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Archival Collections A-Z

A

Alpha Delta Kappa Collection

This collection contains material pertaining to the activities of Alpha Delta Kappa organization. The information focuses primarily on two of the organizations chapters located in Yuma: the Fidelis Zeta chapter and the Alpha Kappa chapter. The memorabilia folder contains two initialed Alpha Delta Kappa napkin rings, a flower clothespin, and a Silver Sister award. The photographs are mostly snapshots taken at various group events, the majority of which are unidentified. Includes a signed photo of Alice Faye. See container list.

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Althee Modesti Collection

Silvestro Modesti (a.k.a. Antoine Lorette) first came to Yuma in 1870 and opened a general merchandise store in 1872. Lorette married the widow Jesus “Chu” Monreal de Aguilar. He sent to Corsica for his son, Althee Modesti (1858-1946) to come and work in his father’s store. Eventually Althee Modesti had his own store, and the Hotel Modesti at Agua Caliente Springs as well as other properties in Yuma. He married Elisa Bustamante and along with their eight children, alternated their time between Yuma and Los Angeles. With the exception of two files, the collection consists of photographs and photo albums. Nearly all the photographs are identified with family members’ names, dates and places. Families included are: Lorette, Bustamante, Bain, Leon, Ortiz, Burgess, Foncerada, Molina, Noriega, Salazar. See container list.

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Arizona Newspaper Printouts

Early newspaper articles about Yuma researched by volunteers who downloaded and printed sections of the Historical Newspaper Collection at Ancestry.com http://search.ancestry.com/search/group/histnews . Printouts kept in three-ring binders. Preserved here as a “ready reference” collection. Some years are incomplete or missing altogether. No Series. Arranged chronologically as found in the binders. See container list.

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Arizona Territorial Prison

This collection contains chronologically arranged photocopies of material that was extracted from microfilmed documents held by the Arizona State Library and Archives. The collection documents the operation of the Territorial Prison of Yuma from 1875 to 1903.  Included are Arizona Territorial Prison reports, newspaper articles referring to the prison and people associated with the prison, official reports of the Board of Territorial Prison Commissioners and the Office of the Board of Territorial Commissioners. There are inventories, proposals and bids for supplies, physicians’ quarterly reports, prison librarian reports and reports of prison directors. See container list.

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B

B. Johnny Rube Collection

This collection was previously split between the AHS Yuma and Tucson branches. The materials have been reunited here.  The research files include many hard-to-find sources, aggregated news articles typed from microfilm, and bibliographies. The bulk of photographs are numbered and indexed. They were intended to be published in the History of Yuma Law Enforcement book.  See container list.

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C

C. A. Lindeman Collection

This collection contains materials from Clarence Lindeman’s time in Yuma. This material includes an assortment of business correspondence, legal documents, and financial papers. Also included in this collection are papers from his work with the United War Work Campaign. The publications folder contains abstracts of a U.S. Supreme Court case. Files are organized alphabetically. See container list.

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Cargo Muchacho Mining District Aerial Photographs

The bulk of the photos were taken in a 1980 high altitude survey for the Hercules Mining Company. It includes a photo index and property map titled “Hercules Lode and Placer Claims.” Arranged in original order and interleaved with acid-free bond paper. Historical and Geological Background added to provide context. See container list.

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Charles Brinley Collection

The Biographical section contains mostly newspaper articles, and a few short biographical summaries about Charles Brinley. There is also a partial genealogy of the Brinley family. The certificates section has several documents appointing Charles Brinley to various positions, such as Commissioner of Deeds, Revenue Collector, Deputy Collector of Customs, and Vice Consul to Mexico. The Correspondence section contains letters and invitations mostly sent to Brinley but also a few that he wrote himself. Many of the letters have to do with Brinley’s various legal and political positions. The Documents section holds various assorted papers including a divorce case handled by the Territorial Assembly, petitions, and notes on laws. Also in this section are the 1863 minutes of several meetings about the creation of the town site of La Paz, Arizona.. The map section contains a map of the railways of southern California. The Postcard section has three advertisement postcards from the early 1900s, as well as a complimentary railway pass for the Prescott and Arizona Central Railway Company from 1891. The Certificates contain Brinley’s appointments to various offices 1868-1901. See container list.

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Charlie Meadows Collection

This collection primarily consists of secondary source material, such as news clippings and short biographies. Among the notable papers of this collection are copies of several pages from Charlie’s diary, a copy of the 1916 edition of The Valley Hornet, and a copy of the Klondike News. See container list.

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Citizens Title and Trust Collection

Includes land appraisals, contracts, maps, plats, title searches, tax records, trust documents and notes.   Arranged in three series and alphabetical within. Series I: Financial – annual audits and budgets. Series II: Partnerships – individuals and corporate entities in joint ventures dealing with land sales and residential, commercial and agricultural development in Yuma County. Series III: Subdivisions – properties slated or identified for development. See container list.

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Civil Air Patrol-Squadron 508 Collection

No series. Arranged according to the titles on five original notebooks “Civil Air Patrol Squadron 508 Historical Record 1941-2001+.” The contents reflect the order in which the documents were found. The materials are in excellent condition.  However, the news clippings had deteriorated significantly and were copied to improve access. Highlights of this collection include: official reports, debriefings, news clippings and correspondence related to search and rescue missions; documentation related to border intelligence flights for U.S. Customs; flight plans and logs; rosters of senior members and cadets; pilot training and certifications;  aircraft maintenance records; military correspondence, rules and regulations; newsletters and a few photographs.  See container list.

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Clarissa Brown Winsor Collection

The collection consists of biographical files and two scrapbooks, 1940-1968, primarily documenting her career as the Yuma Territorial Prison Museum curator.  The scrapbooks contain numerous original photographs.  The collection also contains Anaconda Mining Company stock certificates under her name, and two articles written by her daughter, Eleanor Winsor Davis, about Clarissa Winsor’s parents at the Sahuarito Stage Station Ranch south of Tucson in the 1870s and 1880s. See container list.

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Colorado River Reclamation Projects

The Colorado River Reclamation Projects (CRRP) collection provides detailed information and photo documentation on four projects: the Yuma Project, the Yuma Auxiliary Project, the Gila Project, and the Parker-Davis Project. It documents the “taming” of the Colorado River in the largest irrigation project ever attempted in the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) initiatives on the Lower Colorado River were developed to deliver water consistently and safely to Southwestern and Central Arizona, Southeastern California and Mexico and provided electrical power to Arizona, California, and Nevada. The water harnessed and diverted as result of these projects opened up large and prosperous agriculture land in Arizona and Southern California. It also provided water and electrical power to settlers and businesses in the Southwest.  See container list.

D

Dale Ralston Collection

The correspondence and photographs in this collection are significant for their volume and detail.  The correspondence between Zenobia Lacy (mother) and son Dale Ralston 1904-1918 is voluminous. Their letters document a hard life along the Colorado River whether it was prospecting, building canals, farming, road construction or land speculation. Some of the print material is fragile. There are over 200 photographs, most taken by Dale Ralston from  the 1920s to 1930s, of mining and survey sites, canals and levees, the construction of the Phoenix-Yuma Highway, and his friends, pets, cars, colleagues, and wife, Ludmelia.  Album fragments dating from 1897 to the 1920s also include early family photographs and images of Quartzsite, Arizona. See container list.

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Dick Wick Hall Collection

This collection is primarily composed of business correspondence involving Hall’s many financial ventures. The papers are largely focused in the early 1920s but extend back as far as Besides Hall’s papers, there are also papers belonging to Dick’s brother Ernest Hall, Wenden Justice of the Peace, Cecil Harrington, and the state border inspection station at Ehrenburg. The collection is divided into six series. See container list.

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Donald & Elizabeth Magee Collection

This collection consists of a small number of photographic prints, numerous negatives, and slides. The collection is arranged by prints, negatives, and slides. Then topically and chronologically within. All negatives and slides have been sleeved. The original envelopes, which contain identification information, have been retained and are found within the corresponding folders. See container list.

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Dora Allen Photograph Collection

This collection consists mostly of mounted prints, many taken by Andrew Greer. They document early Yuma, Yuma Valley, and the building of the Laguna Dam. The collection contains about 70 prints which range in condition from good to excellent. The photographs are arranged topically and chronologically within.  See container list.

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E

E. F. Sanguinetti Collection

Eugene Francis Sanguinetti was a prominent Yuma businessman. He was born on May 16, 1867 in Coulterville, California to Antone Sanguinetti and Rosa Camiccione. He came to Yuma at AGE 16, inspired to seek his fortune by the success of his neighbor’s eldest son. Soon after his arrival he was hired as a clerk by John Gandolfo, a local merchant and friend of the Sanguinetti family. Sanguinetti quickly rose from clerk to a full partner.  Soon thereafter he bought out Gandolfo to become the sole owner of the business. Sanguinetti quickly began expanding his business from a simple general store to a large commercial empire.  Organized into six series. Series I – Biographical, Series II – Correspondence, Series III – Financial Records, Series IV – Legal Documents, Series V – Memorabilia, Series VI – Scrapbooks. See container list.

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Eiden-Harada Collection

Included in the papers of Albert Eiden are letters to Eiden from the Harada family, describing life in the Poston Japanese Internment Camp.  There is also correspondence to Eiden from their son, Takeshi Harada, a Japanese-American in the U. S. Army during World War II. See container list.

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Eleanor McCoy Collection

These photographs provide insights into Eleanor McCoy’s early life and those of her family and friends from the 1900s through the 1930s.  Highlights include her vacations as a young girl to Venice Beach and later to Catalina Island; road trips in her husband’s Overland; time spent with girlhood friends moving from bib overalls and boots to dainty, stylish dresses and back again; and her warm, close relationship to her brother Bill Dunne, sister Pat Dunne Murphey, and cousin Dorothy Dunne Williamson. See container list.

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F

Frank Love Collection

The bulk of this collection consists of biographical files copied from Carl Hayden’s pioneer biographies, newspaper clippings, journal articles, microfilm and the internet.  These sources reflect a wide date range and provide the raw material for Frank Love’s newspaper columns, books, class room lectures and public presentations.  The mining materials are especially rich. Many folders include his notes and commentary about conflicting reports in the historical record, quality of the sources, or where alternative conclusions could be drawn. Note that this collection includes only a small sample of Frank Love’s newspaper columns, books, and magazine articles. There is comparatively little personal correspondence with his readers or with other historians.  Arranged in three series then alphabetical and chronologically within. Titles of folders largely represent the original.  Series I: Research Files – includes correspondence, interviews, notes, draft fragments.  Series II: Publications – consists of programs, articles, published materials by other authors or organizations. Series III: Writings – by Frank Love, by his students or were sent to him for feedback. See container list.

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G

Garden Clubs of Yuma Collection

This collection is primarily made of year books from various different garden clubs from the Yuma area, primarily from the Yuma Garden Club and the Pecan Grove Garden Club but it also includes information from the Yuma Federated Garden Clubs, the Crane Garden Club, the Hermosa Garden Club and the Del Valle Garden Club in Somerton.  The scrapbooks are designed as expanded versions of the yearbooks, detailing club activities over a one year period of time. They include a number of newspaper clippings and pamphlets. The pamphlets represent garden club shows and activities as well as club directories and other information. The documents folder contains a record of the minutes of a meeting in 1993 as well as two awards presented to Rose Sturges. Arranged by format. There are no series. See container list.

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Giss, Harold C., Papers

The collection consists of correspondence, legislative minutes, speeches, publications, and personal financial records from Giss’ work of over 23 years in Arizona politics. Highlights include correspondence with distinguished individuals including John F. Kennedy, Hubert Humphrey, Morris Udall, and Arizona governors Samuel Goddard and Jack Williams and significant political issues including water resource management, Equal Rights Amendment, and state legislative reapportionment. 69 Boxes, 33.5 linear ft.   See container list.

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Golden Star Mining Company Collection

The Golden Star Mining Company was located in the Polaris-Kofa mining area, Yuma County, Arizona.  In 1896 Felix Mayhew discovered a gold vein near the King of Arizona Mine, and in 1907 he sold his claim, the North Star Mine, to the Golden Star Mining Company (David M. Hyman, New York City).  Operation was profitable, producing $1,000,000, but by 1911 the vein had been forced down to its economic limits.  For information on this mine see Dunning, Charles H., Rock to Riches, Phoenix: Southwest Publishing Company, 1959, p. 152.   This mining company had no relation to the Golden Star Mine located thirty miles north of Phoenix which was mentioned in Hinton’s Handbook of Arizona, 1878, p. 144.   The collection is divided into five series.  Series 1: Operating Records; Series II: Operating Costs; Series III: Business Correspondence; Series IV: Receipts and Requisitions; Series V: Miscellaneous. See container list.

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Grand Jury Transcripts

Handwritten lists of Grand Jury selection in Yuma County including bailiffs, potential jurors, witnesses, and subpoenas served and preserved here as “ready reference” for researchers. Does not contain trial testimony.  No Series. Arranged chronologically. See container list.

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Great Depression in Yuma County, Arizona

This collection includes primarily photocopies of published and archival materials collected about the life and times of the Yuma area during the 1930’s.  It includes reminiscences of Yuma residents, who experienced the Great Depression, as well as those people passing through Yuma on their migration to California.  Of special interest are the file of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the Yuma area, the 1935 Yuma CCC Camp newsletter, The Sandune, and transients and hobos file. Also significant are reference photocopies of Yuma/Colorado River area photos in the U.S. National Archives from the Farm Service Administration that contain the work of noted photographers Dorothea Lange and Russell Lee.  See container list.

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H

Hayden-Hart Murder Trial Collection

This collection contains materials related to the trials of Louis Douglass, Willard Doughty, and Dan O’Connell for the murders of miners Jack Hayden and Hart. The materials largely consist of assorted documents acquired or produced in the process of the trials including warrants, subpoenas, witness interviews, interrogations, and letters. Photographs taken of the victims bodies, and the car used by the defendants are also included in this collection. This collection also contains a number of nitrate negatives of letters passed between the defendants while in custody. Due to the storage requirements of nitrate film, these negatives are stored separately in the conservation lab freezer at the Arizona Historical Society Museum in Tempe, Arizona. See container list.

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Helene Thomas Bennett Collection

Helene Alberta Thomas was born July 5, 1901 in Raton, New Mexico, and was the eldest child of Jonathan Bertie Thomas and Katherine Helen Wendel. Helene’s father was the engineer on a passenger train on the Santa Fe railroad when it wrecked in Earl, Colorado in 1905, killing him instantly. Helene received a degree in chemistry in 1922 from the University of Kanas. Her first job was with the Kansas State Food Lab. She then obtained a Master of Arts degree in Bacteriology in 1924 and went to work for the Kansas State Public Health Lab. The collection consists of biographical files, newspaper clippings, and correspondence, business papers from Thomas Laboratories and photographs, all with a date range of circa 1900-1986. See container list.

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J

J. M. Molina Investment Company

The J. M. Molina Investment Company was founded in 1924 by Jose Maria Molina. Jose had been a cattle rancher and the president of the Yuma National Bank before his retirement in 1911. In 1917 Jose moved to San Diego, California leaving his sons Gus and Conrad to manage his properties in Yuma. After creating the investment company, Jose transferred the ownership of his properties in Arizona and California to the company. The company remained a family business with Conrad Molina taking over as president of the company until his death in 1963. After Conrad, Dr. Julius Molina became the president of the company. The company declared bankruptcy in 1984, and was finally revoked in 1987. Over the course of its existence, the J. M. Molina Investment Company was heavily involved in the development of a large amount of land in Yuma, including Marsh Field and several blocks of Main Street.  This collection contains business records from the J. M. Molina Investment Company. The bulk of the material consists of notes and property leasing agreements. There are also several folders of financial papers including checks, bills, and tax records.  See container list.

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John and Anna Stofella Collection

John and Anna Stofella immigrated to the United States sometime in the mid to late 19th century from Europe (their precise point of origin differs between sources). John spent some time as a miner in California before opening a general store and saloon in Yuma. Built near the railroad, the saloon was a popular place for railroad workers.  In addition to his mercantile efforts, John Stofella also loaned money and took   mortgages as security.   John Stofella died in 1914 leaving the store to his wife, Anna, who managed the store until her own death in 1925. This collection contains materials concerning John and Anna Stofella focusing on the general store that was operated from 1899 to 1925. The biographical material includes photocopies of a Stofella family scrapbook, as well as materials relating to historical preservation of the Stofella store building. The financial folder contains an assortment of bills and checks. The collection also contains a number of ledgers used in the operation of the general store. Materials are organized by document type and chronologically within. See container list.

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Jose Maria Redondo Family Collection

Jose Maria Redondo was an important figure in the early history of Yuma. He was born in Altar, Sonora, Mexico on March 30, 1830. There is little information on his early years in Mexico. In 1849 he left his family’s ranch in Sonora to find his fortune in the California gold rush. In California he met and married Piedad Contreras from a prominent Sonoran family.   The majority of this collection is biographical material relating to the Jose Maria Redondo family and their numerous relatives and descendants. In addition to the Redondo family, there is material related to the allied families of Balsz, Bossung, Contreras, Elias, Figueroa, and Ronstadt families. This genealogical material represents complex family relationships. Some are confusing due to re-usage of names in the same and subsequent generations. See also Yuma Biography Collection. This collection is arranged in six series. See container list.

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Joseph and Josephine Balsz Collection, The

There is little personal information in this collection and the correspondence is fragmentary. Business ledgers document transactions with livestock ranchers and customers in Arizona, Colorado, California, and Mexico. Oversized boxes include Yuma Postmaster citations for service and an educational certificate for Mary Piedad, Joseph’s sister as well as a postcard scrapbook compiled by another sister, Lilah. Note that Balsz family photographs can be found in the AHS-Rio Colorado Subject Photograph Collection. The bulk of this collection are drafts of Josephine’s short stories and novelettes, many of which are based on stories told by Joe Balsz growing up along the Rio Colorado River as a rancher and part of the extended and influential Balsz-Redondo family.  Manuscript dates are largely unknown. The writings provide insights into personalities, relationships, and life in early 20th Century Yuma. She wrote under several pen names including Joshua Sands, Jean Sands and Josephine Canét.  It is not known what, if any, of the manuscripts were published. The publications listed below were used as resources for various writings or collected for the Balsz’s private library.  Arranged in two series under each name and alphabetically and chronologically within. See container list.

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K

Kiwanis Club of Yuma Collection

In 1915, the first Kiwanis Club was founded by business and professional men in Detroit, Michigan. Organizers coined the word “Kiwanis” meaning “We Trade.”  By 1924 the club became Kiwanis International with 1200 clubs worldwide and 90,000 members.  In 1987, bylaws were changed so that women could be elected as members.  The Kiwanis Club of Yuma is part of the Southwest District which originated in El Paso, Texas in 1917. Phoenix was the first club chartered in Arizona. The Yuma club was organized in 1922. What began as a business network has evolved into an organization dedicated to community service around the ideal of “The Golden Rule in Business, Civic, and Social Life” with the motto “We Build.”   The focus of Kiwanis fundraising is to benefit young children and youth through gun shows, pancake dinners, and the Yuma County Fair. The collection is arranged in six series, alphabetically and chronologically within. While the records date from the 1918 through 2000, there are significant gaps throughout. See container list.

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Ku Klux Klan Collection

The brief summary of the Klan by B. Johnny Rube entitled “Yuma County’s Invisible Empire: The Knights of the Ku Klux Klan” indentifies the organization coming to Arizona in 1921. The Yuma Klan held their meetings at Somerton, Arizona ten miles southwest of Yuma. It was claimed that over 2,000 persons attended some local Klan meetings with “at least 50 or more men” becoming members. Most individuals left the Yuma membership early in 1925. This collection consists of correspondence, publications, membership materials, and blank forms associated with the Yuma County Ku Klux Klan Chapter. Also contained in the collection is a catalogue of official robes and banners for purchase, along with a brief pamphlet of Klan organizational history in western Arizona. There are eight photos and ten negatives depicting materials in the collection. One oral recording of the Somerton Star talk by Dr. Minor about the Ku Klux Klan was transferred to the Oral History collection, AHS-Tucson. See container list.

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L

Las Amiga’s Women’s Club

The Las Amiga’s Woman’s Club was formed on March 24th, 1951 and federated with the Arizona Federation of Women’s Clubs in May, 1951.  Membership in the club was open to members of the Yuma Women’s Club and the Yuma Junior Women’s Club or by majority vote of the club members. The club provided social events for its members as well as various charity events. The club raised funds for the CARE for Korea Campaign and provided volunteers for many Red Cross blood drives. The collection consists of two scrapbooks containing photos, news clippings, and other assorted materials concerning the club’s activities in the 1950s. See container list.

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Lavern Smith Collection

The center of this collection is a series of letters sent by Lavern Smith to his parents. All of Lavern’s letters date from before his deployment into combat, and discuss daily activities and concerns at the various camps where he was stationed. In addition to Lavern’s letters, there are letters sent to the Smiths by their nephews Albert Ferguson who served in the army in Belgium and France, and Alva Haigood who also served in Belgium. The collection also contains several letters from Lavern’s girlfriend, Peggy (last name unknown), to his family. Aside from the correspondence there is a reproduction of a book entitled “Combat History of the 79th Inf. Div.” This edition of the book was apparently printed in the war zone with captured German printers due to high demand and limited resources. See container list.

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Lizzie Frank Collection

Lizzie Frank was the Yuma city assessor and tax collector from 1919 to 1939. She was born in Yuma, Arizona on June 11, 1884 to Abraham and Tomasa Frank. She graduated from Second Avenue Grammar School and began working for E. F. Sanguinetti in The Toggery. In 1919 Lizzie was elected to city assessor and tax collector. She was a member of the Yuma Business and Professional Women, the Yuma Woman’s Club, and the Delta Club. She died on September 26, 1965. This collection contains material covering Lizzie Frank’s business as a debt collector during the late 1930s and early 1940s. There are also a few non-business related papers. The collection is organized into 2 series: Series I – Business, Series II – Personal. See container list.

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M

Marcell Moser Collection

This collection consists of materials concerning Marcell Moser and her immediate family. There are a variety of personal and business documents representing a long period of time including school records, awards and publications. In addition to the documents there are a large number of family photos spanning more than a century of Marcell’s family history. The majority of the photos are black and white images on photo paper. However there are also a few photos in older photographic mediums such as tintypes and an ambrotype. Other materials include a scrapbook from Marcell’s time at college and assorted memorabilia. The collection is arranged into 16 series. See container list.

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Mary Elizabeth Post Collection

Mary Elizabeth Post was an influential school teacher in early Yuma. She was born in Elizabeth Town, New York on June 17th 1841. Her early years were marked with a love of learning, which was supported by her father who purportedly hired tutors to come to their home when the local school was not in session. By the time she was 15, Mary had begun to teach classes as well as take them. In 1862 Mary’s family moved to Iowa where she followed, teaching in a number of different schools around the state.  This collection is arranged in seven series: Series I: Biographical, Series II: Correspondence, Series III: Hall of Fame, Series IV: Manuscripts, Series V: Memorabilia, Series VI: Photos, Series VII: Publications. See container list.

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O

Oatman Massacre Collection

The Oatman Massacre occurred in the early months (February or March) of 1851.   Royce Oatman and his family, pioneers looking to find a new life in California, were traveling towards Fort Yuma from Tucson. The family set out alone, having decided to press on when the pioneer caravan they were travelling with had opted to rest and resupply at a friendly Pima village. The Oatman family were attacked by a hostile tribe (the survivors identified the group as Tonto Apache, while others have said Yavapai or even Maricopa). The parents, eldest daughter, and two youngest children were killed in the attack. Two daughters, the 13 year old Olive and the seven year-old Mary were taken captive and the eldest son, Lorenzo was beaten and left for dead.  This collection contains secondary sources regarding the Oatman Massacre, Olive Oatman’s captivity and release. Also includes photocopies of original materials such Olive’s re-published lecture notes, and other original sources held by the Bancroft Library. See container list.

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Omer T. McCoon Collection

Omer Trent (O.T.) McCoon was born at Fort Scott, Kansas in The family moved to Oregon where his father George Henry McCoon sold Singer Sewing Machines. Omer and his brother Otis became involved in construction and real estate in Fresno, California. Otis went on to specialize in construction and urban development in the San Francisco area.  O.T. became head of the Fresno Realty Syndicate. He reportedly sold over 200,000 acres of grape and fig land before moving his family to Yuma, Arizona in 1916 where he envisioned huge opportunities for agricultural growth. Arranged in four series:  Series I: General, Series II: Publications, Series III: Photographs, Series IV:  News Clippings. See container list.

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Orto Photograph Collection

Steve and Anne Orto owned the Hobby Craft Shop at 46 W. 2nd Street, Yuma, Arizona from 1953 to 1977.  Both were popular, civic-minded citizens who contributed to the quality of life in Yuma.  Anne was an active member of the Christian Science Church, Pilot Club, Desert Manor, Freedoms Foundation, Yuma County Historical Society and co-founder of Senior Citizens Day on the Territorial Mall.  The Ortos were charter members of the Yuma Fine Arts Association and headed the Arts and Crafts display at the Yuma County Fair for twenty-eight years.  The collection is arranged in eight series: Series I: Arts and Crafts, Series II: Buildings, Series III: Contact Prints, Series IV: Family and Friends, Series V: Fine Arts, Series VI: Landscapes, Series VII: Portraits, Series VIII: Oversized. See container list.

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P

Peter Woodard Yuma Schools Scrapbook Collection

R. Peter Woodard was an influential educator in Yuma, Arizona. He was born in Hereford, Arizona in 1915. He graduated from Bisbee High School in 1931, and received teaching degrees from Arizona State College in Flagstaff, the University of Arizona in Tucson, and Arizona State University in Tempe. He began his life in Yuma teaching at Sunnyside School before serving a three- year stint in the military during World War II. He returned to Yuma upon his release from service and took a teaching position at Fourth Avenue Junior High School. Soon afterwards Pete became Superintendent of Yuma School District 1, a post which he held for 26 years from 1948 to 1975. In 1980 he was named Yuma’s Man of the Year. He died in 2007 at the age of 92. This collection documents the District 1 Yuma Elementary Schools. The scrapbooks primarily contain news clippings but also include photographs, correspondence, and memorabilia. The dates of the material coincide with the dates that Peter Woodard served as superintendent of the school district. See container list.

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Public Records Inc. Collection

Public Records Incorporated compiled a weekly information sheet containing public records created by the Yuma City and County governments.  It began publication in 1962 at $5.00 per issue. In 1974 the name of the publication was changed from The Record Reporter to Public Records Inc and was incorporated under this name in 1976. The business continued publishing the sheets until the 1990s. The corporation was officially dissolved in 1997. This collection documents the publications of a husband and wife team from 1968 to 1991 as well as the company’s client records. Their weekly publication contains a wide range of public information aggregated from the Yuma County Court House and the Yuma County Recorder’s Office. It includes a list and brief summary of court cases, marriage licenses, tax liens, mortgages, business licenses, and building permits. Arranged in two series: Series I – Client Cards, Series II – Record Reports. See container list.

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R

Robert Sauder Yuma Irrigation Research Collection

Robert A Sauder PhD is Professor Emeritus of Geography at the University of New Orleans. He is the author of several books concerning water usage in the southwestern United States. This collection contains research materials compiled by Prof. Sauder for his book The Yuma Reclamation Project: Irrigation, Indian Allotment, and Settlement Along The Lower Colorado River. This collection contains no original materials.  These materials are copies of documents drawn from a wide range of repositories. The material is organized in the donor’s order - by the source of the material. See container list.

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Ruth Foster Collection

“In the eyes of the world, I am probably called a loner because my family wants no part of living in the hot spot of Yuma…”  So writes Ruth Foster in a brief biographical statement written after a 33-year career teaching English at Yuma High School. She was born September 3, 1903 in Denver, Colorado – the eldest child of Isaiah W. Foster and Cora E. Mosteller.  She graduated from Colorado State Teachers’ College in 1927 and came to Arizona in 1928 where she taught in the Duncan and Marana high schools before coming to Yuma. Ruth received a master’s degree from the University of Arizona in 1937. She was a highly regarded educator who maintained strong connections to leaders in education state and nationwide.  One of her hobbies was writing which is reflected in her prolific correspondence. This collection is remarkable for documenting the professional career and the community service life of an unmarried woman that begins in the late 1920s and ends with the women’s rights movement. In a diary entry, Ruth Foster mentions cleaning out her early files to make room for more recent works in progress. This may explain why the bulk of her correspondence dates from the 1960s despite lifelong friendships and close ties to her brother and sister-in-law.  Because Ruth served in many professional and community leadership roles, the organizational work, community activism, and issue-based research are richly detailed. Original order is unknown. This collection is arranged in four series and chronologically within. Series I: Personal (biographical material); Series II: Correspondence (general, personal, professional) Series III:  Organizations; Series IV: Writings. See container list.

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S

Sheet Music Collection

Prior to the 1880s, popular music publishing was a secondary market for music stores that mainly served students and performers of classical music.   By 1900, popular music dominated sales largely due to music publishers and songwriters located in Tin Pan Alley – an area on 28th Street between Sixth Avenue and Broadway in New York City close to the burgeoning entertainment district.  The first decade of the 20th century produced more popular music than had ever been written before – an estimated 25,000 songs annually according to Wikipedia.  Sheet music was the driving force of American popular music until the advent of the radio and phonograph. Tin Pan Alley publishers and songwriters are well represented in this collection.  Much of the sheet music artwork is exquisite and is worthy of study in its own right.  Condition of the music sheets and instruction manuals range from excellent to fragile.  Many bear the signature and notations of Zenobia Lacy.   The sheet music and manuals are arranged in alphabetical order. See container list.

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Sheriff’s Docket Transcripts

The Sheriff’s Office was created when Yuma County was established in 1864,  According to the Howell Code, the Sheriff had charge of “the county jails and prisoners; served or executed all processes, writs, precepts and orders issued by a lawful authority; and served as Assessor and collector of taxes for the county.” The Sheriff also “gave public notice of the time and place of sale of property to be sold for delinquent taxes; sold goods and chattels of persons who neglected or refused to pay taxes; collected poll taxes; and received and recorded the fees for the issuance of all business taxes.”  The collection contains handwritten transcriptions from original Yuma County Sheriff Docket log books, likely compiled by volunteers and preserved here as “ready reference” materials for researchers. No Series. Arranged chronologically. Some years missing. See container list.

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Stage Bar Collection

P.J. Sullivan and Townsend were the proprietors of the Stag Bar and Café in downtown Yuma. Includes checks, ledgers, receipts, bills, titles, and loans all related to the Stag Bar. The bulk of the collection documents the various types of products and vendors that the Stag Bar conducted business. The collection does contain a small amount of photos. These are believed to have been taken inside the bar.    Arranged topically then chronologically within. The original ledger covers were removed due to condition.  See container list.

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Sturges Farms Collection

Stephen H. Sturges was one of ten children born to William W. and Hattie (Black) Sturges on August 9, 1896. In 1907 the family moved from Meadville, Missouri to Yuma where his brother Charlie bought a 40-acre farm. The Sturges boys went to work early. Stephen said, “I could go to school only every other year. Farm work came first, school second.” He finished high school at age 22. He went on to become President of Sturges Farms which cultivated 2,500 acres, rented 2,000 additional acres, and also held state leases on 2,000 acres. He experimented with almost every crop and agricultural process known to the Yuma area. As of this date, very little remains of Stephen Sturges’ personal and business papers. The bulk of this collection consists of checks and invoices in a narrow date range from 1954-1956. Given his contributions to Yuma agribusiness and his reputation as a generous, civic-minded man, this is a real loss to the historical record.  However, he and his wife live on through the Stephen H. Sturges and Rose P. Sturges Charitable Trust.  This collection is arranged in four series and chronological or alphabetical within:  Series I: General Correspondence, Series II: Investments, Series III: Cancelled Checks, Series IV: Invoices. See container list.

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Thomas and Anna Molloy Collection

Thomas Molloy was an attorney in early Yuma. He was born in Ireland around 1863. He arrived in the United States in New York but soon found himself drawn west to Arizona where he settled for a time in Phoenix before coming to reside in Yuma in 1901. In 1903 Thomas was admitted to the Bar after passing his law examinations. During his time in Yuma he served as a prison guard, Clerk of the Court, and Yuma County Attorney. He was also present when President Taft signed the proclamation of Arizona’s statehood. He died of surgical complications in 1923. This collection contains papers concerning the lives of Thomas and Anna Molloy. The majority of the legal documents concern Thomas and a title company. Anna’s papers document her mining interests. The writings are a random selection of materials given to one or the other of the couple, including a humorous attempt to translate the rules of chess into legalese. The materials are organized alphabetically, then chronologically within. See container list.

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Tom Reed Gold Mines Company

The Tom Reed Gold Mines Company was a mining company incorporated in the Arizona Territory in 1906. The company was organized by California investors in response to the discovery of gold in the area around Oatman. The company purchased a claim on what is now known as the Tom Reed vein and in 1908 began production of high grade ore. The mine was initially successful, producing millions of dollars in gold and silver ore. This collection consists of a number of bound reports and ledgers detailing assorted mine records.. The Mining Coordinates ledger contains lists of various claims and their coordinates. The first ledger in the financial records contains profit and loss calculations and is organized in reverse chronological order. The Inspection record book is oversized containing reports by mine inspectors by the State regarding the various claims and shafts that make up the Tom Reed Mine. The ore records list the tonnage and composition of various car loads of ore extracted from the mine. The stock certificates are bound together containing names and dates involved in the issuing of the certificates. No series. The entries in the various ledgers are ordered chronologically. See container list.

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Transcripts of Jailor’s Reports

Hand-written transcripts of Yuma Jailor’s Reports compiled by volunteers and preserved here as “ready reference” materials for researchers. Includes index cards of names in ledger 1901-1902.  No Series. Arranged chronologically.

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U.S. Army Quartermaster Depot-Customhouse Collection

The bulk of the collection came from the estate of Mary Kerckhoff, who researched the Customhouse on behalf of the Yuma Assistance League. Other donated items have been added from a variety of sources. This collection is organized into three series: Series I – General: This series contains various documents concerning the Quartermaster Depot and related subjects. These documents include biographical material about various people related to the Depot, copies of ledgers from the time that the Depot was active, and copies of the deeds dating to the period in which the city of Yuma acquired the property. Also included in this series are materials concerning Mary Kerckhoff and her research into the history of the Customhouse. Series II – Publications: This series contains historic structure reports, cultural resource investigation reports, manuals, and interpretive plans. Series III – Media: This series contains media related to the Quartermaster Depot, including newspaper clippings, photographs, an audio interview and a video recording. See container list.

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Verna Lee Raymond Collection

The collection consists mainly of letters Verna Lee Raymond wrote home to his wife, Blanche, while he was deployed with Company L, 158th Infantry during World War II. The finance papers consist of bank statements and receipts that reflect a short period of his business life here in Yuma. See container list.

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YCLD Biographies

Biography folders are filed alphabetical by the last name of the individual or family group. Original photographs found in these files are organized within the AHS-Rio Colorado Subject Photograph Collection. A significant number of individuals also have oral histories filed alphabetically within the YCLD Oral History Collection.  Maiden family surnames of women are noted in parenthesis when known and are useful in connecting family groups. Although the Biography Collection contains many obituaries, the files are not comprehensive nor do they contain all obituaries that may have been published in Yuma County newspapers.  This is an active collection intended for adding new materials. See container list.

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YCLD Ephemera Collection

This is the largest archival collection in the holdings. It represents a wide range of social, economic, cultural and ethnic communities reflecting the spectrum of human activity, past and present. The Yuma County Historical Society began collecting archival materials in 1965.  This effort continued after it became a branch of the Arizona Historical Society in 1971, and later the AHS-Rio Colorado Division.  Over the decades various methods were employed by staff and volunteers to organize segments of the materials. The bulk of this collection is based on the organizational structure adopted in the 1980s.  Subheadings have been added to make this large body of material more accessible to researchers.   Between 1993 and 2012 volunteers also assembled and organized twelve linear feet of newspaper articles primarily from the Yuma Daily Sun.  These contemporary articles have been added within the appropriate headings. It is arranged alphabetically both by geographic place names and subject headings that range from broad to more specific. Its scope covers the breadth of human activities and knowledge of the Lower Colorado River area of Arizona, especially Yuma and La Paz Counties, from the Spanish period to the present. See container list.

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YCLD Newspaper Collection

This collection represents numerous donations of original newspapers beginning in 1965 to the Yuma County Historical Society and later to the Arizona Historical Society – Rio Colorado Division.  Many of the runs are fragmentary and incomplete.  However, a distinguishing feature of the collection is the variety of secondary newspapers, some of which are rare and may be the only issues that exist in any archives or library. Some of these newspapers have never been microfilmed or scanned. Although some runs have been previously microfilmed, the scattered issues in this collection may fill in existing gaps to the holdings of other library and archives for future re-microfilming or scanning projects.   The microfilm contains only scattered years of a variety of Arizona newspapers.   They may have been donated by researchers working on specific topics.  See container list.

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YCLD Oral History Collection

These stories document 19th and 20th century military, commercial, cultural and irrigation-agricultural history of the Lower Colorado River; Western migration, early pioneers and family histories; Yuma politics and personalities; natural disasters; the impact of WWII along Arizona’s western border; and the long standing geographic and economic ties with California and Mexico. Arranged alphabetically by surname, if known, or by topic and chronologically within. Most folders include originals as well as copies of tapes and transcriptions except where noted.  A small number of cassette tapes were sampled for sound quality and condition and were found to be playable and audible. See container list.

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YCLD Small Manuscript Collection

The YCLD Small Manuscript collection is an active, artificial collection created to aggregate historical materials, orphan documents, unpublished works, and fragmented personal papers into a “ready reference” tool.  The materials in this collection are of insufficient quantity (5 folders or fewer and or less than .25 linear feet) to merit status as a stand-alone collection. The documents are often incomplete or fragmentary.  These donations came from multiple sources - many unknown -  ranging from self-published family histories and unpublished manuscripts to graduate theses, dissertations and compilations of materials on frequently requested topics such as the Territorial Prison and Cemetery Records. Small manuscripts include but are not limited to correspondence, eye witness reports, genealogies, diaries, old newspaper clippings, reminiscences, short stories, histories of Yuma and surrounding towns, annual and technical reports, yearbooks of organizations, and legal, financial, and military documents.   See container list.

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Yuma Area Historical Resources Surveys Collection

This collection consists of surveys and reports of historical resources of Yuma County, Arizona and Imperial County, California conducted by various agencies and consultants over a period of twenty years, 1978-1997.  It is divided into five series:  Series I: Yuma Historic Property Survey, Series II:  Regional Reports, Series III:  Century Heights Conservancy Survey, Series IV:  Yuma Downtown Survey, Series V:  San Ysidro Ranch. See container list.

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Yuma Army Air Field Collection

The Yuma Army Air Field was an advanced training ground for army pilots during World War II. The air field was first created in the 1920s as a simple open field with a windsock for use by airplanes. In 1942 the Army was given the use of the land for a flight training school and the first cadets arrived in January, 1943. In the first year alone, the Yuma Field saw a dozen graduating classes. The Yuma Field offered advanced training in AT-6, T-17, and B-17 models.  It was noted as being one of the busiest air fields in the United States.  In 1946, after the war had ended, the Army declared the field to be surplus to their needs and returned the field to civilian control. The field would later become an U.S. Air Force base, a U.S. Marine station, and an international airport. This collection consists of donations from many individuals who were involved with the Yuma Army Air Field. Papers and other material retained by soldiers stationed at the base make up the bulk of the collection. The collection is organized in 10 series: Series I – Airfield, Series II – Memorabilia, Series III – Personal Papers, Series IV – Photographs, Series V – Publications, Series VI – Women Airforce Service Pilots, Series VII – YAAF Veteran Events, Series VIII – Yearbooks, Series IX – Videos, Series X – Scrapbook. See container list.

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Yuma Business and Professional Women’s Club Collection

The bulk of the collection is comprised of scrapbooks and yearbooks created by Yuma Business and Professional Women’s Club.  In addition to these there are two folders of correspondence primarily from the early 1920s many of which were sent to the club by the National Federation. The administrative folder includes various documents pertaining to the running of the club including officer lists and financial papers. The memorabilia folder holds tickets for a 1921 musical show put on by the club to raise funds for obtaining a meeting space for the club, as well as an award ribbon. The publications folder contains a number of news clippings and assorted pamphlets, as well as copies of the periodical National Business Woman, produced by the National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs. There are no series. See container list.

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Yuma County Chamber of Commerce Collection

The Yuma Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1905 to represent the interests of local business owners. From the beginning, the Chamber has promoted Yuma as a place to visit and live.  In 1925 it created Fly Field, the first airport in the City of Yuma. In 1954 the chamber played a major role in convincing the Baltimore Orioles, a major league baseball team, to hold their spring training in Yuma. Other projects include developing a convention center, building a desalinization plant, organizing various conferences, and supporting a wide range of civic initiatives. The bulk of this collection is material generated by various Yuma Chamber of Commerce committees from the 1960s to mid-1980s.  It includes newsletters, correspondence, and news clippings. Folders are arranged alphabetically within each series and chronologically within each folder. The collection is organized into five series: Series I – General, Series II – Committees, Series III – Publications, Series IV – Photographs, Series V – Scrapbooks. See container list.

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Yuma County Library Scrapbook Collection

This collection consists of orphaned or individually donated scrapbooks. They range in condition from fair to excellent. Where possible, the original bindings were left intact. They are arranged individually with like-sized items stored together when possible. Not arranged by subject or date range due to storage requirements of each scrapbook.  See container list.

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Yuma County Library Subject Photograph Collection

This collection represents approximately 18,000 photographs ranging from poor to good condition. The collection represents an aggregation of images from multiple and diverse sources. Most of these derive from previously un-catalogued, unprocessed, or poorly described materials.   This collection is arranged by broad subject. Series I: Biography; this series contains both families and individuals that are identified. Note that unidentified individuals are found under “People” in the subject series. Series II: Subject; this series is arranged topically then chronologically into the following: Aerials, Agriculture, Animals, Businesses, Buildings, Churches and Cemeteries, Earthquakes, Fires, Floods, Houses and Ranches, Indians, Irrigation, Canals, and Dams; Law Enforcement and Crime, Military, Mining, Organizations, Parades, People, Places, Plants, Rodeo, Schools, Sports and Recreation, Transportation, and Yuma Scenes. See container list.

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Yuma County Library Subject Photograph Collection

This collection represents approximately 18,000 photographs ranging from poor to good condition. The collection represents an aggregation of images from multiple and diverse sources. Most of these derive from previously un-catalogued, unprocessed, or poorly described materials.   This collection is arranged by broad subject. Series I: Biography; this series contains both families and individuals that are identified. Note that unidentified individuals are found under “People” in the subject series.  Series II: Subject; this series is arranged topically then chronologically into the following: Aerials, Agriculture, Animals, Businesses, Buildings, Churches and Cemeteries, Earthquakes, Fires, Floods, Houses and Ranches, Indians, Irrigation, Canals, and Dams; Law Enforcement and Crime, Military, Mining, Organizations, Parades, People, Places, Plants, Rodeo, Schools, Sports and Recreation, Transportation, and Yuma Scenes. See container list.

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Yuma County Libray Ledger Collection

The Ledger collection was created to aggregate oversized and orphan business journals, ledgers and registers. The items in the collection came from multiple donors. The materials are generally in fair condition, however, most covers were removed due to water, insect and mold damage. Pages with mold damage were photocopied and then removed from the collection.  The collection has four series, organized alphabetically and chronologically within: Series I: Agua Caliente – Modesti Hotels Registers; Series II: Sanguinetti Business Ledgers; Series III: Miscellaneous Ledgers. Series IV: Sanguinetti Business Ledgers (additions)  Note: Series IV was added in December 2014. The series contains newly discovered Sanguinetti business ledgers.  The ledgers in this series are not boxed, but are wrapped in paper and tied with string. Due to the size of the ledgers, some items will not be in chronological or alphabetical order.  See container list.

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Yuma Experimental Farm Collection

This collection consists primarily of material from the Reclamation Service’s experiment farm. Some documents from the University of Arizona’s experimental farm are also included. The bulk of the collection consists of large notecards with records and photographs of various farm activities – remarkable for the clarity of images and data recorded on the reverse side. The notecards also document other Reclamation projects including Laguna Dam, levee construction, images of the Colorado River, and flood control measures. There are also several progress reports of various farm projects and accomplishments.  Of interest is a copy of The Great Southwest from January 1907 which has an article about growing dates. Another two folders contain handwritten journals recording weather data covering the 1930s. There are no series. See container list.

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Yuma Media Collection

Some of this material was recorded by the AHS - Rio Colorado Division for educational purposes or to document field trips and special projects.  Several appear to be duplicates of items already included in the oral history collections.  The Hanrath and Hopkins CDs appear to be oral histories neither of which were included in the YPG or Yuma Oral History Collections. Consists of VHS cassettes tapes, reel to reel tapes, CDs and DVDs. Arranged by format and alphabetically within. Condition is unknown. See container list.

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Yuma Mesa Homemakers Collection

During World War II the Bureau of Land Management began preparing land for farming in the Yuma Mesa area as a dust abatement measure and preparation for future settlement. In 1948 the first half of this prepared land was sectioned and raffled to military veterans for homesteading. Soon afterward the wives of the new homesteaders formed a social group called the Yuma Mesa Homesteaders. The group was intended to provide entertainment and a means of communication for the inhabitants of the Yuma Mesa.  This collection is consists of various documents and scrapbooks documenting the activities of Yuma Mesa Homemakers Club. In addition to administrative papers dealing with the running of club there are also stories gathered by the club about the early lives of the homesteaders on the Yuma Mesa. The collection also includes 5 boxes of scrapbooks created by members of the club to record yearly events and activities. The collection is organized in to 4 series: Series I – Club Documents, Series II – Photographs, Series III – Yearbooks, Series IV – Scrapbooks. See container list.

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Yuma Postcard Collection

These postcards were acquired from various sources. They have been organized into one cohesive collection for the ease of research. Most are undated images of Yuma, with the date they were mailed determined by the postmarks. Many of the postcards are written on and were sent through the mail to Yuma residents. See container list.

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Yuma Proving Grounds Collection

Yuma Proving Grounds is a military testing area for new technologies. It began in 1943 as the Special Bridge Test Section to assist in the development of floating bridges by testing them in the swiftly flowing Colorado River. The bridge tests were also used to train engineering troops in using the finalized bridges in the European theatre of WWII. In 1944, due to lack of man power, the testing was carried out by volunteer Italian Prisoner of War troops. Near the end of the war testing was also done on placing roads across rice paddies in preparation for invading Japan. This collection is an eclectic mix of materials donated by individuals associated with the Proving Grounds, and records copied from the National Archives. This collection is organized into nine series: Series I – Documents, Series II – General, Series III – Historical Preservation, Series IV – Newspaper Articles, Series V – Personnel, Series VI – Photographs, Series VII – Publications, Series VIII – Videos, Series IX – Oversize. See container list.

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Yuma Strategic Planning Project

The City of Yuma embarked on a strategic planning process that began with a community survey in 1988 and a series of Town Halls (see small manuscripts collection).  Seven areas were rated as priorities: physical development; community resources and distribution of costs; growth and economic development; transportation; education; health and social services; and cultural change and quality of life. This collection is comprised of material from 3-ring binders that document the work of the planning process from recruitment of volunteers to milestones achieved.  No series. Arranged chronologically.  See container list.

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Yuma Title and Trust Company Collection

This collection documents individual property titles, deeds, maps, surveys of the City of Yuma and surrounding town sites, tax assessment districts, and subdivisions.  Many mortgages are original - some fragile - dating back to the 1880s.  A number of title searches include law suits and tax receipts. Some trace property ownership from the first sales of platted Territorial land through the 1970s. Many early Yuma founders such as Sanguinetti, Modesti, Gandolfo, Levy, and Polhamus figure prominently here. Of interest is the evolution of city annexation, subdivisions, restrictions and the paving and sewer districts. Early ownership and homesteading of farmland and some early mining claims are also documented.  Land speculation can be seen in newly surveyed town sites such as Parker and Somerton.  This collection is arranged in five series reflecting original order and how the materials were searched or used by the company. Series I: General; Series II: City Blocks of Yuma (maps and surveys with some deeds); Series III:  Paving and Sewer Districts (tax assessments); Series IV: Subdivisions; Series V: Restrictions (building, land use and other guidelines specific to certain subdivisions). See container list.

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Yuma Water Users Association Collection

The Yuma Water Users Association is an organization dealing with water issues in the Yuma area. It was originally organized in 1903 shortly after the Reclamation Act was passed by the United States Congress. The Association was originally created as a non- profit to represent its members in negotiations with the Bureau of Reclamation. In 1904 Congress created the Yuma Project under the Bureau of Reclamation with the intention of making the Yuma area more agriculturally profitable. Towards this end, construction was begun on Laguna Dam in 1905. Water diversion to the Yuma area was handled by Laguna Dam until 1941, when the diversion point for Yuma was switched to Imperial Dam. Through a contract with the Bureau of Reclamation in 1951, the Yuma Water Users Association assumed control of the works and facilities of the Yuma Project including both irrigation and power generating facilities. In 1962, a supplemental contract was signed giving the Association control of the Siphon Drop Power Plant and its various facilities such as transmission lines and irrigation works in California. This collection is comprised of seven series: Series I: Correspondence, Series II: Documents, Series III: Finance, Series IV: News Clippings, Series V: Photographs, Series VI: Publications, Series VII: Wage Stabilization Board. See container list.

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