Louis Janin Papers (Addenda): Finding Aid
Processed by The Huntington Library staff; finding aid created by Diann Benti
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
© November 2016
The Huntington Library. All rights reserved.
Overview of the Collection
Title: Louis Janin Papers (Addenda)
Dates (inclusive): 1863-1895
Collection Number: mssHM 64294-64311
Creator:
Janin, Louis, 1837-1914.
Extent:
18 volumes in 2 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 consists of 18 diaries kept between 1863 and 1895 by
American mining engineer Louis Janin (1837-1914), which
chiefly contain accounts of trip California, Nevada, Japan, and Mexico to survey mines.
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]. Louis Janin Papers (Addenda), The Huntington Library, San
Marino, California.
Provenance
Gift of Mrs. Elliot Evans, May 18, 1987..
Biographical Note
Mining engineer Louis Janin (Nov. 7, 1837-March 6, 1914), one of three sons in a New Orleans family who followed the profession
of mining engineer, figured prominently in Western mining for nearly sixty years.
Educated at Yale and then at the Freiberg Mining Academy, Janin began his career out West in 1861, shortly after his return
from Europe. He made his first mark on the profession in the early 1860s
on the Comstock Lode, where he applied his scientific training to improving the extraction of silver from formerly-discarded
tailings. In subsequent years, first in the employ of others and later in
his own practice, he obtained experience on mining fields all over the Far West. Having established a considerable reputation
as a consulting engineer for accuracy and discriminating judgment,
Janin acquired a growing list of clients including investors in Mexican properties and, in 1873, the Japanese government.
His many skills and the breadth of his experience particularly attracted
litigants in mining suits, who regularly employed Janin to ascertain the facts of the matter or provide corroborative testimony.
Although afflicted in later life with a variety of ailments, Janin
carried on with his work for some years and attained the profound respect of his peers. The three sons of his marriage to
Elizabeth Marshall, Louis, Jr., Eugene, and Charles, chose their father's
profession, carrying on the distinguished family name with their own careers.
Scope and Content
This collection contains 18 diaries of American mining engineer Louis Janin (1837-1914).
The diaries contain descriptions of mines, notes of mine surveys, and accounts of trips to survey mines in California, Nevada,
Japan,
and Mexico. Five of the volumes deal with Janin's 1873 stay in Japan, and include details regarding the management of mines
in Japan.
The diaries also include some personal and family information.
Related Materials in the Huntington Library
Arrangement
The volumes are arranged chronologically.
Indexing Terms
Subjects
Janin, Louis, 1837-1914 -- Archives.
Mines and mineral resources -- California.
Mines and mineral resources -- Japan.
Mines and mineral resources -- Mexico.
Mines and mineral resources -- Nevada.
Mines and mineral resources -- West (U.S.)
Mining engineering -- History -- 19th century -- Sources.
Mining engineers -- Archives.
Japan -- Description and travel.
Mexico -- Description and travel.
Forms/Genres
Diaries -- West (U.S.).
Box 1
Diaries, 1863-1880 (HM 64294-64302)
HM 64294
Diary, Sonora (Mexico).
1863
HM 64295
Diary.
1863-1864
HM 64297
Diary, Japan.
1873
HM 64298
Diary, Japan.
1873 March-December
HM 64299
Diary, Japan.
1873 May-August
HM 64300
Diary, Japan.
1873 August-December
HM 64301
Diary, Japan.
1873 November-December
Box 2
Diaries, 1881-1895 (HM 64303-64311)
HM 64303
Diary.
1881-1889
HM 64305
Diary.
1884-1885
HM 64306
Diary, Placerville and Santa Barbara, California.
1885
HM 64307
Diary, Baja, California (Mexico).
1886
HM 64308
Diary, Baja, California (Mexico).
1886-1888
HM 64309
Diary, Nevada and Mexico.
1887-1888
