Cal Poly

Abstract

The Laumann Yosemite Collection consists of photographic prints and glass plate negatives of two of the Laumann family's visits to Yosemite National Park and the Sierra, the first in c. 1908 and the second in 1923. Photographs taken by Frank E. Laumann include familiar landmarks such as El Capitan, Mirror Lake, Vernal Falls, Half Dome and Hetch Hetchy as well as Laumann family and friends. The Laumann family donated the collection in 2006.

Finding Aids and Digital Collections

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Descriptive Summary

• Title: Laumann Yosemite Collection, c. 1908, 1923
• Collection Number: MS 153
• Creators: Laumann, Frank E., 1888-1957 and Laumann, Una C., 1921 -
• Extent: 3 boxes
• Language: English

Biographical Note

Pioneers of Sonoma County, California, the Laumann family originally immigrated to the United States from Darmstadt, Hesse, Germany, settling in Peotone, Illinois. In the latter part of the nineteenth century, Lawrence and Margareta Laumann came to California by wagon with son John Laumann. John and his wife Hannah had six children, including Frank Emil Laumann, who was born May 8, 1888, in Sonoma County, California and Amelia, known as Millie, who was born in 1895.

Frank Laumann married Dorothy Meyer on February 25, 1914, in Sonoma County, and they made their home in Fulton, California. Frank owned a woodshop, built small houses, ran a store, and weighed plum-filled trucks. Their son George C., who taught mathematics at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo for 27 years, was born April 7, 1915. As a boy, he helped his father and learned woodworking skills from him. He attended local schools before going to the University of California at the age of 16.

George Laumann served stateside during World War II, making the rank of staff sergeant. He married Una Bergmann in 1950, returned to college and earned his bachelor's degree in 1952, his master's degree in 1953 at Chico State, and also did additional graduate work at the University of Oregon and UCLA. He began teaching mathematics at Cal Poly in 1957. His love of nature was shared with his family until his death at Wawona campground at Yosemite National Park on June 4, 1984. His wife, Una, established the Cal Poly George C. Laumann Scholarship in Mathematics in his memory.

Sources

• Una C. Laumann
• Robert Pavlik
• California Death Index, Ancestry.com
• Ancestry World Tree, Ancestry.com

Scope and Content Note

The Laumann Yosemite Collection contains 39 photographic prints and 32 glass plate negatives of locations in Yosemite National Park and the Sierra.

The collection documents two trips to Yosemite and the Sierra by the Laumanns, the first about 1908 and the second in 1923. The Laumanns traveled to Yosemite, probably c. 1908, in a Mark West Stage, a horse-drawn surrey. The journey from their home in Fulton, California, took more than five days, with a horse dying on the way. Upon arrival, they made camp at the base of Yosemite Falls. While at Yosemite, Frank Laumann took photographs of familiar landmarks, such as Mirror Lake, El Capitan, Vernal Falls and Hetch Hetchy, and of family and friends, including his sister Millie.

The original organization of the Laumann Yosemite Collection has been preserved and is divided into 2 series:

1. Photographs and Glass Plate Negatives
2. Family History and Ephemera

Two boxes contain prints and glass plate negatives, and one box contains a brief family history and ephemera.