Inventory of the Charles L. Stilson Papers
Sara Gunasekara
Department of Special Collections
General Library
University of California, Davis
Davis, CA 95616-5292
Phone: (530) 752-1621
Fax: (530) 754-5758
Email: speccoll@ucdavis.edu
© 2012
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Creator:
Stilson, Charles L.
Title: Charles L. Stilson Papers
Date (inclusive): 1864-1885
Extent:
0.2 linear feet
Abstract: Charles L. Stilson (1844-1922) was a businessman in Chico, California. The collection contains twenty-three letters, the majority
of which are written to Stilson by the aunt who raised him, Elizabeth L. Stilson. The letters discuss life in Chico, family
news, and Stilson's business dealings.
Physical location: Researchers should contact Special Collections to request collections, as many are stored offsite.
Repository:
University of California, Davis. General Library. Dept. of Special Collections.
Davis, California 95616-5292
Collection number: MC248
Language of Material: Collection materials in English.
Biography
Charles L. Stilson was born August 10, 1844 in Goshen, Indiana to Abner and Melissa Denham Stilson. After the death of his
parents in 1847, Charles and his two brothers went to live with their aunt and uncle, Elizabeth L. Dickerson (b. circa 1824-1825)
and James Stancliff Stilson (b. 1811) in Walworth County, Wisconsin.
Stilson arrived in Chico, California in July 1863 and worked for several years in John Bidwell’s store. In 1868, he established
his own store with Charles L. Pond on Main Street. In 1886, he was appointed Butte County Clerk and elected to the office
for four successive terms. He was admitted to practice law in California in 1894.
He married Emma Dolliver (1848-1940) on November 6, 1871 in San Jose, California. They had two children, Eleanor F. (1879-1938)
and Lois W.
Charles Stilson passed away on April 12, 1922 in Chico, California.
Source:
Mansfield, George C.
History of Butte County, California: with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified
with its growth and development from the early days to the present.
Chico, CA: Association for Northern California Records and Research, 1996, c1918.
Scope and Content
The collection contains twenty-three letters, the majority of which are written to Stilson by the aunt who raised him, Elizabeth
L. Stilson. The letters discuss life in Chico, family news, and Stilson's business dealings.
Arrangement of the Collection
The collection is arranged in two series: Correspondence and Ephemera.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Stilson, Charles L.--Archives
Stilson, Elizabeth L.--Correspondence
Chico (Calif.)--History
Butte County (Calif.)--History
Access
Collection is open for research.
Processing Information
Sara Gunasekara processed this collection.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Charles L. Stilson Papers, MC248, Department of Special Collections, General Library, University
of California, Davis.
Publication Rights
Copyright is protected by the copyright law, chapter 17, of the U.S. Code. All requests for permission to publish or quote
from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf
of the Department of Special Collections, General Library, University of California, Davis as the owner of the physical items
and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.
Series 1.
Correspondence
1864-1885
Physical Description:
23 letters
Scope and Content Note
Arranged in three subseries: Outgoing, Incoming, and Third Party.
Subseries 1.1
Outgoing
1885
Physical Description:
1 letter
Scope and Content Note
Contains one letter written by Charles.
Subseries 1.2
Incoming
1864-1885
Physical Description:
19 letters
Scope and Content Note
Contains nineteen letters written to Charles Stilson. The majority of the letters are written by E.L. Stilson. Arranged chronologically.
Box MC248:2
Stilson, E.L.
1864 March 13
Box MC248:3
Stilson, E.L.
1873 January 15
Box MC248:4
Stilson, E.L.
1875 January 3
Box MC248:5
Stilson, J.S.
1877 February 23
Box MC248:6
Stilson, J.S.
1877 June 3
Box MC248:7
Stilson, J.S.
1877 September 9
Box MC248:8
Foye, W.R.S.
1881 August 29
Box MC248:9
Huntington, Hopkins & Co.
1881 November 14
Box MC248:10
Foye, W.R.S.
1882 March 4
Box MC248:11
Schaur, William
1883 March 12
Box MC248:12
Huntington, Hopkins & Co.
1885 April 16
Box MC248:13
Nichols, A.L.
1885 April 28
Subseries 1.3
Third Party
undated
Physical Description:
3 letters
Scope and Content Note
Contains three letters written to Stilson's wife, Emma. Arranged chronologically.
Box MC248:21
Black, A.S. to Emma Stilson
undated
Box MC248:22
Black, A.S. to Emma Stilson
undated
Box MC248:23
Stilson, E.L. to Emma Stilson
undated
Series 2.
Ephemera
1866-1877
Scope and Content Note
Arranged chronologically.
Box MC248:24
Teacher's Certificate for Charles L. Stilson from Butte County
1866 February 24