Finding aid for Hobson family papers, 1881-1920 MVC096
Finding aid prepared by Ali Phelps under the supervision of Hannah Rogers, 2024.
This finding aid was made possible in part through funding from the County of Ventura and the Heritage Fund at the Ventura
County Community Foundation.
Museum of Ventura County
March, 2024
100 East Main Street
Ventura, CA 93001
Business Number: (805) 653-0323 (Extension: 320)
library@venturamuseum.org
Contributing Institution:
Museum of Ventura County
Title: Hobson family papers
Identifier/Call Number: MVC096
Physical Description:
.46 Cubic Feet
(1 legal-sized document box)
Date (inclusive): 1881-1920
Abstract: These papers were created by one branch of the Hobson family, early settlers in what is now known as Ventura County. Abram
Lincoln Hobson (1861 – 1929) owned land throughout southern California and was an owner of Hobson Brothers Packing Company
and Hobson City Markets. He was also actively involved in the local community. The documents include both business and personal
correspondence and papers relating to his land holdings and business interests.
Physical Location: COLLECTION STORED ON-SITE: Stored at the MVC Research Library. Requests do not have to be made in advance, but researchers
MUST make a research appointment on the
Research Library website .
Language of Material:
English
.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for research. Advance requests can be made to Research Library staff via email.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use
Property rights to the physical object belong to the Museum of Ventura County. Literary rights, including copyright, are retained
by the MVC.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Hobson family papers, MVC096, Museum of Ventura County, Research Library, Ventura, California.
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Mary Harrison; gift; undated.
Processing Information
Processed by Ali Phelps under the supervision of Hannah Rogers, 2024.
Our collections are processed using MPLP methods so that we can prioritize access for users and identify potential priorities
for more detailed processing. If while using our collections you think there is something that should be added or amended
in the finding aid, we welcome your input. You can notify staff in the reading room or send us an email at library@venturamuseum.org.
Be sure to include the collection number and name and the box number you were working with in your email.
Biographical / Historical
These records contain the papers of Helen Barnard Hobson (1861 – 1930), Abram Lincoln Hobson (1861 – 1929) and their daughter
Grace Barnard Hobson (1892 – 1968). Abram was the son of William Dewey Hobson (1829 - 1915), an early settler in the area
now called Ventura County. William is considered the "father of Ventura County" because he was selected to lobby Sacramento
for the creation of the county in 1872 and built prominent buildings in Ventura, some of which are still standing. He also
worked as a justice of the peace, briefly owned a local newspaper, and he wrote a history of Ventura County in 1876. Additionally,
he started a butcher and livestock business in 1876 that his two sons, Abram and William Hobson Jr., eventually took over
and that became Hobson Brothers Packing Company, which included Hobson City Markets located in Ventura and Oxnard. Blythe
Ranch, along the Colorado River in Riverside County, was acquired by Hobson Bros. in 1905. The property was transferred to
the newly formed Palo Verde Land and Water Company. Through this company, Abram was instrumental in developing the Palo Verde
Valley and the establishment of Blythe, California. He belonged to several local fraternal organizations, served on the board
of the Ventura County Fair, and developed Seacliff Oil Field.
Scope and Contents
These papers contain documents created by one branch of the Hobson family, including Helen Barnard Hobson (1861 – 1930), Abram
Lincoln Hobson (1861 – 1929) and their daughter Grace Barnard Hobson (1892 – 1968). The Hobsons were early settlers in what
is now called Ventura County, California. The documents include business correspondence and paperwork relating to Hobson Bros.
Packing Company, Hobson City Markets, and the Palo Verde Land Company dating from 1915 to 1920. Additionally, there is personal
correspondence, which includes both letters and postcards dating from 1881 to 1920.
Organization and Arrangement
Original order of materials has been maintained
Related Materials
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Butchers
Business enterprises -- California -- Ventura County
Business records
Correspondence
Ranches -- California -- Ventura County
Hobson Brothers Packing Company
Hobson Brothers City Market
Palo Verde Land and Water Company
Box 1, Folder 2
Personal correspondence
1889-1920
Box 1, Folder 3
Personal correspondence
1915-1920
Box 1, Folder 4
Business correspondence
1915-1920
Box 1, Folder 5
Palo Verde Land and Water Company
1917-1926
Box 1, Folder 6
Postcards and photographs
1903-1911
Box 1
Memorandum notebook, no. 1
undated
Box 1
Memorandum notebook, no. 2
undated
