Roger Samuelson Papers

This collection contains the papers of Roger Samuelson, a founding figure of the NRS. It also includes papers from other important figures in the early history of the system, including Kenneth Norris and Mildred Mathias, which  Samuelson acquired and added to his collection for preservation. The collection has seven series, which are listed as Samuelson titled them in his files.

Documents: This series contains original and photocopied legal documents, including deeds and use agreements for NRS property.

NRS Files: This series has subject files on specific reserves. Notable items include files on: (1) “Antelope Canyon Ranch," covering the period from 1975-79, related to a site in Riverside County, (2) “Marin Islands," on a potential NRS acquisition, (3) "Big Creek Celebration," from a 1978 event at Landels-Hill Big Creek Reserve, (4) "Granite Mountains, BLM," relating to a public land transfer in the area around the Sweeney Granite Mountains Reserve in 1986-87, (5) “Motte Rimrock Reserve ELPF,” showing how the NRS benefitted from the California Environmental License Plate Fund, from 1990-91, (6) “Motte Rimrock Reserve North Peak Partners,” on land acquired by the NRS adjacent to Motte Rimrock around 1990.

Samuelson’s Working Files: This series contains administrative documents, correspondence sent to Samuelson, and photographic prints and negatives. Notable items include: (1) "Working file – Big Creek," containing documentation from a celebration at Big Creek in 1978, (2) "Working file – BLM," containing copies of agreements with the BLM regarding pertaining to the Granite Mountains, (3) "Working file – Chickering," pertaining to donor issues at the Chickering American River Reserve, from 1986-89, (4) "Working file – Eagle lake," containing memoranda, copies of agreements with the Dawsons (donors for Dawson Los Monos Canyon Reserve), and other related materials, from 1987-90, (6) "Working file – James," containing requests for use of the James San Jacinto Mountains Reserve, as well as documentation of vandalism at the reserve, from 1981-83, (7) "Working file – Uwide Com.," containing Roger Samuelson’s copies of meeting agendas from 1989-91.

UCSC Campus Files: This series contains Samuelson’s copies of records from UCSC’s campus NRS committee from 1986-88.

Norris/Mathias Chair Files: This series consists of records, mostly correspondence, collected by Norris and Mathias from their tenures as chairs of the NRS systemwide office. Topics include the Ford Foundation challenge campaign, NRS dealings with the The Nature Conservancy (TNC), meetings of the university-wide committee, and photographs of UC Berkeley, from 1951-88.

Norris/Mathias James Files: These are director’s files on the selection and sale of the James Reserve to the UC. The file contains photographs of the reserve, and dates from 1961-88.

Norris Personal Files: This series contains assorted materials from Kenneth Norris. Notable items include: (1) information on Dr. Raymond Cowles related to Norris's obituary for him, collected around 1975, (2) information on evaluating the Granite Mountains site for inclusion in the NRS, from 1974-96, including miscellaneous correspondence about the site, (3) handwritten notes of Margaret Ledyard and Beatrice van Horne from their involvement in the Granite Mountains survey in 1974, (4) Leases for the Norris property in the Granite Mountains, from 1970-75, (5) folders entitled “Natural Land and Water Reserves System 1966-67,” “NLWRS 1972-1974,” “NLWRS,” “NLWRY April 1974,” containing the NRS charter and reports, correspondence with NRS affiliates, reference files, meeting minutes, mostly relating to the Granite Mountains, (6) a folder entitled “California NLWRS 1969-1970,” containing materials related to Boyd Deep Canyon Desert Research Center, Norris' efforts to establish a reserve system in Hawaii, and his thoughts on the degradation of desert lands under the BLM.