A Manual for Researching Historical Coastal Erosion. By
Kim Fulton. La Jolla: California Sea Grant College Program, Institute of Marine
Resources, University of California, 1981. Maps. Illustrations. Bibliography.
56 Pages. Price Unavailable.
At first glance it might seem strange to be noting in a
historical journal a manual on coastal erosion published by the California Sea
Grant College Program. A closer look, however, will show that this booklet is an
extremely helpful guide for local historians. It describes the research sources
and methods used by University of California scientists, Gerald Kuhn and Francis Shepard (whose book Sea Cliffs, Beaches, and Coastal valleys of San
Diego County: Some Amazing Histories and Some Horrifying Implications was
published by the University of California Press in 1984 and is reviewed in this
issue of The Journal), as they researched the coastal cliffs from Del Mar
to Oceanside. This Manual is especially helpful in describing various
types of sources and how they were used. Some of the items covered are tax
assessor's maps, subdivision maps, road and survey maps, supervisors' records,
county deeds, historical maps, historical aerial photographs, and interviews.
Fulton notes the source, the location, and gives suggestions on how to use the
various types of material. Many items are illustrated with excellent photographs. A Manual for Researching Historical
Coastal Erosion is, then, a very basic guide to researching local history
which could be used with profit by any local historian.
