Clyde Arbuckle (1903–1998) was an American historian of, and lifelong resident of, San Jose, California. He is the author of Clyde Arbuckle's History of San José.Barnes, Cecily. "Willow Glen residents think of their community, rather than their history, on Founders Day 1998." Willow Glen Resident. Retrieved August 24, 2012Barnes, Cecily. "Helen Arbuckle's Herstory: Widow of famed local historian gets the last word.". Retrieved August 24, 2012 This 500 page bookSingh, Gary. "History in the Making". MetroActive. has been extensively referenced by historians.
Early life Arbuckle was the son of W. J. Arbuckle, and the brother of Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, a silent film star."Arbuckle never aided his family, stepmother says". Sausalito News, Volume 37, Number 38, 17 September 1921 As a young man, Arbuckle played the banjo. Arbuckle was also a road bicycle racer with the Garden City Wheelmen,"Wheels of Time". Metro Silicon Valley."Hall of History". MetroActive."Herhold: Remembering a cycling legend who awaits a new heart". Mercury News and a referee at the Burbank Velodrome."Road Racing is hit by new law". San Jose Evening News - Jun 5, 1939 In 1922 he set a national cycling speed record."Local cycling history" . Spinning Crank.
Career
Arbuckle was the founder and curator of the San José Historical Museum (now called History San Jose). He was secretary of the San Jose Historic Landmarks Commission.
Arbuckle was San Jose's official historian for more than fifty years. During this time he amassed a large collection of photographs of the area, which are now housed at the San Jose Public Library. The photographs have been used to illustrate many history books.
Death and legacy A biography of Arbuckle's life, Clyde Arbuckle: A 90 Year Biography, was written by Leonard McKay published by Memorobilia of San Jose in 1993. Arbuckle died in 1998. San Jose residents have named a public school in his memory.
Publications Santa Clara County Ranchos, 1968 Oil Boring in Santa Clara Valley, 1959 Clyde Arbuckle's history of San Jose, 1985. History of San José: Transportation - Volume 5, 2004 New Almaden Mercury Mines: A Long Perspective and History, 1965, with A. C. Innes and R. Burton Rose.
References
Arbuckle, Jim. "Clyde Arbuckle in Restless Valley." http://www.mountaincharlie1850.org/restless_valley_video2.html Retrieved August 24, 2012 Barnes, Cecily. "Renowned chronicler of the past becomes part of history: Clyde Arbuckle, an expert on San Jose history, dies at 94." Mercury News. "http://mytown.mercurynews.com/archives/wgresident/01.14.98/ClydeArbuckle.html Retrieved August 24, 2012
External links History San José, http://historysanjose.org/wp/about-us/history/ Guide to the Clyde Arbuckle California History Research Collection, 1840-1996 http://digitalcollections.sjlibrary.org/cdm/landingpage/collection/arbuckle