2012.0201 Finding Aid to the Margaret Wood Bancroft Collection, 1929-1951 2012.0201 Summary Information Repository Title San Diego Natural History Museum Research Library Margaret Wood Bancroft Collection ID 2012.0201 Date [inclusive] 1929-1945 Extent Language 1.0 Linear feet 1 box of archival material including correspondence, a photographic album documenting collecting trips in the mid-1930s, typescript, spiral notebook of travel notes, and a scrapbook. English Preferred Citation [Identification of item], Margaret Wood Bancroft Collection (Archives collection 2012.0201). Research Library, San Diego Natural History Museum. San Diego Natural History Museum Research Library 1788 El Prado, Balboa Park San Diego, CA 92101 619.232.3821 library@sdnhm.org
Scope and Contents The collection consists of one box of archival material that includes correspondence, manuscript typescript, a scrapbook of clippings and notes, and an annotated photographic album documenting Bancroft's collecting trips with Griffing Bancroft and exploratory travels in Baja California in the 1930s. Administrative Information Publication Information San Diego Natural History Museum Research Library 2016-04-30 1788 El Prado, Balboa Park San Diego, CA, 92101 619.232.3821 library@sdnhm.org Conditions Governing Access note The collection is open to researchers by appointment. Contact the Research Library Director at the San Diego Natural History Museum. Conditions Governing Use note Copyright may be reserved. Consult the Research Library Director at the San Diego Natural History Museum for more information. Processing Information This is an unprocessed collection in the archives of the San Diego Natural History Museum Research Library; not all of the contents of this collection have been fully inventoried. Photographs from the photographic album have been digitized. Related Materials Margaret Bancroft: a personal portrait : Smith, Virginia M. http://nma.berkeley.edu/ark:/28722/bk0005z240q Recollection of Hubert Howe Bancroft and the Bancroft family : oral history transcript: and related material, 1977-1980, BANC MSS 80/144 c, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley. http://nma.berkeley.edu/ark:/28722/bk0005z240q Page 2 of 11
Biographical/Historical note Margaret R. Wood Bancroft, (1883-1986), was an American amateur naturalist who with her husband, ornithologist and oologist Griffing Bancroft, explored the Baja California coastline, documenting bird and wildlife of the region. In 1935, Bancroft led a search for the lost mission of Santa Ysabel in the Sierra de San Pedro Mártir, Baja California. Controlled Access Headings Personal Name(s) Bancroft, Griffing, 1879-1955 Green, J. Elton, (Josiah Elton), 1908-1986 Klauber, Laurence M., (Laurence Monroe), 1883-1968 Subject(s) Baja California (Mexico : Peninsula)--Description and travel Baja California (Mexico : Peninsula)--Pictorial works. Manuscripts Women naturalists--united States Collection Inventory 2012.0201.01 Photographic album ca. 1930s Hand-made from cowhide (?) with decorative straps, griffin design on back. 47 pages total. 141 photographs, with captions. Digitization: The front cover and all pages of the photographic album have been digitized (2016; flat-bed scanner, 600dpi TIFFs). 2012.0201.02 Typescript 1 typescript mss of "Riding An Elephant Seal" by Margaret Wood Bancroft (n.d.). 2012.0201.03 Spiral Notebook "Trip to Baja California," dated April 8, 1940. Manuscript description of trip activities, traveling companions. Appears to have been written by M. W. Bancroft. 2012.0201.04 Photographs and miscellaneous materials 1932-1941 Large mailing envelope Page 3 of 11
containing photographs, brochure, and news clipping re: The Flight of the Least Petrel. 2012.0201.05 Correspondence 1932-1951 Correspondence, loose and in small mailing envelope, mostly concerning critical reception and acknowledgement of gift copies of Griffing Bancroft's 1932 book, The Flight of the Least Petrel. Correspondents include Eleanor Roosevelt and California Governor James Rolph, Jr. Archive Box 78 Contents Detail Inventory conducted 2/1/2012 (Courtney Rogin) Contents list revised 11/29/2012 (Kathy Elliott) Photograph Album Hand-made from cowhide (?) with decorative straps, griffin design on back Page 1: o Photo 1: "San Ysidro" Cars crossing the border into Mexico o Photo 2: "Mexicali" street in Mexicali Page 2: o Photo 1: "Ocotillo on the Colorado Desert Desert scenes o Photo 2: "Secondary Irrigation Duct - South of Mexicali" Page 2 Back: o Photo 1 (missing): "Homeward Bound" Page 3: o Photo 1 (missing): "The Cove - South Island" o Photo 2: "J. Elton Green" Page 4: o Photo 1: "Algodones" o Photo 2: "The Colorado below Yuma" Page 5: o Photo 1: 'Mountain Springs Grade" o Photo 2; "Delta of the Colorado" Page 6: o Photo 1: "Ensenada" o Photo 2: "Hotel at Ensenada - 1931" Page 6 back: o Photo 1: "Todos Santos Islands - from Punta Bauda" Page 7: o Photo 1 & 2: "On the Ensenada Highway" Page 8 back: o Photo 1: "San Telmo" o Photo 2:"La Grulla" Page 8 (clockwise from top): o Photo 1: "Cape Colnett" Page 4 of 11
o Photo 2: "Mission Santo Tomás" o Photo 3: "Pitahaya" Margaret Bancroft o Photo 4: "San Telmo" Page 8 back: o Photo 1: "San Vicente" o Photo 2: "Punta Bauda" Page 9: o Photo 1 & 2: "Mission San Vicente" Page 10: o Photo missing: "San Antonia del Mar" Page 11: o Photo 1: "Hamilton Ranch" o Photo 2: "Red Rock" Page 11 back: o Photo 1: "San Telmo" o Photo 2: "San Telmo" o Photo 3: "Hattie Hamilton's" Page 12: o Photo 1: "The Jail at San Telmo" o Photo 2; "Valley of Santo Tomás" o Photo 3: "Agave" Page 12 back: o Photo 1: "Santo Tomás" o Photo 2: "Sierra San Pedro Mártir" Page 13: o Photo 1: "San José" o Photo 2: "Meling Ranch" Page 13 back: o Photo 1 & 2: "La Encantada" Page 14: o Photo l: "La Encantada" o Photo 2: missing Page 14 back: o Photo 1: missing Photo 2". "La Encantada" o Page 15: both photos missing Page 15 back: o Photo 1 & 2: "The Top of Sierra San Pedro Mártir" Page 16: o Photo 1: "La Providencia" o Photo 2: "Consag Rock" Page 16 back: o Photo 1: "Mountain Building on Sierra San Pedro Mártir" o Photo 2: "San Telmo Valley" Page 17: Page 5 of 11
o Photo 1: "Santo Tomás" o Photo 2: "Santa Isadora" Page 17 back: o Photo 1: "José Maria" o Photo 2: unlabeled - desert scene cacti Page 18: o Photo 1 & 2: "Mission San Pedro Mártir" Page 18 back: o Photo 1 & 2: "San Antonio" Page 19: o Photo 1 & 2: "San Antonio Creek" Page 19 back: o Photo 1: missing - "Hattie's Patio" o Photo 2: unlabeled - M. Bancroft in a field holding ladder & axe Page20: o Photo 1: "San Telmo" o Photo 2: "Santa Margarita" Page 21: o Photo 1: "Santa Margarita near San Quintin" "Margaret Bancroft and Colonel Ed Fletcher" o Photo 2: "Santa Margarita near San Quintin" Page 22: o Photo 1: unlabeled - large cactus o Photo 2: "San Telmo" Page23: o Photo 1: "Ruddies at Santa Margarita"/ "Margaret Bancroft" o Photo 2: dated 1929,"7150 lbs" Back of photo reads "#7150 on the rubber" - "1 for José / 1 for Frank Davis" Page 23 back & Page 24: "El Rosario" o Photo 1 (top left): House in field o Photo 2: Building ruins and bells o Photo 3: man on donkey tending to field o Photo 4: farm buildings / daily life o Photo 5: men sitting outside building Page 24 back: o Photo 1: "Vizcaino Desert" Page 25: o Photo 1 & 2: "Onyx" Page 25 back: o Photo 1: Catania 30 miles south of Onyx" o Photo 2: back of photo: "Desert" Page 26: o Photo 1: "The Cirio Belt" - desert scene o Photo 2: "Torre Cirio Belt" back of photo: "south of Onyx" Page 6 of 11
dirt road in the desert Page 26 back: o Photo 1: "A Mexican barb-wire fence" back of photo: "Ocatilla fence and long horn - Onyx" o Photo 2: "Tony Investigates" - man climbing tall cactus back of photo: "South of Onyx" Page 27: o Photo 1: "Joshua Trees" o Photo 2: "The Lost Plains" Page 21 back: o Photo 1: "Calamhue" back of photo: "Calamhue" o Photo 2: "Mescatel" Page 28: o Photo 1: "Punta Prieta" o Photo 2: "Punta Prieta" back of photo: "Punta Prieta and the Prospector Page 28 back: o Photo 1: "Misión San Ignacio" o Photo 2: "Misión San Ignacio" Page29: o Photo 1: "San Ignacio" aerial view Page 29 back: o Photo 1: "The Patio of Senora Leree" o Photo 2: "The Patio of Senora Leree" "J. Elton Green (Tony)" Page 30: o Photo 1 & 2: "The Patio of Senora Leree" Page 30 back: o Photo 1: "egg hunters" - group of male children o Photo 2: "The winning Orona Page 31: o Photo 1: "La San Ignacio" "J. Elton Green (Tony)" w/ young girl o Photo 2: "old-fashioned" family on horses Page 31 back: o Photo 1: "San Ignacio" - buildings o Photo 2: "San Ignacio" - woman fighting with raccoon Page 32: o Photo 1 & 2: "San Ignacio" Page 32 back: o Photo 1: "Misión San Ignacio" Back of photo: "As with missions of this denomination, the ground plan is that of a cross and makes room for three altars. This is the largest of the three and represents the 'Nativity' of our Lord. The paintings are all old Page 7 of 11
oils brought over from Spain at the time of the construction of the mission. A person versed in art could no doubt detect the artists' names and possibly bring to light additional works of some famous painters. The relief work is all of carved wood covered with thin plaster and gold leaf. This altar is soon to fall, as a bulge of at least two feet extends outward in its very center, giving promise of early collapse." o Photo 2: "Misión San Ignacio" Back of photo: "At the time of the writer's visit to San Ignacio the priests had been expelled from Mexico by official proclamation, and the care of the churches had been left to the loyal followers -- in most cases the women." Page 33: o Photo 1: "Misión San Ignacio" Back of photo: "The two altars representing the birth and crucifixion, on the left and right side of the chancel are much smaller than the main altar. They also are adorned with rare old paintings and the relief is covered with gold leaf. Both are in excellent shape, structurally." o Photo 2: "Misión San Ignacio" Presumably the other side of the altar mentioned in photo 1. Page 33 back: o Photo 1 missing: "Santa Rosalia" o Photo 2: "Santa Rosalia" - mine of some sort Page 34: o Photo 1: "Santa Rosalia" - group, possibly family photo o Photo 2'" "Santa Rosalia" - large group photo, at least 20 people Page 34 back: o Photo 1: "Rancho Dora -- Dorita" o Photo 2: "The Gypsum Mine" back of photo: "San Marcos Island Page 35: o Photo 1: "on San Marcos Island" Page 35 back o Photo 1: "Tortuga Island and" o Photo 2 missing Page 36: o Photo 1 &.2: Blue-footed Boobies on Tortuga Page 36 back: o Photo 1: unlabeled - palm trees in desert o Photo 2: unlabeled - dirt road with donkey Page 37: o Photo 1 & 2: "Mulegé" Page 37 back: o Photo 1 & 2: "The Lagoon at Mulegé" Page 38: left blank Page 38 back: o Photo 1 & 2: Coyote Bay in Concepcion Bay Page 8 of 11
Page 39: o Photo 1 & 2: Coyote Bay in Concepcion Bay from a boat Page 39 back and Page 40: o Photo 1-4: Idelfonso Island Page 40 back and Page 41: "The Fish of California" o Photo 1: Man with large caught fish o Photo 2: group holding many fish o Photo 3: Margaret Bancroft with large fish o Photo 4: J. Elton Green (Tony) with large fish Page 41 back: o Photo 1: "Margaret Bancroft & J. Elton Green (Tony)" Page 42: left blank Page 42 back: o Photo 1: "Herrman Gulls on Idelfonso" o Photo 2: also presumable Herrman Gulls back of photo dated Aug 9, 1932 as developed Page 43: o Photo 1: Sea scene, boat fighting waves back of photo dated Aug 9, 1932 as developed Page 43 back: o Photo 1: "Sierra de La Giganta o Photo 2: "Concepcion Bay" Page 44: o Photo 1: "Isla San Esteban" o Photo 2: "Isla San Pedro Mártir" Page 44 back: o Photo 1: unlabeled - unmarked island o back of photo dated Mar 8, 1932 as developed o Photo 2 missing Page 45: o Loose photo: The Least Petrel anchored at old Fort Cove marked Mar 4 1932 as developed o Photo 1 missing o Photo 2: same boat as in loose photo, same area marked Mar 8, 1932 as developed Page 45 back: o Photo 1 missing o Photo 2: elephant seal Page 46: o Photo 1 missing o Photo 2: Blue Footed Booby (presumed) Page 46 back and Page 47: o Photo 1: Car in forest with tall trees o Photo 2: Forest scene o Photo 3: Rocky open forest clearing Page 9 of 11
o Photo 4: River and forest Typescript Account "Riding An Elephant Seal" by Margaret Wood Bancroft Spiral Notebook Dated April 8, 1940 "Trip to Baja California" Manuscript description of trip activities, traveling companions Appears to be written by M. W. Bancroft Large Mailing Envelope: Putnam Books Brochure for Spring 1932, 'The Flight of Least Petrel' by Griffing Bancroft - feature in Travel, p. 14 Photos: o Tony & Juan skinning their specimen - elephant seal o Half-finished clay model - elephant seal o The mounted specimen ready for shipment elephant seal o Too big to be crated before putting into a box car elephant seal specimen o Completed mannikin To my knowledge this was sent to the Field Museum in Chicago. The work of the late J. Elton Green." o Cowboys and cattle of La Encantada - by M.W. Bancroft o Ensenada by M.W. Bancroft o Card stock photo: Matilda Leree. San Ignacio. Baja Cfa, Mexico. 9/1/41 o Card stock photo: hummingbird landing on branch Correspondence Sept 12, 1951 o Natural History Museum --> Mr. Bancroft o Drafts of egg collection acceptance August 1951 / October 1944 o Gray, Cary, Ames, & Driscoll o Income tax returns January 1.2th,1932 o Barbara Bancroft (189 W. 10th St, NYC) --> her father Griffing Bancroft o Re: The Flight of The Least Petrel, Bancroft Manuscript: Laurie Klauber's Snake - May 9,1943 Small Mailing Envelope Correspondence o March 26, 1942 Phil (Brother-in-law to MWB) --> MW Bancroft (2269 Front Street) Personal letter o July 23, 1945: Edward J. Court --> Grif Bancroft Request for personal share of egg collection Newspaper article - 3/24/1942 Page 10 of 11
o Column written by Eleanor Roosevelt, mentions Bancroft's book Personal letter 1942 o From Eleanor Roosevelt o Thank-you for book o With envelope Personal letter - Feb. 10, 1932 o Gov. of California (James Rolph Jr.) --> Bancrofts o Thank-you for book Large Scrapbook Review of The Flight of the Least Petrel o Handwritten, unsigned o On personal notepaper of Nina Bancroft Letter from Anne Bancroft - Dec. 23, 1931 o Negative commentary on The Flight of the Least Petrel o "The meanderings of a handsome millionaire and his beautiful wife on their palatial yacht during a period of widespread unemployment and economic depression cannot but strike the reader with a contrast between luxury and need." [Additional contents need to be added to this inventory.] Page 11 of 11