Germaine Moon San Bernardino County Research Collection, 1809-2002

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Summary

Creators:
Moon, Germaine L. Ramounachou (Germaine Louise Ramounachou), 1933-2003
Abstract:
The materials of the Germaine Moon San Bernardino County Research Collection were selected and compiled during the course of Mrs. Moon's thirty years of service as a historian and reference researcher for the Mojave River Valley Museum in Barstow, California. Focused primarily on the Mojave Desert region, the materials include affidavits, articles of incorporation, biographies, birth certificates, brochures, burial records, business cards, census data, correspondence, court records, diaries, death certificates, deeds, directories, genealogies, indexes, leases, liquor licenses, manuscripts, maps, mining claims, minutes, newspaper clippings, photographs, promotional materials, and voting registers.
Extent:
36 Linear Feet
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Germaine Moon San Bernardino County Research Collection. AR-2003-001. Mojave Desert Archives, Mojave Desert Heritage and Cultural Association, Goffs, California. Date accessed.

Background

Scope and content:

The materials of the Germaine Moon San Bernardino County Research Collection include selected historical data focused primarily on the Mojave Desert region. The materials include affidavits, articles of incorporation, biographies, birth certificates, brochures, burial records, business cards, census data, correspondence, court records, diaries, death certificates, deeds, directories, genealogies, indexes, leases, liquor licenses, manuscripts, maps, mining claims, minutes, newspaper clippings, photographs, promotional materials, and voting registers.

Biographical / historical:

Germaine Moon was a local historian and author who provided valuable research for the Mojave River Valley Museum of Barstow, California, and many western universities and colleges. Germaine Louise Ramounachou Moon was born in Paris, France, on August 9, 1933 and lived in the Mojave Desert railroad town of Barstow for 39 years. For many researchers interested in San Bernardino County and Mojave Desert history, she was known as the authority for answers to local history questions.

Germaine Moon's data gathering system was to compile and organize related research materials into three-ring binders by subject. Author-historian Dennis Casebier describes her reference request process thus: "When researchers would come, she would get out the pertinent binders and take it from there. I have personally seen Germaine in action. I can see her now, seated in front of those 200 binders considering a question. Suddenly she'd turn and pull one or more binders off the shelf. She would process her understanding of a request and then turn to her sacred binders for the answers. It was very effective."

Germaine Moon authored the book Barstow Depots and Harvey Houses and collaborated in the writing of Once Upon A Desert. She died at age 69 at her Barstow home on June 16, 2003.

Acquisition information:
Gifted by Mickey Earl Moon to the Mojave Desert Heritage and Cultural Association, 18 June 2003.
Custodial history:

Custody has remained with the Mojave Desert Heritage and Cultural Association following its receipt from Germaine Moon's husband, Mickey Earl Moon, to the Mojave Desert Heritage and Cultural Association on 18 June 2003.

Processing information:

Processed by Jacqueline Ridge and Chris Ervin

Arrangement:

The materials have been maintained in the original order compiled and used by Germaine Moon to answer reference questions. The collection is arranged alphabetically by subject(s) in 188 series. Each series is contained in a three-ring binder. Each series (binder) may contain one or many subseries (see Other Finding Aids note), each consisting of a set of related materials inside a plastic sleeve.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research. For access, please contact the Archivist at the Mojave Desert Archives at archivist@mdhca.org.

Terms of access:

Property rights reside with the Mojave Desert Heritage and Cultural Association. For permission to reproduce or to publish, please contact the Archivist at the Mojave Desert Archives.

Preferred citation:

Germaine Moon San Bernardino County Research Collection. AR-2003-001. Mojave Desert Archives, Mojave Desert Heritage and Cultural Association, Goffs, California. Date accessed.

Location of this collection:
37198 Lanfair Road # G-15
Essex, CA 92332, US
Contact:
(760) 733-4482
chris.s.ervin@gmail.com
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