ADKINSON, Ray (1893-1982)
O.H. 50
Interviewer:                 William H. Lofstrom
Date:                            May 27, 1968
Status:                          Final typed, 12 pp.
Tape length:                60 min./closed

Early life in Trabuco Canyon area of southern California, experiences as an educator, and county superintendent of schools for Orange County, California.

BAXTER, Gavin H.- (n.d.-1973)
0.H. 149
Interviewer:                 Jim Sleeper
Date:                            March 20, 1970
Status:                          Not transcribed
Tape length:                  60 min.

A carpenter employed by the Irvine Company, Orange County, California from 1916 to 1957 leads a room by room survey of the Irvine home describing the structural and decorative changes made in the house throughout the years. Comments on the yard and landscaping.

HELLIS, W. Bradford (1890—1975)
0.H. 23a
Interviewer:                 Barbara H. Metz
Date:                            May 20, 1968
Status:                          Not transcribed
Tape length:                 1 hr. 15 min.

Recollections of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire; early Pasadena, California; and the Irvine ranch in Orange County by a retired executive of the Irvine ranch. Includes comments on the affects of the San Diego Freeway on Irvine owned land.

HELLIS, W. Bradford (1890—1975)
0.H. 23b
Interviewer:                 Stephen Gould
Date:                            April 30, 1970
Status:                          Transcribed, 23 pp.
Tape length:                1 hr. 15 min.

Expansion of the Irvine ranch area in Orange County, California directed toward industry and housing and away from agriculture. Biographical information included.

IRWIN, F. F. “Fay” (ca. 1904—1970)
O.H. 150
Interviewer:                 Jim Sleeper
Date:                            May 19, 1967
Status:                          Not transcribed
Tape length:                 60 min.

A former superintendent of Orange County Park who had lived in the park since 1919 when his father was the official caretaker of the park recalls use of the park as a social setting, a film set, a tuberculosis camp and an Army training camp; description of park buildings, and the involvement of James Irvine in park development. Interviewee’s wife comments on park concessions.

JEROME, Donald G. (n.d.—l980)
O.H. 152
Interviewer:                 Jim Sleeper
Date:                            September 15, 1967
Status:                          Not transcribed
Tape length:                 15 min.

Brief listing of ranchers in the early El Toro, California area.

MC BRIDE, Tom (ca. 1903—1974)
O.H. 156
Interviewer:                 Jim Sleeper
Date:                            October 26, 1967
Status:                          Not transcribed
Tape length:                 60 min.

Brief discussion of the operation of the Irvine ranch in Orange County, California with comments on the personality and habits of James Irvine. Interviewee began working in the Irvine ranch office in 1929.

 

MC INTER, Nellie C. (n.d.—l975)
O.H. 151
Interviewer:                 Jim Sleeper
Date:                            March 20, 1970
Status:                          Not transcribed
Tape length:                60 min.

Housekeeper at the southern California Irvine ranch from 1928 to 1947 describes life in the Irvine home, including details of the house, furnishings, and occupants.

MITCHELL, Nellie Munger (1900- )
O.H. 1885
Interviewer:             Ann L. Spencer
Date:                        May 8, 1985
Status:                     Completed 1987, 18 pp., index, photo
Tape length:           30 min.

Longtime resident of Orange County, California, recounts early childhood on family farm in the unincorporated community of El Toro, household chores, school activities, and children’s amusements.

OSTERMAN, Mary Lillian (1884—1973)
O.H. 49*
Interviewer:                 William H. Lofstrom
Date:                            May 24, 1968
Status:                          Final typed, 31 pp.
Tape length:                 60 min.

Early life in Orange County, California including recollections of history of the Trabuco Canyon and El Toro area and some of the early residents.

PACKMAN, Ana B. (1882—1973)
O.H. 153
Interviewer:                 Jim Sleeper
Date:                            October, 1967
Status:                          Not transcribed
Tape length:                 15 min.

Discussion of early Orange County, California residents; interviewee has done research on old branding irons. Interview conducted by telephone.

RAMSEY, Merle (1888—1979)
O.H. 155a
Interviewer:                 Jim Sleeper
Date:                            September 7, 1967
Status:                          Not transcribed
Tape length:                60 min.

Son of a former deputy sheriff details the shootout with the Tomato Springs bandit in 1912 and recalls early Orange County, California history and local residents.

RAMSEY, Merle (1888—1979)
O.H. 155b
Interviewer:                 Sherry Angel Patterson
Date:                            June 27, 1977
Status:                          Not transcribed
Tape length:                2 hrs.

An early Orange County, California resident and local historian discusses formation of the Irvine ranch, pirate ships, stagecoach and train transportation, the hotel boom of 1880s, and the growth of Laguna Beach, California. Comments on early area residents, forms of entertainment, rum runners, and the Tomato Springs bandit.

SCOTT, Edith Waterman (n.d.)
O.H. 158
Interviewer:                 Jim Sleeper
Date:                           July 24, 1968
Status:                         Transcribed, 40 pp.
Tape length:                 1 hr. 30 min.

Native of Tustin, California who grew up in El Toro, California and ran the first train depot there from 1932 to 1936 discusses the history of Tustin and El Toro with comments on early residents, and the El Toro one—room schoolhouse.

STEVENS, Mrs. Milo (ca. 1888— ) and George (n.d.)
O.H. 160
Interviewer:                 Jim Sleeper
Date:                            February 29, 1968
Status:                          Not transcribed
Tape length:                60 min.

Longtime residents of El Toro, California recall old pioneer families in the area; tin mining in Trabuco Canyon; San Juan Hot Springs; the old hotel in El Toro, and Cerrano adobes. George recalls camping in Trabuco Canyon as a youth.

RELATED MATERIALS

Lectures:

Two lectures delivered by Jim Sleeper: One in 1968 deals with pitfalls and joys of writing and being a historian with anecdotes on James Irvine, “Holy Jim” Smith, and Tustin, California. The second in 1975 to a ladies’ group in Leisure World, California details the history and development of the nearby El Toro area.

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