http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8cf9sf5 No online items Guide to the Jim Sleeper papers MS.R.173 Kimberly Gallon, Phil Brigandi, and Kelly Spring, 2016. Reprocessed by Zoe MacLeod, 2020. Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine Libraries (cc) 2020 The UCI Libraries P.O. Box 19557 University of California, Irvine Irvine 92623-9557 [email protected] URL: http://special.lib.uci.edu Note The collection has been fully processed and is open for research. Guide to the Jim Sleeper papers MS.R.173 1 MS.R.173 Contributing Institution: Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine Libraries Title: Jim Sleeper papers Creator: Sleeper, Jim Identifier/Call Number: MS.R.173 Physical Description: 122.3 Linear Feet(80 record cartons, 18 flat boxes, 13 rolled item boxes, 10 a/v boxes, 2 legal document boxes, 1 letter document box, 1 half letter document box) Date (inclusive): 1858-2012 Abstract: This collection contains the papers of Orange County, California historian James ("Jim") Doren Sleeper (1927-2012). Jim Sleeper specialized in Orange County history, especially the Irvine Ranch, Rancho Mission Viejo, and the O'Neill Ranch. The Sleeper papers are comprised of research files comprised of alphabetical subject files and topical files, clippings from local Orange County newspapers, manuscript and published versions of Sleeper's scholarly writings, citrus labels, annotated copies of books, maps, and ephemera. Also included is biographical material, such as school records, correspondence, and family photographs. Language of Material: English . Access See the "r173_Index cards user guide" under "Collection Scope and Content Summary" for more information about Sleeper's research files. Publication Rights Property rights reside with the University of California. Copyrights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permission to reproduce or to publish, please contact the Head of Special Collections and Archives. Preferred Citation Jim Sleeper papers. MS-R173. Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries, Irvine, California. Date accessed. For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations. Acquisition Information Acquired, 2014. Processing History Processed by Phil Brigandi, Kelly Spring, and Kimberly Gallon, 2016. Reprocessed by Zoe MacLeod, 2020. Historical Background James "Jime" Doren Sleeper (1927-2012) was the leading Orange County historian of his generation. A native of Santa Ana (his grandfather was County Assessor for more than 30 years), his interest in local history began in the late 1930s. After graduation from Santa Ana High School and service in the Army Air Force in the last days of World War II, Sleeper worked as a newspaper reporter, teacher, forest ranger, and a public relations man before switching to history full time in the 1960s. He served as staff historian for The Irvine Company (1965-69), and later filled a similar role for the Rancho Mission Viejo Company. He worked as a historical consultant on environmental impact reports, legal cases, for both the Orange County Register and the Los Angeles Times, and many other public and private projects. His published work includes a wide variety of articles (some 2,000 by his count), and a number of important books. In Turn the Rascals Out! The Life and Times of Orange County's Fighting Editor, Dan M. Baker (1973), he used the biography of a Santa Ana newspaperman to trace the early history of Orange County. A Boys' Book of Bear Stories (Not for Boys). A Grizzly Introduction to the Santa Ana Mountains (1976) again weaves together several stories. Bears in the Santa Ana Mountains, and also a general outline of human history in the hills, and thumbnail sketches of a host of mountain pioneers. Great Movies Shot in Orange County that will Live Forever (or at least until 1934) (1980) delves deeply into the minutia of local movie making, but still manages to bring in a goodly dose of local history as well. Bears to Briquets, A History of Irvine Park (1987) began as a small pamphlet published for the 70th anniversary of Irvine Park in 1967; the revised version brings in a great deal more mountain history and some surprising episodes from the park's past. But he was perhaps best known for his almanacs – Jim Sleeper's Orange County Almanac of Historical Oddities – published in three editions (1971, 1974, and 1982). These books perhaps best capture Sleeper's insatiable curiosity and the breadth of his historical research. They include invaluable summaries of local agriculture, chronologies of local events, and even local weather superlatives. Over the years, Sleeper developed the largest private research collection on the history of Orange County and was a friend and mentor to several generations of local historians. He was active in a number of local historical organizations including the Orange County Historical Society, the Orange County Pioneer Association, the Old Courthouse Museum Society, and the Santa Ana Cultural Heritage Board. Outside of Orange County, he had a deep interest in Latin American archaeology and anthropology and traveled many Guide to the Jim Sleeper papers MS.R.173 2 MS.R.173 times to Mexican, Central, and South America in the 1950s and '60s and again in the early 2000s. In a brief biography written a few years before his death Sleeper noted, "His knowledge of the county, combined with his wit and humor have found their way into eleven books and numerous articles in newspapers, magazines and professional journals. A popular, if reluctant speaker, his style has often been compared to that of Mark Twain." Though hampered by ill-health in the last dozen years of his life, he continued to collect, research, and write local history almost until his death in 2012. 1927 Born April 16 in Santa Ana. 1942 Begins work as a copy boy for the Santa Ana Independent. Earns the rank of Eagle Scout. 1943-45 Publishes The Gold Quill, a local Boy Scout newspaper. 1944 Attends summer journalism workshop at Northwestern University. 1945 Publishes first book (a collection of fiction), Shocking Reports from the Electric Eel. Graduates from Santa Ana High School. 1945-46 Serves in Army Air Force. 1947 Editor, Orange County Farm Shopper. Enrolls at Occidental College; later serves as editor of the campus humor magazine, Fang. 1948 Purchases cabin in Holy Jim Canyon. 1951 Receives BA degree in Literature from Occidental College. 1953 Receives MA degree in English from Occidental College; receives teaching credential. 1953-54 Teaches English and journalism at Orange Coast College. 1954-61 Works seasonally for the U.S. Forest Service as a forest ranger and firefighter in the Santa Ana Mountains. 1950s-60s Makes many extended trips to Mexico, Central, and South America. 1957 Hired to write scripts for Burritt Wheeler, KFI radio personality. 1960-61 Does post-graduate work at UCLA. 1961 Co-founder of the Canyon Wren newsletter for Santa Ana Mountains cabin owners; serves as editor and publisher, 1962-66. 1961-62 Works as a publicist for Forest Lawn. 1963-64 Teaches English at Fullerton Union High School. 1965 Marries fellow teacher Nola Fox. 1965-69 Serves as staff historian and public relations writer for The Irvine Company; develops a historical newsletter for the company, the Rancho San Joaquin Gazette. 1967 Publishes first edition of Bears to Briquets. 1969 Begins careers as a freelance historical researcher and writer. 1971 Publishes first Jim Sleeper's Almanac of Orange County Historical Oddities. 1973 Publishes Turn the Rascals Out! 1974 Publishes second Almanac. 1976 Publishes A Boys' Book of Bear Stories. 1979 Publishes Portrait from the Past, a history of the Old Orange County Courthouse. 1980 Publishes Great Movies Shot in Orange County. 1982 Publishes third Almanac. 1985 Hired as historical consultant for the Rancho Mission Viejo Company; works for them off and on until 2005. 1987 Publishes revised edition of Bears to Briquets. 2007 Sells cabin in Holy Jim Canyon. 2012 Dies, September 27, age 85. Collection Scope and Content Summary This collection contains the research files, manuscripts, and personal papers of Orange County, California historian Jim Sleeper. Sleeper's research files on Orange County include newspaper clippings, ephemera, photographs, maps, and notes and . Also included in the collection is the extensive card index Sleeper used for his research files, books, newspaper clippings, and artifacts. The collection also contains manuscripts and published versions of Sleeper's scholarly writings. Also included are Sleeper's personal and family material, including photographs, negatives, diaries, correspondence, and school work. Collection Arrangement This collection is organized in the following four series: 1. Research files, 1859-2012. 2. Writings, 1945-1997. 3. Index cards, undated. Guide to the Jim Sleeper papers MS.R.173 3 MS.R.173 4. Biographical, 1858-2012. Separation Note The Nat Neff papers and the Bayha Family papers were removed and became two seperate collections. Subjects and Indexing Terms Orange County (Calif.)--History. Newspaper clippings. Maps--California--Orange County--20th century. Irvine (Calif.)--History. Orange County (Calif.)--Photographs. Sleeper, Jim Research files 1859-2012 Series Scope and Contents Summary The Research files series covers a broad range of Orange County history, including communities, events, industries, and individuals. They contain a wide variety of material including newspaper clippings, correspondence, ephemera, research notes, photographs and negatives, and artifacts. Series Arrangement The Research files series is arranged alphabetically by topic. Box 1, folder 1 Abbott's Landing undated box 99, folder 2 Geologic map of Aberhill Coal and Clay Company undated Box 1, folder 4 Acerage undated Box 1, folder 2 Adams, Emma A. Ms. undated Box 1, folder 3 Adams, March scrapbook undated Box 1, folder 5 Adkinson Ed.