Naming History – Assigned to Jeoffrey Batangan

[Jeoffrey Batangan]

My research focuses on the different names Islais Creek has undertaken
since its conception. As a significant landscape, I will document
findings, such as decision cards, contracts, etc. for reference and
possibly use them for assets. To expand my research, I will also
attempt to locate surrounding data/driving forces relevant for the
name change, such as freeway names, districts, regions, etc. In the
end, I will construct a timeline to aid in understanding the naming
history of Islais Creek.

If anyone finds any leads through your findings, don't hesitate to
share.

Best,
Jeoffrey

[Jeoffrey Batangan]

Summary of Research
In my research, I located the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) governed by the USGS. Their Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) gave me a “Feature Detail Report for Islais Creek Channel”. In short, the Board on Geographic Names (BGN) decided on the official name, “Islais Creek Channel” in 1895. Attached was a PDF of the Decision Card for the name. Referenced within the PDF was a “Work Card” which I had requested from the GNIS. The “Work Card” referenced four different maps as well as climate conditions of Islais Creek Channel. Without the help of the GNIS staff at USGS, I would not have been able to locate these assets and understand the official naming of this channel.
 
Published maps using Recommended Name

(Map name, date, agency, & scale)

Name used on map: Islais Creek Channel

1. USGS San Francisco South 1:24000, 1956/73
2. San Francisco Street Map, Rand McNally, 1:34214, 1978



Map or Source Using Variant

(Map name, date, agency, & scale)

Name used on map: Islais Creek

3. NOS 18650, 36 Ed., 1:20000, June 1980

4. North American Maps, 1:33264, 1978
 
I will expand my research on the following questions: 1. Why was it called Du Vree Creek prior to Islais Creek Channel? Why Islais Creek Channel? It has been over 200 years since the channel has been called Islais Creek Channel, what have the locals called it for each decade?
 
Affiliations to Political/Social Events Research
A significant discovery from the work card was an attached report for the BGN decision in 1895. It reads, “Chg’d from Islais Creek to Islais Creek Channel on 1956 edition of USGS San Francisco South, Stream has been dredged & bulkheading—no natural shoreline or current exists— appears to be an extension of San Francisco Bay” (Chas. E. Harrington, Chief Geographer, 10/5/1981).
 
In hindsight, 1956 was the year Eisenhower called for the “freeway revolution”. This discovery speculates the inspection of the creek before the highway was going to be built. The comment records that this Creek is dredged & bulkheading with no natural shoreline or current existing. This may be a driving force for the development of the highways.
 
Affiliations to Map Research
As I looked for maps mentioned in the USGS Work Card, I stumbled across an online database, Digital History, which contains historical maps since the Fifteenth Century. This may be relevant since I found an article (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/1996/11/30/MN50463.DTL) that mentions that Islais Creek was “first appeared on Mexican maps in 1834, named for Los Islais, the hollyleaf cherry, a favorite Indian food.” I think further exploration on these “1834 Mexican maps” can provide greater insight or even be a valuable asset to use in our atlas.

Mintz, S. (2007). Digital History. Retrieved April 7th, 2011 from
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu

Further Reading
I will be reading more on California History / San Francisco History with regards to Islais Creek Channel.