Bookmark this page or copy and paste URL to Email message
George W. Chambers was a Tucson businessman, civic leader and amateur historian. Born in Onaga, Kansas on June 20, 1901, his family moved to Arizona in 1914. He graduated from Bisbee High School and attended Tempe Normal School of Arizona (now Arizona State University) for one year. After serving in the Navy during World War I, he attended the University of Arizona from 1919-1922. He began a long career in the newspaper business by joining the Tucson Daily Citizen in 1919. Chambers was involved in a number of Tucson organizations, including the Tucson Sunshine Climate Club, the Chamber of Commerce, the War Production Board, the Tucson Street Naming Committee and the Arizona Pioneer Historical Society. Chambers died January 16, 1978 in San Diego, California.
The papers of George W. Chambers cover both his historical interests and his business and civic involvement. His historical interests were wide-ranging, but focused on Southern Arizona. He collected original documents relating to Cochise County court cases (1880-1907), Old Dominion Mine (1880-1886) and the San Agustin (Tucson, Arizona) census of 1820. Chambers also collected typescripts and manuscripts of John A. Rockfellow, an Arizona pioneer and author.
Chambers' civic involvement is represented in the collection. Records and correspondence relating to the Tucson Sunshine Climate Club, the Chamber of Commerce, Scrap Metal Campaign, War Production Board, Postwar Plan and the Tucson Street Naming Committee are included. Smaller portions of the collection relate to a variety of his projects including the restoration of the columns at Mission San Xavier del Bac, obtaining an honorary degree for Father Bonaventure Oblasser, the building of a road on Mount Lemmon and the designation of the Saguaro National Monument.
Chambers' personal papers are limited to four folders and consist of some personal correspondence, drafts of speeches and notes on various projects.
A major part of the collection consists of over 300 photographs. Approximately one-third of these photos are devoted to various projects: San Xavier del Bac restoration, Arizona Pioneer Historical Society and restored missions in the southwest. There are also 47 photographs of the filming of “Gay Desperado” in 1936, which appears to have been filmed at San Xavier. The remainder of the photographs are aerial views of Tucson, presumably from Chambers’ days on the Tucson Street Naming Committee (1948-1952). These include aerial views of Tucson and the surrounding area as well as unidentified individual homes, ranches and businesses. Approximately half of these aerial views are 8x10 photographs, half 11x14 and a few 16x20 prints.
Oversize documents include an election tally sheet from Tombstone in 1886, hotel register pages from Wilcox House in 1894, a Huachuca Water Company bond with coupons and several large maps. There is an bound, oversize scrapbook containing correspondence, book covers and more relating to the Arizona Silhouettes, a publishing company owned by Chambers.
There are no restrictions on access to this collection. Some materials are filed in Rare; photocopies are available for patron use.
Requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be addressed to the Arizona Historical Society, Southern Division, Library and Archives-Tucson.
This collection was donated by George W. Chambers, of Tucson, Arizona, on November 22, 1977.
Transfers:
Two boxes of lantern slides to the lantern slide collection;
One microfilm cartridge of The Ootam manuscript by Father Bonaventure Oblasser transferred to the library; and
Two oral history reel-to-reel audio tapes (Levi Udall and Lenna Burgess) transferred to the oral history collection
One vellum map of Tombstone, 1886, transferred to the map collection
George W. Chambers Papers, MS 1079. Arizona Historical Society-Tucson.
Series 1: Historical Collections | |||||||||||
Cochise County Court Cases and Voter Registration Records, 1880-1907 | |||||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
1 | 1 | Chambers’ Name Index to Court Records | |||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
2 | Voter’s Registration Records, 1880s | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
3 | Jerry Barton, 1880 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
4 | “Johnny Behind the Deuce” (Mike O’Rourke), 1881 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
5 | John Bailey, 1881 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
6 | George Ward, 1881 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
7 | Till Barnes, 1881 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
8 | Wells Spicer v. John Leary, 1881 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
9 | Dixie Belle Mine to B.L. Peel, 1881 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
10 | J.B. Southard, 1881 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
11 | Jack Schwartz, 1881 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
12 | William Langdon, 1881 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
13 | Tombstone Mining and Milling vs. Boston and Arizona S&R Co., 1881 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
14 | John Gage, 1881 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
15 | Frank Stillwell, 1881 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
16 | Territory of Arizona vs. Board of Supervisors, 1881 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
17 | “Curley Bill” (William Broscius), 1881 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
18 | John Bottles and George Lewis, 1881 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
19 | John Boutot, 1881 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
20 | Charles Ewing, 1881 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
21 | James Sharp, 1881 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
22 | Jury Selection Documents, 1881 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
23 | Jury Selection Documents, 1881 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
24 | M.B. Potter, 1882 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
25 | Eugene Woodbury, 1882 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
26 | John Sharp, 1882 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
27 | Jury Selection Documents, 1882 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
28 | Jury Selection Documents, 1882 | ||||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
2 | 29 | A.T. Allen vs. “23”, 1883 | |||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
30 | John Heath, 1883 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
31 | May Woodman, 1883 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
32 | John Mulligan, 1883 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
34 | James Burnett, 1884 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
35 | Joseph Curby, 1894 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
36 | William Hutchinson, 1884 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
37 | A.H. Davis, 1885 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
38 | Treasurer’s Report, 1885 | ||||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
3 | 39 | Oliver W. Bake, 1885 | |||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
40 | Santiago Martinez, 1885 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
41 | William McIntyre, 1885 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
42 | Pleasant Happy Valley Ranch, 1885 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
43 | Francisco Sierra, 1885 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
44 | Charles Blair and Harry Raymond, 1885 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
45 | John Meager and French Kid, 1886 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
46 | Lottie Egan, 1886 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
47 | William Cole, 1886 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
48 | Thomas Ogden, 1886 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
49 | “Buckskin” Frank Leslie, 1886 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
50 | John Jackson, 1886 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
51 | Barney Riggs, 1886 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
52 | Wilson Douglas, 1886 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
53 | James T. Griffith vs. Pasquale Negro, 1886 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
54 | Bernardino Seles, 1887 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
55 | Jerry Burton, 1887 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
56 | S.C. Bagg, 1888 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
57 | Edward Lopez, 1888 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
58 | William C. Green, 1897 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
59 | William and Thomas Halderman, 1889 | ||||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
4 | 60 | Andrew J. Ritter, 1889 | |||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
61 | William Stiles, Burt Alvord, William Downing and Matt Burts, 1900 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
62 | William Stiles, Samuel Finley, 1900 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
63 | William Stiles, Burt Alvord, Thomas Yoas and Samuel Finley, 1900 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
64 | “Bravo” Juan, 1900 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
65 | William Stiles and Burt Alvord, 1903 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
66 | William Stiles, 1903 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
67 | John Paratti, 1907 | ||||||||||
Miscellaneous Historical Collection | |||||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
4 | 68 | Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1862-1914 | |||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
69 | Bills and Receipts-Historic Businesses, Tucson and Tombstone | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
70 | Wells Fargo Robbery Telegram, 1887 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
71 | Josey Brown MacTeague | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
72 | Jesus Maria Zepeda | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
73 | Nabor R. Cruz | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
74 | Christine Core Scrapbook, 1916-1923 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
75 | School Songbook, 1887 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
76 | Greaterville, Arizona School Record, (Pima County, District 7), 1882-1907 | ||||||||||
Old Dominion Mine | |||||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
5 | 77 | Old Dominion Mine Incorporation Papers, 1880 | |||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
78 | Old Dominion Mine Contracts, and , 1882 1883 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
79 | Old Dominion Mine Correspondence, 1883-1884 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
80 | Old Dominion Mine Loan Documents, 1883-1884 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
81 | Old Dominion Mine Lawsuits, 1884-1886 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
82 | Old Dominion Mine Canceled Checks and Stock Certificates | ||||||||||
San Agustin Census | |||||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
5 | 83 | San Agustin Census and Inventory, 1797 1820 | |||||||||
John A. Rockfellow | |||||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
5 | 84 | John A. Rockfellow, Correspondence | |||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
85 | John A. Rockfellow, Manuscripts | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
86 | John A. Rockfellow, Manuscripts | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
87 | John A. Rockfellow, Pamphlets | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
88 | John A. Rockfellow, Log of an Arizona Trailblazer | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
89 | John A. Rockfellow, Log of an Arizona Trailblazer Correspondence |
Series 2: Projects and Organizations | |||||||||||
Tucson Promotion and Tourism | |||||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
6 | 90 | Tucson Sunshine Climate Club, Correspondence, 1940-1945 | |||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
91 | Tucson Sunshine Climate Club, Correspondence, 1946-1959 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
92 | Tucson Sunshine Climate Club, Board of Directors Meeting Minutes | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
93 | Tucson Sunshine Climate Club, Financial Records, 1942-1961 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
94 | Tucson Sunshine Climate Club, Audit Reports | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
95 | Tucson Sunshine Climate Club, Fundraising Campaigns, (not inclusive), 1940-1959 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
96 | Tucson Sunshine Climate Club, Advertisement Copy | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
97 | Tucson Sunshine Climate Club, Publications | ||||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
7 | 98 | Tucson Chamber of Commerce, Correspondence, 1945-1960 | |||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
99 | Tucson Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors Meeting Minutes | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
100 | Tucson Chamber of Commerce, Miscellaneous Reports | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
101 | Miscellaneous Publications Promoting Tucson | ||||||||||
Tucson Planning | |||||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
7 | 102 | Tucson Regional Plan Reports, 1942-1946 | |||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
103 | Tucson Regional Plan-Colors | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
104 | Tucson Scrap Collection Campaigns, 1942-1945 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
105 | Tucson Newspapers, Incorporated and War Production Board Correspondence, 1943-1944 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
106 | Tucson Newspapers, Incorporated and War Production Board Correspondence, 1945 | ||||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
8 | 107 | Tucson Postwar Planning Board, Initial Stages | |||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
108 | Tucson Postwar Planning Board, Correspondence, 1943-1945 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
109 | Tucson Postwar Planning Board, Meeting Minutes, 1944-1949 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
110 | Tucson Postwar Planning Board, Reports and Legislation | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
111 | Tucson Street Naming Committee, Correspondence, 1948-1952 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
112 | Tucson Street Naming Committee, Reports and Presentation | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
113 | Tucson Street Naming Committee, Ordinances | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
114 | Tucson Street Naming Committee, Miscellaneous | ||||||||||
Miscellaneous Projects | |||||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
9 | 115 | Father Bonaventure Oblasser, Correspondence re: Honorary Degree | |||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
116 | Father Bonaventure Oblasser, Article Reprints | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
117 | Father Bonaventure Oblasser, Publications | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
118 | Father Bonaventure Oblasser, The Ootam Manuscript | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
119 | Howard Pyle Campaign for Governor, 1952 | ||||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
10 | 120 | Arizona Historical Foundation, Reports | |||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
121 | Arizona Historical Foundation, Correspondence, 1960-1970 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
122 | Arizona Pioneers Historical Society, Correspondence, (bulk 1959), 1931-1960 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
123 | Arizona Pioneers Historical Society, Notes on the Organization’s History | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
124 | Saguaro National Monument Correspondence, 1949-1953 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
125 | Campaign to Build Mount Lemmon Road, 1927 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
126 | Manana Properties Articles of Incorporation, 1945 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
127 | Ranch Brands Research | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
128 | Old Presidio Excavation, 1954 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
129 | Correspondence re: Mission Locations | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
130 | Mission Location Maps | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
131 | San Xavier del Bac Column Restoration Correspondence, , 1941-1954 1970 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
132 | San Xavier del Bac Restoration Contract | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
133 | San Xavier del Bac Restoration Reports | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
134 | Shrine of the Ages Chapel Correspondence and Bulletins, 1954-1955 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
135 | Pioneer Register, Cochise Stronghold, 1934 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
136 | City of Tombstone Charter, typed copy, undated |
Series 3: Personal Papers,1932 to 1975 | |||||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
11 | 137 | George W. Chambers Honors | |||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
138 | George W. Chambers Notes | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
139 | George W. Chambers Speeches | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
140 | George W. Chambers Personal Correspondence |
Series 4: Photographs | |||||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
12 | 141 | Miscellaneous Photographs | |||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
142 | “Gay Desperado” Filming, July 23, 1936 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
143 | San Miguel, California Novices , 1964 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
144 | Jeff D. Milton, 1937 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
145 | Presidio Excavation, 1955 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
146 | Manana Properties | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
147 | Arizona Historical Figures | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
148 | Lucky Cuss Mine | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
149 | Tombstone Hotel Fire | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
150 | John A. Rockfellow | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
151 | Father Bonaventure Oblasser | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
152 | Restored Missions | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
153 | Arizona Pioneer Historical Society, People, 1960s | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
154 | Arizona Pioneer Historical Society, Building Interiors | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
155 | San Augustin at Plazita Proposed Commercial Development, 1945 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
156 | San Xavier del Bac Restoration | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
157 | San Xavier del Bac Restoration | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
158 | San Xavier del Bac Column Restoration Scrapbook | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
159 | San Xavier del Bac Historical Photos | ||||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
12x | 159x | Album of photographs and descriptions of buggies, coaches and wagons | |||||||||
Tucson Aerial Photographs, circa, 1948-1952 | |||||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
13 | 160 | Rodeo and Parade (8x10 photos) | |||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
161 | University of Arizona (8x10 photos) | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
162 | Homes (8x10 photos) | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
163 | Ranches (8x10 photos) | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
164 | Businesses, Residential Areas (8x10 photos) | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
165 | Aerial Views (8x10 photos) | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
166 | Aerial Views (8x10 photos) | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
167 | Landscapes (8x10 photos) | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
168 | Landscapes (8x10 photos) | ||||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
14 | 169 | Rodeo and Parade (11x14 photos) | |||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
170 | University of Arizona (11x14 photos) | ||||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
15 | 171 | Homes (11x14 photos) | |||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
172 | Ranches (11x14 photos) | ||||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
16 | 173 | Businesses, Residential Areas (11x14 photos) | |||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
17 | 174 | Mid Range Aerial Views (11x14 photos) | |||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
18 | 175 | Aerial Views (11x14 photos) | |||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
176 | Landscapes (11x14 photos) | ||||||||||
Oversize Photos | |||||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
19 | 177 | Saguaro Wine Making (16x20 photo) | |||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
178 | Aerial Views (16x20 photos) | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
179 | High Altitude Aerial Photographs (16x20 photos) |
Series 5: Oversize Materials | |||||||||||
box | folder | ||||||||||
20 | 180 | Cochise County Election Tally Sheet, November 2, 1886 | |||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
181 | Great Register, Cochise County, 1886 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
182 | Cochise County Ballot, November 6, 1906 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
183 | Wilcox House Register, February and (not inclusive), March 1894 | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
184 | Huachuca Water Company Bond and Coupons | ||||||||||
folder | |||||||||||
185 | Oversize Maps | ||||||||||
Arizona Silhouettes | |||||||||||
box | |||||||||||
21 | scrapbook |