Esther H. Klotz was born in the town of Hemet in Riverside County, California in 1910. Her Southern California ancestry dates back to the 1880s. Klotz’ research was focused on the history of the city and county of Riverside, and in particular the unique historical structures located therein. Buildings of interest to Klotz included residential homes, commercial buildings, military bases, universities, and museums. She compared and contrasted her research on buildings with the development of the area’s industries, most prominently the commercial introduction of citrus. Klotz served on the boards of several local historical societies, as an advisor to regional museums, and was very active in the city’s historical preservation efforts. The Esther H. Klotz papers contain research notes, correspondence, publications, and other material pertaining to the city and county of Riverside as well as to the local history and development of various other cities in Southern California.
