Guide to the Myron Carlos Burr Papers and memorabilia
Daniel Hartwig
Stanford University Library
Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives
October 2010
Copyright © 2011 The Board of Trustees of Stanford University. All rights reserved.
Note
This encoded finding aid is compliant with Stanford EAD Best Practice Guidelines, Version 1.0.
Overview
Call Number: SC0470
Creator:
Burr, Myron Carlos, 1884-1977
Title: Myron Carlos Burr papers and memorabilia
Dates: 1902-2006
Bulk Dates: 1902-1946
Physical Description:
5.5 Linear feet
Summary: Collection consists primarily of M. C. Burr's papers with a few items pertaining to his brother Walter and sister Gladys.
Included are photographs, correspondence, clippings, typescripts of short articles, memorabilia from student days at Stanford
University, and a scrapbook. The correspondence is largely Myron Burr?s letters to his family, 1905-08, but also includes
Walter Burr?s letters to Gladys, and correspondence pertaining to the donation of these papers, 1971-2006. Subjects of the
campus photographs include the Quad, Memorial Church, Encina dormitory rooms, club members on the porch of the Entre Nous
eating club, athletics, and the laying of the last keystone in the outer Quad arcades. Student memorabilia includes registration
and study cards, programs from campus events, several issues of the student newspaper, and dance cards. The scrapbook pertains
to Burr?s career, Republican politics, flood control and water issues in the LA area (especially terracing hillsides as flood
control), history of Monrovia, CA, and family events, 1918-42. Other items of note include his account of his experiences
in San Francisco after the earthquake of 1906 and a record book kept while working for Shell Oil, Martinez refinery, 1916.
Language(s): In English.
Repository:
Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives
Stanford University Libraries
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford, CA 94305-6064
Email: speccollref@stanford.edu
Phone: (650) 725-1022
URL: http://www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/spc/spc.html
Administrative Information
Information about Access
This materials are open for research use.
Ownership & Copyright
All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from, or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the
Head of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, California 94304-6064. Consent
is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission
from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright owner, heir(s) or assigns. See: http://library.stanford.edu/depts/spc/pubserv/permissions.html.
Restrictions also apply to digital representations of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research
and educational purposes.
Cite As
Myron Carlos Burr Papers and Memorabilia (SC0470). Department of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford University
Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
Biographical/Historical Sketch
Myron C. Burr earned his A.B. in civil engineering at Stanford University in May 1907. In the aftermath of the San Francisco
Earthquake in 1906, he served with the Stanford Relief Corps and the San Francisco Water Commission. In addition to his career
as a civil engineer, he ran an insurance agency specializing in industrial insurance, served on the Los Angeles County Emergency
Relief Committee, wrote a newspaper column, and was a wholesale distributor of avocados. He was also active in the Republican
Party in Southern California.
Description of the Collection
Collection consists primarily of M. C. Burr's papers with a few items pertaining to his brother Walter and sister Gladys.
Included are photographs, correspondence, clippings, typescripts of short articles, memorabilia from student days at Stanford
University, and a scrapbook. The correspondence is largely Myron Burr?s letters to his family, 1905-08, but also includes
Walter Burr?s letters to Gladys, and correspondence pertaining to the donation of these papers, 1971-2006. Subjects of the
campus photographs include the Quad, Memorial Church, Encina dormitory rooms, club members on the porch of the Entre Nous
eating club, athletics, and the laying of the last keystone in the outer Quad arcades. Student memorabilia includes registration
and study cards, programs from campus events, several issues of the student newspaper, and dance cards. The scrapbook pertains
to Burr?s career, Republican politics, flood control and water issues in the LA area (especially terracing hillsides as flood
control), history of Monrovia, CA, and family events, 1918-42. Other items of note include his account of his experiences
in San Francisco after the earthquake of 1906 and a record book kept while working for Shell Oil, Martinez refinery, 1916.
Access Terms
Burr, Myron Carlos, 1884-1977
Burr, Walter Gordon.
Edwards, Patricia B.
Stanford University--Buildings.
Stanford University--Students.
Tresidder, Donald Bertrand, 1894-1948
Photoprints
San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, Calif., 1906
Collection Contents
Series 1
Memorabilia
1903-1975
Box 1, Folder 1
Big Game programs
1906-1907
Box 1, Folder 2
Civil Engineering Alumni Directory
1926
Box 1, Folder 3
Daily Palo Alto, August, November, and December
1905
Box 1, Folder 5
Earthquake reminiscences
1975
Box 1, Folder 6
Lyrics to prize-winning football songs
post 1912
Box 1, Folder 7
Programs for various Stanford events
1903-1908
Box 1, Folder 8
Registration and study cards
Box 2
Membership Certificate, American Arbitration Association
1943
Box 5, Folder 3
Metal nameplate tag, M. C. Burr
Box 5, Folder 4
Ink well damaged in San Francisco fire
1906
Box 8
Cyanotype prints of Stanford scenes on one piece of silk [linen?]: Encina Hall, view of Memorial Church through Arches, Palm
Drive, oblique view of Memorial Church, Memorial Arch, view down inner quad arcade, Roble Hall
Box 8
Earthquake relief items mounted on paper (previously framed): Red ribbon "Stanford Relief"; Cloth with a red cross sewn on
it; Pass signed by E. E. Schmitz, mayor; Instructions to Deputies, Relief Committee "Stanford Corps"; Student Relief Pass-Card
issued to M. C. Burr; Instructions for Water Patrol Messengers and pass issued to M. C. Burr, as part of the Water Committee
Series 2
Photographs
1903-1909
Box 1, Folder 9
Stanford scenes, includes dorm room scenes, excursion to "The Wunder" in Woodside, CA, campus buildings prior to the 1906
earthquake, ceremony at the laying of the last keystone in the outer Quad, club members on the porch of the Entrez Nous eating
club, and male members of the Class of 1907 sitting on Encina steps
circa 1903-1906
Box 1, Folder 15
Butterfield, Hayden Gearhart
Box 1, Folder 20
Kip, Kathryn Romer (Mrs. Gerald A. Waring)
Box 1, Folder 29
Unidentified people, F. C. Dando photographer (Los Angeles)
Box 2
Photograph of Encina residents posed in front of Encina Hall [1911 Plug Ugly visible]
circa 1909
Box 2
Photograph of Encina residents posed in front of Encina Hall [1910 Plug Ugly visible] (labeled ca. 1906 on reverse)
circa 1908
Box 2
Photograph of Stanford Engineers, including Myron C. Burr (framed)
1907
Box 5, Folder 1
Photograph album of Myron C. Burr (SU scenes, student groups, Encina rooms, interior of Stanford power house, track events,
football game, placing the last keystone in outer quad arcade, camping scenes (or possibly summer engineering job?), earthquake
damage at SU)
1903-1906
Box 5, Folder 2
Photograph album of Walter C. Burr [no earthquake images] (SU images, other CA places, excursions with friends, several images
of Stanford student Sekko Shimada, Pres. T. Roosevelt on train in PA station, loading brandy barrel onto railroad car at Vina
Ranch, M. C. Burr in his Encina room, other views of Encina rooms, Stanford track images) [some images appear in both albums]
circa 1903-1906
Series 3
Papers
1902-2006
Box 3, Folder 1
Biographical (career information)
Box 3, Folder 4
Clippings (photocopied) re M. C. Burr
1936-1961
Box 3, Folder 17
Correspondence re donation of Stanford student hats,
2000-01
Box 3, Folder 18
Gladys Burr, notices re Stanford admission
Box 3, Folder 20
Photos of M. C. Burr
ca. 1903-14
Box 3, Folder 22
Postcard correspondence, Stanford images
1906-13, 1941
Box 3, Folder 23
Postcards to Clyde Burr
1907-12
Box 3, Folder 24
Postcards to Myron C. Burr
1906-07
Box 3, Folder 25
Postcards to Mr. & Mrs. F. W. Burr
Box 3, Folder 26
Postcards to Gladys Burr and Laura M. Burr
1908, 1932
Box 3, Folder 29
Stanford diploma, MCB's B.A.
1907
Box 3, Folder 30
Stanford Football Songs
1906
Box 3, Folder 31
Turner, Maude E. – obituaries, photographs, and letter from Burr to his brother expressing his sorrow over her death
1907-1908
Box 6, Folder 1
Record book kept while working for Shell Oil, Martinez refinery
1916
Box 6, Folder 2
Calendar/Day book
1908-1913
Box 7
Scrapbook: clippings, articles, letters, brochures, pamphlets, and illustrations pertaining to Burr's career, Republican politics,
flood control and water issues in LA area (especially terracing hillsides as flood control), history of Monrovia, CA, and
family events. Also includes a brief letter from Herbert Hoover acknowledging receipt of Burr's pamphlet, 1933; photographs
of Dalton Canyon, Dec. 8, 1934; and a blueprint "Sketch Plan of ditch location for Quesnelle Hydraulic Gold Mining Co. Burr
& Fergusson, Engineers, Sept. 1909".
1918-1985 (1918-1942 bulk)
Typescripts of M. C. Burr's writings:
Box 4, Folder 5
Arrowhead My First Engineering Job
Box 4, Folder 8
First Japanese Baseball Team [Stanford story]
Box 4, Folder 9
First Night at a Nevada Gambling Resort
1931, 1933
Box 4, Folder 10
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
0
Box 4, Folder 11
Greetings from One Columnist to Another
1967
Box 4, Folder 13
"Little Wads" Sunday School Class
1974
Box 4, Folder 14
Mixed Pleasures of Frontier Travel
1913
Box 4, Folder 15
Murl Emory, Kingfish of the Colorado
Box 4, Folder 17
"O! Ho! A Collection of Poems" by Burr
1946
Box 4, Folder 18
An Old Grad Goes to the Game [Stanford story]
Box 4, Folder 19
Phil Harris (with cover letter)
1962
Box 4, Folder 21
Plan to Conserve Mountain Water by Terracing
0
Box 4, Folder 26
San Francisco Fire and Earthquake, essay
1906
Box 4, Folder 27
San Quentin [Dr. Leo Stanley]
