Emerson Spencer
1906 – 1985

Emerson Spencer

athletics competitor (1906–1985)

athletics competitor
Born
1906-10-14, San Francisco
Died
1985-05-15
Birthplace state
California

Biography

Emerson Spencer was born in San Francisco in October 1906 and died in May 1985. He competed as a sprinter and won a gold medal in the 4 × 400 m relay at the 1928 Summer Olympics, setting a world record in that event. A week later, he helped establish another world record of 3:13.4 in the 4 × 440 yard relay in London.

Occupation

Emerson Spencer is recorded as a athletics competitor, born in California (1906–1985).

Connections to California

Emerson Spencer was born in San Francisco, California in 1906. Explore other notable figures from California, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from California›Californiahistory ›Historic sites in California›
Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about San Francisco

Emerson Spencer came from San Francisco. A full Aubrey report on San Francisco pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your San Francisco report
Or see a real report first

More notable figures from California

Other historical figures born in California, ranked by historical prominence.

Kamala Harris
Kamala Harris
Vice President of the United States from 2021 to 2025
Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee
Hong Kong–American martial artist and actor (1940–1973)
John Steinbeck
John Steinbeck
American writer (1902–1968)
Jack London
Jack London
American author, journalist and social activist (1876–1916)
Robert Frost
Robert Frost
American poet (1874–1963)
Isadora Duncan
Isadora Duncan
American dancer and choreographer (1877–1927)
Diane Keaton
Diane Keaton
American actress and film director (1946–2025)

Frequently asked about Emerson Spencer

Who was Emerson Spencer?
Emerson Spencer was athletics competitor (1906–1985), born in California (1906 – 1985).
When and where was Emerson Spencer born?
Emerson Spencer was born on 1906-10-14 in San Francisco.
When did Emerson Spencer die?
Emerson died on 1985-05-15.
What was Emerson Spencer known for?
Emerson Spencer is recorded as a athletics competitor.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your locationView a free sample report