Below are minimally processed archival collections related to local and regional history that have recently been made available for researchers. For additional information please contact the Special Collections and Archives staff at spcoll@uci.edu or (949) 824-3947.

MS-R051, John and Mary Stephens Collection
This collection consists of letters and documents belonging to John and Mary Sills Stephens, who settled in San Bernardino in 1874-1875. Mrs. Stephens preceded her husband by one year in coming to California from Wisconsin and her letters to her husband during her cross-country journey by train contain vivid descriptions, including a stopover in Salt Lake City to inspect the Mormon settlement and talk with Ann Eliza, Brigham Young’s wife. Two letters by John Stephens in 1883 (one of them 82 pages in length) chronicle his early life in Wisconsin and the hardships encountered during the depression of 1873, as well as his later life in San Bernardino, where he witnessed the founding of Redlands and Riverside. Of particular interest is a letter to the Democratic Free Press of Appleton, Wisconsin (October 16, 1856) expressing Stephens’ views on slavery. Extent 0.2 Linear feet.

MS-R055, Western American Ephemera
This collection consists of historical ephemera from the western United States and Canada, specifically excluding the state of California. Types of materials include road maps and geographical maps, pamphlets, brochures, guides, articles, magazines, souvenirs, scrapbooks, city information sheets, fact books, gazetteers, and other odd bits of ephemera. Most items are of a promotional nature directed at tourism for the state, county, city or region. National parks and state history comprise the bulk of the subject matter. All decades from 1900 through the 1960s are well represented throughout the collection, though not necessarily for every state; several items date from the late 1800s. Extent 1.8 Linear feet (7 boxes) .

MS-R056, Dorothy Lyndall and Margaret Rees Photograph Collection
This collection contains four photograph albums of scenic postcards and ephemera from the travels of Dorothy Lyndall and Margaret Rees to Arizona, California (Death Valley and Northern California), Hawaii, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Utah, and Ensenada, Mexico.  Extent 1.0 Linear feet (1 box).

MS-R075, Bobby McDearmon Collection of Southern California Glass Negatives
This collection contains approximately 90 unprinted 4 x 4″ glass negatives and one 4 x 4″ film negative depicting various unidentified Southern California locations. Approximate date and location of these images is based solely on information on the scraps of paper interleaved between the glass negatives, which include advertisements and receipts for Orange County, Califonia businesses. Scenes depicted include: individuals and groups of people (possibly family portraits), mountains, pine forests, and beaches.  Extent 0.4 linear feet (1 box).

MS-R085, David L. Baker Files on Political Issues in Orange County, California
This collection consists of the working files and subject files of David L. Baker, engineer and member of the Board of Supervisors for Orange County, California from the early 1960s – early 1970s. Included are 25 binders of newspaper clippings from 1964-1975 organized topically with index.  Extent 5.0 linear feet (5 boxes).

MS-R087, Orange County Aerial Photograph Collection
This collection consists of 283 large aerial photographs of Orange County, California produced by Fairchild Aerial Surveys (Los Angeles, CA), American Aerial Surveys (San Antonio, TX), and other private contractors for the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. The bulk of this collection consists of 9 x 9 inch and 23 x 23 inch prints produced in 1947 and 1952-1953. Extent 1.4 linear feet (1 box and 6 folders).

MS-R089, Orange County Ephemera Collection
This collection consists of various ephemera about Orange County, California from various donors. Subjects and materials include flyers, brochures, and programs concerning Orange County political and election issues and cultural events; political campaign materials for the 1978 state and local elections; a postcard book and color print plus envelope depicting San Juan Capistrano; and materials on the cities of Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Crystal Cove State Park, and Orange County water issues. Extent 0.5 linear feet (5 boxes and 6 oversize folders).

MS-R132, Nancy Phelps Files on the American Civil Liberties Union of Orange County
This collection consists of files from the American Civil Liberties Union, Orange County, California collected by Nancy Phelps, who served as office manager for the organization from 1976-1990. Included are minutes, reports, financial information, newsletters, newspaper clippings, brochures, membership lists, memoranda, and correspondence.