Guide to the Pellerano Family Papers MSS.2015.10.22
Archives & Special Collections, Santa Clara University Library
© 2015 Santa Clara University. All rights reserved.
Santa Clara University Library
500 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, California 95053-0500
Email: specialcollections@scu.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Archives & Special Collections, Santa Clara University Library
Title: Pellerano Family Papers
creator:
Pellerano Family
Identifier/Call Number: MSS.2015.10.22
Identifier/Call Number: 92
Physical Description:
3.86 linear feet
(5 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1879-1945
Date (bulk): 1879-1894
Abstract: The Pellerano Family Papers, 1879-1945 (bulk 1879-1894) document the business and professional lives of the Pellerano family.
The records consist of business ledgers that belonged to Clorinda, Pedrina, and Nicholas Pellerano as well as school essays
written by Nicholas Pellerano during his time at Santa Clara College, from 1888-1891. Also included are photographs, correspondence,
and other ephemera associated with the Pellerano, Boitano, and Wempe families. This collection is arranged into two series:
Series I. Business Ledgers and Essays, 1879-1894; and Series II. Photographs, Letters and Miscellanea, 1879-1945 (bulk 1879-1894).
Physical Location: This collection is located in Santa Clara University Library's Archives & Special Collections.
Language of Material: NO LANGUAGE NOTE
Access
Collection is open for research.
Access Restrictions
None
Publication Rights
Materials in Archives & Special Collections may be subject to copyright. All requests for permission to publish from manuscripts
must be submitted in writing to the University Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Archives & Special
Collections as the owner of the physical materials, and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder,
which must also be obtained. Copyright restrictions also apply to digital reproductions of the original materials.
Preferred Citation
Pellerano Family Papers, MSS.2015.10.22, Santa Clara University Library, Archives & Special Collections.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Michelle Runyon. Finding aid EAD encoded by Shannon Hartman. Reviewed by Erin Louthen. Folder-level
descriptive information added by Daniela Baez in 2018.
Biographical History
The Pellerano Family was originally from Italy and immigrated to the United States sometime in the last half of the nineteenth
century. Nicholas Pellerano was a licensed pharmacist-turned-banker who attended Santa Clara College from 1888-1891 and Heald's
Business College of San Francisco in 1891. Nicholas was at one point the vice-president of the Bank of America in San Jose
and when he died, he was on the advisory board of the San Jose office of Bank of America. His sister Pedrina appears to have
run
Pellerano's Pharmacy alongside him, as her name was listed along with his in directories for the business. Nicholas Pellerano married Marie Wempe
during a trip to Europe. His sister Clorinda Pellerano married Angelo Boitano and his other sister, Mary Pellerano, married
Gerhardt Wempe in 1903. This collection includes material from the Boitano and Wempe families.
Bibliography
"National Institute of Pharmacy."
The Western Druggist XIX. No. 1 (1897): P. 143.
Google Books (Accessed Sept. 30 2015)
"Prominent Banker Is Called."
San Jose News, June 10, 1944, Evening ed. (Accessed Sept. 30 2015)
"Wealthy Business Man Wins San Jose Belle."
San Francisco Call, June 18, 1903. (Accessed Sept. 30 2015)
Organizational History
Santa Clara University was founded in 1851 by the Society of Jesus as Santa Clara College and is California's oldest operating
institution of higher learning. It was established on the grounds of Mission Santa Clara de Asìs, the eighth of the original
21 California missions. The college originally operated as a preparatory school and did not offer courses of collegiate rank
until 1853. The institution became known as the University of Santa Clara in 1912, when the schools of engineering and law
were added. For 110 years, Santa Clara University was an all-male school. In 1961, women were accepted as undergraduates and
Santa Clara University became the first coeducational Catholic university in California. The number of students and faculty
tripled over the next decade and the university began the largest building program in school history with eight residence
halls, a student union, and an athletic stadium. In the early 1970s, the Board of Trustees voted to limit the size of the
undergraduate population, an action that was intended to preserve the character and ensure the quality of the university for
generations to come. In 1985, the university adopted Santa Clara University as its official name.
Bibliography
Santa Clara University. "About SCU – History." www.scu.edu/about/history.cfm (Accessed Nov. 23, 2010)
McKevitt, Gerald, S.J.
The University of Santa Clara: A History, 1851-1977. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 1979.
Related Material
The Golden Butterfly Album, 1883-1891. Link to online record on Santa Clara University Library website: http://sculib.scu.edu/record=b1789623
Arrangement
This collection is arranged into two series: Series I. Business Ledgers and Essays, 1879-1894; and Series II. Photographs,
Letters and Miscellanea, 1879-1945 (bulk 1879-1894).
Scope and Content of Collection
The Pellerano Family Papers, 1879-1945 (bulk 1879-1894), document the lives of the Pellerano, Boitano, and Wempe families
in the San Francisco Bay Area. The records consist of the personal papers of Nicholas, Clorinda, and Pedrina Pellerano along
with memorabilia associated with several other family members. Nicholas Pellerano was an early vice-president of Bank of America
and previously worked as a licensed pharmacist. He was also a student of the Santa Clara College Commercial Department from
1888-1891. His sister Pedrina assisted him in running his own pharmacy,
Pellerano Pharmacy.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
California -- History -- 19th century -- Archival resources
Santa Clara University (Calif.)
University of Santa Clara (Calif.)
Santa Clara College (Calif.)
Santa Clara County (Calif.)
Series I. Business Ledgers & Essays, 817
1879-1945
1879-1894
Scope and Content
This series documents the business and academic lives of the Pellerano family. The series includes ledgers from Pedrina, Clorinda,
and Nicholas Pellerano as well as essays from Nicholas Pellerano from his time at Santa Clara College. The ledgers come primarily
from the Commercial Department at Santa Clara College and Heald's Business School.
Arrangement
This series is arranged by format.
Box 1: Business Ledgers and School Essays, 819
1879-1945
Folder 1: Essays,
undated
Folder 2: Rena, Clorinda, Pedrine P. Ledgers,
1879 - 1889
Folder 3: Nicholas Pellerano Ledgers (folder 1 of 2),
1882 - 1889
Folder 4: Nicholas Pellerano Ledgers (folder 2 of 2),
1888 - 1889
Series II. Photographs, Letters & Miscellanea, 818
1879-1945
1879-1894
Scope and Content
This series documents the lives of the Pellerano, Boitano, and Wempe families through letters, photographs, and other ephemera.
Also included is a Selective Service Medal of Nicholas Pellerano, a decoration awarded to individuals who aided the success
of the Selective Service (drafted personnel) during World War II.
Arrangement
This series is arranged by format.
Box 2: Pellerano-Boitano Photographs and Letters, 820
circa 1879-1909
Folder 5: Portraits and Letters (folder 1 of 2),
undated
Folder 6: Portraits and Letters (folder 2 of 2),
undated
Box 3: Wempe-Pellerano Photo Album, 821
circa 1879-1900
Box 4: Contents of Wempe-Pellerano Photo Album, 822
circa 1879-1900
Box 5: Nicholas Pellerano's Selective Service Medal, Casata dei Molle Seal, 823
1945, and undated