Manuscript

Manuscript

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.

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.

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.

The Joseph and Josephine Balsz Collection

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.

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.

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.

A-Z Collections Index