Collection Summary
Scope
This collection of audio and video tapes relates to Yvonne Jacobson's book Passing Farms, Enduring Values and to the Michelle Ann Jacobson Memorial Collection of manuscripts and photos. Recordings include interviews with Jacobson and Olson family members discussing daily life and history in the Valley of Heart's Delight in the 19th and 20th centuries.
People
Yvonne Jacobson (b.1938) is a local historian with a strong personal tie to Santa Clara Valley. Raised by a Swedish and Lebanese couple, she grew up with a mix of cultures, reflecting the diverse community of the valley. Her family used to be involved in farming orchards in the area, giving her a unique understanding of how the valley has changed. Jacobson holds multiple roles as a historian, speaker, exhibition organizer, consultant for museums, agriculturist, and writer of 'Passing Farms, Enduring Values.’
Carl Olson, an immigrant who had been in the United States since 1888, settled in Sunnyvale with his wife Hannah after a varied early life, including working on a railroad in the Midwest and for Stauffer Chemical Company in San Francisco. Seeking a healthier environment due to respiratory issues caused by his job, he chose to live in the country. Carl and Hannah, who married in 1898, were drawn to Sunnyvale by an advertisement offering affordable land. They bought five acres and built a house, establishing a cherry orchard while Carl worked various jobs, including at the Goldie Machine Works and Joshua Hendy Iron Works. The family also engaged in hay baling for extra income and later ventured into dairy farming for financial stability. Despite challenges, including the 1906 earthquake, the Olsons thrived, symbolizing the resilience and determination of immigrant families in early 20th-century America.
Ruel C. Olson (1899-1980) was a farmer in Sunnyvale, California. Olson was a pivotal figure in the creation of the beloved "Olson's Cherries" in Sunnyvale, California. Together with his wife, Rose Zamar, he started a fruit stand on El Camino Real, which quickly became a popular destination, attracting celebrities such as Ansel Adams and John Steinbeck. As a farmer in Sunnyvale, Ruel C. Olson played a critical role in a significant era of California's history, contributing to the agricultural economy and boosting the region's reputation as a major food producer. His contribution as a farmer during this time highlights the larger narrative of transformation and growth in California's history.
Margaret H. Jenkins (1903-1996) came from a family with a rich tradition in athletics. With her extraordinary javelin throws, she clinched world records for the Northern California Athletic Club in the late 1920s and represented her prowess in discus at the 1928 and 1932 Olympics. Beyond her specific accolades as the AAU javelin champion and a multifaceted athlete achieving Santa Clara County tennis championships, Jenkins dealt with the lack of a women's track team at San Jose State College by displaying her exceptional skills in various sports. Beyond the fields and courts, Jenkins left a lasting impact through her three decades in teaching, impacting numerous lives through the insights gained from her extensive sports career.
Locations
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- Sunnyvale, California
- Silicon Valley, California
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Keywords and topics
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- Agriculture, Orchards, Farming, Land
- Cherries, Fruit
- Schools, Education
- Waterworks
- Transportation, Railroads
- Development, Industry, Technology, Equipment
- Local Entertainment, Theatre, Radio, Sports, Athletics, Recreation
- Childhood Activities, Social Life
- Women, Diversity
- Migration, Settlement
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Related Materials
Book - Passing Farms, Enduring Values by Yvonne Jacobson
Book - Valley of Heart's Delight by Ann Marie Todd
Manuscripts and photos - Michelle Ann Jacobson Memorial Collection
Oral Histories Catalog
View Jacobson Collection Catalog
Oral Histories Audio Recordings
Transcripts were generated automatically by an auto-transcription software and corrected and revised by student staff & volunteers.
TR 096 - Sunnyvale
5/9/1974 | Download Full Summary | Download Full Transcript
This oral history features Carl Olson detailing Sunnyvale, California's journey from its agricultural beginnings to a technology hub, based on his experiences as a long-time resident. He discusses the town's economic, social, and cultural shifts, starting with its early waterworks, notable local figures, and the famous cherry orchards. Olson touches on the impact of World Wars and the Great Depression on agriculture, the transition from traditional farming to mechanization, and the evolution of entertainment, education, and community life in Sunnyvale. The narrative highlights the town's transformation into a precursor of Silicon Valley, illustrating its pivotal role in shaping the region's technological prominence.
TR 099 - Memories of a Sunnyvale Orchardist
11/22/1976 | Download Full Summary | Download Full Transcript
This is an oral history interview with Mr. Ruel C. Olson, a resident of Sunnyvale, California, conducted by David Dhaliwal for the California History Center at De Anza College in 1976. It offers insights into the Olson family's agricultural and community experiences from the late 19th to the mid-20th century. Mr. Olson recounts his parents’ migration to Sunnyvale, attracted by its favorable climate for farming, and their involvement in cherry, prune, and apricot farming. He discusses the growth of local industries like the Stauffer Chemical Company and the Libby Cannery, alongside the strong community bonds and transportation evolution from horse-drawn to motorized equipment. The interview captures Sunnyvale's transition from an agricultural community to an industrial and suburban area, reflecting broader societal changes in 20th-century America.
TR 213 - Passing Farms, Enduring Values
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This recording originates from a 1970s-era radio show named 'California Times,' with Cynthia Perry as the host. This episode captures Santa Clara Valley's profound change from a lush agricultural region into a technological hub. It features reflections from local residents like historian Yvonne Jacobson, a relative of C.J. Olson Cherries’ family farm, historians like Albert Camarillo, and literary figures like Wallace Stegner. They reminisce about the valley's past, marked by family-run orchards and a strong sense of community, contrasting it with the present landscape dominated by urban development and technology companies. The narrative brings out this transition's emotional and social impacts, highlighting a sense of loss for the close-knit, agrarian lifestyle and the values it embodied.
TR 249 - Women's History Week Panel
3/9/1987 | Download Full Summary | Download Full Transcript
In the early 20th century, the concept of women's involvement in sports was far from being accepted; however, Margaret Jenkins pioneered the way, setting a precedent that would inspire many women to follow her. Born in 1903, Margaret was not one to be confined by the societal norms of her time. Her journey through sports, from swinging a baseball bat as a young girl to breaking the American record in javelin, was not just about personal triumph; it was a statement of her indomitable spirit and passion for equality in athletics. Beyond her achievements on the field, Margaret's legacy is enriched by her dedication to nurturing future generations, guiding young women athletes to pursue their dreams amidst skepticism and limited opportunities. Her Olympic endeavors in 1928 and 1932 exemplified the uphill battle female athletes faced. Yet, her resolve and advocacy for women's sports carved a legacy, making her story one of empowering resilience and groundbreaking achievements in the face of societal constraints on women.
TR 304 - Women in Santa Clara County Pre-WWII
3/3/1986 | Download Full Summary | Download Full Transcript
Professor Yvonne Jacobson discusses the experiences and contributions of women in
Santa Clara County prior to WWII. Jacobson provides an account of the social, economic,
and political
challenges these women faced while playing diverse roles in the suffrage movement,
labor rights, and community development.
She begins her lecture with accounts of early efforts by women in Santa Clara County to gain recognition and rights, such as their participation in the Fourth of July parade in 1872, where they campaigned for suffrage with floats bearing slogans like ‘Taxation without representation is tyranny.’ Notable figures are invoked, such as Mrs. Jane Stanford and Mrs. Phoebe Apperson Hearst, who used their substantial wealth to support educational institutions and the suffrage movement. Mrs. Stanford played a key role in establishing Stanford University, which admitted women from its inception. Professor Jacobson touches on the interconnected struggles for suffrage and labor rights, exemplified by women like Elizabeth Nicholas, who organized strikes in canneries during the Great Depression. Nicholas faced significant resistance and hardship in her mission to improve working conditions and wages for women laborers. Jacobson also speaks of the contributions women made to social reforms and education, like Mrs. Hearst's contributions to the University of California and various charitable institutions, which significantly advanced women's rights and education across the US. Local activists such as Sophia Derse and Mrs. Elizabeth Lowe Watson are brought to light for their influential roles in the 1911 suffrage victory in California. They organized locally, spoke at numerous events, and led grassroots campaigns to secure the right to vote.
Jacobson’s lecture covers the everyday lives of ordinary women in the county, making a contrast between the activism of suffrage leaders and the quiet, labor-intensive lives of farm women who supported their families while contributing to the broader movement in more subtle ways.
Oral History Video Recordings
VT 121 - Olson Cherry Farms
01/01/1982 | Download Full Summary | Download Full Transcript
In this 1982 video recording Yvonne Jacobson and Charlie Olson are featured discussing the agricultural history and transformation of Santa Clara County. Jacobson describes the county's fertile soil, mild climate, and historical significance in agriculture, describing the shift from grain and cattle farming to fruit orchards, particularly prunes and cherries. Charlie Olson reflects on his family's farming legacy, the impact of World War II on local agriculture, and the post-war shift towards industrialization, which would eventually lead to the decline of traditional farming. Yvonne and Charlie go into the challenges farmers faced, including land taxation and market pressures, and they place focus on the unique quality of produce from the region's exceptional soil and climate. The talk ends with observations on the transformation of the valley into Silicon Valley, lamenting the loss of prime agricultural land to urban development.
VT 129 - Family Farms in Santa Clara Valley Part 1: Nishimoto Nursery
01/01/1985 | Download Full Transcript
This is a documentary on horticulture in Mountain View, narrated by Yvonne Jacobson.
VT 130 - Passing Farms, Enduring Values
01/01/1981 | Download Full Summary | Download Full Transcript
In this video recording from 1981, Yvonne Jacobson hosts a panel discussion at the California History Center with farmers and individuals who were directly involved in the agricultural industry. Particularly, participants that either came from families who had been farming in the Santa Clara Valley since the late 19th, early 20th century or were themselves engaged in agricultural practices. These individuals were descendants of immigrants who had moved to the Santa Clara Valley throughout this time period. They were attracted to the area because they believed it was an ideal place to raise their families and were drawn to go into the agriculture business, the region's predominant industry at the time. Jacobson introduces the panel by emphasizing the connection between the land, people, and time. The panel participants represent the diverse ethnic backgrounds and various types of farms that characterized American settlement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The speakers take turns recounting their family histories. Jacobson shares a brief story of her own family, tracing their roots back to Swedish immigrants who established a farm in Sunnyvale in the 1880s. Despite the tech boom in Silicon Valley, her family continued farming, showcasing their commitment to agriculture in the face of urban growth. Likewise, panelist Bob Butcher, who has a long farming history in the area, recounts his family's journey from Virginia to California. Steve Oku describes his grandfather's arrival in California in 1885 and the eventual establishment of a successful flower growing business. Eiichi Sakauye shares the story of his father emigrating from Japan to start a farm in the early 20th century, the difficulties Japanese American farmers like his own family encountered, including restrictive land ownership laws and internment during World War II. The speakers reflect on topics like economic and regulatory issues that would negatively impact local agriculture, social dynamics of the farming community, and concerns about the future of agriculture in the Santa Clara Valley. Above all, this document captures the spirit of a community shaped by agriculture, highlighting the triumphs and challenges faced by farming families over generations.
VT 136 - Santa Clara Valley in Transition
01/01/1981 | Download Full Transcript
A panel discussion featuring Yvonne Jacobson, Chatham Forbes, Jim Riley and interviewer Seonaid McArthur, with remarks by Yvonne Jacobson.
VT 221 - Bay Area Back Roads, CHC Segment
01/08/1989 | Download Full Summary | Download Full Transcript
This 1989 episode of KRON4’s “Bay Area Backroads,” hosted by Jerry Graham, includes a short interview with Yvonne Jacobson during her time as President of the Board at the California History Center. The episode was filmed at Le Petit Trianon where Graham and Professor Jacobson discuss her role at the Center, its objectives, and her reasons for joining. She reflects on her tenure as a teacher at DeAnza College and her desire to document the history of her father and family, who were farmers in the Santa Clara Valley throughout the 20th century. Jacobson mentions an exhibit held at the Center about early Chinese immigrants in the Bay Area asserting her belief that it’s important to understand one’s history during times of great transition. Graham notes that the Center was originally the home of Charles Adolphe Baldwin and Ella Virginia Hobart, with Willis Polk as the architect of the estate.
VT 289 - California History Program #7, Olson Farm Story
01/01/1993 | Download Full Transcript