Charles Clarke Chapman (1853–1944) was the first mayor of Fullerton, California and a relative of John Chapman, the legendary "Johnny Appleseed." He was a native of Illinois who had been a Chicago publisher before settling in Southern California.

Chapman was a supporter of the Disciples of Christ, who was a primary donor and fundraiser for California Christian College, which in 1934 changed its name to Chapman College, and is now Chapman University, in his honor.

Chapman Avenue, a major Orange County thoroughfare, is also named in his honor.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Chapman_(mayor)

Scope and Content

The collection consists of materials gathered by Charles Clarke Chapman, Frank Marion Chapman (his brother and business partner), C. Stanley Chapman and Irvin C. Chapman (Charles Clarke Chapman’s sons), and Grant Chapman (Frank Marion Chapman’s son).

Charles C. Chapman’s personal records consist of numerous letters, mementos, and personal photographs, as well as magazine and newspaper articles written about him; dedications, sermons and college lectures written by him, and scrapbooks on current events of the day compiled by him. The materials written by C.C. Chapman and the scrapbooks are organized by subject according to his original arrangement scheme.

C. Stanley Chapman’s papers consist of two transcripts of interviews he gave for the Oral History Program at California State College at Fullerton in 1968. In these interviews, Stanley talks about his memories of his father with a particular focus on his father’s business and civic interests. A newspaper article about his family’s home is also included.

Irvin C. (Ernie) Chapman’s personal records consist of materials donated by him to the University as well as various materials from local community and Chapman University organizations.

This record group is housed in 21 boxes.

Frank M. Chapman’s papers consist largely of records related to C.C. and F.M. Chapman’s businesses from 1891 to 1923. His papers also include family photos, newspaper articles, and personal mementos.

His son Grant’s papers include business records from 1915 to 1926, personal photos, and papers related to his political campaign in El Monte Township, California. Also included are two airplane pilot licenses issued to Clarke Chapman, Grant’s brother, and Frank M.’s son.

This record group is housed in 6 boxes.

Custody Information

Various Chapman Family members donated the C.C. Chapman papers to the Thurmond Clarke Library at Chapman University. The C. Stanley Chapman interviews were given to the Chapman University Archives by Arlene R. Sayre, Director of the California State College Oral History Program, in 1968. F.M. Chapman and Grant Chapman’s papers were donated to Chapman University by Joyce Chapman, Grant’s daughter. Materials related to Irvin C. Chapman were donated by him or were gathered from various University and newspaper sources by Archives staff.

Biographical and Historical Information

Charles C. Chapman was born on July 2, 1853. He was the third of ten children of Sidney Smith and Rebecca Clarke Chapman. David and Anne Clarke were his maternal grandparents, and Jacob Kimble and Julia Griffith Chapman were his paternal grandparents. In their hometown of Macomb, Illinois, and later in their adopted state of California, Charles and his older brother Frank were partners in a variety of business ventures, many of which were extremely successful. Notably, after moving to Southern California in 1894, the brothers quickly began to establish a successful citrus growing business. A full review of their business interests can be found in the book, Charles C. Chapman, the Career of a Creative Californian, 1853-1944, Donald H. Pflueger, editor (Los Angeles: Anderson, Ritchie & Simon, 1976). Through their business ventures, both men amassed considerable wealth and contributed greatly to the development of California. Charles, in particular, became a very prominent leader in business as well as in religious, educational, and civic concerns. His farming and business innovations and his resulting prominence as an industry leader earned him the title of “Father of the Valencia Orange Industry.”

Charles Chapman’s records convey his love and concern for his family. Throughout his life Charles maintained strong family bonds with his brothers and sisters. Interestingly, all seven of the Chapman brothers and sisters who lived to adulthood moved to California, where each, Charles notes in his memoirs, “made a strong contribution to this great state.” In 1884 Charles married Lizzie Pearson. The couple lived in Chicago, where their two children, Ethel and Stanley, were born. In June, 1894, the family moved to Los Angeles so that Lizzie, who suffered from a long illness, might benefit from the milder climate. In that same year, however, Lizzie succumbed to the illness. Charles sadly wrote in his memoirs that “despite the best medical attention… Lizzie bade us a final farewell on the 23rd of September, 1894”. In 1898 Charles married Clara Irvin, and in 1911 their son Irvin Clarke (Ernie) was born. In 1899 Charles and his family moved to Fullerton, California and made their home. Charles became very active in the development of the area, and in 1904 he was elected the newly incorporated City of Fullerton’s first Mayor. He built a large home for his family on Commonwealth Avenue in 1903. In 1905, on the southeast corner of Spadra (now Harbor Boulevard) and Wilshire Avenues he built a modern five story office building. In that same year, on the northeast corner of the same intersection, he built the Fullerton First Christian Church, for which he helped organize the first congregation, and in which he and his family remained active for many years.

Charles Chapman’s religious interests were a central part of his life. He was a member of the Christian Church of the Disciples (Disciples of Christ), a denomination that established many schools in the United States. In 1919 he and other church leaders saw the need for a college to train young men for the Church’s ministry. In that year, C.C. Chapman donated $400,000 for the establishment of such a college and his donation was matched by the combined donations of other Church members. This financial campaign resulted in the founding of the California School of Christianity in 1920. In 1923 the name was changed to California Christian College, and changed once again in 1934 to Chapman College in honor of Charles C. Chapman, the College’s chief benefactor and president of its Board of Trustees from 1918 to 1938.

The Chapman College Campus on North Vermont Avenue in Los Angeles was moved to the city of Orange, California in 1954.

Source: http://www1.chapman.edu/library/archives/findingaids/chapmanfamilyr...