Research
The Long History of Chinese Workers at the Shinn Ranch [more]
There is a bunkhouse in the back of Shinn Park that is the remaining building from the Shinn Ranch China Camp. This very modest building has lots of stories to tell about the long history of Chinese workers at the Shinn Ranch/Nursery starting in 1870 and on until the 1960s. It is the last building of the Shinn Ranch China Camp.
After the Transcontinental Railroad was completed to Oakland in 1870, there were Chinese working in many industries (railroad, salt, sugar, nursery), working in homes (as cooks and servants), and were running businesses (merchants, contracting) in Southern Alameda County. This old bunkhouse building is an important piece of the history of our township as well as the Shinn family, because it is more than words. It is a physical reminder of the people who lived here. You can step inside and imagine the ranch work done here, talking after work, and sleeping,.
There are records of workers:
in Lucy Shinn's letters in the 1870s. The family hired workers in the fields and house.
in Milicent Shinn's child development studies in the 1890s and in the 1900s-1910s. Fong Gan was their cook from the 1890s to 1910s and was a favorite of young Joe Jr.
in the ranch records, there are many references for work done and pay.
History Organizations
Connecting to Collections Care (FAIC) recommended by Alameda County librarian (JC)
Great Links for History
What is a Cultural Landscape?
From Cultural Landscapes 101 from the National Park Service
Tips for caring for your collections
Library of Congress
National Archives and Records Administration
National Parks Service
Museum Management Program's Conserve O Grams
American Institute for Conservation
AIC Wiki, a compendia of working knowledge on materials and techniques used to preserve and treat works of art and historic artifacts.
Northeast Document Conservation Center
Image Permanence Institute
Graphics Atlas, which helps you identify the type of various prints and photographs.
Canadian Conservation Institute
Agents of Deterioration: Physical forces, fire, water, light, temperature, relative humidity, pests, pollutants, dissociation, thieves, and vandals.
Housekeeping guides for historic homes, museums, and your own personal collections!
Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts' Collection Housekeeping Guide
Minnesota Historical Society's Historic Housekeeping Handbook
Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Material
Visual glossary of conservation issues
The Fine Arts Conservancy
Preservation Self-Assessment Program, a free online tool that helps collection managers prioritize efforts to improve conditions of collections.
Recommended on a survey on facebook by AASLH.
Clothing - preservation and history
Godey's Lady's Book 1842 to 1873
Identifying Photographs
From talk on zoom SFPL.
Gawain Weaver talked on zoom November 2023.
Fixed in Time blog for ID'ing photos with a free PDF version
Photographers ID website NYPL
Pattern Books For Houses
Andrew Jackson Downing and his brother, Charles Downing, are best known to some as experts of pomology and horticulture. To others A.J. Downing was known as the founder of American landscape architecture. See the references in wikipedia for links to some of his books. The Dover Reprint "Victorian Cottage Residences" for this book "Cottage residences, or, A series of designs for rural cottages and cottage villas, and their gardens and grounds: adapted to North America" was in a box in the basement. Was it an influence for the "Victorian Gentleman Farmer"?
1876 GEORGE PALLISER'S MODEL HOMES FOR THE PEOPLE at UCB
1878 Palliser's model homes. Showing a variety of designs for model dwellings 1878 note Pattern IX that resembles the Shinn home.
1883 Palliser's Model Homes; Showing a Variety of Designs for Model Dwellings
An Affordable Housing Pattern Book for Durham, North Carolina
Farmington, Connecticut
Old Houses in Farmington - shows the John Clark house where Abraham and Milicent Clark lived.
Architecture, General
Researching the History of a House
Architectural Review 1879-1883
Architect and Engineer 1905-
Charles C.Miller Architecture: Designs for Street Fronts, Suburban Houses, and Cottages,Including Details for both Exterior and Interior
An Affordable Housing Pattern Book for Durham, North Carolina
Historic Japanese Nurseries
Yokohama Nursery timeline - James Shinn? mentioned that they used nurseries in Kyoto and Yokohama in an advert.
National and State Register of Historic Places
Why register? "to insure that properties significant in national, state, and local history are considered in the planning of federal undertakings; and to encourage historic preservation initiatives by state and local governments and the private sector."
SHPO's programs page for National Register of Historic Register. See Effects summary
Their page about the program.
Fact Sheet from SHPO
possible tax breaks
Listed properties may use the State Historic Building Code, a more flexible alternative to the Uniform Building Code. The use of this code may save owners money when repairing or rehabilitating their properties.
Mills Act?
Possible grants
Listed properties are recognized for their architectural or historic worth, an intangible benefit that is nonetheless valuable. Listing in the Register is primarily an honor, meaning that a property has been researched and evaluated according to established procedures and determined to be worthy of preservation.
Properties listed in, or officially determined eligible for listing in the National Register are automatically listed in the California Register of Historical Resources.
Ancestry / Immigration / Etc.
Articles about the family - Obituaries, histories, Blogs - online
Blogs
Charles and Julia Shinn in the Forest Service
Milicent Shinn
Lucy Shinn
Obituary - Monday July 12, 1915
Preservation Resources - Buildings
Incentives and Grants for Historic Preservation State Office of Historic Preservation
The comprehensive publication "Preservation Resources Online" publication has been fully updated. The best part - it is entirely FREE! Please contact us at info@preservationdirectory.com and we will email you a free copy! (We did)
What Topics Does "Preservation Resources Online" Cover?
Primary Online Resources for Historic Preservation
Funding Sources (tax incentives, grants, funding programs)
The National Register of Historic Places
Researching the History of Your Home / Property
Economic Benefits of Historic Preservation
Historic Real Estate
Building Restoration Resources
Educational Resources & Programs
Employment Resources
Laws, Rules, Regulations & Legislative Resources
Downtown & Main Street Revitalization
Identifying Architectural Styles
Heritage Travel Resources
Books & Publications
Endangered History Programs & Resources
Contact them at info@preservationdirectory.com to get PreservationResourcesOnline.pdf
RESERVATION RESOURCES ONLINE - FREE RESOURCE HAS BEEN UPDATED (mentioned by Christina Dikas 10/27/2023)
We are happy to announce that our comprehensive publication "Preservation Resources Online" publication (PDF) has been fully updated. The best part - it is entirely FREE! Please contact us at info@preservationdirectory.com and we will email you a free copy! ( need to pay for access monthly or yearly)
What Topics Does "Preservation Resources Online" Cover?
Primary Online Resources for Historic Preservation
Funding Sources (tax incentives, grants, funding programs)
The National Register of Historic Places
Researching the History of Your Home / Property
Economic Benefits of Historic Preservation
Historic Real Estate
Building Restoration Resources
Educational Resources & Programs
Employment Resources
Laws, Rules, Regulations & Legislative Resources
Downtown & Main Street Revitalization
Identifying Architectural Styles
Heritage Travel Resources
Books & Publications
Endangered History Programs & Resources
Interested in receiving a free copy (PDF format)? Please contact us at info@preservationdirectory.com.
Preservation Resources - Archives
Education - Presenting History
Beth Slutsky, Ph.D.
California History-Social Science Project
Department of History
U.C. Davis
Bsslutsky@ucdavis.edu
Here is a link to the main presentation, which contains embedded links to Erin’s lesson and suggested materials.
Here is a link to a very short survey that we invite you to complete.
Education - Specific Preservation Items
Parchment - Diplomas!
Grants
Session on September 11, 2023
Grant Portal, carefully review program Guidelines and FAQ. For full details, please visit website.
Genealogy
SFPL has a Genealogy work group. To sign up
How to Research a
Spring Valley Water records - Go to the index page. Won't tell you the owner, but the builder or the person who hooked up the water. If questions, write to Brian who will send it to the speaker. FoundSF Bancroft has Spring Valley Water records (OAC). If you know the date of buiding or renovations, Carter's. Daily Pacific Builder.