Name/Title
Arthur W. Ponsford Scrapbook Volume 2, 1926-1934Entry/Object ID
A0231Scope and Content
Arthur Ponsford was an author, waterfront reporter, hotel manager, editor of various publications and publicity director. The Arthur W. Ponsford Scrapbook dated 1926-1934 consists of period San Diego Union, Sun and Evening Tribune newspaper articles and series features written by Ponsford and other authors such as Doc Gottesburen, Max Miller, Oakley Hall, Carl Bruington and Stanley Andrews that describe sport fishing off San Diego and waterfront experiences.
The scrapbook also contains numerous articles from The American Greeter (hotel trade magazine) and various articles from other publications written by Ponsford.
The newspaper clippings and magazine articles are arranged in layers, with several attached to each page.
The Ideal Scrap Book: Arthur W. Ponsford Scrapbook 1926-1934 contains:
1. Various articles from the The American Greeter by Arthur Ponsford, dates include September 1928, November 1928, December 1928, January 1929, October 1929, November 1929, November 1931, February and December 1933
2. Various articles from the San Diego Sun and San Diego Union about National Hotel Greeters officers and conferences, dates include 1927, 1928 and 1930
3. A series of San Diego Union: Sport in the Open section articles by Doc Gottesburen several entitled Sport Fishing Off San Diego, dates include September 5, 1926, September 26, 1926, October 10, 1926, October 24, 1926, November 7, 1926, November 21, 1926, December 5, 1926, December 19, 1926, December 26, 1926, January 2, 1927, January 9, 1927, January 16, 1927 (features Babe Ruth's fishing adventure off San Diego), January 23, 1927, January 30, 1927, February 6, 1927, February 13, 1927, February 20, 1927, February 27, 1927, March 4, 1927, March 6, 1927, March 10, 1927, March 13, 1927, March 20, 1927 (feature on grunion), March 27, 1927, April 10, 1927, April 17, 1927, April 24, 1927, May 1, 1927, May 8, 1927, May 15, 1927, May 22, 1927, May 29, 1927, June 5, 1927, June 12, 1927, June 19, 1927, June 26, 1927, July 3, 1927, July 10, 1927, July 17, 1927, July 24, 1927, July 31, 1927, August 7, 1927 (photograph of Babe Ruth and Doc Gottesburen's catch of mackerel), August 14, 1927, August 21, 1927, August 28, 1927, September 4, 1927, September 11, 1927 (features picture of Arthur Ponsford), September 18, 1927, September 25, 1927, October 2, 1927 and October 9, 1927 (ending a series of 52 articles on Pacific Coast sport fishing, many articles describe fishing experiences of the writer Doc Gottesburen)
4. Various San Diego Sun newspaper articles by Max Miller detail happenings on the San Diego waterfront and personal fishing experiences, dates include 1926, December, 1927, December 1928, March, April, August and September 1929, July 1930 and January 1931, plus several articles from a series entitled New Tales of the Old Pacific by Max Miller, dates include January 12, 1931, January 19, 1931 January 21, 1931 and January 23, 1931and several articles from a series entitled Gallery of the great Unsung by Miller, dates include December 19, 1930, January 9, 1931, February 20, 1931 and February 27, 1931
5. Wedding invitation for Arthur Ponsford's marriage to Dorothy Marie Smalley dated September 17, 1932, plus various San Diego Union articles that detail the wedding ceremony and honeymoon plans, dates include August, September and October 1932
6. Series of articles entitled South of 32°: A Fishing Story by Doc Gottesburen, includes parts 1, 2, 3, and 4 describing fishing off Mexico, (probably San Diego Sun) (1927, November, December)
7. Series of 56 articles entitled Water Front Tales by Arthur Ponsford featured in the San Diego Union every Sunday, several are contained in the scrapbook, dates include January 1, 1927, November 27, 1927, December 4, 1927, December 11, 1927, December 19, 1927, December 25, 1927, January 6, 1928, January 8, 1928, January 15, 1928, January 22, 1928, January 29, 1928, February 5, 1928, February 12, 1928, February 19, 1928, February 26, 1928, March 4, 1928, March 18, 1928, March 25, 1928, April 1, 1928, June 3, 1928, June 10, 1928, June 17, 1928, June 24, 1928, July 1, 1928, July 8, 1928, August 5, 1928, August 12, 1928, August 19, 1928, September 9, 1928, November 4, 1928, November 10, 1928, November 18, 1928, November 25, 1928, December 2, 1928, December 16, 1928, December 23, 1928 and December 30, 1928
8. Series of weekly articles entitled The Old Skipper Sez by Arthur Ponsford featured in the San Diego Union, several are contained in the scrapbook, dates include May 27, 1928, June 3, 1928, June 10, 1928, June 17, 1928, June 24, 1928, July 1, 1928, July 8, 1928, July 15, 1928, July 22, 1928, July 29, 1928, August 5, 1928, August 12, 1928, August 19, 1928, August 28, 1928, September 2, 1928, September 9, 1928, October 7, 1928, October 14, 1928, October 21, 1928, October 28, 1928, November 4, 1928, November 10, 1928, November 18, 1928, November 25, 1928 and December 16, 1928
9. Series of articles entitled Terse Tales of the Tuna Clippers by Arthur Ponsford featured in the Pacific Fisherman, dates include November 1929, December 1929, February 1930, March 1930, April 1930, May 1930, June 1930, July 1930, August 1930, September 1930, October 1930, November 1930, December 1930, March 1931, April 1931, May 1931, June 1931, July 1931, September 1931, October and November 1931
10. Various articles from unknown newspapers by unknown authors describe Arthur Ponsford's frequent speaking engagements throughout California, dates include March, April, June, July, September, October, November, December 1933, January, February, March, April 1934
11. Various articles from unknown newspapers by unknown authors describe Arthur Ponsford's numerous fish stories that are often hard to believe but might be true. Some say Ponsford's tall tales were generated to bring fisherman to the Star and Crescent Boat Company fishing barges that operate off San Diego, dates include April, May, June, July, August 1934
12. Additional articles by Arthur Ponsford featured in local publications are shown below:
-- San Diego Sun dated 1929 by Ponsford, topic: Bear hunt in Pacific Northwest
-- San Diego Sun dated 1932 by Ponsford, topic: Christmas memories
-- San Diego Union dated 01/29/1928 by Ponsford, topic: Tuna fishing
-- San Diego Evening Tribune dated 05/11/1934 by Ponsford, topic: Deep sea fishing off San Diego
-- Industrial Fire Chief dated June 1927 by Ponsford, topic: "Albacore Town" fishing boat service and gasoline barge
-- San Diego Magazine dated June 1928 by Ponsford, topic: Deep sea fishing from boats and barges off San Diego
-- San Diego Magazine dated May/June 1929 by Ponsford, topic: Deep sea fishing from boats and barges off San Diego
-- Westways dated Aug. 1935 by Ponsford, topic: Coronado Island fishing
-- Motorship dated Oct. 1931 by Ponsford, topic: The new diesel powered fishing fleet
-- Boating Business dated Aug. 1932 by Ponsford, topic: Fast shore boats for fishing Pacific coast
-- Field & Stream dated Nov. 1931 by Ponsford, topic: Sled fishing in So. California
-- Ice and Refrigeration dated Jan. 1932 by Ponsford, topic: Tuna fishing industry uses refrigeration to preserve catch
-- Seiberling Pictorial News dated July 1934 by Ponsford, topic: Tuna clipper fishing
13. Various newspaper clippings from unknown authors describe happens on the San Diego waterfront from San Diego Union and Evening Tribune newspapers (August through November 1926)
14. A series of San Diego Union: Sport in the Open articles by Sardine Sam (aka Arthur Ponsford) describe coastal and local lake fishing experiences, dates include January 15, 1928, January 29, 1928 and February 5, 1928
15. A series of articles entitled Aboard the Barges and Along the Beaches by Sardine Sam (aka Arthur Ponsford) featured in the San Diego Union describe the fish caught on local fishing barges and on the coast, dates include June 5, 1927, June 12, 1927, June 19, 1927, July 24, 1927, July 31, 1927, August 7, 1927, August 14, 1927, August 22, 1927, August 28, 1927, September 4, 1927, September 11, 1927 and September 18, 1927
16. Three articles by Sardine Sam (aka Arthur Ponsford) featured in the San Diego Union describe local swordfish catches, dates include October 30 ,1927, November 6, 1927 and November 13, 1927
17. A series of articles entitled Sport Angling on the Old Pacific by Sardine Sam (aka Arthur Ponsford) featured in the San Diego Union describe local pacific coast fishing, dates include May 27, 1928, June 3, 1928, June 10 ,1928, June 17, 1928, June 24, 1928, July 1, 1928, July 18, 1928, July 22, 1928, July 29, 1928, August 5, 1928, August 12, 1928, August 19, 1928, August 26, 1928, September 2, 1928, September 9, 1928 and September 16, 1928
18. Various San Diego Union newspaper clippings detailing the operations of the Point Loma fishing barge (operated by Doc Gottesburen) and the Angler fishing barge, dated 1926-1927
19. Various San Diego Union and Evening Tribune articles by or about Captain Oakley Hall describing deep sea fishing, the Star and Crescent Boat Company (fishing barges) and Associated Oil Company operations (1926-1928 and 1930-1931)
20. Additional article by Oakley Hall is shown below:
-- San Diego Magazine dated Feb. 1928 by Hall, topic Port of San Diego
21. Various San Diego Union articles about the slaughter of local seals and the missing "Whistling Boy" the sea lion that often occupied on the warning buoy located off Point Loma, dates include July/August 1926 and June/July 1927
22. Various San Diego Sun articles describe how Doc Gottesberg was commissioned by the San Diego Museum of Natural History to shoot a frigate bird (man-of-war-bird) as a specimen for their collection (June 1927)
23. A series of articles entitle Fishing from and unknown newspaper (possibly San Diego Union) by Carl Klindt and Arthur Ponsford detailing coastal and local lake fishing experiences, dates include July 16, 1927, July 23, 1927, July 30, 1927, August 6, 1927, August 13, 1927, August 20, 1927, August 27, 1927, September 3, 1927, September 10, 1927, September 17, 1927, June 30, 1928, July 4, 1928 and July 6, 1928, July 28, 1928, August 10, 1928, August 14, 1928 and August 21, 1928
24. A series of articles entitled Fishing Notes by Stanley Andrews from an unknown publication, dates include June, July, August and September 1927 and July 1928
25. Three newspaper articles from an unknown publication describe the local fishing experiences of George Moran and Charlie Mack of the vaudeville act the "Black Crows," dates include August 24/25, 1927
26. A series of articles entitled Big Game Fishing off Point Loma and Ocean Game Fishing featured in the San Diego Union by Carl Bruington describe coastal fishing experiences, dates include February 28, 1928, March 4, 1928, March 11, 1928, March 18, 1928, March 25, 1928, April 1, 1928, April 8, 1928, April 14, 1928, April 22, 1928, May 6, 1928, May 13, 1928, July 8, 1928, July 29, 1928, September 23, 1928, November 4, 1928, November 18, 1928 and January 20, 1929
27. San Diego Union (Sunday Edition) articles about Carl Bruington and Arthur Ponsford entitled Sport Portrait by Ted Rockwell, dates include March 27, 1927 and May 22, 1927
28. Various San Diego Union articles about the local Lions Club activities on the waterfront by unknown authors, July 1927
29. Various San Diego Union articles, by unknown authors about the local Rotarians Club activities on the waterfront, August 1928
30. Two San Diego Union articles, by unknown authors describe a 95 foot tuna boat built for Guy Silva by San Diego Marine Construction Company, dates include May 11 and 13, 1928
31. Various San Diego Union articles (50 to 60 short articles), by unknown authors describe the local tuna clipper fishing experiences in Mexican waters, dates include November 1929, January, February, March, April, August, September, October, November, December 1930, April 1931
32. Various San Diego Union articles by unknown authors about "Barnacle Bill" the large grey whale that was frequently sighted (first sighting by Arthur Ponsford) off the entrance to San Diego Harbor, dates include April 1, 1929, April 12, 1929, April 17, 1929, April 19, 1929, April 21, 1929, April 23, 1929, April 25, 1929 and May 23, 1929
33. A series of articles entitled Tales & Details featured in the San Diego Union by Bill Wright that describe local business, political happenings and citizens of interest such as Arthur Ponsford, dates include March 21, 1934, July 30, 1934, August 11, 1934 and August 21, 1934
34. Various San Diego Union and Evening Tribune articles by unknown authors about business dealings and personnel (Arthur Ponsford, Oakley Hall, Carl Bruington and numerous fishing barge captains) employed by the Star and Crescent Boat Company, dates include 1933 and 1934Collection
Arthur W. Ponsford Scrapbook CollectionLexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Secondary Object Term
ScrapbookNomenclature Primary Object Term
AlbumNomenclature Sub-Class
MemorabiliaNomenclature Class
Documentary ObjectsNomenclature Category
Category 08: Communication ObjectsArchive Details
Date(s) of Creation
1926 - 1934