In northern California, I would like particularly to thank Mr. and Mrs. John N. Rosekrans, Jr., of San Francisco for the hospitality of their houses and for supplying books, letters, and documents pertaining to the Spreckels family. In San Francisco, I am additionally grateful to Mr. Rosekrans’ brother, Adolph Spreckels Rosekrans; to their mother, Mrs. Alma E. Spreckels; and to their late grandmother, Mrs. Adolph B. Spreckels, of whom I have delightful memories. For other Spreckels memorabilia, as well as many photographs, I am indebted to Mr. and Mrs. William R. Phillips, Jr., of Yountville, California, who also offered the warm hospitality of their Napa Valley house. In San Francisco, I would also like to thank my old friend, Mr. Thomas Carr Howe, as well as Mr. Ian White and Mr. Earl Anderson, for access to the archives of the California Palace of the Legion of Honor. In Sacramento, I am indebted to Mr. C. K. McClatchy.
In southern California, I am indebted to Mrs. Thelma Irvine for Irvine family recollections, as well as to her daughter, Mrs. Linda Irvine Gaede, both of Newport Beach. Additionally, Irvine family and corporate information, as well as photographs, were supplied by Mr. Martin A. Brower of the Irvine Company; and for the Browers’ pleasant hospitality I would like to thank Mr. Brower’s wife, Tamar. In Santa Ana, Dr. Horace Leecing, Mr. Jim Sleeper, and Mr. Bernardo Yorba were also helpful in supplying regional history and information. I owe a special word of thanks to Miss Leslie Berkman of the Los Angeles Time’s Orange County Bureau.
In the East, I am grateful to Dr. Edward Lahniers of Cincinnati for psychological insights as well as special sleuthing into the mysterious circumstances of Myford Irvine’s death. I must also thank my editor, Michael Korda, for inspiration and guidance, and my literary agent, Mrs. Carol Brandt, for her customary efficiency, level-headedness, and support.
While all these people have contributed greatly to the book, I hold myself accountable for its errors and shortcomings.
S.B.
All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.
The excerpt from Run River by Joan Didion is reprinted by permission of the author.
Copyright © 1980 by Stephen Birmingham
Cover design by Olivia Brodtman
ISBN: 978-1-5040-4105-8
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