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Charles C. Chapman Collection
 Chapman Family Records Finding Aid
Scope and Content The collection consists of materials gathered by Charles Clarke Chapman, Frank Marion Chapman (his brother and business partner), C. Stanley Chapman and Irvin C. Chapman (Charles Clarke Chapman’s sons), and Grant Chapman (Frank Marion Chapman’s son). Charles C. Chapman’s personal records consist of numerous letters, mementos, and personal photographs, as well as magazine and newspaper articles written about him; dedications, sermons and college lectures written by him, and scrapbooks on current events of the day compiled by him. The materials written by C.C. Chapman and the scrapbooks are organized by subject according to his original arrangement scheme. C. Stanley Chapman’s papers consist of two transcripts of interviews he gave for the Oral History Program at California State College at Fullerton in 1968. In these interviews, Stanley talks about his memories of his father with a particular focus on his father’s business and civic interests. A newspaper article about his family’s home is also included. Irvin C. (Ernie) Chapman’s personal records consist of materials donated by him to the University as well as various materials from local community and Chapman University organizations. This record group is housed in 21 boxes. Frank M. Chapman’s papers consist largely of records related to C.C. and F.M. Chapman’s businesses from 1891 to 1923. His papers also include family photos, newspaper articles, and personal mementos. His son Grant’s papers include business records from 1915 to 1926, personal photos, and papers related to his political campaign in El Monte Township, California. Also included are two airplane pilot licenses issued to Clarke Chapman, Grant’s brother, and Frank M.’s son. This record group is housed in 6 boxes. Custody Information Various Chapman Family members donated the C.C. Chapman papers to the Thurmond Clarke Library at Chapman University. The C. Stanley Chapman interviews were given to the Chapman University Archives by Arlene R. Sayre, Director of the California State College Oral History Program, in 1968. F.M. Chapman and Grant Chapman’s papers were donated to Chapman University by Joyce Chapman, Grant’s Biographical and Historical Information Charles C. Chapman was born on July 2, 1853. He was the third of ten children of Sidney Smith and Rebecca Clarke Chapman. David and Anne Clarke were his maternal grandparents, and Jacob Kimble and Julia Griffith Chapman were his paternal grandparents. In their hometown of Macomb, Illinois, and later in their adopted state of California, Charles and his older brother Frank were partners in a variety of business ventures, many of which were extremely successful. Notably, after moving to Southern California in 1894, the brothers quickly began to establish a successful citrus growing business. A full review of their business interests can be found in the book, Charles C. Chapman, the Career of a Creative Californian, 1853-1944, Donald H. Pflueger, editor (Los Angeles: Anderson, Ritchie & Simon, 1976). Through their business ventures, both men amassed considerable wealth and contributed greatly to the development of California. Charles, in particular, became a very prominent leader in business as well as in religious, educational, and civic concerns. His farming and business innovations and his resulting prominence as an industry leader earned him the title of “Father of the Valencia Orange Industry.” Charles Chapman’s records convey his love and concern for his family. Throughout his life Charles maintained strong family bonds with his brothers and sisters. Interestingly, all seven of the Chapman brothers and sisters who lived to adulthood moved to California, where each, Charles notes in his memoirs, “made a strong contribution to this great state.” In 1884 Charles married Lizzie Pearson. The couple lived in Chicago, where their two children, Ethel and Stanley, were born. In June, 1894, the family moved to Los Angeles so that Lizzie, who suffered from a long illness, might benefit from the milder climate. In that same year, however, Lizzie succumbed to the illness. Charles sadly wrote in his memoirs that “despite the best medical attention… Lizzie bade us a final farewell on the 23rd of September, 1894”. In 1898 Charles married Clara Irvin, and in 1911 their son Irvin Clarke (Ernie) was born. In 1899 Charles and his family moved to Fullerton, California and made their home. Charles became very active in the development of the area, and in 1904 he was elected the newly incorporated City of Fullerton’s first Mayor. He built a large home for his family on Commonwealth Avenue in 1903. In 1905, on the southeast corner of Spadra (now Harbor Boulevard) and Wilshire Avenues he built a modern five story office building. In that same year, on the northeast corner of the same intersection, he built the Fullerton First Christian Church, for which he helped organize the first congregation, and in which he and his family remained active for many years. Charles Chapman’s religious interests were a central part of his life. He was a member of the Christian Church of the Disciples (Disciples of Christ), a denomination that established many schools in the United States. In 1919 he and other church leaders saw the need for a college to train young men for the Church’s ministry. In that year, C.C. Chapman donated $400,000 for the establishment of such a college and his donation was matched by the combined donations of other Church members. This financial campaign resulted in the founding of the California School of Christianity in 1920. In 1923 the name was changed to California Christian College, and changed once again in 1934 to Chapman College in honor of Charles C. Chapman, the College’s chief benefactor and president of its Board of Trustees from 1918 to 1938. The Chapman College Campus on North Vermont Avenue in Los Angeles was moved to the city of Orange, California in 1954. Processing Note The Chapman Family Records were processed by Katherine McGrath Lewis, Chapman University Archives, Assistant Librarian, August, 2001-July, 2003. Container List Charles C. Chapman Record Group HONORARY SERIES Box One 1. American Magazine April, 1921 Box Two 9. Political Sketch, C.C. Chapman’s proposed U.S. Vice-Presidential nomination with Calvin Coolidge, Presidential nominee 1924/0614 PERSONAL PHOTOGRAPH SERIES Box Three 10. Charles C. Chapman 1904 Box Four 19. Chapman family photograph 1886 Box Five 39. Irvin C. Chapman 1931 PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE SERIES Box Six 52. Letter from Charles C. Chapman to Frank M. Chapman c. 1895-1900/0707
SCRAPBOOK SERIES
Box Seven 61. Personal Life Scrapbook, newspaper clippings kept by C.C. Chapman Box Eight 62. Personal Politics Scrapbook Box Nine 63. General Politics Scrapbook Box Ten Box Eleven 65. Editorials No. 2 Scrapbook Box Twelve 66. Religion Scrapbook Box Thirteen 67. Citrus Industry Scrapbook Box Fourteen 68. Miscellaneous Scrapbook Box Fifteen 69. Memorials Scrapbook
Box Sixteen 70. Newspaper articles commemorating the death of Charles C. Chapman in 1944 Box Seventeen and Box Eighteen 71. Personal Files of Charles C. Chapman Major subject divisions are: Citrus; Clubs and Organizations; College;
Irvin C. Chapman Record Group Box Nineteen 72. Celebrating the World of Irvin C. “Ernie“ Chapman (YMCA of Orange County 1998/1024) 73. I Support Chapman College Football, 1981 74. Remembering Our University Patriarch (Happenings 2002/0812) 75. Community Icon Committed Life to Orange Count (Orange County Register, 2002/0807) 76. “Ernie” Chapman, 91, Orange County’s Pioneer’s Scion Left Own Mark (Los Angeles Times 2002/0807 77. Bookmark with the image of Charles C. Chapman memorial sculpture at Chapman University, n.d. 78. Chapman Family Genealogy Project, Irvin C. Chapman, 1997, Descendants of Charles Clarke Chapman (2 copies)
C. Stanley Chapman, Jr. Record Group
Box Twenty 79. Transcript of interview with Mr. and Mrs. C. Stanley Chapman, Jr. on 02/14/1968 for the California State College at Fullerton, Oral History Program 80. Transcript of interview with Mr. C. Stanley Chapman, Jr.on 03/29/1968 for the California State College at Fullerton, Oral History Program 81. A Mansion on a Hill (Daily News Tribune 03/08/1984)
Frank M. Chapman Record Group (Jan. 1, 1849 – March 18, 1909. Box Twenty-One 82. Letter from James L. Doti, Chapman College President to Joyce Chapman 1994/1010 83. Personal Photographs 1909-1930 9 items n.d. extent: 12 items Box Twenty-Two BUSINESS INTERESTS SERIES 84 Business Cards belonging to Frank M. Chapman extent: 25 items 85. Chapman Brothers Publishers n.d. extent: 7 items 86. Vendome Club 1892-1895 extent: 3 items Box Twenty-Three 87. Deed to property in the County of Los Angeles bought from George H. Rhorer 1894/0327 88. Property Agreements 1899-1908 extent: 13 items Box Twenty-Four 89. Citrus Farming materials 1902/0210-1923/0721 extent: 5 items 90. Irrigation documents 1886-1912 extent: 4 items 91. Accounts of Frank M. Chapman 1900/1231-1902/0301 extent: 20 items 92. Cancelled Notes of Frank M. Chapman 1886/1127-1907/0807 extent: 22 items Box Twenty-Five 93. Political Activities 1892-1909 5 items n.d. extent: 9 items 94. Newspaper clippings and papers related to Charles C. Chapman 1944-1954, 4 items n.d. extent: 8 items 95. Newspaper clippings and papers, miscellaneous subjects 1909, 5 items n.d. extent: 6 items Grant Chapman Record Group 96. Stock certificate, Sulphur Mountain Petroleum Company 1915/0223 97. Map, Oil Lands of Sulphur Mountain Petroleum Company n.d. 98. Political campaign memo and card, Grant Chapman Candidate for Justice of the Peace, El Monte Township, California 1926/0831 extent: 3 items 99. Annual License, 1922, issued by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale to Clarke Chapman and signed by Orville Wright 100. Annual Sporting License, 1928, Issued by the National Aeronautic Association of U.S.A. to Clarke Chapman and signed by Orville Wright. Date modified: 11/27/07 | |||
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