1920)
Walker, Marion R. (1915-)
Bramblett, Ernest K.
Ushijima, Kinji (1864-1926)
Chin Lung
Walker, Donald Burke (1941-)
People's Party of California
California State Farmer's Alliance & Industrial Union
Democratic Party (Calif.)
Populism -California
Economics -United States -19th century
Politics, Practical -California
Political corruption -California
Chinese Americans -California -San Joaquin County
Japanese Americans -California -San Joaquin County
Filipino Americans -California -San Joaquin County
Mexican Americans -California -San Joaquin County
Korean Americans -California -San Joaquin County
East Indian Americans -California -San Joaquin County
Agricultural laborers -California -San Joaquin County
Agriculture -California -San Joaquin County -History
Crops -California -San Joaquin County
San Joaquin County (Calif.) -History
San Joaquin County (Calif.) -Race relations
The Cannon-Walker family came to California in 1850. The family have been particularly
active in mining, agriculture and public affairs. They are represented in this collection
by the papers of men from three different generations: Marion Cannon (1834-1920); Marion
R. Walker, Cannon's grandson (1915-); and, Donald B. Walker, PhD., Cannon's great
grandson, (1941-). Trained in blacksmithing, Marion Cannon practiced that trade near
Nevada City, using his earnings to acquire mining claims. By 1857, he owned the Vulcan
Mine, the fourth largest hydraulic operation in Nevada County. Cannon gradually became
involved in public affairs, being first elected State Grand Steward of the Masonic Order
(1860) and subsequently Recorder of Nevada County (1867). In 1873, he purchased land in
Ventura County and moved his family there. Cannon farmed barley, beans, apricots, and
walnuts for more than a decade before again involving himself in public life. As a
farmer, he came to know at first-hand the railroad's strangle-hold on the distribution of
farm produce. Although a lifelong Democrat, Cannon saw that neither political party in
California was sufficiently free of railroad influence to fight its excesses for the
popular good. Thus, he helped to organize farmers, outside the two party system, in
opposition to the railroad's power: first, through the Farmers' Alliance, and, later,
through the Populist Party. An effective leader, Cannon was chosen first President of the
California Farmers' Alliance (1890) and two years later, when the Alliance joined with
labor organizations to create the Populist Party, delegates to the State Convention chose
Marion Cannon to run for the 6th Congressional District seat, representing the voters of
Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey and Santa Cruz counties.
He was subsequently nominated by the Democratic Party, as well, and, in November 1892,
Cannon was elected to the House of Representatives, where he served one term before being
abandoned by the Populist Party as a result of disagreements with other Party leaders
over his association with the Democratic Party. Cannon's political views were generally
those expressed in the Populist Party platform of 1892. He favored woman suffrage,
government ownership of railways and the popular election of senators, but was less
committed to the cause of Free Silver.
Marion R. Walker was born and raised on his grandfather's Ventura ranch. Following his
graduation from Stanford University (1936), Walker returned to Ventura and began a career
in agriculture. He soon became involved in state-wide efforts to revitalize the
Democratic Party through creation of the grass-roots California Democratic Clubs. These
efforts led to his being nominated as a candidate for the 11th District Congressional
seat (1949). Although Walker ran well, the district had a Republican majority
registration and he was defeated by the Republican incumbent. His political views, like
those of his grandfather, were liberal. He was pro-labor, pro-civil rights and spoke out
against the "witch hunt" tactics of the House Un-American Activities Committee and
Senator Joseph McCarthy. In 1959, Governor Edmund G. Brown appointed Walker to the State
Water Commission, where he served ten years, participating in the planning and
construction of the California Aqueduct.
Donald B. Walker, Ph.D., great grandson of Marion Cannon, is an Archivist and Historian
living in San Joaquin County.
Marion Cannon is largely represented in this collection by correspondence, speeches,
newspaper clippings, political pamphlets and biographical materials relevant to his most
important years of public life (1890-1895). Also of interest is his diary of a train trip
from Emigrant Gap to Wheeling, West Virginia (1872). Marion R. Walker is represented by
correspondence, speeches, position papers, clippings, government and party publications,
and biographical materials related to his congressional election campaign (1949-50).
Donald B. Walker is represented in this collection chiefly by notes he has taken on
non-White minorities in San Joaquin county agriculture. Of particular interest are
Walker's indexes of minorities and agricultural topics derived from local newspapers and
county land records (1900-1925).