Joseph Oliver Carter Papers: Finding Aid
Finding aid prepared by Brooke M. Black, November 25, 2011.
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
© 2011
The Huntington Library. All rights reserved.
Overview of the Collection
Title: Joseph Oliver Carter Papers
Dates (inclusive): 1893-1935
Collection Number: mssHM 76530-76710
Creator:
Carter, Joseph Oliver, 1835-1909.
Extent: 199 items in 4 boxes
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 primarily contains correspondence written to Hawaiian journalist, diplomat, and financier Joseph Oliver Carter
(1835-1909).
Most of the collection is about Queen Liliuokalani, her property and finances, and
politics in Hawaii including the 1893 revolution and its consequences for Carter,
Hawaiian annexation by the United States, the Hawaiian government and royalty.
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]. Joseph Oliver Carter Papers, The Huntington Library,
San Marino, California.
Provenance
Purchased from Bonhams auction #19421, lot #1030, October 10, 2011.
Cataloger's Note
Queen Liliuokalani is a subject throughout the entire collection (she is the
addressee of eight letters, which are listed under Indexing: Added Entries).
Specific instances of her being a subject are not indexed in the finding aid, but
her name appears on the folders where she is talked about. Other subjects not
specifically indexed due to the number of items having them as subjects include:
Hawaiian royalty, the Hawaiian government, the 1893 overthrow of the government,
annexation of Hawaii by the U.S. and the issue of Statehood. These subjects can be
found in the majority of the items.
Biographical Note
Joseph Oliver Carter, Jr. (1835-1909), journalist, public official, diplomat,
financier and philanthropist, was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on December 20, 1835, to
Captain Joseph Oliver Carter and Hannah Lord. Carter attended school in Boston at an
early age. After returning to Hawaii in 1847, he finished school and began
employment with A. B. Howe in Honolulu. He later worked as a clerk in the post
office and became associated with H. M. Whitney, a dealer in books and a cotton
grower in Hawaii. Carter then began working for the Pacific Commercial Advertiser
until 1872 when he was elected to the Hawaiian Legislature. He was appointed
Registrar of Public Accounts in 1874, after having been financier to prominent
families in Hawaii. In 1880 he went back to business life becoming cashier and
correspondent for C. Brewer & Co. In 1891, he became president of the company.
Throughout his life, Carter played an important role with Hawaiian royalty, the
legislature and cabinet officers, often being called on for advice. He was the Privy
Councilor to Queen Liliuokalani. During the 1893 Revolution, Carter sided with the
Hawaiian people, working for their rights; he stood by the Queen’s side. After the
overthrow of the Queen, Carter resigned his position at C. Brewer & Co. due to
political differences with his business colleagues and opened his own business. He
continued to be in charge of the business affairs of the former Queen, as well as
trustee of the James Campbell Estate, the B. P. Bishop Estate, the Kamehameha
Schools, and various private accounts and estates.
In 1898, when the question of Hawaii annexation came up, Carter went to Washington
D. C. as a member of a mission to the present the cause of the Hawaiians, who were
against such action. Carter held various other positions including Board of Health
of the Republic of Hawaii and superintendent and teacher at the Bethel Church.
Carter married Mary Ladd, a member of another prominent pioneer Honolulu family, in
1859. They had six children: Charlotte, Mary, Rachel, Joseph Oliver, Sarah, and
Henry Cushman.
Carter became blind in his last years, but continued his business dealings until his
death on February 27, 1909. He was buried in Oahu Cemetery in Honolulu.
Bibliography
Carter, George Robert.
Joseph Oliver Carter: the founder of the Carter family in Hawaii: with a brief genealogy . Honolulu: Printed by the Star-Bulletin, 1915.
Scope and Content
The collection consists of 177 letters, two manuscripts, 1 piece of ephemera and 17
newspaper clippings.
The majority of the collection is correspondence written to Joseph Oliver Carter
(there are only two letters written by him, one of which is to Queen Liliuokalani).
Notable participants include: Joseph K. Aea, attorney for the Queen; Calvert T.
Bird, attorney for the James Campbell estate; Charles Reed Bishop; J. A. Cummins,
Hawaiian royalty and businessman; attorney Clarence Woods DeKnight; journalist
Julian Hawthorne; Hawaiian diplomat and politician Curtis Pi’ehu ‘Iaukea; Prince
David Kawananakoa; William Kinney, Hawaiian businessman; G. W. MacFarlane, attorney
for the Queen; reporter Julius A. Palmer; Abigail Campbell Parker, widow of James
Campbell and mother of Princess Abigail Kawananakoa; Senator Richard F. Pettigrew;
Hawaiian Chief Justice Alexander George Morison Robertson; Hawaiian politician
Robert W. Shingle; Hawaiian minister David Willis Keliiokamoku White; Albert Shelby
Willis, United States Congressman and Minister to Hawaii; and Charles Burnett
Wilson, Marshall of Kingdom of Hawaii and Royal Guard.
Most of the collection is about Queen Liliuokalani, her property and finances, and
politics in Hawaii including the 1893 revolution and its consequences for Carter,
Hawaiian annexation by the U.S., the Hawaiian government and royalty. (Letters
between Carter and Senator Pettigrew are all about the Hawaiian government and
annexation by the U.S. as are the letters between Carter and his friend Ned
McFarlane.) Other subjects include: James Campbell and his estate; Samuel Mills
Damon; Benjamin Franklin Dillingham; Sanford B. Dole; Princess Kaiulani; Princess
Abigail Campbell Kawananakoa; education in Hawaii; the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum;
Punuhou School; Chinese and Japanese immigrants in Hawaii; Mormons in Hawaii; and
sugar growing and tariffs.
The letters by L. M. Keaunui and S. K. Mahoe to Queen Liliuokalani are in Hawaiian.
The two manuscripts consist of a copy of a resolution made by C. Brewer & Co.
stating that it is in full support of the provisional government of Hawaii and that
any officer or employee that shows “any other disposition on the part of the Company
as against the said Government, such action is disavowed by us as Stockholders…” and
a printed copy of the “Proposed Investigation of the Government of the Territory of
Hawaii: Hearing Before the Committee on Territories and Insular Affairs United
States Senate,” from 1932, January 16.
The ephemera consists of a sheet of paper with three signatures including the
Governor of Maui, John M. Kapena. The 17 newspaper clippings are about the Hawaiian
Princess Abigail Kawananakoa, the possible statehood of Hawaii, and the Virgin
Islands.
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by author.
Indexing: Added Entries
Additional contributors in this collection include:
Kapena, John Makini.
- Autograph on Ephemera: Sheet with signatures (1875). HM 76710.
Kawananakoa, David.
- Addressee of George H. Fairchild telegram (189?). HM 76564.
Liliuokalani, Queen of Hawaii, 1838-1917.
- Addressee of Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909, letter (1906, Aug. 31). HM 76559.
- Addressee of Clarence Woods De Knight, 1867-1936, letter (1905, June 26). HM 76561.
- Addressee of A. Fried-Griselda letter (1904, Sep. 4). HM 76565.
- Addressee of Julian Hawthorne, 1846-1934, letter (1901, July 3). HM 76567.
- Addressee of L. M. Keauni letter (1905, Oct. 5). HM 76577.
- Addressee of G. W. MacFarlane letters (1899). HM 76603-76604.
- Addressee of S. K. Mahoe letter (1902, Oct. 24). HM 76632.
Pettigrew, Richard F. (Richard Franklin), 1838-1926.
- Addressee of Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909, letter (1898, Feb. 5). HM 76560.
Indexing: Subjects
Subjects in this collection include:
Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum.
- Subject in Charles Reed Bishop, 1822-1916 letters (1895-1908) letters to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76536-76557.
Bishop, Charles Reed, 1822-1915.
- Subject in Samuel C. Allen letters (1894-1900) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76533-76536.
- Subject in F. W. MacFarlane letter (1898, Mar. 8) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76583.
- Subject in C. E. Mason letter (1907, Aug. 10) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76633.
Campbell, James, 1826-1900.
- Subject in Samuel C. Allen letters (1894-1900) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76533-76536.
- Subject in Calvert T. Bird letter (1906, June 29) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76540.
- Subject in Holmes & Stanley letter (1908, Feb. 17) to Abigail Campbell Parker. HM 76570.
- Subject in G. W. MacFarlane letter (1907, Apr. 6) to P. N. Lilienthal. HM 76602.
- Subject in C. E. Mason letter (1907, Aug. 10) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76633.
- Subject in Abigail Campbell Parker letters (1900-1904) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835- 1909. HM 76644-76672.
Chinese – Hawaii
- Subject in Richard F. (Richard Franklin) Pettigrew letter (1899, Sep. 8) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76680.
Damon, Samuel Mills, 1845-1924.
- Subject in Samuel C. Allen letters (1894-1900) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76533-76536.
- Subject in Charles Reed Bishop, 1822-1916 letters (1895-1908) letters to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76536-76557.
- Subject in Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909 letter (1898, Feb. 5) to Richard F. (Richard Franklin) Pettigrew, 1848-1926. HM
76560.
- Subject in Julius A. (Julius Auboineau) Palmer, 1840-1899 letters (1895-1896) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76636-76637.
Dillingham, Benjamin Franklin, 1844-1918.
- Subject in Charles Reed Bishop, 1822-1915 letters (1897) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76553, HM 76555.
Dole, Sanford B. (Sanford Ballard), 1844-1926.
- Subject in Charles Reed Bishop, 1822-1915 letters (1897-1908) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76553, HM 76557.
- Subject in Ned MacFarlane letter (1900, Feb. 17) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76625.
- Subject in Julius A. (Julius Auboineau) Palmer, 1840-1899 letters (1896-1897) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76637,
HM 76641.
- Subject in Richard F. (Richard Franklin) Pettigrew letter (1900, Mar. 7) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76683.
Education – Hawaii
- Subject in Charles Reed Bishop, 1822-1916 letters (1895-1908) letters to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76536-76557.
Japanese – Hawaii
- Subject in Richard F. (Richard Franklin) Pettigrew letter (1899-1900) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76680, HM 76686.
Kaiulani, Princess of Hawaii, 1875-1899.
- Subject in Julius A. (Julius Auboineau) Palmer, 1840-1899 letter (1897, Oct. 20) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76643.
Kawananakoa, Abigail Campbell.
- Subject in Abigail Campbell Parker letters (1900-1904) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835- 1909. HM 76644-76672.
- Subject in Newspaper Clippings (1935).
Kawananakoa, David.
- Addressee of George H. Fairchild telegram (189?). HM 76564.
Mormons – Hawaii
- Subject in Richard F. (Richard Franklin) Pettigrew, 1848-1926 letter [1989, before July 7] to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909.
HM 76673.
Punahou School.
- Subject in Charles Reed Bishop, 1822-1916 letters (1895-1908) letters to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76536-76557.
- Subject in Julius A. (Julius Auboineau) Palmer, 1840-1899 letter (1895, Aug. 7) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76636.
Sugar growing – Hawaii
- Subject in Samuel C. Allen letter (1894, Oct. 16) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76535.
- Subject in Richard F. (Richard Franklin) Pettigrew letter (1899, June 3) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76677.
- Subject in O. M. Vesper letters (1894) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76695-76696.
Indexing Terms
Subjects
Campbell, James,
1826-1900.
Carter, Joseph Oliver,
1835-1909 -- Archives.
Damon, Samuel Mills,
1845-1924.
Dillingham, Benjamin
Franklin, 1844-1918.
Dole, Sanford B.
(Sanford Ballard), 1844-1926.
Kaiulani, Princess of
Hawaii, 1875-1899.
Kawananakoa, Abigail
Campbell.
Kawananakoa, House
of.
Liliuokalani, Queen of
Hawaii, 1838-1917.
Bernice Pauahi Bishop
Museum.
Punahou
School.
Chinese -- Hawaii.
Education -- Hawaii.
Japanese -- Hawaii.
Mormons -- Hawaii -- History --
Sources.
Plantations -- Hawaii.
Sugar growing -- Hawaii.
Hawaii -- Annexation to
the United States.
Hawaii -- Description
and travel.
Hawaii -- History --
Overthrow of Monarchy, 1893 -- Sources.
Hawaii -- History --
1893-1900 -- Sources.
Hawaii -- Kings and
rulers.
Hawaii -- Politics and
government.
Honolulu
(Hawaii)
United States --
History -- 19th century -- Sources.
United States --
Politics and government -- 19th century -- Sources.
Virgin Islands --
History -- 20th century -- Sources.
Forms/Genres
Letters (correspondence) Hawaii -- 19th
century.
Letters (correspondence) Hawaii --
20th century.
Manuscripts -- United States -- 19th
century.
Newspaper clippings -- United States
-- 20th century.
Additional Contributors
Aea, Joseph K.
Bird, Calvert T.
Bishop, Charles Reed, 1822-1915.
Cummins, J. A. (John Adams),
1834-1919, recipient.
De Knight, Clarence Woods, 1867-1936.
Hawthorne, Julian, 1846-1934.
'Iaukea, Curtis Pi'ehu, 1855-1940.
Kapena, John Makini.
Kawananakoa, David.
Kinney, William, b. 1832.
Liliuokalani, Queen of Hawaii,
1838-1917, recipient.
MacFarlane, G. W.
Palmer, Julius A. (Julius Auboineau),
1840-1899.
Parker, Abigail Campbell.
Pettigrew, Richard F. (Richard
Franklin), 1848-1926.
Robertson, A. G. M. (Alexander George
Morison), 1867-1947.
Shingle, Robert W.
White, David Willis Keliiokamoku.
Willis, Albert S. (Albert Shelby),
1843-1897.
Wilson, Charles Burnett, 1850-1926.
C. Brewer and Company.
United States. Congress. Senate.
Committee on Territories and Insular Affairs.
Aea, Joseph K. 3 letters (1907) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76530-76532
Allen, Samuel C. 4 letters (1894-1900) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76533-76536
Barnes, W. P., Mrs. 2 letters (1905) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76537-76538
Bird, Calvert T. 7 letters (1905-1908) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76539-76545
Bishop, Charles Reed, 1822-1915. 12 letters (1895-1908) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76546-76557
C. Brewer and Company. Resolution regarding Provisional Government of Hawaii: manuscript copy? [1893]. In fragile condition. HM 76558
Carter, Joseph Oliver, 1835-1909. 1 letter (1906, Aug. 31) to Liliuokalani, Queen of Hawaii, 1838-1917. HM 76559
Carter, Joseph Oliver, 1835-1909. 1 letter (1898, Feb. 5) to Richard F. (Richard Franklin) Pettigrew, 1838-1926. Includes
typed copy.
HM 76560
De Knight, Clarence Woods, 1867-1936. 1 letter (1905, June 26) to Liliuokalani, Queen of Hawaii, 1838-1917. HM 76561
Dickey, J. H. 1 letter (1897, Feb. 22) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76562
Fairchild, George H. 1 letter (1900, Oct. 9) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76563
Fairchild, George H. 1 telegram (189?) to David Kawananakoa. HM 76564
Fried-Griselda, A. 1 letter (1904, Sep. 4) to Liliuokalani, Queen of Hawaii, 1838-1917. HM 76565
Gulick, Charles T. 1 letter (1894, Feb. 8) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76566
Hawthorne, Julian, 1846-1934. 1 letter (1901, July 3) to Liliuokalani, Queen of Hawaii, 1838-1917. HM 76567
Highton, Henry E. 1 letter (1904, Feb. 23) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76568
Holmes & Stanley. 1 letter (1905, Apr. 26) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76569
Holmes & Stanley. 1 letter (1908, Feb. 17) to Abigail Campbell Parker. HM 76570
Humphreys, A. S. 2 letters (1903-1905) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76571-76572
ʻIaukea, Curtis Piʻehu, 1855-1940. 3 letters (189?-1900) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76573-76575
Kawananakoa, David. 1 telegram (1899, Nov. 30) to G. W. MacFarlane. HM 76576
Keaunui, L. M. 1 letter (1905, Oct. 5) to Liliuokalani, Queen of Hawaii, 1838-1917. HM 76577
Kinney, William, b. 1832. 1 letter (1894, Apr. 15) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76578
Laine, L. I. 1 letter (1903, June 12) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76579
M. W. McChesney & Sons. 1 letter (190?) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76580
Signed by J. M. McChesney?
McCartney, M., Mrs. 1 letter (1905, May 5) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76581
McClellan, George B. 1 letter (1902, Jan. 6) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76582
MacFarlane, F. W. 5 letters (1898-1908) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76583-76587
MacFarlane, F. W. 1 letter (1902, May 5) to J. A. (John Adams) Cummins, 1834-1919. HM 76588
MacFarlane, Florence. 7 letters (1902-1904) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76589-76595
MacFarlane, G. W. 6 letters (1894-1900) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76596-76601
MacFarlane, G. W. 1 letter (1907, Apr. 6) to P. N. Lilienthal. Incomplete. HM 76602
MacFarlane, G. W. 2 letters (1899) to Liliuokalani, Queen of Hawaii, 1838-1917. HM 76603-76604
MacFarlane, Gardie. 1 letter (1897, July 22) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76605
MacFarlane, F. W. 1 letter [undated] to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909 and Mary Carter. HM 76606
MacFarlane, H. R. 1 letter ([1899], Apr. 30) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76607
[MacFarlane], Ned. 19 letters (1894-1901) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76608-76626
Mahoe, S. K. 5 letters (1902-1904) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76627-76631
Mahoe, S. K. 1 letter (1902, Oct. 24) to Liliuokalani, Queen of Hawaii, 1838-1917. HM 76632
Mason, C. E. 1 letter (1907, Aug. 10) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76633
Merry, John F., b. 1844. 1 letter (1899, June 6) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76634
Palmer, Julius A. (Julius Auboineau), 1840-1899. 9 letters (1894-1897) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76635-76643
Parker, Abigail Campbell. 29 letters (1900-1904) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76644-76672
Pettigrew, Richard F. (Richard Franklin), 1848-1926. 17 letters (1898-1900) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76673-76689
Box 4
R – W, unidentified, Ephemera, and Newspaper Clippings
Robertson, A. G. M. (Alexander George Morison), 1867-1947. 1 letter (1906, Aug. 31) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. Includes
two copies of letter.
HM 76690
Single, Robert W. 1 letter (1908, Dec. 23) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76691
United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Territories and Insular Affairs. HM 76692
Vesper, O. M. 4 letters (1894) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76693-76696.
Walton, C. M. 1 letter (1894, Feb. 17) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76697
Wells, C. B. 1 letter (1894, Feb. 10) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76698
White, David Willis Keliiokamoku. 2 letters (1906) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76699-76700
Whitney, J. M. 1 letter (1894, Feb. 8) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76701
Wiedemann, H. A. 1 letter (1894, July 23) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76702
Willis, Albert S. (Albert Shelby), 1843-1897. 1 letter (1895, June 10) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76703
Wills, T. C. 1 letter (1894, Feb. 18) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76704
Wilson, Charles Burnett, 1850-1926. 1 letter (1901, July 15) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76705
-----, George. 3 letters (1900-1904) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76706-76708
-----. 1 letter (1894, Apr. 18) to “Dear Sir.” HM 76709
Ephemera: Sheet with signatures (1875). 1 item. HM 76710
Newspaper clippings (1935). 17 items.