Guide to the Bob Wobbrock Gardena
High School Papers, 1952-1964, undated
NMAH.AC.0932
by Helen Aitken (volunteer) and Adrienne Cain (intern),
supervised by Vanessa Broussard Simmons, archivist
2008
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
P.O. Box 37012
Suite 1100, MRC 601
Washington, D.C., 20013-7012
Phone: 202-633-3270
[email protected]
http://americanhistory.si.edu/archives/
Table of Contents
Collection Overview......................................................................................................... 1
Administrative Information .............................................................................................. 1
Biographical Note............................................................................................................. 2
Scope and Content Note................................................................................................. 2
Arrangement..................................................................................................................... 2
Names and Subject Terms ............................................................................................. 3
Container Listing.............................................................................................................. 4
Series 1: School Publications, 1953-1956............................................................... 4
Series 2: Photographs, 1953-1956.......................................................................... 6
Series 3: Documents, 1953-1956............................................................................. 7
Bob Wobbrock Gardena High School Papers
NMAH.AC.0932
Collection Overview
Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Creators:
Gardena High School
Wobbrock, Bob
Title:
Bob Wobbrock Gardena High School Papers
Dates:
1952-1964undated
Quantity:
4 electronic discs (cd)
1 cubic foot, 3 boxes
Abstract:
This collection consists of yearbooks, school newspapers,
sports programs, photographs and other documents from a
California high school in the 1950s-1960s (bulk 1952-1956).
Language:
Collection is in English.
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
This collection was donated by Bob Wobbrock in 2006.
Separated Materials
Artifacts were also donated to the Museum's Division of Culture and the Arts. See accession
number 2006.3098.
Processing Information
Processed by Helen Aitken (volunteer) and Adrienne Cain (intern), 2008 supervised by
Vanessa Broussard Simmons, archivist, 2008.
Preferred Citation
Bob Wobbrock Gardena High School Papers, Archives Center, National Museum of American
History
Restrictions on Access
The collection is open for research use.
Physical Access: Researchers must handle unprotected photographs with gloves.
Technical Access: Do not use original materials when reference copies are available.
Page 1 of 7
Bob Wobbrock Gardena High School Papers
NMAH.AC.0932
Ownership & Literary Rights
Copyright held by the Smithsonian Institution. Collection items available for reproduction, but
the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Reproduction
permission from Archives Center: fees for commercial use. All duplication requests must be
reviewed and approved by Archives Center staff.
Biographical Note
In 1904 the first high school classes were held in Gardena Valley, California. The following year Jewel
Union High School was established, and shortly after the Los Angeles board of education converted it into
the Gardena Agricultural High School. By 1917 the school no longer conducted extensive experiments
and began to operate as a traditional school. From 1922-1934 Gardena High School completed the
construction of an administration building, a home economics building, the auto and wood shops, the
first unit of the gymnasium, and the library. The school also began to focus on academic programs and
expanded its courses in vocational fields. By the 1950s Gardena was a combination of two schools.
Gardena's junior high school served grades seven through nine and the senor high school served grades
ten through twelve. There were two full graduation ceremonies each year, one for the winter and one for
the summer class.
Scope and Content Note
This collection provides insight into the lives of teenagers in California in the 1950s. The publications,
particularly the newspapers, document the educational experiences and social activities of students as
seen through their eyes. The photographs illustrate some of the sporting events while the yearbooks
provide detailed information about the student body. Bob Wobbrock, a graduate of the winter class of 1956
saved the records of this high school created while he was a student.
Series 1, Publications, 1952-1964 consists of the school's newspapers, yearbooks and football game
programs. Students in journalism class and print shop created the school newspapers, The Lark and
Smoke Signals. This collection offers a complete run of The Lark during this period and eight copies of
Smoke Signals from the period 1956-1964. Also included are four CDs consisting of copies of The Lark
and created by Wobbrock to share with classmates. The school's yearbook, El Arador , meaning the
plowman, came out before summer vacation, and there are four copies included among these materials.
The materials are arranged first by type and then in chronological order.
Series 2, Photographs, 1953 1955 1956 undated, includes football games, cheerleaders, track races, and
other social activities used in the yearbook. The materials are arranged by subject.
Series 3, Documents, 1953-1956 includes one high school diploma, one hall of fame certificate and five
athletic letter certifications.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in three series.
Series 1, Publications, 1952-1964
Page 2 of 7
Bob Wobbrock Gardena High School Papers
NMAH.AC.0932
Series 2, Photographs, 1953 1955 1956 undated
Series 3, Documents, 1953-1956
Names and Subject Terms
This collection is indexed in the online catalog of the Smithsonian Institution under the following
terms:
Subjects:
High school athletes
High school student activities
High school students--California
High schools--Alumni and alumnae
Types of Materials:
Photographs--Black-and-white photoprints--Silver gelatin--1950-1960
Yearbooks--1950-2000
Page 3 of 7
Series 1: School Publications
Bob Wobbrock Gardena High School Papers
NMAH.AC.0932
Container Listing
Series 1: School Publications, 1953-1956
Box 1, Folder 1
Lark, 1952 November 14; 1953 January 23; 1953 February 6; 1953 February 13;
1953 February 20
Box 1, Folder 2
Lark, 1953 February 27; 1953 March 6; 1953 March 13; 1953 March 20; 1953
March 27
Box 1, Folder 3
Lark, 1953 April 10; 1953 April 17; 1953 April 24; 1953 May 1; 1953 May 8
Box 1, Folder 4
Lark, 1953 May 15; 1953 May 22; 1953 May 29; 1953 June 5; 1953 June 12
Box 1, Folder 5
Lark, 1953 October 2; 1953 October 9; 1953 October 16; 1953 October 23; 1953
October 30
Box 1, Folder 6
Lark, 1953 November 6; 1953 November 13; 1953 November 25; 1953
December 4; 1953 December 11
Box 1, Folder 7
Lark, 1953 December 18; 1954 January 15; 1954 January 22; 1954 January 29;
1954 February 5
Box 1, Folder 8
Lark, 1954 February 11; 1954 February 19; 1954 February 26; 1954 March 5;
1954 March 19
Box 1, Folder 9
Lark, 1954 March 26; 1954 April 9; 1954 April 27; 1954 April 30
Box 1, Folder 10
Lark, 1954 May 7; 1954 May 14; 1954 May 21; 1954 May 28; 1954 June 4
Box 1, Folder 11
Lark, 1954 June 11; 1954 September 24; 1954 October 1; 1954 October 8; 1954
October 15
Box 1, Folder 12
Lark, 1954 October 22; 1954 October 29; 1954 November 5; 1954 November
12; 1954 November 24
Box 1, Folder 13
Lark, 1954 December 3; 1954 December 10; 1954 December 17; 1955 January
7; 1955 January 14
Box 1, Folder 14
Lark, 1955 January 21; 1955 January 28; 1955 February 11; 1955 February 19;
February 25, 1955
Box 1, Folder 15
Lark, 1955 March 4; 1955 March 11; 1955 March 18; 1955 March 25; 1955 April
1
Box 1, Folder 16
Lark, 1955 April 15; 1955 April 22; 1955 April 28; 1955 May 6; 1955 May 13
Box 1, Folder 17
Lark, 1955 May 20; 1955 May 27; 1955 June 3; 1955 June 10; 1955 September
30
Box 1, Folder 18
Lark, 1955 October 7; 1955 October 14; 1955 October 21; 1955 October 28;
1955 November 4
Page 4 of 7
Series 1: School Publications
Bob Wobbrock Gardena High School Papers
NMAH.AC.0932
Box 1, Folder 19
Lark, 1955 November 11; 1955 November 18; 1955 December 2; 1955
December 9;1955 December 16
Box 1, Folder 20
Lark, 1956 January 6; 1956 January 13; 1956 January 20; 1956 January 27;
1956 March 9
Box 1, Folder 21
Smoke Signals, 1956 February 17; 1963 June 7; 1963 October 18; 1963
November 1; 1963 December 13; 1964 January 10; 1964 October 16; 1964
October 30
Box 2, Folder 1
El Arador, 1953
Box 2, Folder 2
El Arador, 1954
Box 2, Folder 3
El Arador, 1955
Box 2, Folder 4
El Arador, 1956
Box 2, Folder 5
Football programs, 1954 October 1; 1954 October 8; 1954 October 15; 1954
October 22; 1954 October 29; 1954 November 5; 1954 November 12; 1954
November 19
Box 3, Folder 5
Copies of school newspaper, 1953-1956
Page 5 of 7
Series 2: Photographs
Bob Wobbrock Gardena High School Papers
NMAH.AC.0932
Series 2: Photographs, 1953-1956
Box 2, Folder 6
Social activities for El Arador, 1953, undated
Box 2, Folder 7
Football team, 1953, undated
Box 2, Folder 8
Bob Wobbrock, 1953, undated
Box 2, Folder 9
Students, undated
Box 2, Folder 10
Track races, 1955
Box 1, Folder 21
Winter class, 1956
Page 6 of 7
Series 3: Documents
Bob Wobbrock Gardena High School Papers
NMAH.AC.0932
Series 3: Documents, 1953-1956
Box 2, Folder 11
Athletic certificates, 1953-1956, undated
Box 2, Folder 11
Diploma, 1956
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