Adolf Schoepe Papers 

Orange County industrialist Adolf Schoepe (1904-2001) was the founder of both Kwikset Locks in Anaheim, and Fluidmaster, Inc. in San Juan Capistrano. This collection consists primarily of his personal papers from his many civic and political activities from 1947-1972. Among the organizations represented are: Anaheim Chamber of Commerce, Anaheim United Fund, Anaheim YMCA, Big Brothers of Orange County, California State Chamber of Commerce, Commonwealth Club of California, Junior Achievement, Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, Mother Colony Hospital Association, North Orange Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Northern Orange County Manufacturers Group, Orange County Associated Chambers of Commerce, and Orange County Community Chest. The political material includes newsletters, clippings, and correspondence from a variety of local and national organizations, including: American Security Council, The John Birch Society, Republican Associates of Los Angeles County, and the Navy League of the United States. There is also correspondence and campaign material from various elected officials, including former U.S. Reps. Robert E. Badham (who served from 1977 to 1989) and James B. Utt (1953-70), and U.S. Sens. Clair Engle (1959-64) and Thomas Kuchel (1953-69).

Aerial Photographs (1938-1988) 

The Orange County Archives has numerous sets of aerial photos, each showing all or part of the county. These are mapping photographs, shot looking straight down. Aerial photo series are available for the years 1988, 1980, 1977, 1975, 1970, 1964, 1959, 1955, 1947, 1942 and 1938. A smaller collection of aerial photos of assorted specific locations is also available. All of them are indexed.

Cecil Mauldin “Cye” Featherly 

Supervisor, First District, Jan. 1949 – Jan. 1968.
Chair of the Board of Supervisors, 1960, 1963, 1968.
Republican from Santa Ana.

Cye Featherly was born on Nov. 25, 1896 in Dillon, Montana. He graduated from business college and from LaSalle Extension University. During World War I, Featherly served with a heavy artillery unit in France. His first government job was as a water commissioner in Beaverhead County, Montana, where he also ran, unsuccessfully, for County Assessor.

When he left Montana in 1922, he planned to stop in California to visit relatives and then continue on to Portland, Oregon. He entered Santa Ana for the first time on Nov. 18, 1922, fell in love with the place, and spent the rest of his life living and working there. He worked for a number of furniture stores before opening Featherly Drapery Shop in 1932. He also served as a sheriff’s deputy for a number of years. Around 1928, he married Susan Helen Smith. He was also involved in the American Legion, the Santa Ana Elk’s Club, the Santa Ana Exchange Club, and many other fraternal, community and charitable organizations.

Featherly ran for Orange County Supervisor for the first time in 1948, and won. He served in that office for 20 years (five terms). While in office, oversaw the growth of the County’s park system, and pushed for a new jail and courthouse. He was also a strong advocate for the County Library system, employee relations and veteran’s issues, and he headed the County’s retirement and law library committees. Serving on the Board throughout the region’s post-war boom, he saw Orange County transformed from agriculture to cities and suburbia.

After Featherly’s retirement as a Supervisor in 1968, he served on a County assessment appeals board until illness forced him to quit. He died on May 5, 1974. Featherly Regional Park was named in his honor.

The papers of C. M. Featherly held by the Orange County Archives include the following:

Correspondence: 1930, 1964-1972. Includes personal, general and retirement-related correspondence.

Photographs: c. 1905-1968. Includes images of award ceremonies, county projects, construction sites, parks, dams and harbors. Also includes family gatherings, vacations and portraits of C. M. Featherly.

Printed Materials: 1918-1974. Includes event programs, brochures, magazines, newspaper clippings, announcement cards, Orange County Employee Association newsletters, and several books.

Monthly Planning Calendars: 1961, 1963-1964.

Recognition of Public Service: Plaques, certificates, awards, and other documents of recognition given to Featherly by various organizations, government bodies and agencies. 1959-1974.

Speeches: 1966-1970.

Memorabilia: 1952-1969 and undated. Includes arm bands, judges’ pins, etc.

Death certificate: May 8, 1974.

County Hospital Buildings (Orange County Medical Center) 

Accession #: 1988/10

Contents: Contracts, warrants and other documents relating to construction of and improvements to County Hospital structures and facilities. Also includes site maps, facilities inventory and equipment appraisal.

Dates: 1947-1968

Organization: Original order (largely by building number) retained. Inventory of buildings and site plans can be found in first three folders.

Note: Original box markings read, “Orange County Medical Center. Historical Data on Buildings and Structures. From: Auditors Controllers Office. April 16, 1969.”

County Improvement Projects and State Highway Commission papers 

Acquisition Number:2009/3

Extent: One (1) Box

Repository: Orange County Archives

Abstract: These papers include County Improvement projects for the City of Dana Point, and State Inclusion records relating to road improvement and Storm Damage and Repair and others, as well as photographs of storm damage.

Language: English

Access: This collection is open to the public.

Preferred Citation: “Courtesy of Orange County Archives.”

Acquisition Information: Departmental transfer.

Processing History: Material processed in 2009 by Susan Berumen.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

Correspondence, maps, blueprints and photographs relating to road improvement and storm damage within the County of Orange from 1935 to 1970, with specific improvement projects in Dana Point.

ORGANIZATION and ARRANGEMENT

Files have been maintained in original order; most of the maps, blueprints and photographs have been relocated for preservation purposes.

COLLECTION CONTENTS

Box1:

1.1 State Inclusion (1937)
1.2 Collier-Burns Highway Act of 1947 (& information prior to Act)
1.3 County Improvement No. 17 (Dana Point)
1.4 County Improvement No. 19 (Dana Point)
1.5 Flood Relief Act of 1958
1.6 State Highway Commission (1932-1933)
1.7 State Highway Commission (1932-1933)
1.8 State Inclusion
1.9 Storm Damage I (1952-1959)
1.10 Storm Damage II (1963-1969)
1.11 Storm Damage I (1969-1970)
1.12 Storm Damage II (1969-1970)
1.13 Blueprints: 1. California Highway Commission Right of Way Map, 10 ¾” x 29 ¼”; 2 copies. June 1932, Rancho Mission Viejo area. 2. Topography Vicinity State Highway and Coast Blvd., 11 ¾” x 42”; 2 copies. February 5, 1934. 3. Proposed Reconstruction & Widening of State Highway in City of Laguna Beach wit New Street Connections. October 1933. 9 ¾” x 56”. The above blueprints are in a roll storage container inside Box #1.

 

Photographs: see below for subject and location.
1969 Photographs: Street Level (Located in vertical files under “Storm Damage”)

• Hicks Canyon near agricultural station (F-27)
• Culver Road near Warner looking South. Sheet flow probably from San Diego Creek overflow
• Peters Canyon (F-06) North of Santa Ana Freeway. Note available capacity because Rattlesnake Wash Channel almost completely silted up, and flowing overland to Santa Ana Freeway
• Peters Canyon (F-06) North of Roberts Road looking North. Note pier wall wave over top of bridge deck
• Santa Ana Freeway (North side) at Peters Canyon (F-06). Note sheet flow from Rattlesnake Wash overtaxing parallel drainage structure adjacent to Freeway. Water has been as deep as 1 foot crossing Santa Ana Freeway
• San Diego Creek (F-05) at Jeffrey Road looking upstream from gauging station. Note debris lodged on University Bridge
• Santa Ana Freeway at Peters Canyon (F-06). Parallel drainage structure is overtaxed by sheet overflow from Rattlesnake Wash
• San Diego Creek (F-05) at Barranca just East of Culver Road looking upstream
• San Diego Creek at Barranca looking North. Water surface is breaking out of levee at various locations
• Hicks Canyon near agricultural station (F-27)
• Trabuco Road (F-25) at Yale Road
• San Diego Creek (F-05) 1,000 feet upstream from Culver Road. Water is out of channel; note fallen eucalyptus tree
• Peters Canyon (F-06) Navy Way Bridge looking downstream
• Peters Canyon (F-06) at Navy Way Bridge. Note high water line in foreground and bridge approach
• Rattlesnake Wash North of Irvine
• Navy Way between F-06 and F-10 Channels. Note water sheet flowing across Navy Way from a relief structure under the AT & SF Railway Bridge –water from the break in the westerly levee of F-06
• Peters Canyon (F-06) North of Navy Way at AT & SF Railway Bridge showing break in westerly levee (F-06) and sheet flow out of channel

1952 Photographs. Aerial photos (Located in vertical files under “Los Alamitos”)

• Los Alamitos, 1/18/1952. Alamitos Blvd. and Cerritos
• Los Alamitos, 1/18/1952. Alamitos Blvd. and Katella

1969 Flood Photographs, Silverado Canyon. Aerial photos (Located in vertical files under “Silverado Canyon”).

• Storm Damage, 15 photographs, 9” x 9” (flight date 2/26/1969)

Storm Damage Photographs

• Silverado Canyon, 10 photographs, 9” x 9” (possibly 8/28/1947)

From California Highway Commission Proposed Additions to State Secondary Highway System in Orange County Report dated July 1932. SEE STAFF FOR ACCESS TO PHOTOS BELOW.

• Midway City: 5 ¾” x 3 ½” black & white
• Ocean View: 5 ¾” x 3 ½”, black & white
• Buena Park: 5 ¾” x 3 ½”, black & white
• Buena Park: 5 ¾” x 3 ½”, black & white
• North of Stanton, 5 ¾” x 3 ½”, black & white
• Stanton, 5 ¾” x 3 ½”, black & white

Deeds, Mortgages & other property records (1889-1926) 

The Archives holds the original deed books and indexes from 1889 to 1926 – some 700 volumes. The Archives also holds the earliest volumes of other property records, including mortgages and leases. 
 

Early Assessment Rolls (1889-1963) 

The Assessment Rolls contain information on every taxpayer in the county. They include the taxpayer’s name, a legal description of their real estate and/or personal property, and the value of any improvements (buildings) on their property. The Archives holds microfilm of all of the Orange County Assessment rolls from 1889-1961 (with the exception of 1956). An index is available for each year from 1889-1957 (including 1956), organized by property owners name. We also hold hundreds of original volumes, dating from 1889-1954; many are organized by city, school district, or road district, duplicating the information found in the general rolls.

Flood Control District minutes and records 

Besides the minutes (1927-65) the Archives also holds annual reports, construction documents, and photographs from the Flood Control District

Harriett M. Wieder 

Supervisor, Second District, Jan. 8, 1979 – Jan. 8, 1995.
Chair of the Board of Supervisors, 1984, 1988, 1993.
Republican from Huntington Beach.

Harriett M. Wieder was born Harriett Pulvers in Toronto, Canada in 1920. She grew up in Detroit, Michigan where she also met and married Irving “Irv” Wieder in 1941. In 1944, with Irv facing the draft, they moved to Los Angeles, following Harriett’s parents.

Irv and Harriett Wieder had two children, and as their family grew, Harriett became involved in community organizations such as B’nai B’rith and the PTA, and in local causes she felt strongly about. She came to the attention of the new mayor, Sam Yorty when she testified against changes in the city’s trash contract. She was soon hired by Yorty, and served as his Executive Assistant from 1963 to 1973. Wieder herself ran for Los Angeles City Council in 1971, but lost.

Later that year, the Wieders purchased a home in Huntington Harbour. In 1973, she ran successfully for Huntington Beach City Council. She served on the Council from 1974 to 1978, and was mayor in 1976.

In the late 1970s, in addition to her duties as Mayor, Wieder also spoke to business executives throughout the nation as the CEO of a women’s group promoting the limitation of government regulation. This brought her to the attention of large businesses like the Flour Corp, who suggested that she run for the Orange County Board of Supervisors. She ran in 1978, and became the County’s first woman Supervisor.

Throughout her career, Supervisor Wieder was involved in such issues as health care, air pollution, hazardous waste and domestic violence. In 1988 she ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Congress. In 1995, President Clinton appointed her to the Council of the Administrative Conference of the United States.

In 1999, she published her memoirs, Breaking Through: The Political Journey of the Honorable Harriett M. Wieder. As of 2005, Wieder was the president of Linkage, a public affairs consulting agency she founded shortly after leaving office.

The papers of Harriett Wieder held by the Orange County Archives include the following:

Published Reports:

• Official Report of the Games of the XXIIIrd Olympiad, Los Angeles, 1984. 2 volumes in slipcover. Published by Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee, 1985.
  • Vol 1. – Organizing and Planning
  • Vol 2. – Competition Summary and Results
• Pamphlet: Information and Services Directory, County of Orange. Complements of Supervisor Harriett M. Wieder, Second District. 1987, 1989, and 8 undated pamphlets.
• Orange County Anti-Gang Resource Directory – 1993.
• Orange County Anti-Gang Resource Directory – November 1993.
• Follow-up Report to the November 30, 1993 Orange County Gang Prevention Summit. 1994.
• Orange County Gang Prevention Alliance Action Plan, FY 1994-1995.

News Clippings, News Stores and Press Releases: c. 1984-1994.

Photographs: c. 1979-1994 Images include County events and dedications, and Supervisor Wieder with various celebrities, political figures, dignitaries, etc.

Recognition of Public Service: Plaques, certificates, resolutions, citations, and other documents of recognition given to Wieder by various organizations and government bodies and agencies.

Files: Include campaign materials and miscellaneous photographs.

Artifacts: Include an Olympic torch carried by Supervisor Wieder in 1984.

Justice Court records from Huntington Beach and Seal Beach (1916-1959) 

This collection consists primarily of the docket books, summarizing each case filing. Included are records from the Huntington Beach City Recorders Court (1922-53); the Huntington Beach Township Justice Court (1923-52); the Seal Beach Judicial District Court (1952-59); the Seal Beach City Recorders Court (1921-53); and the Seal Beach Township Justice Court (1916-52).

Knott’s Berry Farm Collection (ca 1910-2002) 

Accession Number:2006/7

Received: December, 2006

Gift of: CedarFair LLP/Knott’s Berry Farm

Abstract: This collection consists primarily of photographs documenting the development of Knott’s Berry Farm from the 1920s to the 2000s. There is also printed material, newspaper and magazine clippings, motion picture films, and audio recordings.

Series:

1. Photo files (includes press releases and other related material)

2. Slides (in binders)

3. Publications

   • Ghost Town News (1941-46)

   • Knotty Post (1949-75)

4. Printed Material

   • Menus

   • Souvenir books

5. Press Kits

6. Clipping books / loose clippings

7. Postcards

8. Calico Ghost Town files

9. Paul von Klieben reference material

10. Films

11. Recordings

Lecil Slaback Files 

Lecil Slaback (1912- ) and his father, Lester Slaback (1886-1976), served as court reporters in Orange County for more than 70 years. This collection consists primarily of newspaper articles, printed materials, and photographs on the history of Orange County, including some of the notable trials reported by the Slabacks. It also includes records of the Santa Ana Cultural Heritage Committee, which worked to identify and document city landmarks in the 1970s and '80s.

Marriage Certificate indexes (1889-1953) and affidavits (1889-1953) 

Marriage Certificate Indexes (1889-1953)

These indexes can be searched using the name of either the bride or groom. They provide the names of the married couple, the date of the ceremony, the city in which it was held, and the name of the officiant.

Marriage Affidavits (1889-1953)

Marriage affidavits contain more personal information than do the indexes. They include the following information for both the bride and groom: Name, place (state) of birth, age at time of marriage, and city of residence at time of marriage. These records are stored on microfilm and are organized in chronological order.

Additional Resources:

All marriage records after 1953 are held by the Vital Records section of the Orange County Clerk-Recorder. Actual marriage certificates are not available from the Archives, but may be obtained through Vital Records: www.ocrecorder.com/MarriageCert.Asp

Marriage records from 1852 to 1889 are held by the Los Angeles Registrar Recorder/County Clerk: www.lavote.net

Naturalization Records (1889-1983) 

Records from the Orange County Superior Court concerning citizenship petitions and naturalization proceedings.

Declarations of Intention, 1889-1954
Naturalization Petitions, 1909-1982
Naturalization Petition Transfers, 1953-83

Certificates of Citizenship, 1889-1903
Record of Naturalization, 1903-1906
Naturalized Minors, 1889-1906
Naturalization Lists, 1929-65
Naturalization index, ca 1960-1982

The information about the applicant varies before 1906, when the forms were standardized by the Federal Government. After 1906, the Declarations and Petitions generally include the applicant’s name, address, date and place of birth, occupation, date of arrival, and information about their families. Some of the later petitions also include photographs of the applicant. (Prior to 1922, wives of naturalized men automatically became citizens, and until 1940, children under the age of 21 were naturalized with their father.)

For a list of citizens naturalized in Orange County from 1889 to 1905, please click here.

Orange County Board of Supervisors Records 

Summary

Title: Orange County Board of Supervisors Records
Accession number: 1987/26
Received: October 19, 1987
Donor: Clerk of the Board
Extent: 55 boxes; 46 linear feet

Contents: Petitions, correspondence, deeds, applications, and other supporting documents associated with the Board of Supervisors minutes. Includes material on roads, school districts, annexations, and other matters brought before the board.

Dates: 1869-1975 (bulk 1890-1939)

Related Collections: Orange County Board of Supervisors Minutes, 1889-1965 (acc. 1994/5); Orange County Board of Supervisors Associated Minutes and Records (acc. 2003/2). Candidates Statements (acc. 2003/3)

Organization

Orange County Board of Supervisors minutes (1889-1965) 

In addition to the original Board minutes, the Archives also holds the minutes of several other government bodies made up of the members of the Board of Supervisors. These include the Flood Control District (1927-65), the Board of Equalization (1890-1967), the Air Pollution Control Board (1950-62), and the Boundary Commission (1949-65) – the ancestor of the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO). The Archives also holds a collection of associated documents (dating largely from 1890-1939) concerning items brought before the Board of Supervisors. This collection includes a great deal of material on roads, school districts, city incorporations and annexations, and other topics.

Orange County Newspaper Files 

Santa Ana Register, 1925-29; 1936-39
Santa Ana Journal, 1935-38
Huntington Beach News (1908-56; some gaps)
Huntington Beach Post (1924-25)
Orange County Illustrated (1964-77)

Sample Copies

Anaheim

Anaheim Bulletin
Anaheim Gazette
Anaheim Weekly Gazette
The Orange County Plain Dealer

Balboa

Balboa Times

Buena Park

Buena Park News

Dana Point

Dana Point Lamplighter

Costa Mesa

Orange Coast Daily Pilot
The Costa Mesa Globe-Herald

Fullerton

Daily News Tribune

Garden Grove

Garden Grove News

Huntington Beach

Huntington Beach News

La Habra

La Habra Star

Laguna Beach

Laguna Life
The Laguna Beach Life
The South Coast News

Orange

Orange Daily News
The Orange Post

Placentia

News-Times
Placentia Courier

San Clemente

El Heraldo de San Clemente

San Juan Capistrano

Coastline Dispatch
The San Juan Capistrano Missionite

Santa Ana

Orange County Herald
Santa Ana Bulletin
Santa Ana Standard
The Daily Evening Blade
The Evening Blade
The Free Press
The Santa Ana Times
The Weekly Blade

Seal Beach

Seal Beach Post and Wave

Stanton

The Stanton Optimist

Westminster

Westminster Herald

Orange County Public Library Records 

Summary

Title: Orange County Public Library Records

Accession numbers: 1986/10, 1986/11, 1986/27, 1986/29, 1987/5, 1988/7, 1988/16, 1988/21, 1988/23, 1990/9.

Received: January 10, 1986 – August 29. 1990

Donor: Orange County Public Library Extent: 10 boxes; 7 linear feet

Contents: Annual reports, photographs, correspondence and other materials.

Dates: 1919 – 1986

Organization

Orange County Transit District minutes (1970-1992) 

Besides the Minutes, the Archives has agendas (1970-89), minutes of committee meetings (1976-91), and resolutions (1971-91). The Archives also holds records from the Orange County Transit Authority.

Orange City and County Directories 

1876 Los Angeles City & County (reprint)

*1884-1889 Orange City

*1899-1900 Orange County

*1903 Orange County

1905 Santa Ana City

*1907 Orange City

*1913-14 North Orange County

1913-14 Santa Ana City

1914 Orange County Business Directory

1915 Santa Ana City

1916 Orange County

*1918 Huntington Beach

1918 Santa Ana; Garden Grove; Tustin; Coast Cities

*1918 Santa Ana City

*1919 Orange City

1920 Orange County

1921 Santa Ana; Tustin; Garden Grove

1922 Santa Ana; Tustin; Garden Grove; Orange; Olive; El Modena; Villa Park

*1922 Fullerton; Anaheim; Brea; Buena Park; Cypress; La Habra; Olinda; Placentia; Richfield; Stanton; Yorba Linda

*1922 Santa Ana City Householder

1923 Orange County

*1924 North Orange County

*1924 South Orange County

1925 Orange County

1926 Orange County

1927 Orange County

1928 Orange County

1929 Orange County

1931 Orange County

*1932 Orange County

1933 Orange County

1934 Orange County

1935 Orange County

1936 Orange County

1937 Orange County

1938 Orange County

1939 Orange County

1940 Orange County

1941 Orange County

*1942 Newport Harbor City

1945 North Orange County

1947 South Orange County

1948 North Orange County

 1952 Orange County Beach Cities

1954 Santa Ana City and Central Orange County

1956 Laguna Beach Criss-Cross & City Directory

1958-59 Fullerton

1959 Anaheim

1960 Fullerton Criss-Cross & City Directory

1962 Santa Ana & Tustin

1965 Santa Ana City

1970 South Orange Coast

1971 Central & North Orange County

1972 Central & North Orange County

1973 East Orange County

1974 Central & North Orange County

1975 Central & North Orange County

1976 Central & North Orange County

1977 Central & North Orange County

1978 Central & North Orange County

1979 Central & North Orange County

1980 Central & North Orange County

1982-83 Business & Industrial Orange County

1989-1990 Central & North Orange County

2002 Orange County

*photocopies

Orange County Maps 

Our map collection consists of thousands of maps, dating back to the 1850s. It includes official maps filed with the county, copies of maps of this area filed with Los Angeles County before 1889, topographical maps dating back to the early 1900s, and Thomas Bros. map books dating back to 1952.

Among our principal holdings are:

Los Angeles County Maps
Originals, volumes 1-3 (ca 1858-1889)
Microfilm, volumes 1-3 (ca 1858-1889)

Miscellaneous Maps
Originals, volumes 1-29 (1889-1929)
Microfilm, volumes 1-409 (1889-1977)

Record of Survey Maps
Originals, volumes 1-5 (1892-1935)
Microfilm, volumes 1-97 (1892-1977)

Parcel Maps
Microfilm, volumes 1-99 (1965-977)

State Highway Maps
Originals, volumes 1-2
Microfilm, volumes 1-10 
 

Sanborn fire insurance maps for Orange County 

Anaheim

January 1885
February 1887
June 1888
March 1891
December 1894
April 1907
August 1911
April 1922
1922 updated to 1949

Brea

May 1915
May 1920
January 1926
1926 updated to 1933

Costa Mesa

December 1928
1928 updated to 1931

Fullerton

June 1890
November 1894
March 1900
May 1907
August 1911
September 1917
March 1927
1927 updated to 1949

Garden Grove

April 1915
April 1922
January 1929
1929 updated to 1932

Huntington Beach

January 1909
June 1922
1922 updated to 1939

La Habra

May 1920
August 1926
1926 updated to 1933

Laguna Beach

October 1925
1925 updated to 1939

Los Alamitos

September 1898
April 1907
October 1922
1922 updated to 1929

Newport Beach (includes Balboa, Balboa Island, Corona del Mar)

January 1907
November 1912
May 1922
February 1929
1929 updated to 1945

Olive

August 1926

Orange (includes Villa Park packing houses)

January 1885
March 1887
April 1888
March 1891
November 1894
February 1905
December 1909
January 1922
1922 updated to 1950

Placentia

October 1917
April 1922
1922 updated to 1933

San Clemente (Reel 52)

March 1929

San Juan Capistrano

June 1929

Santa Ana

January 1885
February 1887
June 1888
February 1891
January 1895
1906 updated to 1945

Seal Beach

February 1931

Tustin

January 1895

Yorba Linda

March 1920
1920 updated to 1929

Selected Papers of R.Y. Williams & A.W. Rutan, Attorneys (1908-1918) 

Accession #1993/9

Two cubic feet (4 boxes)
Donor: Roger E. Swanner
Date Received: May 7, 1993

Includes legal briefs, petitions, and transcripts from cases appealed (or submitted for appeal) to the State Supreme Court of California or the District Court of Appeal, Second and Third Appellate Districts, State of California.

Background:

Roger Y. Williams (1866-1940) was an attorney, businessman, rancher, District Attorney (1899-1902) and Superior Court Judge (1919-1926). He came to Orange County in 1884 and was admitted to practice law in 1892, opening an office in Santa Ana that same year. Williams was involved in many of the land and water battles during Orange County’s early years. He became known as a corporation and water lawyer.

Alexander Wallace Rutan (1880-1972) was a founding partner (1936) of the Rutan & Tucker, one of Orange County’s best-known law firms. He practiced law in Santa Ana from 1908 until his death. The legal partnership of Williams & Rutan lasted from about 1908 until 1919.

Cases:

Baxter v. Boege, Vandenberg, et al., 1913-1916
#5412, L.A. #3559, Civil #1763, Supreme Court of the State of California
(Property purchased from seller whose mental state (at time of sale) is questioned.)

E.E. Beazley v. O.H. Embree & Rachel M. Embree, 1916
#7632 Superior Court of the State of California, County of Orange L.A.
#4945, Civil #2177, Supreme Court of the State of California
(Dispute over payments for property purchased in Fullerton.)

Della F. Bishop v. A. Otis Birch & M.M. Good, 1915
L.A. #4258, Supreme Court of the State of California
(Stock in Menges Oil Company alleged to be fraudulently procured from plaintiff at a low cost.)

J.W. Blee v. A. Otis Birch & M.M. Good, 1915
L.A. #4259, Supreme Court of the State of California
(Stock in Menges Oil Company alleged to be fraudulently procured from plaintiff at a low cost.)

Samuel Bohn v. John A. Bohn, 1910-1912
L.A. #2743, Civil #881, Supreme Court of the State of California
#84076, Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles
#4513, Superior Court of the State of California, County of Orange
(Rancher claims he was not given 50 head of cattle after paying for them.)

John S. Chambers, as Controller of the State of California v. Elizabeth Lamb, 1918
L.A. #5843, Supreme Court of the State of California
#9416, Dept.2, Superior Court of the State of California, County of Orange
(Dispute regarding unpaid State inheritance tax on real property.)

City of Long Beach v. W.T. Lisenby, Mayor, and H.L. Pillsbury, Treasurer, 1918
L.A. #5795, Supreme Court of the State of California
(Court asked to compel the Mayor and Treasurer of Long Beach to sign a certain bond.)

R.E. Coffman v. L.W. Bushard, 1911
L.A. #3006, Supreme Court of the State of California
(Action to rescind the trading of a house in Riverside for a house in Goldfield, Nevada.)

Theda R. Conaway & O.B. Conaway v. Lyman D. Toogood & J.H. Hanes, 1912-1913
L.A. #3607, Supreme Court of the State of California
(Easement/right of way over private land disputed.)

The County of Alameda v. John P. Cook & United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co., 1914
(Suit claims that County Clerk retained for himself certain fees collected for the County. )

John B. Cox v. William C. Jerome, 1916
(Salary dispute between the County of Orange and the Justice of the Peace of Santa Ana.)

F.A. Dawes v. A. Otis Birch & M.M. Good, 1915
L.A. #4254, Supreme Court of the State of California
(Stock in Menges Oil Company alleged to be fraudulently procured from plaintiff at a low cost.) N.T.

Edwards v. A. Otis Birch & M.M. Good, 1915
L.A. #4249, Supreme Court of the State of California
(Stock in Menges Oil Company alleged to be fraudulently procured from plaintiff at a low cost.)

Edith Eells v. George Eells, 1914-1915
#99832, L.A. #4036, Supreme Court of the State of California
(Conflicting claims of title to a parcel of property in Los Angeles.)

Alexander R. Graham v. M. Durnbaugh, D.W. Honn & H.O. Kaiser, 1917
Case #2466, District Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, State of California

Josephine des Granges v. John C. des Granges, 1915
L.A. #3732, Supreme Court of the State of California
(Family dispute over the division of and deeds to father’s property.)

Estate of R.T. Harris, 1914
L.A. #3839, Supreme Court of the State of California
(Property dispute within family.)

W.A. Huff v. A. Otis Birch & M.M. Good, 1915
L.A. #4255, Supreme Court of the State of California
(Stock in Menges Oil Company alleged to be fraudulently procured from plaintiff at a low cost.)

E.L. House v. Pacific Electric Railway Co., 1912
(Relates to flooding in Santa Ana Acres caused by a break in the Santa Ana River.)

John Lapique v. The Superior Court of Orange County, Z.B. West, Judge, 1912
L.A. #1126, Supreme Court of the State of California
(Relates to a dispute over agricultural property in Buena Park.)

John Lapique v. Baptiste Mouliot, et al, 1912
#4710, Superior Court of the State of California, County of Orange
(Couple in Buena Park claim they were cheated out of the use of their land.)

People of the State of California v. John Lapique, 1912
(Relates to a dispute over agricultural property in Buena Park.)

George McPhee v. J.D. Lavin, 1917
L.A. #5167, Supreme Court of the State of California
(Suit for damages from auto accident at the corner of Center St. and Claudina, in Anaheim.)

Maybury Ranch Company v. William Devenney, 1913-1914
Case #6214, Superior Court of the State of California, County of Orange
(Real estate contract dispute. Orange County Title Company is sued for $500.)

Maybury Ranch Co. v. Orange County Title Company, 1915
Civil #1823, District Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, State of California
(Real estate contract dispute. Orange County Title Company is sued for $500.)

Sallie P. Marsh v. Carrie F. Holder Smith and George Washington Smith, 1918
L.A. #5543, Supreme Court of the State of California
(Daughter allegedly used fraud against her mother into deeding a Santa Ana property to her.)

J.R. Porter v. A. Otis Birch & M.M. Good, 1915
L.A. #4252, Supreme Court of the State of California
(Stock in Menges Oil Company alleged to be fraudulently procured from plaintiff at a low cost.)

F.E. Proud v. Thomas Strain, 1908
Supreme Court of the State of California #3293, Superior Court of the State of California, County of Orange
(Fullerton cabbage-growers sue for money owed to them by the owner of a packing house.)

Estate of Gertrude C. Pusey, 1915-1917
L.A. #4377/#5283, Supreme Court of the State of California
(Will contested by husband, who was found to still be married to two other women.)

Frances E. Randall v. E.E. Allen, I.N. Allen & S.E. Babson, 1917
Sacramento #2588, Civil #1848, Supreme Court of the State of California
(Relating to a mortgage on a divided parcel of agricultural land in Kings County, California.)

C.L. Rich v. Edison Electric Co., 1911
Civil #1018, District Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, State of California
(Doctor sues Edison Electric Co. for fees after treating a victim of electrocution in Fullerton.)

Application of Robert Russell for a Writ of Habeas Corpus, 1912
Criminal #1733, Supreme Court of the State of California
(Robert Russell of the Economic Gas Company petitions to get out of jail.)

City of Santa Ana, et al v. Santa Ana Valley Irrigation Co. & W.J. Edwards, 1910-1911
L.A. #2766, Supreme Court of the State of California
(Easement dispute related to ditch on West Washington Ave. in Santa Ana.)

Alpharetta Saunders v. Dan W. Simms, Administrator of the Estate of Albert S. Collins, 1917
L.A. #5439, Supreme Court of the State of California
(Attempt to recover unpaid child support from the estate of the deceased father)

C.H. Smith v. J.O. Royer and Mrs. L. Royer, 1916
Civil #4943, Supreme Court of the State of California
Civil #2171, District Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, State of California
(Suit for damages relating to a dog bite.)

W.B. Tedford v. A. Otis Birch & M.M. Good, 1915
L.A. #4251, Supreme Court of the State of California
(Stock in Menges Oil Company alleged to be fraudulently procured from plaintiff at a low cost.)

J.D. Thomas v. A. Otis Birch & M.M. Good, 1915
#6348, Superior Court of the State of California, County of Orange
(Stock in Menges Oil Company alleged to be fraudulently procured from plaintiff at a low cost.)

J.C. Thomas v. J.C. Joplin, J.C. Burke, Theo. Lacy, Jr., E.L. Vegely, Cora McClintock, M.N. Joplin, 1910 (Suit to resolve whether deputies of county officials may be paid out of county funds.)

J.A. Timmons v. J.C. Joplin, as County Treasurer of the County of Orange, 1908
#3801, Supreme Court of the State of California
(Newbert Protection District sues County of Orange for payment of warrants)

J.C. Travis v. A. Otis Birch & M.M. Good, 1915
L.A. #4261, Supreme Court of the State of California
(Stock in Menges Oil Company alleged to be fraudulently procured from plaintiff at a low cost.)

Utah State National Bank v. F. Owen Smith and A.M. Smith, 1917-1918 L.A.
#5791, Supreme Court of the State of California Second Civil
#2268, District Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, State of California
(Bank seeks to collect on a promissory note.)

J.E. Ward v. California Celery and Produce, 1909
#4084, Superior Court of the State of California, County of Orange
(Stockholder claims company converted and disposed of his shares without his consent.)

R.B. Wardlow v. Martha T. Middleton, J.W. Tucker & Carrie Vail Tucker, 1909
#63783, Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles
(Relates to a foreclosure on property in Los Angeles County.)

In the Matter of the Admission of Alonzo T. Wells to Practice Law, 1916
Criminal #336, District Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District, State of California
(Bar Association believes he lacks the required moral fiber.)

In the Matter of the Estate of James N. Womersley, Deceased, 1911-1912
L.A. #3090, Supreme Court of the State of California
(Inheritance dispute.)

The Great Register of Voters 

The Great Register of Voters contains a variety of information about every registered voter in the county. The Archives holds the original handwritten volumes from 1890-1908. The information included varies over the years, but can include address, occupation, age, and a physical description of each voter. If the voter is a naturalized citizen, the date and place of their naturalization is also included. From 1910-1968, the Archives has the printed indexes to the Great Register, organized by precinct. These generally include less information about each voter. The Great Register is an important source for genealogists, or anyone seeking biographical information on local residents.

The Orange County Great Register of Voters from 1900 is available here.

Certification of Registered Translators/Interpreters Information 

Registered Translators/Interpreters

Our department verifies Translators/Interpreters Declarations completed only by a Translator/Interpreter registered with California Court Interpreter or the American Translator Association. Please submit your request for certification to our main office in downtown Santa Ana.

You must include the following with your request:

• Original document in the foreign language
• Document translated into English
• Original, completed Translators/Interpreters Declaration

The fee for certification is $10.00 per declaration.

To locate a translator/interpreter near you, visit the American Translator Association online at
www.atanet.org/onlinedirectories/ or the California Court Interpreter online at
www.courtinfo.ca.gov/programs/courtinterpreters/ctintdb.cfm

Index to the Great Register of Voters, Orange County, California, 1900 

Showing name, age, and post office address (where different from precinct name)

Precincts:

• Anaheim

• Buena Park

• Delhi

• El Modena

• El Toro

• Fullerton

• Garden Grove

• La Habra

• Laguna

• Los Alamitos

• New Hope

• Newport

• Newport Beach

• Olive

• Orange

• Placentia

• San Joaquin

• San Juan

• Santa Ana #1

• Santa Ana #2

• Santa Ana #3

• Santa Ana #4

• Santa Ana #5

• Silverado

• Trabuco

• Tustin

• West Anaheim

• West Orange

• Westminster

• Yorba

Marriage Services - Civil Wedding Ceremony Photos 

Voted 3rd Best Wedding Venue in OC!

Old Courthouse, Santa Ana

Old Courthouse, Santa Ana

Santa Ana Office

Santa Ana Office

Fullerton Office

Fullerton Office

Laguna Hills Office

Laguna Hills Office

Laguna Hills Office

Notary Authentication Information 

Notary Authentication

To have a signature of an Orange County notary public authenticated, you can visit any of our Orange County Clerk-Recorder Department office locations, or you can mail your request and supporting documents to the Orange County Clerk-Recorder, 12 Civic Center Plaza, Room 106, Santa Ana, CA 92701.

A notary authentication verifies that the notary’s bond was registered in Orange County, duly commissioned by the State of California and was active at the time of notarization. It does not validate the information within the document.

• All seals and signatures must be original.

• The seal must clearly show the name of the notary, commission number and date of expiration.

The fee is $13.00 per notary signature authenticated.

Please note:

• We do not have a notary public on staff to notarize any documents.

• We do not authenticate notary signatures from other counties.

• We refrain from authenticating School Transcripts, Diplomas and educational documents.

Property Documents 

Real Estate Fraud

California’s booming real estate market has made real estate fraud and other related schemes more prevalent.  Every year, unsuspecting individuals and businesses become ensnared in duplicitous and illegal activities pertaining to property or real estate transactions.

One of the services that the Orange County Clerk-Recorder provides is the examining and recording of all documents that deal with establishing ownership of real property or land in the county.  The department also officially records other documents such as deeds of trust, reconveyances, liens and lien releases. These official transactions become part of the public record.

An important mission of the department is to balance the accessibility of these public records with safeguarding the confidentiality of those records to the maximum extent possible.

Types of Real Estate Fraud

According to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the following are some examples of real estate fraud:

• Home improvement scams, which involve real estate professionals getting loans in the name of fictitious borrowers, or in the name of people unaware their identities are being used;
• Equity fraud, which occurs when a person forges a property owner’s signature on a deed and equity in the property is stolen through loans taken against the targeted property;
• Flipping, which involves the buying of property and the reselling of it at an inflated price based on fraudulent appraisal values;
• Fraudulent loan origination, in which real estate professionals help unqualified buyers obtain funds for Federal Housing Authority (FHA) insured mortgages; and
• Equity skimming, where an owner sells his property to a bogus buyer at a price well above its actual value.

Who is at risk for Real Estate Fraud?

Coupled with the effects of identity theft, any individual can be a potential target for real estate fraud.  However, law enforcement statistics have shown that the elderly and the more economically challenged are much more susceptible to fraud.  Below are some common warning signs of real estate fraud:

• You receive official property documents indicating a transfer of property and you have no previous knowledge of the transaction;
• You are missing a property tax bill: A missing tax bill can be the first sign of home equity fraud; and
• You receive mortgage documents or payment books for loans you never applied for: This is also another common sign of equity fraud coupled with identity fraud.

To protect yourself and your property

Monitor your credit every four to six months to look for any fraudulent or unexplained activity.  You can also check the Orange County Clerk-Recorder's online Grantor/Grantee Index to check for recorded transactions that may affect ownership of your property.

Click here to access the department's Grantor/Grantee Index.

Reporting Real Estate Fraud

Immediately contact your local police department if:

• You receive property documents you have no knowledge of or if the information on the document(s) has been altered after you signed it;
• You didn’t sign the document(s) or believe the person signing the document(s) was incompetent or deceased at the time of the signing;
• You didn’t sell, borrow or make a gift transfer of property to anyone; or
• You believe a fraud or misrepresentation has occurred in a transaction you were involved with.
  

The Office of the District Attorney's Consumer Protection Unit prosecutes unfair business practices.  The unit reviews and/or investigates complaints involving misrepresentations and deceptive practices in connection with the sale or advertisement of goods and services.

If you feel that you have been affected or have information by such practices, please file a complaint by downloading a consumer complaint form.

Click here to download a consumer complaint form.
Click here for tips on preparing your consumer complaint form.

Where else can I get help?

Agencies that may be able to assist you are: