Guide to the McPherson Postcard Collection
MS.R.007
Finding aid prepared by Processed by Andre Ambrus.
Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine Libraries
The UCI Libraries
P.O. Box 19557
University of California, Irvine
Irvine, California, 92623-9557
949-824-3947
spcoll@uci.edu
© 2012
Title: McPherson postcard collection
Identifier/Call Number: MS.R.007
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine Libraries
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
4.1 Linear feet
(10 boxes and 1 oversize folder)
Date (inclusive): circa 1900-1962
Abstract: This collection comprises thousands of postcards collected by William McPherson. The geographic focus of the collection is
Southern California, although postcards from other U.S. states and other countries are also included. These materials feature
a wealth of images from California including most of the California missions. Many of these postcards were used for correspondence,
providing insights into early 20th century living.
Creator:
McPherson, William, 1885-1964
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 University Archives.
Preferred Citation
McPherson Postcard Collection. MS-R07. Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries, Irvine, California.
Acquisition Information
Acquired, circa 1966-1996, as part of the Don Meadows Papers (MS-R01). Meadows acquired the McPherson Postcard Collection
as part of William McPherson's files in the early 1960s and held them as a distinct entity within his larger collection of
Orange County and Southern California research and ephemera files.
Processing History
Processed by Andre Ambrus, 2002.
Biography
William McPherson, a prominent Southern California collector, was born in 1885 in Orange County, California. He was raised
in a ranching environment, near the city of Orange, where his family grew numerous crops.
In 1900, McPherson won an essay contest, the prize for which was a trip to Philadelphia and Kansas City, to visit the Democratic
and Republican National Conventions respectively. As a result of this journey, he took a renewed academic determination back
to his local high school. After graduating in 1905, his desire for knowledge led him to earn a teaching certificate and become
an elementary school teacher.
He first started collecting books and Californiana during the years he worked as a teacher. After teaching for a number of
years, in 1910, McPherson enrolled first as an engineering student and later as a law student at the University of California.
While studying at Berkeley, his collecting continued and ultimately became a life-long passion.
Upon his return to Southern California, McPherson continued assembling and organizing a unique collection of Southern California
ephemera. In 1923 McPherson became a lecturer and an active member of the Orange County Historical Society, and in 1935 he
was asked to become a consultant on Orange County for the WPA (Work Progress Administration, see collection MS-R10, Special
Collections and Archives, UC Irvine Libraries). In addition to his collecting, he kept a diary for over forty years, documenting
the events of 20th century Southern California.
William McPherson died in 1964.
Collection Scope and Content Summary
This collection comprises thousands of postcards collected by William McPherson. The geographic focus of the collection is
Southern California, although postcards from other U.S. states and other countries are also included. These materials feature
a wealth of images from California including most of the California missions. Many of these postcards were used for correspondence,
providing an insight into early 20th century living.
Arrangement note
The collection is organized geographically, with Orange County cities followed by other California counties, U.S. states,
and foreign countries. The final groupings of postcards are topical, with a substantial number depicting the California missions.
Blank postcards are undated and are filed separately from those that include messages. Unless otherwise indicated all postcards
are blank
Separation Note
11 Tustin postcards and 1 Santa Ana postcard donated by Helen Smith were removed from this collection and reunited with the
Kenyon, Stanley, and Crellin families papers (MS-R049).
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Postcards -- 20th century.
Postcards -- California -- 20th century.
Postcards -- West (U.S.) -- 20th century.
Box-folder 1 : 1-3
Blank.
Physical Description:
3.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 1 : 4
Includes messages,
circa 1914-circa 1963
Box-folder 1 : 5
Balboa Island, includes messages,
circa 1908-circa 1952
Box-folder 1 : 6
Balboa Island, Balboa Beach
Box-folder 1 : 14
Includes messages,
circa 1908-circa 1946
Box-folder 1 : 16
Includes messages,
circa 1949
Box-folder 1 : 18
Includes messages,
circa 1906-circa 1954
Box-folder 1 : 21-28
Blank.
Physical Description:
8.0 envelopes
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 1 : 29
Includes messages,
circa 1906-circa 1965
Box-folder 1 : 34
Includes messages,
circa 1906-circa 1907
Box-folder 1 : 35-36
Blank.
Physical Description:
2.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 1 : 37
Includes messages,
circa 1906-circa 1944
Box-folder 1 : 38
Olinda, includes messages,
circa 1912.
Physical Description:
1.0 item
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 1 : 39-41
Blank.
Physical Description:
3.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 1 : 42
Includes messages,
circa 1906-circa 1945
Box-folder 1 : 44-51
Blank.
Physical Description:
8.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 1 : 52-56
Includes messages,
circa 1906-circa 1946.
Physical Description:
5.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 1 : 57-59
Blank.
Physical Description:
3.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 1 : 60-64
Includes messages,
circa 1906-circa 1967.
Physical Description:
5.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 1 : 66
Seal Beach, includes messages
Box-folder 1 : 67-68
Blank.
Physical Description:
2.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 1 : 69
Includes messages,
circa 1914-circa 1918
Box-folder 2 : 1 - 4 : 62
Box-folder 2 : 3
Includes messages,
circa 1926
Box-folder 2 : 4 - 4 : 62
Other California counties
Box-folder 2 : 4
Alameda County, includes messages,
circa 1909-circa 1920
Box-folder 2 : 6
Oroville, includes messages,
circa 1947-circa 1954
Box-folder 2 : 14
Niland, includes messages,
1918
Box-folder 2 : 15
Palo Verde, Pushawalla Camp
Box-folder 2 : 17
Inyo County, Lone Pine, Mt. Whitney, Bishop, includes messages,
circa 1937
Box-folder 2 : 18
Kern County, includes messages,
circa 1933-circa 1941
Box-folder 2 : 20
Catalina Island and Avalon
Box-folder 2 : 22
Glendale, includes messages,
circa 1935
Box-folder 2 : 27-28
Blank.
Physical Description:
2.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 2 : 30-31
1933 earthquake.
Physical Description:
2.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 2 : 32-33
Includes messages,
circa 1915-circa 1928.
Physical Description:
2.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 2 : 34-43
Blank.
Physical Description:
10.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 2 : 44-50
Includes messages,
circa 1905-circa 1956.
Physical Description:
7.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 2 : 53
Includes messages,
circa 1908-circa 1939
Box-folder 2 : 54
Mt. Wilson, includes messages,
circa 1918-circa 1920
Box-folder 2 : 55
Ocean Park, includes messages,
circa 1910
Box-folder 3 : 2-3
Includes messages,
circa 1907-circa 1937.
Physical Description:
2.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 3 : 6-8
Blank.
Physical Description:
3.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 3 : 9
Includes messages,
circa 1908-circa 1962
Box-folder 3 : 10
Redondo Beach, includes messages,
circa 1912-circa 1919
Box-folder 3 : 11
San Fernando, includes messages,
circa 1919
Box-folder 3 : 14
Includes messages,
circa 1944
Box-folder 3 : 16
Includes messages,
circa 1907-circa 1913
Box-folder 3 : 17
Santa Monica, includes messages,
circa 1907-circa 1910
Box-folder 3 : 30
Monterey, includes messages,
circa 1934-circa 1943
Box-folder 3 : 37
Corona, Glen Ivy Hot Springs, includes messages,
circa 1906
Box-folder 3 : 38
Hemet, includes messages,
circa 1929
Box-folder 3 : 39
Idyllwild, includes messages,
circa 1927
Box-folder 3 : 41
Lake Elsinore, includes messages,
circa 1910
Box-folder 3 : 43
Murrieta Hot Springs, includes messages,
circa 1919
Box-folder 3 : 45
Includes messages,
circa 1925-circa 1931
Box-folder 3 : 46
Palm Springs, includes messages,
circa 1927-circa 1956
Box-folder 3 : 49
Includes messages,
circa 1907-circa 1928
Box-folder 3 : 50-51
Mission Inn.
Physical Description:
2.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 3 : 52
Salton Sea, includes messages,
circa 1911
Box-folder 3 : 54
Includes messages,
circa 1908-circa 1910
Box-folder 3 : 56
Includes messages,
circa 1932
Box-folder 3 : 60
Sacramento, includes messages,
circa 1946
Box-folder 3 : 62
Arrowhead Hot Springs, includes messages,
circa 1906-circa 1910
Box-folder 3 : 65
Big Bear Lake, includes messages,
circa 1918
Box-folder 3 : 66
Big Bear Valley, includes messages
Box-folder 3 : 67
Calico, includes messages,
circa 1942
Box-folder 3 : 68
Colton, includes messages,
circa 1908-circa 1911
Box-folder 3 : 70
Includes messages,
circa 1927-circa 1933
Box-folder 3 : 72
Mojave Desert, includes messages,
circa 1909-circa 1932
Box-folder 3 : 73
Mount Baldy (Mt. San Antonio), includes messages,
circa 1910-circa 1943
Box-folder 3 : 76
Includes messages,
circa 1906-circa 1917
Box-folder 3 : 78
Includes messages,
circa 1906-circa 1928
Box-folder 3 : 79
Sky Forest and Switzer-land, includes messages,
circa 1920-circa 1941
Box-folder 4 : 1
Borego Bad Lands, Borego Springs, Borego Valley
Box-folder 4 : 2
Calexico, includes messages,
circa 1908-circa 1953
Box-folder 4 : 3
Carlsbad, includes messages,
circa 1953
Box-folder 4 : 5
Includes messages,
circa 1908-circa 1920
Box-folder 4 : 9
Escondido, includes messages,
circa 1908
Box-folder 4 : 13
Includes messages,
circa 1938-circa 1946
Box-folder 4 : 14-15
La Jolla.
Physical Description:
2.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 4 : 19
Oceanside, includes messages,
circa 1908-circa 1951
Box-folder 4 : 23
Point Loma, includes messages,
circa 1931
Box-folder 4 : 25-32
Blank.
Physical Description:
8.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 4 : 33-35
Includes messages,
circa 1907-circa 1953.
Physical Description:
3.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 4 : 38
Warner Springs, includes messages,
circa 1938
Box-folder 4 : 39-42
San Francisco City and County
Box-folder 4 : 39-40
Blank.
Physical Description:
2.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 4 : 41
Includes messages,
circa 1906-circa 1939
Box-folder 4 : 48
Includes messages,
circa 1906-circa 1940
Box-folder 4 : 49
Santa Maria, includes messages,
circa 1933
Box-folder 4 : 50
General, includes messages
Box-folder 4 : 51
Palo Alto, includes messages
Box-folder 4 : 52
San Jose, Santa Clara Valley
Box-folder 4 : 58
O'Shaughnessy Dam Reservoir
Box-folder 4 : 59
Camulos, includes messages,
circa 1907
Box-folder 4 : 62
Ventura, includes messages,
circa 1911-circa 1955
Box-folder 5 : 2 - 6 : 30
Box-folder 5 : 3
Includes messages,
circa 1919-circa 1942
Box-folder 5 : 5
Includes messages,
circa 1909-circa 1957
Box-folder 5 : 6-12
Blank.
Physical Description:
7.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 5 : 13-16
Includes messages,
circa 1906-circa 1951.
Physical Description:
4.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 5 : 17
Arkansas, includes messages,
circa 1934
Box-folder 5 : 19-20
Includes messages,
circa 1905-circa1952.
Physical Description:
2.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 5 : 21
Connecticut, includes messages,
circa 1910-circa 1933
Box-folder 5 : 22
Florida, includes messages,
circa 1925-circa 1946
Box-folder 5 : 24
Includes messages,
circa 1959
Box-folder 5 : 26
Includes messages,
circa 1921-circa 1945
Box-folder 5 : 28
Includes messages,
circa 1920-circa 1948
Box-folder 5 : 29-31
Includes messages,
circa 1907-circa 1908
Box-folder 5 : 33
Kansas, includes messages,
circa 1907-circa 1909
Box-folder 5 : 34-35
Blank.
Physical Description:
2.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 5 : 36
Includes messages,
circa 1908-circa 1951
Box-folder 5 : 37
Maine, includes messages,
circa 1907-circa 1942
Massachusetts, includes messages,
circa 1907-circa 1942
Box-folder 5 : 39
Includes messages,
circa 1907-circa 1960
Box-folder 5 : 40
Minnesota, includes messages,
circa 1911-circa 1938
Box-folder 5 : 42
Includes messages,
circa 1910-circa 1947
Box-folder 5 : 45
Includes messages,
circa 1938
Box-folder 5 : 47
Includes messages,
circa 1911-circa 1940
Box-folder 5 : 48
New Hampshire, includes messages,
circa 1909-circa 1948
Box-folder 5 : 49
New Jersey, includes messages,
circa 1924-circa 1951
Box-folder 5 : 50-53
Blank.
Physical Description:
4.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 5 : 54
Includes messages,
circa 1907-circa 1951
Box-folder 5 : 55-58
Blank.
Physical Description:
4.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 5 : 59-66
Includes messages,
circa 1906-circa 1959.
Physical Description:
8.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 6 : 3-4
Blank.
Physical Description:
2.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 6 : 5
Includes messages,
circa 1905-circa 1957
Box-folder 6 : 6-10
Blank.
Physical Description:
5.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 6 : 11
Includes messages,
circa 1911-circa 1959
Box-folder 6 : 12
South Dakota, includes messages,
circa 1908-circa 1935
Box-folder 6 : 13
Tennessee, includes messages,
circa 1945
Box-folder 6 : 15
Includes messages,
circa 1910-circa 1930
Box-folder 6 : 17
Includes messages,
circa 1913-circa 1952
Box-folder 6 : 18
Vermont, includes messages,
circa 1907-circa 1908
Box-folder 6 : 19
Virginia, includes messages,
circa 1908-circa 1942
Box-folder 6 : 20
West Virginia, includes messages,
circa 1908-circa 1942
Box-folder 6 : 22
Includes messages,
circa 1909-circa 1957
Box-folder 6 : 23-26
Blank.
Physical Description:
4.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 6 : 27
Includes messages,
circa 1907-circa 1939
Box-folder 6 : 28
Wisconsin, includes messages,
circa 1908-circa 1911
Box-folder 6 : 30
Includes messages,
circa 1933-circa 1952
Box-folder 7 : 1-4
Blank.
Physical Description:
4.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 7 : 5-8
Includes messages,
circa 1908-circa 1954.
Physical Description:
4.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 7 : 9
Guatemala, includes messages,
circa 1946
Box-folder 7 : 10
Animals, bullfighting with messages,
circa 1911
Box-folder 7 : 11-14
Blank.
Physical Description:
4.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 7 : 15-16
Includes messages,
circa 1906-circa 1955.
Physical Description:
2.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 7 : 18
Nature with messages,
circa 1935-circa 1950
Box-folder 7 : 19-20
Blank.
Physical Description:
2.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 7 : 21
Includes messages,
circa 1906-circa 1945
Box-folder 7 : 22
Religious with messages,
circa 1920
Box-folder 7 : 24
Includes messages,
circa 1912-circa 1940
Box-folder 7 : 26
South America and Caribbean with messages,
circa 1911-circa 1939
Box-folder 8 : 1
Africa, includes messages
Box-folder 8 : 2-8
Blank.
Physical Description:
7.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 8 : 9-24
Includes messages,
circa 1905-circa 1959.
Physical Description:
16.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 8 : 25
Far East, includes messages,
circa 1905-circa 1927
Box-folder 8 : 26
India, includes messages,
circa 1928
Box-folder 8 : 28
Includes messages,
circa 1937
Box-folder 9 : 1
Buildings, general and unidentified, includes messages,
circa 1900- circa 1945
Box-folder 9 : 3
Includes messages,
circa 1908-circa 1910
Box-folder 9 : 5-6
Blank.
Physical Description:
2.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 9 : 7
Includes messages,
circa 1906-circa 1914
Box-folder 9 : 9
Includes messages,
circa 1908-circa 1911
Box-folder 9 : 10
Greetings, New Year, includes messages,
circa 1906-circa 1917
Box-folder 9 : 11
Greetings, various, includes messages,
circa 1904-circa 1911
Box-folder 9 : 13-14
Includes messages,
circa 1905-circa 1961.
Physical Description:
2.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 9 : 16
Includes messages,
circa 1908-circa 1926
Box-folder 9 : 17
The military, includes messages,
circa 1918
Box-folder 9 : 18-19
Blank.
Physical Description:
2.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 9 : 20
Includes messages,
circa 1907-circa 1951
Box-folder 9 : 23
Includes messages,
circa 1906
Box-folder 9 : 24
Oilfields, includes messages,
circa 1910
Box-folder 9 : 25-30
Blank.
Physical Description:
6.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 9 : 31
Includes messages,
circa 1939-circa 1949
Box-folder 9 : 34
Includes messages, undated
Box-folder 9 : 36
Includes messages,
circa 1908-circa 1940
Box-folder 9 : 38
Includes messages,
circa 1907-circa 1911
Box-folder 9 : 39-44
Blank.
Physical Description:
6.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 9 : 45-46
Includes messages,
circa 1906-circa 1945.
Physical Description:
2.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 9 : 48
Includes messages,
circa 1907-circa 1928
Box-folder 9 : 49-50
Scenes, general and unidentified
Box-folder 9 : 50
Includes messages,
circa 1906-circa 1943
Box-folder 10 : 2
Shipping (including naval), includes messages,
circa 1907-circa 1951
Box-folder 10 : 3
Air, includes messages,
circa 1911-circa 1955
Box-folder 10 : 4
Automobile, includes messages,
circa 1913
Box-folder 10 : 5-6
Highways.
Physical Description:
2.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 10 : 7
Railways, includes messages,
circa 1900-circa 1939
Box-folder 10 : 8
Stage coach, includes messages,
circa 1940
Box-folder 10 : 9-64
Arizona and California missions
Box-folder 10 : 9
San Xavier, Tucson, includes messages,
circa 1907-circa 1928
Box-folder 10 : 10-11
General.
Physical Description:
2.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 10 : 14
Includes messages,
circa 1909-circa 1962
Box-folder 10 : 16
Includes messages,
circa 1912-circa 1961
Box-folder 10 : 17-20
Blank.
Physical Description:
4.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 10 : 21
Includes messages,
circa 1903-circa 1955
Box-folder 10 : 23
Includes messages,
circa 1913-circa 1940
Box-folder 10 : 26
Includes messages,
circa 1920-circa 1938
Box-folder 10 : 28
Includes messages,
circa 1918
Box-folder 10 : 30-31
Includes messages,
circa 1910-circa 1920.
Physical Description:
2.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 10 : 32
San Francisco de Asis (Dolores)
Box-folder 10 : 33
San Francisco Solano de Sonoma
Box-folder 10 : 34-34
Blank.
Physical Description:
2.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 10 : 36
Includes messages,
circa 1909-circa 1943
Box-folder 10 : 38
Includes messages,
circa 1910
Box-folder 10 : 40
Includes messages,
circa 1910-circa 1913
Box-folder 10 : 41-42
Blank.
Physical Description:
2.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 10 : 44
Includes messages,
circa 1942
Box-folder 10 : 45-48
Blank.
Physical Description:
4.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 10 : 49-50
Includes messages,
circa 1906-circa 1953.
Physical Description:
2.0 envelopes.
General Physical Description note:
Box-folder 10 : 52
Includes messages,
circa 1911-circa 1954
Box-folder 10 : 54
Includes messages,
circa 1957
Box-folder 10 : 56
Includes messages,
circa 1909-circa 1948
Box-folder 10 : 58
Includes messages,
circa 1908-circa 1955
Box-folder 10 : 61
Includes messages,
circa 1919-circa 1941
Box-folder 10 : 64
Includes messages,
circa 1920
