William McCracken letters and photographs, 1933-1949

Patty Hassler and Mayor William McCracken presenting a bouquet to Ameilia Earhart on January 19, 1935. Earhart had recently completed the first successful solo flight from Hawaii to the mainland United States.
Patty Hassler and Mayor William McCracken presenting a bouquet to Ameilia Earhart on January 19, 1935. Earhart had recently completed the first successful solo flight from Hawaii to the mainland United States. Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Center.

Primarily incoming letters and photographs relating to McCracken's eight years as Mayor of Oakland, California. The letters are mostly congratulatory or thankful in nature and the photographs are mostly of ribbon cuttings, banquets, and other ceremonial events. Also contains one folder of programs and campaign material, including programs for the opening ceremonies of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, and the groundbreaking of the Broadway Low Level Tunnel in 1934. Of particular note in the collection are photographs documenting the goodwill visit of the German cruiser Karlsruhe in March, 1935, including images of the parade which show the German Nazi flag flying on Broadway and in front of Oakland City Hall, a banquet honoring Amelia Earhart, the opening of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, Douglas "Wrong Way" Corrigan and his airplane, Oakland Pride Club activities, and the Presidential dinner with Franklin Delano Roosevelt commemorating the groundbreaking for the Golden Gate International Exhibition.

(OHC MSS McCRACKEN)

9 folders (.3 linear feet)

Go here for a more detailed list of this collection's contents. 

Available at Oakland History Center, Main Library.