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Trailfinders collection

 Collection
Identifier: MS-353

Collection Scope and Contents

This collection is comprised of records and materials documenting the history and operations of the Trailfinders organization, a group founded by Harry C. James after World War I. Materials include correspondence, camping trip records, documents pertaining to the James Reserve and Lolomi Lodge, and school and council records. The Trailfinders were also involved in some charity programs including efforts to send clothes to young boys in Austria in the wake of World War Two and they established a small fund and network to help some boys immigrate to the United States. The group was active in its twilight years holding reunions for members in the later decades of the 20th century. There are also significant contributions of materials from individual members. The materials in the collection include documents, books, maps, photographs, physical objects, and more.

Dates

  • Creation: circa 1918-2013

Languages

The collection is in English.

Access

This collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

Copyright Unknown: Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction, and/or commercial use, of some materials may be restricted by gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing agreement(s), and/or trademark rights. Distribution or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. To the extent other restrictions apply, permission for distribution or reproduction from the applicable rights holder is also required. Responsibility for obtaining permissions, and for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Biographical / Historical

Harry James was worked at the Western Rangers organization in the 1920s. He left and founded the Lolomi Lodge, The Harry C. James School for Boys, LTD." in 1926. He also founded the Trailfinders in 1927. In December of 1931, the Lolomi Lodge organization was voluntarily dissolved and the assets and liabilities were taken over and assumed by the Trailfinders. The cabin built in the San Jacinto mountain range was also called the Lolomi Lodge, but distinct from the original school in Pasadena.

Extent

51 Linear Feet

Abstract

This collection contains organizational records, correspondence, notebooks, scrapbooks, photographs, video cassettes, and other material regarding the Trailfinders, a private school for boys and wilderness organization, established by Harry C. James in Hollywood, California during the spring of 1915. Material documenting the teachings and outdoor excursions of the Trailfinders is included as well as the reunions held by alumnus of the organization and school throughout the years following James' retirement.

Arrangement

Materials in this collection are arranged by subject and format. The series are as follows:

  1. Series 1. Organizational records
  2. Series 2. Council records
  3. Series 3. Correspondence
  4. Series 4. Publications
  5. Series 5. Harry and Grace James personal materials
  6. Series 6. Bound volumes
  7. Series 7. Photographs and art
  8. Series 8. Audio/Visual materials
  9. Series 9. Printed materials
  10. Series 10. Oversized materials
  11. Series 11. Realia
  12. Series 12. Tralfinders member donations

James papers

See also the Harry C. James papers (collection number MS 111)

Title
Trailfinders collection
Status
Processed
Author
Finding aid prepared by Andrew Lippert, Special Collections Processing Archivist
Date
2018
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Description is in English

Repository Details

Part of the Manuscript Collections Repository

Contact:
University of California
Rivera Library
P.O. Box 5900
Riverside 92517-5900 USA