Frank A. Leach
Billet7
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My wife asks me every year for items that I would like for Christmas. I am rarely able to give her more than a couple items, one of which is always a new pair of jeans. This year I told her about a book I had seen, she tracked it down and bought it for me! So nice of her.
This book is: Recollections of a Newspaperman, A Record of Life and Events in California, by Frank A. Leach
For those of you who don't know the story of Frank Leach, he was a very important figure in the history of Numismatics. Leach was the director of the US mint in California from 1897 to 1907. He was the longest Director of the San Francisco mint to that point, when a vacancy opened up in Washington for the head of the United States mint, he was offered and accepted that position in 1907.
One of the most interesting thing about this book is that it chronicles the events surrounding the great San Francisco fire of 1906. An event that lives in infamy as one of the greatest disasters in US history. He tells of the importance of the Mint building (being one of the few surviving buildings in the area) as a safe haven and headquarters to combat the fire since it was made of stone...a very interesting story. He tells of the surreal feeling of being completely enveloped in flames, hearing the rock of the building exploding from the heat of the fire. I at once greatly respected the man the moment I read an excerpt from this book, published by Bowers and Merena as a softcover book named "Recollections of a Mint Director" (pictured.)
This particular book is far from being the most well preserved copy, it's been re-backed (though well done,) but what makes this one unique is the inscription inside the book. It is signed by the Author and inscribed to a Captain Leonard Cox Former officer for the Navy at Mare Island, he later became editor of the Vallejo Evening Chronicle newspaper after retiring from the Navy. This inscription is in 1925. Both these men were newspaper men from the Vallejo.
I really recommend this book to anyone, the shortened version(published by B&M) is chalk-full of great numismatic information and insight into the mint at the turn of the century!!! It just might capture your attention and respect as it did me and you'll want to find yourself the complete version.
I feel fortunate to have this inscribed original copy, aside from coins I collect first edition signed books so this is a perfect addition. It would take some SERIOUS prying to get this out of my hands. Thanks for a wonderful Christmas present honey!!!
This book is: Recollections of a Newspaperman, A Record of Life and Events in California, by Frank A. Leach
For those of you who don't know the story of Frank Leach, he was a very important figure in the history of Numismatics. Leach was the director of the US mint in California from 1897 to 1907. He was the longest Director of the San Francisco mint to that point, when a vacancy opened up in Washington for the head of the United States mint, he was offered and accepted that position in 1907.
One of the most interesting thing about this book is that it chronicles the events surrounding the great San Francisco fire of 1906. An event that lives in infamy as one of the greatest disasters in US history. He tells of the importance of the Mint building (being one of the few surviving buildings in the area) as a safe haven and headquarters to combat the fire since it was made of stone...a very interesting story. He tells of the surreal feeling of being completely enveloped in flames, hearing the rock of the building exploding from the heat of the fire. I at once greatly respected the man the moment I read an excerpt from this book, published by Bowers and Merena as a softcover book named "Recollections of a Mint Director" (pictured.)
This particular book is far from being the most well preserved copy, it's been re-backed (though well done,) but what makes this one unique is the inscription inside the book. It is signed by the Author and inscribed to a Captain Leonard Cox Former officer for the Navy at Mare Island, he later became editor of the Vallejo Evening Chronicle newspaper after retiring from the Navy. This inscription is in 1925. Both these men were newspaper men from the Vallejo.
I really recommend this book to anyone, the shortened version(published by B&M) is chalk-full of great numismatic information and insight into the mint at the turn of the century!!! It just might capture your attention and respect as it did me and you'll want to find yourself the complete version.
I feel fortunate to have this inscribed original copy, aside from coins I collect first edition signed books so this is a perfect addition. It would take some SERIOUS prying to get this out of my hands. Thanks for a wonderful Christmas present honey!!!
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Comments
I too received a couple of books but nothing as interesting as yours!
Mine were:
"A Nation Rising" by Kenneth Davis...untold tales from America's early history
"The Wolverine Way" by Douglas Chadwick...a study of native wolverines in the wild in North America
Happy New Year!
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Wow! I've read the new version and it's one of the best numismatic stories ever. I looked for a copy of the original, but never found one.
"The most interesting man in the world"
Oh, and what a very thoughtful gift! She's a keeper.
<< <i>Frank Leach looks like that guy from the Dos Equis commercials...
"The most interesting man in the world"
Oh, and what a very thoughtful gift! She's a keeper.
He kind-of does, that's probably where they got the idea
Thanks everyone. Anyone know more about this guy? I know he did a bunch of great changes within the mint, but the book only touches on a few. Anyone know more?
<< <i>Wow - nice! I still recall viewing his $10 pieces when they were auctioned - amazing! >>
Really, when was that?
107 YEAR OLD FILM CLIP
This film was "lost" for many years. It is the first 35mm film to come to light. It was taken by a camera mounted on the front of a cable car in San Francisco as it traveled down the street. You feel as if your really there, standing at the front looking down the street, amazing piece of historic film.
The number of automobiles is staggering for 1906. Absolutely amazing! No wonder there had to be laws created to regulate driving habits. Good thing the cars couldn’t go very fast! Looks like everyone had the right of way! Some of the cars had the steering wheels on the right side. I wonder when they standardized on the left?
The clock tower at the end of Market Street at the Embarcadero wharf is still there. How many "street cleaning" people were employed to pick up after the horses? Talk about going green!
This film was originally thought to be from 1905 until David Kiehn with the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum figured out exactly when it was shot. From New York trade papers announcing the film showing, the wet streets from recent heavy rainfall & shadows indicating time of year & actual weather and conditions on historical record, even when the cars were registered (he even knows who owned them and when the plates were issued!). It was filmed only four days before the Great California Earthquake of April 18th 1906 and shipped by train to NY for processing.
You Tube Video: Filmed in San Fransisco April 18, 1906, 4 days prior to the earthquake that destroyed the mint.
Not really looking for much these days but if I were, it might be a toner.
The eldest of Leach's four sons, Frank A. Leach, Jr. was vice-president and general manager of Pacific Gas & Electric Company when his father died in 1929, according to this obituary..
Also, if you're interested in the original book, it's available in digital form here.
Check out the Southern Gold Society
<< <i>keyman64 that is super cool! >>
Thanks.
Not really looking for much these days but if I were, it might be a toner.
Geez...can't people wait for the crosswalk at the light!
<< <i>Not that I wish to nit-pick, but if you'll read the above inscription carefully, you'll see that the book is given with the best wishes of Frank A. Leach, Jr.
The eldest of Leach's four sons, Frank A. Leach, Jr. was vice-president and general manager of Pacific Gas & Electric Company when his father died in 1929, according to this obituary..
Also, if you're interested in the original book, it's available in digital form here. >>
Huh...I noticed the Jr. but didnt really think much of it I just assumed that he was a Jr. He and his son sure have VERY similar signatures. I guess it doesn't really change the history of the ownership of the book, but I did prefer it was signed by Frank Sr. Luckily I didn't pay any extra for the inscription.
Keyman, that movie is simply AWESOME, not sure how you dug it up. I was simply enthralled to study how traffic patterns were back then...very different!!!
"Everything is on its way to somewhere. Everything." - George Malley, Phenomenon
http://www.american-legacy-coins.com
<< <i>Keyman, that movie is simply AWESOME, not sure how you dug it up. I was simply enthralled to study how traffic patterns were back then...very different!!! >>
Glad you enjoyed it. I had seen a fellow photographer post it a few days ago elsewhere and this thread made me think of it to grab it.
Not really looking for much these days but if I were, it might be a toner.
<< <i>That's a tremendously cool book! Where did she find the book? >>
Abe Books online. There are a couple other copies available last I checked.
<< <i>Born in 1846 about an hour over I-90 from here, in Auburn, New York. I believe that the City of Auburn maintains the Leach home as a museum. The only other things remarkable about Auburn today are the N.Y.S. Correctional Facility and a Bombardier snowmobile factory. >>
Have you been there? A virtual tour would posted here would be really cool!
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<< <i>Born in 1846 about an hour over I-90 from here, in Auburn, New York. I believe that the City of Auburn maintains the Leach home as a museum. The only other things remarkable about Auburn today are the N.Y.S. Correctional Facility and a Bombardier snowmobile factory. >>
Have you been there? A virtual tour would posted here would be really cool! >>
I don't plan on ever seeing the inside of Auburn Correctional, a maximum security prison.
"Everything is on its way to somewhere. Everything." - George Malley, Phenomenon
http://www.american-legacy-coins.com
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>Born in 1846 about an hour over I-90 from here, in Auburn, New York. I believe that the City of Auburn maintains the Leach home as a museum. The only other things remarkable about Auburn today are the N.Y.S. Correctional Facility and a Bombardier snowmobile factory. >>
Have you been there? A virtual tour would posted here would be really cool! >>
I don't plan on ever seeing the inside of Auburn Correctional, a maximum security prison.
So Leach owned the home sometime after...I see.