Matfield Family Collection: Finding Aid

Finding aid prepared by Brooke M. Black, September 3, 2002.

The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens

Manuscripts Department

1151 Oxford Road

San Marino, California 91108

Phone: (626) 405-2129

Email: reference@huntington.org

URL: http://www.huntington.org

Overview of the Collection

Title: Matfield Family Collection

Dates (inclusive): 1849-1993

Bulk dates: 1873-1918

Collection Number: mssHM 64508-64531

Creator: Matfield family.

Extent: 204 items in 3 boxes + 1 envelope

Repository: The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. Manuscripts Department

1151 Oxford Road

San Marino, California 91108

Phone: (626) 405-2129

Email: reference@huntington.org

URL: http://www.huntington.org

Abstract: This collection consists of material collected by physician Robert Stragnell (1923-2015) regarding the Bella Union Hotel, its owners the Matfield family, and early Los Angeles and California history, chiefly dating from 1873-1918.

Language: English.

Access

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Administrative Information

Publication Rights

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item]. Matfield Family Collection, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Provenance

Gift of Dr. Robert Stragnell, October 4, 2001.

Biographical Note

In the 1860s, the Matfield family became owners of the Bella Union Hotel, one of the earliest hotels in Los Angeles, California. The family consisted of George Matfield, his wife Alice, and their children James and Dora.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of material collected by Southern California physician Robert Stragnell (1923-2015) regarding the Bella Union Hotel, early Los Angeles and California history and the Matfield family. It includes original manuscripts and documents, correspondence, a scrapbook containing photographs of and articles about the Los Angeles City Gun Club (of which James Matfield was a member), and research material including notes written by Dr. Stragnell, ephemera, photographs and negatives. Most of the material focuses upon the history of Los Angeles and California; however, there are a few letters, postcards, and photographs related to Papeete, Tahiti. The photographs are mostly portraits of Matfield family members, while the negatives are family snapshots; both the photographs and negatives are dated roughly between 1890 and 1920. The negatives are of photographs that are not included in the collection.

Arrangement

Arranged in the following order:

Box 1: Manuscripts and Documents – 24 items, arranged chronologically
Box 2: Research Material – 22 items, arranged alphabetically by type Ephemera – 28 items, arranged alphabetically by type
Box 3: Photographs and Negatives – 130 items, arranged alphabetically by subject
Oversize envelope

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Huntington Library's Online Catalog.

Subjects

Matfield family.

Bella Union Hotel (Los Angeles, Calif.)

Hotels -- California -- Los Angeles.

Hunting and fishing clubs -- California.

California -- History -- Sources.

Los Angeles (Calif.) -- Description and travel.

Los Angeles (Calif.) -- History -- 18th century -- Sources.

Los Angeles (Calif.) -- History -- 19th century -- Sources.

Los Angeles (Calif.) -- History -- 20th century -- Sources.

Papeete (French Polynesia) -- Description and travel.

Forms/Genres

Deeds -- California -- 19th century.

Family papers -- California.

Letters (correspondence) -- United States.

Legal documents -- California.

Notes -- 20th century.

Photographs.

Scrapbooks.

Box 1

Manuscripts and Documents

1849-1873. Abstract of Title of the Rancho Bella Union Property. HM 64508.

1849-1873. Typescript of Abstract of Title of the Rancho Bella Union Property. HM 64509.

1873, May 1. Deed to Mining Claim in Los Angeles County. HM 64510.

1880, Jan. 27. Restraining Order Against George Matfield. HM 64511.

1880, July 7. Satisfaction of Mortgage to E. B. Perrin. HM 64512.

1880, Aug. 18. Declaration of Homestead by Alice Matfield. HM 64513.

1885, Mar. 3. Mortgage for tract of land in Los Angeles (Calif.). HM 64514.

1885, May 15. Supplement Agreement to a build a new wall between properties. HM 64515.

1887, Sep. 22. Mortgage for tract of land in Los Angeles (Calif.). HM 64516.

1888, Jan. 27. Summons, Matfield vs. Matfield. HM 64517.

1888, Nov. 13. Agreement on Guardianship of Mary E. Flashner. HM 64518.

1889, Dec. 16. Indenture between A. Mcartney and Alice Matfield. HM 64519.

1892, Sep. 6. Complaint and Summons, Benedict vs. Flashner. HM 64520.

1894, Mar. 21. Land Deed for land in Los Angeles (Calif.). HM 64521.

1895-1900. Scrapbook of James Matfield. Note: Scrapbook is oversize and is located at end of the collection in a separate tan envelope. HM 64522.

1900, May 10. Certified Copy of Decree of Discharge of Executrix for Alice Matfield. HM 64523.

1908, Feb. 18. “Lovina” letter to James Matfield. HM 64524.

1908, Mar. 20. “Lovina” letter to James Matfield. HM 64525.

1913-1916. Diary of Hansen Moore. HM 64526.

1918, July 12. Dora Chapman letter to James Matfield. Includes a letter by “Lovina” to James Matfield, 1918, July 12. HM 64527.

1919, Apr. 15. Dora Chapman letter to James Matfield. HM 64528.

1981, May 31. Elisabeth Waldo Dentzel letter to Robert Stragnell. HM 64529.

1981, June 1. Robert Stragnell letter to Elisabeth Waldo Dentzel. HM 64530.

1981, June 25. Elisabeth Waldo Dentzel letter to Robert Stragnell. HM 64531.

Box 2

Research Material and Ephemera

Research Material: Article: “First Hotel of Old Los Angeles: The Romantic Bella Union” (1951). 1 item.

Research Material: Newspaper Clippings (1900-1993). 18 items.

Research Material: Research Notes I by Robert Stragnell. 33 pages.

Research Material: Research Notes II by Robert Stragnell. 147 pages.

Research Material: Typescripts of newspaper articles regarding Bella Union Hotel (Los Angeles, Calif.), (1853-1872). 106 pages.

Envelopes. 2 items. Postcards [c.1908]. 6 items.

Program “Second Semi-Annual Tournament of the Los Angeles City Gun Club” [approximately 1900]. 1 item.

Stock Certificate for “Evangelina Copper Mining Company” (1904, Jan. 26). 1 item.

Tax Receipts (1898-1907). 18 items.

Box 3

Photographs and Negatives

Photographs: Family Members (Chapman, Dora-Matfield, Alice). 10 items.

Photographs: Family Members (Chapman, Dora). 14 items.

Photographs: Family Members (Matfield, George-Matfield, James, and unidentified). 19 items.

Photographs: Gun Clubs. 3 items.

Photographs: Places. 7 items.

Photographs: Negatives. 77 items.

Oversize

Envelope

1895-1900. Scrapbook of James Matfield. HM 64522.