Christy (Frank S.) collection, 1849-1993

Summary

Title:

Frank S. Christy collection

Dates:

1849-1993

Creators:

Christy, Frank S. (Frank Stanley)

Abstract:

The Frank S. Christy collection comprises subject files accumulated by local historian Frank S. Christy on a wide variety of topics relating to the history of Sacramento from the 1850s through the 1980s, in addition to a small group of photographs, essays, and other items created by Christy himself. Formats include over 3,500 photographic prints and negatives, pamphlets, newspaper clippings, brochures, scrapbooks, and programs. The bulk of the files consist of photographs and printed ephemera. Files significantly document the Capitol; churches and religious denominations; businesses, residences, and streets; significant individuals, including politicians, business owners, and historians; organizations, including the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Native Sons of the Golden West (NSGW), and Sacramento Historic Landmarks Commission; railroads; rivers; schools; and State Fairs.

Extent:

17.75 linear feet (17 boxes)

Language:

Languages represented in the collection: English

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item and/or item number], [box and folder number], Frank S. Christy collection, MS0059, Center for Sacramento History.

Background

Biographical / historical:

Historian Frank S. Christy (1918-1995) was a long-time Sacramento resident and leader of many historical organizations in the area who also wrote extensively on local history, including books on the Odd Fellows in California and the Native Sons of the Golden West. He received two commendations from the Sacramento City Council for his interest in history. In 1954, he was elected president of the newly formed Sacramento Historic Landmarks Commission, the forerunner of the Museum and History Commission. He was hired as the Sacramento City Council's first historical consultant in 1963 to gather information about buildings and sites in what became Old Sacramento. He was also co-founder and life member of the Sacramento Historical Society and served as its president in 1965, and was seven times grand historian for the Native Sons of the Golden West.

Acquisition information:

The Frank S. Christy Collection was donated by the Sacramento Trust for Historic Preservation to the Center for Sacramento History between 1998-1999 (accession #1998/722).

Processing information:

Processed by James Henley and Patricia J. Johnson, 1998-1999. Finding aid prepared by Patricia J. Johnson 1998-1999 and revised in 2002. Updated according to DACS and item-level descriptions of ephemera by Sean Heyliger, 2019.

Arrangement:

The Frank S. Christy collection comprises subject files accumulated by local historian Frank S. Christy on a wide variety of topics relating to the history of Sacramento from the 1850s through the 1980s, in addition to a small group of photographs, essays, and other items created by Christy himself. Formats include over 3,500 photographic prints and negatives, pamphlets, newsclippings, brochures, scrapbooks, and programs. The bulk of the files consist of photographs and printed ephemera. Files significantly document the Capitol; churches and religious denominations; businesses, residences, and streets; significant individuals, including politicians, business owners, and historians; organizations, including the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Native Sons of the Golden West (NSGW), and Sacramento Historic Landmarks Commission; railroads; rivers; schools; and State Fairs. Christy's primary "A" to "Z" subject arrangement scheme has been maintained. Files were organized secondarily by format (i.e., photographs and ephemera) during processing.

Physical location:

4G2-3, 4F2, 4F1 Drawer B-D, MC 13:02

Rules or conventions:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:

Sacramento (Calif.)--History--20th century
Sacramento (Calif.)--History--19th century
Sacramento (Calif.)--Biography
Sacramento (Calif.)--Politics and government
Sacramento (Calif.)--Commerce
Churches--California--Sacramento
Schools--California--Sacramento

Names:

Sacramento (Calif.)--Social life and customs
Independent Order of Odd Fellows
Native Sons of the Golden West
Sacramento Historic Landmarks Commission

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:

James Henley and Patricia Johnson

Date Prepared:

© 2013

Date Encoded:

Machine-readable finding aid created by Sean Heyliger . Machine-readable finding aid derived from MS Word. Date of source: September 26, 2019.

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