Frank Colbourn - Oakland

1924 ¹¹Frank Colbourn (April 18, 1876 – November 28, 1944) was a city commissioner in the 1920s and 30s, and a port commissioner in the 1930s. He was also a lawyer, and later served as city clerk. He was a member of the Good Government League. ⁷

NB: While some published obituaries list his full name as Frank A. Colbourn, no official documents have been found with Frank's middle initial. And although the middle names differ from generation to generation, the Colbourn family and some records use Frank Sr., Frank Jr., Frank III, etc.

Family

Colbourn was born April 18, 1876, in Somerset county, England to Robert Joe Colbourn and Sarah Ann Brown (Colbourn), one of 7 or 8 children. About 1888-1890, the family came to the U.S. According to California State Bar records, he became a licensed attorney in 1898.¹⁸ The 1900 census shows Frank living in Ventura County in Southern California with his widowed mother and 5 of his siblings, working as a lawyer. According to advertisements in local newspapers, Colbourn had an office in Oxnard circa 1899-1900, but an article in 1901 noted that he had moved from Oxnard to San Francisco.^20,21 About 1902, he married Minnie Tiemann (Colbourn) (c.1883 – December 31, 1935) of Missouri (some sources say Illinois). Frank practiced law in San Francisco until the 1906 earthquake, then they moved to Oakland.

Frank and Minnie had three children: Frank Emerson Colbourn (1903 – 1979), Selma ("Sally") Virginia Colbourn (Gibbons) (1906 – 1999), and Robert Arthur Colbourn (1910 – 1973). Frank, Jr. was born in Missouri, while Selma and Robert were born in Oakland. c.1910, the family lived at 226 Shafter (5348 after renumbering). By 1916, the family lived in a modest home at 364 Hudson Street. Frank Emerson Colbourn, Jr. worked as a photographer for a number of years.

After a brief illness, Minnie died December 31, 1935 at age 53, and was buried in Mountain View Cemetery ¹³ in plot 56.

In 1939, Frank surprised his friends, and eloped to Reno with Ida Elizabeth Biberman (Katzoff) (Hill) (Colbourn) (Lervik) (1890 – 1967). His friends had expected the wedding to happen a couple of weeks later. Ida was active in various women's clubs as Minnie had been; Ida was president of the Oakland Women's City Club, when Minnie was vice president. Frank and Ida had been friends for years. ¹⁴ Around that time the Colbourns moved to 574 Radnor Road.

Robert, Minnie, Frank, Sally, Frank Jr. 1927

Civil Service and Politics

1921 ad

After moving from San Francisco, in 1907 Frank became clerk of the city board of public works. ¹⁴ In 1911, the Civil Service Commission was organized, and Frank was appointed secretary. His efficiency was well-known, and heads of different departments squabbled over which would get him. ¹⁶ He served in that position until April 1921. ¹²

Colbourn then ran for city commissioner in 1921. His spot on the primary ballot was contested by incumbent F.F. Morse who alleged that the ballots were improperly cast and that Colbourn should be left off in favor of Morse. ⁸ Right before the recount was about to be granted, Morse withdrew the suit and allowed Colbourn's name to go on the ballot. He apparently believed that he had worked out a deal with Colbourn that Walter J. Petersen would be renamed Chief of Police and that he would have some control if Colbourn won. Colbourn's political party, the Good Government League, denied this, saying that Morse withdrew because he knew he wouldn't win a spot on the ballot even with the recount.⁹

In 1921, as Commissioner of Public Health and Safety, Colbourn proposed a new form of police academy. New recruits would have to study 18 subjects and pass a test. The "police school" would also involve continuing education for current police officers. He believed the department would improve the quality of policing. Subjects taught would include: "Geography of the city, Elementary principles of the law, Important city ordinances relevant to traffic, nuisances, etc, First aid to the injured, Discipline and deportment, How to make arrests and serve warrants, Classification of crimes, Essential points necessary to constitute certain offenses, Securing and presenting evidence, Court procedure, Making various kinds of reports, Care and use of firearms, Americanized jiu-jitsu, Humane handling of criminals, Gymnastic and military drills, Public health, Police methods and procedure, Identification, finger prints, etc."²

As Commissioner of Public Health and Safety, Colbourn took a stand against the Ku Klux Klan. In 1922, along with other city officials, he received a letter allegedly from the KKK saying that they had done a safety/vice audit and found Oakland wanting. The letter asked for cooperation with the group. ⁶ In 1924, Colbourn revoked a permit for a KKK parade.⁷

Colbourn founded the Fire Prevention Bureau in 1921, which made inspections and was in charge of preventing fires. In the first year, the Bureau made over 10,000 inspections. ¹⁰

In the fall of 1924, Colbourn served as acting mayor. It may have been because mayor John L. Davie was running for congress.

In 1927, Colbourn ran for mayor against incumbent John Davie and Edgar Sanborn. ²² He came in second to Davie, but made a better showing than many who ran against him. Davie was Oakland's longest-serving and most popular mayor, and usually won election by large margins.

Colbourn was Commissioner of Public Health and Safety until 1927, then shifted to Commissioner of Public Works. ¹⁵

The government of Oakland was changed from a commissioner form to a council-manager form, taking effect July 1931. Colbourn's time in office was cut short by the change. ²⁷ He continued practicing law.

From 1937 to 1939, Colbourn was aPort Commissioner. ²³ He resigned from that position in July 1939 to become city clerk. He was appointed as city clerk following the death of W.W Chappell. ¹⁶

Other

Until 1933, Colbourn was secretary-manager of the Alameda County Milk Dealers Association. He left the position join the split off East Bay Milk Dealers Association, and to continue with his law practice. ^28,29

Colbourn was a Mason, and a member of the Elks, the Moose Club, the Shriners, and Woodmen of the World. ¹² He was also a member of the Order of Red Men. ³

Death and Burial

Following Thanksgiving dinner in 1944, Colbourn complained of feeling ill. His condition deteriorated and he was taken to Providence Hospital, where it was determined he had suffered a stroke. He died November 28, 1944. ^12,26

The Tribune published a nice remembrance of Colbourn:

They knew his unfailing courtesy, his gentle manners. They knew of his devotion to duty and of his love and interest for the city that was his home. By election and re-election to office, and by appointments which were conferred upon him, the community paid many tributes to Frank Colbourn during his lifetime. Now that he is gone it reviews a story of faithful service, discerns the outlines a bit more clearly, and realizes deeply that it will miss the man. ²⁴

The list of honorary pallbearers at his funeral was a who's who of Oakland politics and civil service, including past and present mayors, council members, consul generals of several Latin American countries, and more—nearly 100 people total. His funeral was held at the Scottish Rite Center. ²⁵

His burial location is not known for sure, but is assumed to be in Mountain View Cemetery. Minnie, along with Robert and his wife Evelyn are buried there.

It is unknown if Colbourn Place in Skyline-Hillcrest Estates is named for him, but it certainly seems reasonable. The roadway was created and named through a 1947 Record of Survey for the property then owned by the American Trust Company which would later become the Hillcrest Estates development, and the map also contains other streets that seem to be named after famous Oaklanders, such as Mott Place (possibly named after former Mayor Frank K. Mott), and Fernhoff Place (possibly named after then City Attorney Bert Fernhoff).^{31, 32}