Adamson, J. Edgar (b. 1894)
Citrus Grower
Establishment of the Frost Warning Service and Development
of Orchard Heaters. 1963.
[ Additional interviewee: Grace Steffa]
Tells of his boyhood activities in cultivating the family grove and working
for water companies in the Pomona (California) area. He describes various devices
used to control frost in groves. With his father Mr. Adamson established a frost
warning service in the Pomona Valley.
Interviewers: Caroline Beatty and Dennis West, Oral History
Program.
Restricted Interview. Contact us for more information. Top of page.
Dreher, Edward L. (b. 1877)
Citrus Grower
Grower. 1963.
The son of P. J. Dreher, called the “father” of the citrus growers’ cooperative
movement in southern California, relates biographical facts about his father,
conditions leading to the establishment of the Claremont Fruit Growers’ Association
in 1893 and the California Fruit Growers’ Exchange, and his father’s role in
their inception and management.
Interviewers: Caroline Beatty and Spencer Olin, Oral
History Program.
Restricted Interview. Contact us for more information. Top of page.
Knox, Reginald (b. 1884)
Cooperative Director
California Fruit Growers Exchange.1963.
Began with the Fruit Exchange in 1899, managed San Antonio District Exchange
(1917-1932) and served on its board, and served as a Director of Sunkist until
1957. Describes early days of the Exchange and opposition to it, P. J. Dreher’s
philosophy about the cooperative, including local control, and relations with
other cooperatives. He discusses problems with the railroads and Hiram Johnson’s
influence and helpfulness.
Interviewers: Caroline Beatty and Spencer Olin, Oral
History Program.
Restricted Interview. Contact us for more information. Top of page.
Lynn, Harvey (b. 1883)
President, Sunkist
The California Fruit Growers Exchange.1963.
In 1907 Mr. Lynn started as a stenographer for the California Fruit Growers
Exchange, became manager of the Arlington-Heights-Riverside Exchange, and became
a member of the board and since 1950 President of Sunkist. Recounts his career
and phases of management of Sunkist: operation of the Fruit Growers Supply Company,
pro-rate system, advertising, and future of the
citrus industry.
Interviewers: Caroline Beatty and Spencer Olin, Oral
History Program.
Restricted Interview. Contact us for more information. Top of page.
Naftel, Paul F. (b. 1895)
Citrus Rancher
Rancher. 1964.
Describes his youth and life as lemon and orange rancher in the Claremont-Pomona
area, where he had served as president of the College Heights Association. Discusses
local ingredients to citrus ranching: securing water; cooperative movement among
Southern California citrus growers; closing of packing houses in area; heating
the groves; securing labor; use of overhead sprinklers for irrigation and to
combat smog damage; combined effect of smog and encroaching subdivisions; exodus
of growers; and citrus products.
Interviewers: Caroline Beatty and Enid H. Douglass, Oral
History Program
Restricted Interview. Contact us for more information. Top of page.
Pitzer, Clifford B. (b. 1904)
Citrus Rancher
Claremont Citrus Rancher. 1964.
Describes Pitzer family history, his boyhood in the Pomona-Claremont area,
and student days at Pomona College (class of 1926). He has served on boards of
San Antonio Fruit Exchange, O.K.-San Antonio; and Sunkist. Discusses: grove labor
and heating; development of water; history of Claremont College Heights Orange
and Lemon Association; functioning of the Sunkist organization; and disappearance
of groves locally.
Interviewers: Enid H. Douglass and Caroline Beatty, Oral
History Program.
Restricted Interview. Contact us for more information. Top of page.
Pitzer, Russell K.
See Pitzer, Russell K. in Claremont Colleges
Sheldon, Winifred (b. 1876)
Pomona Valley Memories.1964.
Wife of Chauncey Sheldon, a prominent Pomona citrus rancher. Mr. Sheldon’s
father, Charles B. Sheldon, was Treasurer of the Congregational Church Board
which founded Pomona College. Describes her first impression of California upon
arriving in 1893 because of her father’s health problems. Tells of her life as
wife of a well-known citrus grower and of the family’s involvement in community
of Claremont.
Interviewers: Ruth Davidson, Mrs. Sheldon’s niece. Enid H. Douglass, Oral
History Program.
Restricted Interview. Contact us for more information. Top of page.
Stevens, A. L. (b. 1884) and William Temple (b.
1900)
Citrus Industry Leaders
The San Dimas Lemon Association. 1963.
William Temple was Secretary-Manager of the San Dimas Lemon Association from
1941 until its closing in 1963. A. L. Stevens is a grower who was president of
the Association at the time of its closing. They tell about the history of the
San Dimas Lemon Association. They discuss: lemon processing, climate factors,
price fluctuations, ranch labor, the development of the citrus products industry,
and the decline in the San
Gabriel Valley.
Interviews: Caroline Beatty and Spencer Olin, Oral History
Program.
Restricted Interview. Contact us for more information. Top of page.
Sumner, George S.
See Sumner, George S. in Claremont Colleges
Temple, William
See Temple, William in Stevens, A. L. citation above.
Wheeler, Stuart G.
See Wheeler, Stuart G. in California State and Local History