YATES, Lorenzo Gordin

From Islapedia
Lorenzo Yates (1837-1909) [SBHM]
Camping Party, Middle Anacapa Island, 1889.
In August 1889, a group of artists and members of the Santa Barbara Natural History Society chartered Ezekiel Elliott's sloop, Brisk, for a 10-day cruise to Anacapa Island.
The party included photographer Isaac Newton Cook (long beard) and his assistant, Harry Jenkins (far right), naturalist Lorenzo Yates (third from right), and Yates's good friend and noted artist Henry Chapman Ford (center, sitting in a chair). [SBHM]
Yates Cave [Frenchy's Cave], Anacapa Island, 1890


YATES, Lorenzo Gordin (1837-1909), English-born dentist who came to the U.S. in 1853 when he was 14 years old. He studied medicine and dentistry in the east and moved to Centerville, California, about 1864 where he continued his career as a dentist.

Yates = [1961] Eunice Amelia Lake (c. 1838-1898):

  • 1. Albert E. Yates (1862-1853)
  • 2. Walter Sidney Yates (1863-1929)
  • 3. George Owen Yates (1864-1931)
  • 4. Frederick William Yates (1864-1939)
  • 5. Gordin Ruskin Yates (1873-1934)
  • 6. Inez Yates (1879- )

The Yates moved to Santa Barbara from Centerville, California in 1881 when Lorenzo Gordin Yates was 44 years old.

Yates was to have a profound effect on Santa Barbara as one of the founders of the Santa Barbara Natural History Society. Yates directed his activities to his lifelong passion as a naturalist, investigator, and collector. He was a specialist in ferns, general botany, conchology, mineralogy, paleontology, and North American Indians. He accompanied Reverend Stephen Bowers to Santa Rosa Island in 1876, during which time Yates collected a number of plants. He also collected botanical specimens on Santa Cruz Island in 1889, 1891, 1893 and 1895. In 1886, Yates published a catalogue of shell collections from Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz islands, including shells he sent his son, Albert, to collect on San Miguel Island.

His further investigations on the Channel Islands appear in hundreds of short newspaper articles until 1908, a year before his death. His writings include monographs in the fields of botany, including lichens, mosses, and paleobotany, geology, prehistory, and conchology, in addition to popular articles in Overland Monthly and other magazines. Yates was elected as a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London in 1889, one of only six Americans to have this honor.

Ten years a widower, the year before his death, Yates married Mary Isabella Tittle (1846-1935). In compliance with his will, his cremated ashes are kept with his shell collection at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.


Yates collected on:



  • 1887. Yates, Lorenzo G. Prehistoric Man in California Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Bulletin #1 (23-30) 1887


[original in SCIF archives]


  • 1889. Yates, Lorenzo G. Stray Notes on the Geology of the Channel Islands in Ninth Annual Report of the State Mineralogist for the Year Ending December 1, 1889 (171-174)


  • 1889. Yates, Lorenzo G. The Mollusca of the Channel Islands of California Ninth Annual Report of the State Mineralogist for the Year Ending December 1, 1889 (175-178)


  • 1889. Yates, Lorenzo G. Insular Floras Ninth Annual Report of the State Mineralogist for the Year Ending December 1, 1889 (179-188)


[original in SCIF archives]


  • 1890. Yates, Lorenzo G. Stray Notes on the Geology of the Channel Islands , The Mollusca of the Channel Islands and Insular Floras California State Mining Bureau. Ninth Annual Report of the State Mineralogist for the year ending 1889. Sacramento: State Office, 1890. p. 171-188.
[original in SCIF archives] [ex-lib. M. D. Daily]


  • 1890. Yates, Lorenzo G. Notes on the Ferns of the Channel Islands off the Coast of California Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Bulletin 1(2):8-11, 1890


  • 1890. Yates, Lorenzo G. Charm Stones, Notes on the so-called Plummets or Sinkers Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Bulletin 1(2):37-45, 1890


  • 1890. Yates, Lorenzo G. Mollusca of Santa Barbara County Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Bulletin 1(2):37-45, 1890




  • 1895. J. B. B. The Yates Collections Land of Sunshine 2(6):98, 1895





  • 1902 Yates, Lorenzo G. Prehistoric California. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences
  • 1(7):81-86 July 1, 1902
Plate. Sandstone and Shales. North Side of West End of San Miguel Island
Plate. Volcanic Cliff, Altitude 300 feet, San Miguel Island
Plate. Volcanic Cliff, Altitude 300 feet, Easterly End of San Miguel Island, with Western Extremity of Santa Rosa Island
  • 1(8):97-100, August 1, 1902
Plate IV. Volcanic Bluffs, Santa Rosa Island
Plate V. Bluffs on Northeasterly Shore of Santa Rosa Island showing Stratification of Volcanic Ash
Plate VI. Cuylers Harbor, San Miguel Island. The Place where Man's Written History of California was Commenced
  • 1(9):113-118 November 1, 1902
Plate I: Casts of Trees, San Miguel Island. Similar Formations are found on Santa Rosa Island, California
Plate II: Casts of Trees, and Dead Shells of Helix, Ayresiana, San Miguel Island, California
[Volume 1 complete; original in SCIF archives]


  • 1903. Yates, Lorenzo G. Prehistoric Fauna of California Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences 2(8):101 November, 1903


  • 1905. Yates, Lorenzo G. Prehistoric California. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences 4(1):16-17, January 1905
[original in SCIF archives]


  • 1905. Yates, Lorenzo G. Prehistoric California. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences 4(2):26-27, February 1905
[original in SCIF archives]


  • 1963. YATES, Lorenzo Gordin Camp, Charles. Old Doctor Yates]] Journal of the West, Volume II, Number 4, October, 1963. Pages 377-400. Stapled separate.
[original in SCIF archives] [ex-lib M. D. Daily]




Island Collections~
ANACAPA ISLAND
ISLAND COLLECTOR INSTITUTION DATE NUMBER SPECIMEN
Anacapa Island L. G. Yates SBBG 1893 SBBG-77520 Eriogonum arborescens Plants
Anacapa Island L. G. Yates SBBG 1893 SBBG-78058 Dudleya caespitosa Plants
Anacapa Island L. G. Yates SBBG 1893 SBBG-78612 Frankenia salina Plants
Anacapa Island L. G. Yates SBBG 1893 SBBG-78865 Calystegia macrostegia subsp. macrostegia Plants
Anacapa Island L. G. Yates SBBG 1893 SBBG-79227 Castilleja affinis Plants
Anacapa Island L. G. Yates SBBG 1893 SBBG-79817 Eriophyllum staechadifolium Plants
Anacapa Island L. G. Yates SBBG 1893 SBBG-79839 Amblyopappus pusillus Plants
Anacapa Island L. G. Yates SBBG 1893 SBBG-80033 Erigeron glauca Plants
Anacapa Island L. G. Yates UC (?) UC-13319 Astragalus miguelensis Plants


SAN MIGUEL ISLAND
ISLAND COLLECTOR INSTITUTION DATE NUMBER SPECIMEN
San Miguel Island L. G. Yates SBBG July 25, 1891 SBBG-75568 Eriogonum grande var. rubescens Plants
San Miguel Island L. G. Yates SBBG July 25, 1891 SBBG-79664 Pseudognaphalium stramineum Plants
San Miguel Island L. G. Yates SBBG July 25, 1891 SBBG-79908 Artemisia californica Plants


SANTA CRUZ ISLAND
ISLAND COLLECTOR INSTITUTION DATE NUMBER SPECIMEN
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-76916 Adiantum aleuticum Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-76918 Adiantum aleuticum Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-76920 Adiantum aleuticum Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-36921 Athyrium filix-femina var. cyclosorum Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-36922 Athyrium filix-femina var. cyclosorum Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-36923 Athyrium filix-femina var. cyclosorum Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-76960 Adiantum capillus-veneris Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-76961 Adiantum aleuticum Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-76962 Adiantum aleuticum Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-76997 Athyrium filix-femina var. cyclosorum Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-76998 Athyrium filix-femina var. cyclosorum Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-77017 Selaginella bigelovii Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-77166 Polypogon monspeliensis Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-77341 Salix lasiolepis Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-77363 Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-77364 Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-77405 Quercus pacifica Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-77406 Quercus pacifica Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-77414 Quercus X macdonaldii Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-77493 Urtica dioica subsp. holosericea Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-77555 Eriogonum grande var. grande Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-77860 Spergularia macrotheca var. macrotheca Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-77876 Clematis ligusticifolia Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-77959 Caulanthus lasiophyllus Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-78081 Ribes thacherianum Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-78125 Rubus ursinus Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-78137 Lyonothamnus floribundus var. aspleniifolius Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-78167 Prunus ilicifolia subsp. lyonii Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-78168 Prunus ilicifolia subsp. lyonii Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-78185 Adenostoma fasciculatum var. fasciculatum Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-78644 Marah macrocarpa Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-78657 Epilobium canum subsp. canum Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-78658 Epilobium canum subsp. canum Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG 1893 SBBG-78796 Comarostaphylis diversifolia subsp. planifolia Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-78797 Comarostaphylis diversifolia subsp. planifolia Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-78837 Arctostaphylos crustacea subsp. subcordata Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-78839 Arctostaphylos crustacea subsp. subcordata Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-79054 Scutellaria tuberosa Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-79058 Verbena robusta Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-79143 Solanum clokeyi Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-79189 Mimulus aurantiacus var. parviflorus Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-79198 Mimulus aurantiacus var. pubescens Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-79207 Mimulus aurantiacus var. parviflorus Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-79315 Castilleja affinis Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-79315 Galium buxifolium Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-79317 Galium buxifolium Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-79345 Galium angustifolium subsp. foliosum Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-79367 Lonicera hispidula Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-79388 Stephanomeria cichoriacea Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-79502 Brickellia californica Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-79528 Solidago velutina var. californica Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-79540 Hazardia detonsa Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-79541 Hazardia detonsa Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-79543 Hazardia detonsa Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-79575 Baccharis pilularis subsp. consanguinea Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-79604 Erigeron foliosus var. foliosus Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-79620 Pseudognaphalium biolettii Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-79831 Venegasia carpesioides Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-79897 Artemisia californica Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-79925 Eriogonum grande var. rubescens Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-80097 Stachys bullata Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-80164 Mimulus guttatus Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-80209 Bromus maritimus Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-80248 Cheilanthes clevelandii Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates SBBG August 1893 SBBG-83163 Antirrhinum nuttallianum subsp. subsessile Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates POM August 1893 POM-358113 Eriophyllum staechadifolium Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates RSA August 1893 RSA-689929 Polypodium scouleri Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates RSA September 1893 RSA-393600 Eriogonum grande var. grande Plants
~ trip ~
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates RSA 1895 RSA-417254 Artemisia californica Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates RSA 1895 RSA-588457 Epilobium canum subsp. canum Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates POM POM-367509 Arctostaphylos insularis f. pubescens Plants
Santa Cruz Island L. G. Yates (?) SBBG SBBG-78826 Arctostaphylos insularis Plants


SANTA ROSA ISLAND
ISLAND COLLECTOR INSTITUTION DATE NUMBER SPECIMEN
Santa Rosa Island L. G. Yates RSA (1876) RSA-433194 Dendromecon rigida subsp. harfordii Plants




In the News~

March 22, 1876 [BowersFN]: “I and my wife, DeMoss, Dr. Yates, and two hands embarked at Santa Barbara on the Star of Freedom for Santa Rosa Island. Becalmed in the channel, we were 29 hours in reaching the island. We were fearfully seasick. Had a fine number of whales that came near our ship. The noise of their spouting was like that of a low pressure steamer.”


April 10, 1876 [BowersFN]: “Santa Rosa Island. Dr. Yates went to the interior of the island and ascended the dividing ridge, where his barometer marked 1350 feet. It is composed of syenite.”


November 22, 1881 [SBDP]: “Dr. L. G. Yates the dentist, announced that he will be ready next Friday to perform all kinds of dental work at his rooms opposite Cook’s block.”


April 15, 1882 [SBDP]: “Died. Yates. In this city, April 13, 1882. Richard Owen Yates, father of Lorenzo G. Yates, a native of Sheernees, England, aged 74 years.”


May 13, 1876 [ SBDP?]: “Santa Rosa Island. An Interesting Sketch. A telegram from Washington asked the writer (Stephen DeMoss Bowers) to explore this island, and make a monograph relating to its archaeology and ethnology. This was afterward extended to its geology, paleontology, and zoology. The party, consisting of the writer, Dr. Yates of Centerville, as assistant, and Mrs. B., and two workmen, set sail March 22. A voyage of twenty-nine hours brought us to our desired haven. The vessel dropped anchor in a beautiful little bay a hundred yards from shore, and our effects, consisting of tents, camp equipage, boxes and bottles for specimens, writing and drafting material, instruments, etc., were safely landed by the aid of the life-boat. But I must first write something concerning the previous history of this island. It was once very thickly inhabited by a race now extinct, as the vast number of rancherias, shell heaps and mounds would indicate. The first account we have of this island is recorded by Cabrillo, a Portuguese navigator, who visited in 1542, spending the winter on this and adjoining islands. He died here, and is supposed to have been buried on San Miguel or Santa Cruz Island. He describes the inhabitants as comparatively white, the women handsome, with ruddy complexion, etc., but this was 334 years ago. Mr. Taylor (Alexander S. Taylor) informs me that the cause of the decline and final extinction of the inhabitants of this island was related to him by the old Jesuits of Santa Barbara Mission. It was to the effect that a century ago the Russians were in the habit of visiting the island for the fur of the sea otter, then very abundant, as their remains in the shell-heaps would indicate. They brought with them natives from Alaska, whom they left on the island during the winter months, having taught them the use of fire-arms. These fellows amused themselves, in the absence of the Russian ships, in shooting the defenseless inhabitants. Mr. T. thinks that in this way we can account for the number of skeletons still lying exposed in different parts of the island. Another account is, that the Russians themselves came down and killed them off in cast numbers to obtain their furs. I will take this occasion to remark, that in examining their burying places we found many skulls which had been broken by violence, but none that seemed to have been pierced by bullets. This was especially true of those buried just beneath the surface. But as other tribes inhabited adjoining islands, they were probably sometimes engaged in war, which would better account for the perforated and fractured skulls. Still another account is to the effect that a destructive famine prevailed, reducing the numbers from many thousands to a few score. Yet we cannot see how a famine for want of food could possibly occur, as their sustenance came almost wholly from the sea, consisting largely of mollusks, which are still abundant, as well as whales, sea lions, seals and sea otters, with various kinds of fish and water fowl. The only possible chance for a famine we can see, would be the drying up of the springs and creeks now abundant in nearly every portion of the island. While there is probably some truth in all three of these stories, we found evidences only of the latter. In a large burying place on the western portion of the island we found human bones occurring near the surface which were broken lengthwise, as if to extract the marrow. And in the same place we found the skeletons of as many, probably, as fifty children, who would likely to be first to die in case of a famine. The stumps and roots of many trees, indicating about the same age, may be seen in nearly every portion of the island, and dead land snails (Helix Ayersiana) in multiplied millions, which must have been killed by a long drouth many years ago. At all events it seems that about the year 1816 the islanders were reduced to a very small number, and were taken off by the Padres of the Santa Barbara Mission and placed on the mainland, whence they have gradually passed away. S. B. ([[[BOWERS, Stephen|Stephen Bowers]]) *There is said to be one woman left, an old woman living near San Luis Obispo, the sole survivor of the race once inhabiting Santa Rosa Island. Our fellow townsmen Dr. Ord has conversed with her, and will furnish me her recollections of the island and its inhabitants, which I will embody in my report to Washington. — SECOND SKETCH. About the year 1834 this island was deeded by the Mexican Government to one of its subjects named Carrillo. Two daughters, who married Americans, heired the estate of their father, and from these parties it was purchased by the present owners, Messrs. A. P. and H. H. Moore [sic: More]. Both cattle and hogs have been introduced, the former in 1842, the latter ten years later, representatives of which are still found wild on the island; and it is by no means safe to surprise them in the canyons or come upon them too suddenly. The island now supports 80,000 sheep, and is capable of supporting double that number.”


September 25, 1882 [SBDP]: “Dr. Yates has just received by mail a box of ferns from H. C. Ford, now at Keokuk, Iowa.”


June 9, 1884 [SBDI]: “Interesting descriptions of the various shellfish along the Pacific coast by Dr. L. G. Yates… In 1867 Mr. Newcomb, an eminent conchologist now of Cornell University, collected 135 specimens on the coast of the mainland and 28 specimens on Santa Cruz Island, some of them quite rare. The writer collected 160 species on Santa Rosa Island, a complete list of which was published November 1876 in the Quarterly Journal of Conchology, at Leeds, England. This collection was made incidentally while engaged in searching for antiquities in the interest of the Smithsonian Institution. Doubtless the list could be considerably extended…”


1886 Santa Barbara Directory: “Lorenzo G. Yates, Dentist. Office in detached building, directly opposite Clock Building, State Street. Scientists and those interested, are invited to call and see my large collections of shells, minerals, fossils, ferns and orchids. N. B. — No part of the collections are to be seen in the windows.”


May 17, 1886 [SBDI]: “Dr. L. G. Yates of this city is daily receiving subscriptions to his great work on ‘All Known Ferns’ from all parts of the world…”


June 5, 1886 [SBDI]: “A short note was read from the pen of Dr. L. G. Yates on the Velleadoe or jelly fish now in abundance on our beach.”


September 29, 1886 [SBDI]: “G. O. Yates, son of Dr. Yates, who has been confined to his bed with typhoid fever for the past two months, is fast convalescing.”


October 20, 1886 [SBDI]: “Dr. Yates’ air plant is in bloom and it is a beauty. At a distance it represents a cluster of variegated butterflies, so perfect is the formation of flower…”


November 5, 1886 [SBDI]: “Dr. L. G. Yates has at his residence on Haley Street a curious plant in bloom for the first time in Santa Barbara. It was sent from Panama under the name of the Panama Lily…”


November 29, 1886 [SBDI]: “The Society of Natural History held its regular meeting on Saturday. An interesting paper by Dr. L. G. Yates of the ‘Ferns of Hawiian Islands’ was read…”


March 13, 1888 [SBDI]: “The Yates Collection. Dr. L. G. Yates has been most fortunate in securing a long lease of new quarters for his valuable collection, in the adobe buildings opposite the old Independent office on State Street. It is fortunate for the city as well, or rather better than for the doctor himself, that when these buildings are fitted up, there will be a less cramped space in which to exhibit the treasures of his museum, as well as for his conservatory….”


March 21, 1888 [SBDI]: “The regular meeting of the California Historical Society will be held on Tuesday evening, March 20th in Parlor A of the Palace Hotel, San Francisco. A paper by Dr. Lorenzo G. Yates of Santa Barbara on Prehistoric California will be read before the society.”


March 26, 1888 [SBDI]: “Prehistoric California. Ambitious students of science can benefit by taking the hint from the paper written by Dr. Yates, which was read at the last meeting of the Historical Society on Prehistoric California. The Doctor asserts as a fact that some of the very oldest relics of prehistoric time are to be found in this state…”


April 7, 1888 [SBDI]: “Santa Barbara orchids. Dr. Yates has three species of orchids in bloom…”


June 2, 1888 [SBDI]: “The Catileya mossiae now on view at the office of Dr. Yates is a magnificent specimen of the orchid family…”


July 17, 1888 [SBDI]: “Dr. Lorenzo Gordin Yates of this city is now entitled to add the magic letters of F. L. S. after his name. The death of Asa Gray, the celebrated botanist, left a vacancy in the Linnean Society, which Dr. Yates has been called upon to fill, according to an official communication lately received from the Secretary in London, England. The Fellows of the Linnean Society, which is limited in membership, are scattered all over the world. There are but eight men in the United States belonging to it…”


November 5, 1888 [SBDI]: “The funeral of Leila, wife of Mr. A. E. Yates, who died yesterday at 11 o’clock A.M., took place this afternoon at the residence of Mr. G. W. Hill in Goleta at 2 o’clock.” [She was 26, married to Albert, oldest son of Lorenzo Yates.]


July 6, 1889 [SBDI]: “The Natural History Society held its regular meeting on Saturday… Dr. Yates read an article on the Insular Flora, which called forth a discussion, and it was requested for publication…”


September 8, 1889 [SBMP]: “Anacapa… A trip to the Islands, and especially to the Anacapas had long been the wish of our hearts… we at last August 20th found ourselves on board the neat sloop Brisk bound for the land of our dreams. Our party consisted of Mr. And Mrs. Elliott, Mr. And Mrs. Leach, Miss F. B. Smith, Mr. L. M. King, and Mr. and Mrs. Brownsill… I noticed in Dr. Yates’ report that he failed to mention a spring of clear good water near the beach, which is soon to be connected with the cottages by easy paths…”


October 10, 1889 [SBDI]: “Preliminary notes on the Anacapas by Dr. Lorenzo G. Yates. The group of islands known as the Anacapas are more exclusively of volcanic origin than any other of the Channel Islands… I have prepared a tabulated list of the ferns of the Channel Islands, which will shortly be published in one of the botanical journals.”


January 9, 1890 [SBDI]: The columns of this paper have frequently been adorned by the articles of sterling, original, scientific value signed by Dr. Lorenzo G. Yates. Probably few men in this country are more widely known in foreign scientific circles than he…”


January 22, 1890 [SBDI]: “An island fern. We clip the following from Garden and Forest. Sir;—During a recent visit to the island of Santa Cruz, one of the islands forming the southerly wall of the Santa Barbara Channel, on the California coast, I found a Polypodium scouleri growing on the basaltic rocks of which the island is largely composed. This fern, so far as I know, has not been heretofore noted from any locality within a distance of perhaps 200 miles north, and not at all from the south, except by Dr. Palmer, who reported it from Guadalupe Island, off the coast of Mexico. Lorenzo Yates, Santa Barbara.”


March 6, 1890 [SBDI]: “We have received a pamphlet entitled ‘Notes on the Geology and Scenery of the Islands forming the southerly line of the Santa Barbara Channel’ from American Geologist on January 1890, written by Dr. Lorenzo Gordin Yates, F. L. S. of this city.”


March 7, 1890 [SBMP]: “Dr. L. G. Yates, of this city, in a lengthy article in the American Geologist for January last, has an illustrated article on the Geology and Scenery of the Southerly Line of the Santa Barbara Channel. His description of the caves is an interesting account of those natural wonders which will some day be one of the great attractions of Santa Barbara...”


March 8, 1890 [SBDI]: “The Natural History Society met Saturday afternoon, March 1… Dr. Yates read a descriptive list of materials taken at different depths from Mr. Joe Sexton’s well at Goleta… Dr. Yates had on exhibition a photograph of two mountain sheep secured in British Columbia by a resident of Montecito…”


June 14, 1890 [SBDI]: “In the Report of the State Mineralogist for the year ending December lst, 1890, our distinguished townsman, Dr. Lorenzo G. Yates, F. L. S., occupies a prominent place…”


July 18, 1891 [SBMP]: “Dr. Yates, I. B. Hardy, W. E. Noble and Prof. Ford are contemplating a ten day’s trip to the islands.”


August 5, 1891 [SBMP]: “A [sea] lion fight. A lively experience in a Santa Cruz Island cave. The following incident, which formed part of the experience of a party recently returned from an expedition to the Channel Islands, will convince our people that it is not necessary to visit a foreign country in order to meet with exciting experiences. The object of the expedition was a combination of scientific research and recreation…”


December 22, 1891 [SBMP]: “A few days ago it was my good fortune to go to the beach in company with two widely known and gifted scientists, Dr. L. G. Yates and Mr. G. W. Dunn… I was treated to a grand object lesson by these gifted and learned men.”


January 16, 1892 [SBDI]: “The Natural History Society has leased from the Andonaegui estate the old adobe building in the rear of Dr. Yates’ office on Carrillo Street. The lease is for a term of three years and the owners have been so generous in their terms that the Society will be enabled to do a good deal of repairing and remodeling… I believe Dr. Yates is to be credited with the idea of securing this building…”


February 5, 1892 [SBDI]: “Dr. L. G. Yates is busily engaged in writing a book on our Channel Islands. Probably the doctor is the only man living who is competent to do the subject justice. His intimate knowledge of the history of the old inhabitants, the geological formation, and the botany of the islands is possessed by no other man we know of. The doctor will also pay a good deal of attention to the conchology of the shores. It will be a most interesting as well as learned book we are sure.”


March 11, 1892 [SBDI]: “The Ojai says Joaquin Miller’s novelette concerning the Woman of San Nicolas has started the coast papers to telling what they know (or don’t know) of the matter. The San Francisco Examiner and the Santa Barbara Press and Independent have all come out lately with versions, but the article by Dr. Lorenzo G. Yates of Santa Barbara, published in the Independent is, we believe, nearer the actual facts than the others…”


March 12, 1892 [SBDI]: “An odd fish. Yesterday morning a curious fish was caught in our channel which was a puzzler to the seafaring men and others of this city. Captain Larco and Mr. Fred Forbush—two men who probably know as much about fish and other products of the sea as any men of this vicinity—were quite prompt in declaring they didn’t know what the fish was called and at once decided it was a rara avis or rather rarus piscis. Fred said ‘Better take it up to Dr. Yates. He will know all about it, if anyone does. It was done, and here is what the doctor said on the subject: …Chimaera collaei… It is rare in these waters and it is the second one I’ve ever seen. It is a fish with a good many aliases, as you will admit when I tell you some of the common names applied to it. Some writers call it the Angel Fish, others call it the Rat Fish of California, and still others call it the King of the Herrings. One good authority gives it the name Elephant Fish… Its flesh is not valued as food…”


August 27, 1892 [SBMP]: “Died. Yates, Albert Edward. In Santa Barbara, a native of Wisconsin. Age 30 years.”


August 29, 1892 [LAT/SB]: “Al Yates, son of Dr. Yates, was buried yesterday afternoon. He died of consumption and had been ailing for a long time. He left a wife.”


December 10, 1892 [LAT/SB]: “Dr. Lorenzo Yates, who recently loaned his collection of fossils to the Leland Stanford, Jr. University, has been busy for about three months classifying, packing and shipping the specimens. They are about three thousand in number, and include many varieties…”


March 31, 1893 [LAT/SB]: “Dr Yates is, like a prophet, not wholly without power in his own country, but without his due measure of honor from those who live nearest to him. His scientific collection is probably by far the most valuable and extensive ever made by any one citizen of California… This great collection is of unique interest… Why does not our city accept the doctor’s generous offer to place it on permanent exhibition, if the town will but provide suitable quarters for it.”


January 16, 1894 [SBMP]: “...Dr. Yates had both shells and fossils from the islands, and also a strange growth of decayed wood which, with a sand formation outside, seemed to grow in ghostly shapes all along the shore. It was white and its odd formation made it seem almost weird in its appearance. Discussion followed. Among the beautiful specimens of shells was an immense paper nautilus from San Clemente which attracted much admiration.”


January 18, 1894 [SBMP]: “A Los Angeles paper of recent date gives the following outline of a paper read by Dr. Yates before the Southern California Science Association. Dr. Yates’ paper was on the Channel Islands…”


February 27, 1894 [SBMP]: “The study of botany… by Lorenzo G. Yates.”


July 13, 1894 [SBMP]: “On the islands. Some of the ferns of Santa Cruz Island… by Dr. Lorenzo G. Yates”


September 29, 1894 [SBDI]: “The schooner Santa Rosa came over yesterday from Santa Rosa Island bringing a swordfish taken near the island for Dr. Yates.”


October 1, 1894 [LAT/SB]: “The schooner Santa Rosa arrived last evening from Santa Rosa Island, bringing over a swordfish taken near there, which will be stuffed and added to Dr. Yates’ collection.”


April 21, 1896 [SBDN]: “An extinct people. Dr. L. G. Yates’ interesting narrative. The May, Overland Monthly full of excellent matter…”


April 24, 1896 [SBDI]: “The May number of the Overland Monthly contains an article by Dr. Lorenzo Yates on the Channel Islands. It bears the suggestive title The Deserted Home of a Lost People.”


May 3, 1896 [LAT]: “The Overland reaches us with a newly-designed cover… Another paper of great local interest is The Deserted Homes of a Lost People by Lorenzo Gordin Yates, F. L. S., which deals with the history of the Santa Barbara Channel Islands.”


August 26, 1900 [LAT/SB]: “Archaeology of Southern California is written by Dr. Lorenzo G. Yates of this city.”


March 30, 1901 [SBMP]: “Prehistoric California is the title of a book soon to issue from the pen of Dr. Lorenzo G. Yates, F. L. S. of this city. It treats the topography, geology, zoology, botany and aboriginal inhabitants and Indians previous to the advent of the white races. Special attention is being paid to the Channel Islands…”


August 23, 1901 [SBMP]: “Monster turtle died yesterday. The monster turtle that was captured by the Larco boys Wednesday afternoon died about 1 o’clock yesterday afternoon. It is supposed that it was injured while being brought to the beach, and also when being placed in the fish house. Many people were at the Larco residence during the morning to view the curiosity, and various scientists were searching for the proper species to which it belonged. There is some talk of having it stuffed… Dr. Yates contributes the following account of the ocean turtle, classifying the Santa Barbara find: ‘…is the Luth or leathery turtle (Sphargia cortacea); so called from the fact of its having no horny plates, the bones being covered with a strong leathery skin’…”


August 25, 1901 [SBMP]: “The monster turtle captured by fishermen a few days ago was on exhibition at yesterday at George C. Sherman’s meat market. Many visitors viewed the curiosity. Dr. L. G. Yates will mount it for Sebastian Larco.”


August 17, 1904 [SBMP]: “Dr. Lorenzo Yates of this city, and Mr. Fred Johnston of the State University, have returned from a week's exploration of the natural history and geology of Anacapa Island... Dr. Yates secured and brought home an interesting specimen which he had discovered in a cave formerly inhabited by the aborigines. It is the base of a basket mortar which has not been used for probably more than a hundred years.”


1905: Lorenzo Yates reported: “The shell of the California mussel, Mytilus californianus, was sometimes used for the manufacture of money and also for making small dark-colored beads. These shells grow to immense size on the Channel Islands off Santa Barbara, and I have found them ten inches in length, but that was many years ago before the Chinamen had made such raids upon them.” Prehistoric California Bulletin of the California Academy of Sciences 4(1):16 January 1905.


March 12, 1906 [LAT]: “The Santa Barbara Natural History Society held an important meeting yesterday afternoon. Last year’s officers were reelected to serve another year. Dr. Yates is president and Professor Dodge secretary. The most important matter discussed at the meeting was in regard to the importance of keeping Dr. Yates’s valuable curio collection in this city. It was announced that he has received an offer of $1000 cash and an annuity of $750 whenever he is willing to part with his collection… This collection forms the greater part of the exhibit now at the museum, and consists of over 500,000 rare sea shells…”


January 31, 1909 [SBMP]: “Professor Yates passes away. End came yesterday at his home in Museum after long illness. Seventy-two years of valuable research ended in rupture of blood vessel in brain. Professor Lorenzo Gordin Yates died yesterday afternoon at his residence adjoining the museum on Anacapa Street… The late Dr. Yates was a scientist of real achievement in his younger days and a writer of ability on his chosen subjects. He was born January 8, 1837 in the Isle of Sheppy, Kent, and lived for a while at Gadshill, the home of Dickens. In 1852 Dr. Yates came to Wisconsin where he studied medicine and dentistry. In Sheboygan, Wisconsin he took up the study of ornithology and taxidermy, and finally paleontology, coming to California in 1864 via Nicaragua. He settled in Alameda County, practicing and pursuing science alternately. Professor T. D. Whitney employed him in the California geological survey about this time, during which he turned out a good deal of original work in ornithology and geology. Dr. Yates was a Mason, issuing a volume called California Digest of Masonic Law. For twelve years he was master of the Alameda lodge… In 1876 Dr. Yates was in this county under the auspices of the Smithsonian Institution doing scientific work—Indian relics. He spent three weeks on Santa Rosa Island and worked up the geology of the island with its archaeology and antiquities. The result was a list of the sheets published in England: the geology of the island published in the Press and later in the American Geologist; the ferns of the Channel Islands put in Bulletin of the Santa Barbara Natural History Society. About this time he sold a fine collection of shells, fossils and minerals to Wabash College, Indiana. In 1881 at the instigation of the late Dr. Dimmick, Dr. Yates moved to this city and began the practice of dentistry. He named all the undetermined specimens embraced in the private collection of Professor H. C. Ford, Dr. Dimmick and Stephen Bowers, besides adding from his own duplication…"


May 10, 1913 [LAT]: “Earth wonders on public view. Formal opening of County Museum of History, Science and Art at Exposition Park… The scientific libraries of the Southern California Academy of Sciences, the Los Angeles Historical Society, and the large library of Dr. Lorenzo Yates are housed in the balcony …”

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