Finding aid to the Heller Ehrman historical collection, 1893-2007
MS 4135
Finding aid prepared by Jaime Henderson
California Historical Society
678 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA, 94105-4014
(415) 357-1848
reference@calhist.org
2014
Title: Heller Ehrman historical collection
Date (inclusive): 1893-2007
Date (bulk): 1980-2000
Collection Identifier: MS
4135
Creator:
Heller, Ehrman, White and McAuliffe.
Physical Description:
20.0 Linear feet
Repository:
California Historical Society
678 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
415-357-1848
URL:http://californiahistoricalsociety.org/
Location of Materials: Collection is stored
onsite.
Language of Materials: Collection materials are in English.
Abstract: The collection consists of the historical
collection of the Heller Ehrman law firm, including papers, books, photographs, and
audiovisual materials related to the firm’s history, dated from 1893 to 2007.The
materials were collected by Heller Ehrman staff to document the firm’s corporate
history, and some were included in history exhibits installed in the firm’s offices.
The collection does not include legal case files or materials documenting the firm’s
2008 dissolution.
Access
Collection is open for research, with the following exceptions: motion picture, VHS,
Umatic and Beta tapes are unavailable for viewing. Use digitized copies, available
on DVD.
Publication Rights
All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from or otherwise use collection materials
must be submitted in writing to the Director of Library and Archives, North Baker
Research Library, California Historical Society, 678 Mission Street, San Francisco,
CA 94105. Consent is given on behalf of the California Historical Society as the
owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission from
the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright owner.
Restrictions also apply to digital representations of the original materials. Use of
digital files is restricted to research and educational purposes.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Heller Ehrman historical collection, MS 4135, California
Historical Society.
Existence and Location of Copies
Digitized copies of VHS, Umatic and Beta tapes are available for research.
Acquisition Information
The Heller Ehrman historical collection was given to the California Historical
Society by Heller Ehrman, LLP.
Accruals
No additions are expected.
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Jaime Henderson in 2013.
System of Arrangement
The Heller Ehrman historical collection is arranged in three series. The series
arrangement of the collection is as follows: Series 1: Organizational history,
1893-2007; Series 2: Law library, 1852-1924, 1978; Series 3: Photographs,
1930s-2000s.
The arrangement of the collection was imposed by California Historical Society
staff.
Corporate History
Heller Ehrman had its start in 1890 when Emanuel S. Heller opened his law office at
124 Sansome Street, San Francisco. Early in his career Heller provided legal counsel
to Isaias W. Hellman’s Nevada Bank and the Union Trust Company. In 1891 Heller moved
his office to 309 Montgomery, perhaps to be closer to these two early San Francisco
financial institutions. In 1896 Ehrman partnered with Francis H. Powers to form
Heller & Powers; in 1905 the firm took on another partner, Sidney M. Ehrman
forming Heller, Powers & Ehrman. The growing firm moved to 14 Montgomery in late
1905, but by April of 1906 their offices, law library and records had been destroyed
by the San Francisco earthquake and fire. The firm, along with Wells Fargo Nevada
National Bank and the Union Trust Company, took temporary refuge in Heller’s home at
1801 California Street. Eventually the firm relocated to more permanent offices at
the convergence of Post, Montgomery and Market streets. Powers died in 1920 and
shortly thereafter Jerome White and Florence McAuliffe joined the partnership,
establishing the firm as Heller, Ehrman, White & McAuliffe. The firm continued
under this name until 2005 when it was shortened to Heller Ehrman.
The firm played a major role in the development of San Francisco and the Bay Area,
providing legal counsel for Wells Fargo Nevada National Bank, the Spring Valley
Water Company and negotiating the financing for the construction of the San
Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. The firm also had an active role in the construction
of Hoover Dam and the Golden Gate Bridge. From the firm’s earliest beginnings it
provided legal counseling to corporations, facilitating corporate public offerings,
mergers and acquisitions, anti-trust litigation and commercial litigation. Heller
Ehrman was also recognized for its pro bono work, providing counsel for
conscientious objectors, prison inmates, animal welfare causes, environmental
groups, refugees and Native Americans.
Throughout the late 1970s and into the early 2000s the firm expanded worldwide until
its dissolution in 2008.
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of the historical collection of the Heller Ehrman law firm,
including papers, books, photographs, and audiovisual materials related to the
firm’s history, dated from 1893 to 2007.The materials were collected by Heller
Ehrman staff to document the firm’s corporate history, and some were included in
history exhibits installed in the firm’s offices. The collection does not include
legal case files or materials documenting the firm’s 2008 dissolution.
The collection includes papers, photographs, and digitized audiovisual materials
related to the firm’s history and centennial commemoration in 1991; oral histories,
biographies, and personal papers of partners and members of the firm; materials on
corporate culture including the firm’s core values, fair practices, diversity, work
and social activities; digitized television broadcasts covering cases represented by
Heller Ehrman lawyers; financial records; tributes and awards honoring Heller Ehrman
and its partners; photographs; and a portion of the Heller Ehrman law library.
Technical Access
The Heller Ehrman historical collection contains audiovisual materials that have been
digitized. Some material is only available on DVD.
Existence and Location of Originals
Original VHS, Umatic, and Beta tapes are not available for research. Use DVD
copies.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
library's online public access catalog:
Ehrman, Sidney M.
Heilbron, Louis H.
Heller, Ehrman, White & McAuliffe.
Heller, Emanuel S.
McAuliffe, Florence
Weinberger, Caspar W.
White, Jerome
Artifacts.
Corporate culture.
DVDs.
Electronic mail messages.
Financial records.
Heller, Ehrman, White and McAuliffe -- Archive.
Heller, Ehrman, White and McAuliffe -- History.
Lawyers -- Biography.
Lawyers -- Interviews.
Memorandums.
Newsletters.
Oral histories.
Photograph albums.
Photographic prints.
Presentations.
Speeches.
Organizational history
1893-2006
Box 1, Folder 1, MSP Carton 1
Surviving the 1906 San Francisco earthquake
undated
Access
Original recording is unavailable for paging and viewing. Use digital
copy on DVD (Box 1, Folder 1).
Technical Access
Surviving the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake transferred to DVD.
MSP Carton 1, Box 1, Folders 2-3
Who we are
1990
Technical Access
Who we are, 1990, transferred to DVD.
Access
Original recording is unavailable for paging and viewing. Use digital
copy on DVD (Box 1, Folder 3).
Scope and Contents
Contains script and DVD of company's "Who we Are" video.
MSP Carton 1, Box 1, Folders 4-5
Centennial commemoration
1981-1991
Scope and Contents
Contains manuscript materials and DVD about the firm's 1991
centennial commemoration.
Access
Original recordings are unavailable for paging and viewing. Use
digital copies on DVD (Box 1, Folder 5).
Technical Access
Centennial commemoration, 1991, transferred to DVD.
Box 1, Folder 6
Miscellaneous firm histories
1958-1998
Box 1, Folder 8
Heller history exhibit, New York office
2004-2005
Box 1, Folder 9
Heller history exhibit, San Francisco office
2003-2006
Partners and members of the firm
1930-2006
Box 2, Folder 1
Lloyd Dinkelspiel
1976, undated
Box 2, Folder 2
Sidney M. Ehrman
1930-2004, undated
Box 2, Folder 3
Richard E. Guggenhime
1967-1988
Box 2, Folders 4-7, Box 3, Folders 1-3
Louis Heilbron
1966-2006
Scope and Contents
Includes general materials along with Heilbron's speeches and other
writings; research related to establishment and free exercise
clauses; and materials related to his death and memorial.
Box 3, Folder 4
Emanuel S. Heller
2004, undated
Box 3, Folder 5
Weyman Lundquist
2006, undated
Box 3, Folder 6
Florence McAuliffe
1986, undated
Box 3, Folder 7
Francis Powers
2002, undated
Box 3, Folders 8-9
Julian Stern
1986-2004, undated
Box 4, Folder 1
Caspar Weinberger
1970-2006
Box 4, Folder 2
Jerome White
1955, 2007, undated
Box 5, Folders 1-4, Box 4, Folders 3-7
Attorney and administrator biographies
1983-1998
Box 6, Folders 3-4
Miscellaneous partners and members of firm
1969-2006
Box 6, Folders 3-4, MSP Carton 1
Video and television appearances of partners and members of
firm
1988-2002
Scope and Contents
Includes video and television appearances of many of the firm's
partners including Weyman Lundquist, Michael Shepard, and Richard
Martin speaking as commentators. Topics include United States and
Soviet trade post 1991 coup, bio-terrorism, genetic discrimination,
and the Martha Stewart, WorldCom, Enron, and Arthur Andersen
scandals. Video has been digitized and is available on six DVDs.
Technical Access
All video and television appearances of partners and members of firm
have been transferred to DVDs.
Access
Original recordings are unavailable for paging and viewing. Use
digital copies on DVDs (Box 6, Folders 3-4).
Oral histories
1979, 1989-1991
Scope and Contents
Contains transcripts of oral histories only.
Box 8, Folder 4
Richard J. Guggenhime
1989
Box 8, Folder 6
Christopher L. Kaufman
1989
Box 8, Folder 13, Box 8, Folder 13
Box 9, Folder 1
M. Laurence Popofsky
1989
Box 9, Folder 5
Michael A. Roosevelt
1989
Box 9, Folder 13
Index to oral history transcripts
undated
Corporate culture
1954-2004
MSP Carton 2, Box 10, Folders 1-4
Core value interviews
2003-2004
Box 10, Folder 5
Administrative and staff support
1987, 1990
Box 11, Folders 1-2
Fair practice and diversity
1960s, 1989-2002
MSP Carton 2, Box 11, Folder 3-4
Work and social activities
1965-2004
Technical Access
The video recordings in Work and social activities have been
transferred to DVD.
Access
Original recordings are unavailable for paging and viewing. Use
digital copies on DVD (Box 11, Folder 4).
Box 11, Folder 5
Lawyer humor
1954-2004, undated
Clients and legal cases
1909-2005
Box 12, Folder 1
Legal counseling
1909, 1920
Box 12, Folder 2
Joseph Parisi v. Major General Phillip B.
Davidson, Captain Coughlin, Stanley Resor
1971
Box 12, Folder 3
Trafficante v. Metropolitan Life Insurance
Company
1971
Box 12, Folder 4
Chicken Delight, Inc. v. Harvey and Elaine
Siegel
1971
Box 12, Folder 5
George Foreman and Charles R. Sadler v.
George Foreman Associates, Ltd.
1975
Box 12, Folder 6
Regents of the University of California v.
Allan Bakke
1976
Box 12, Folder 7
Continental T.V., Inc. A&G Sales, Sylpac,
Inc. and S.A.M. Industries, Inc. v. GTE Sylvania
Incorporated
1976
Box 12, Folder 8
Merck KGaA, v. Integra LifeSciences, Ltd. and
the Burnham Institute
2005
Box 12, Folder 9
Alberto Gonzales v. State of
Oregon
2006
Box 12, Folder 10
Rumsfeld v. Forum for Academic and
Institutional Rights, Inc.
2003-2006
Box 12, Folder 11, MSP Carton 2
Heller Ehrman legal cases
1986-2004
Scope and Contents
Contains two DVDs with recordings of television segments on the
following legal matters and cases: Beryl Buck trust, Marine Mammal
Protection Act, Anti-Defamation League,
Cheema v. Thompson, Caltrans evictions, Holocaust
survivors insurance claims, military recruitment at universities,
and same sex marriage in New Paltz, New York.
Technical Access
Heller Ehrman legal cases, 1986-2004, have been transferred to
DVD.
Access
Original recordings are unavailable for paging and viewing. Use
digital copies on DVD (Box 12, Folder 11).
Box 12, Folder 12
Miscellaneous legal cases
2005, undated
Financial records
1906-1986
Box 14, Folder 2
Examination of accounts
1968-1970
Box 14, Folder 6
Miscellaneous financial documents
1978-1999
Tributes and awards
1978-2005
A tribute to Louis Heilbron and Robert Harris
5 February 2004
Jerome White and Florence McAuliffe, a tribute
2005
MSP Carton 2, Box 15, Folder 3
Tribute and awards to partners
1990-2005
Scope and Contents
Includes recorded tributes to the following partners: Richard E.
Guggenhime, Bob Rosenfeld, Louis Heilbron, Robert Harris, Bob
Borton, Curt Caton, Barry Steven Levin, Jerome White and Florence
McAuliffe.
Access
Original recordings are unavailable for paging and viewing. Use
digital copies on DVD (Box 15, Folder 3).
Technical Access
Tribute and awards to partners, 1990-2005, transferred to DVD.
OV Box 1
Appreciation from the Central American Refugee
Center
undated
OV Box 1
Community Service Award from La Raza Centro Legal
1990
OV Box 2
Tribute in honor of the centennial of Heller, Ehrman, White
& McAuliffe, presented by Wells Fargo Bank
26 June 1991
Box 15, Folder 4, OV Box 2, Folder 2
Miscellaneous awards
1978-2007
Box 15, Folder 5
Partnership agreements
1896-1916
Box 16, Folders 1-2, Box 15, Folders 6-7, MSP Carton 2
Supporting documents and media
1893-2006
Access
Original recordings are unavailable for paging and viewing. Use digital
copies on DVD (Box 16, Folder 2).
Technical Access
Some materials in Supporting documents and media, 1893-2006 have been
transferred to DVD.
Scope and Contents
Contains documents and the following recorded material: Summer associates
luncheon 1987; New associates luncheon, 1990; recordings related to the
Hong Kong office opening in 2003; Peter Rhodes presentation; Heller
Ehrman versus Anonymity, 2002; Shareholders retreat, 2004; and office
tours, 2006.
OV Box 2, Folder 1, Box 16, Folder 5
OV Folder 1, Box 16, Folder 6
State Bar Association and Bar Association of San
Francisco
1937-1959, 1992
Law library
1852-1924, 1978
Box 17
The statutes of California passed at the third
session of the legislature
. San Francisco: G.K. Fitch &
Co., and V.E. Geiger & Co.
1852
Box 17
The statutes of California passed at the fourth
session of the legislature
. San Francisco: George
Kerr.
1853
Box 17
The statutes of California passed at the seventh
session of the legislature
. Sacramento: James
Allen.
1856
Carton 2
Crocker, E.B.
California digest; digest of
decisions of the supreme court of the state of California
.
Sacramento: Crocker & Edwards.
1856
Carton 2
Gear, H.L.
California digest, supplement;
a digest of the reports of the supreme court of California
.
Vols. 56-64, inclusive. San Francisco: A.L. Bancroft & Co. and
Sumner Whitney & Co.
1886
Carton 2
Haymond, Creed, John C. Burch and John H. McKune.
The political code of the state of
California
. Vol. 1-2. Sacramento: T.A. Springer.
1872
Carton 2
Haymond, Creed and John C. Burch.
The
political code of the state of California, annotated, 1st
ed
. Vol. 1-2. Sacramento: H.S. Crocker & Co.
1872
Carton 2
Revised laws of the state of California in four
codes: political code
. Sacramento: T.A.
Springer.
1872
Carton 2
Haymond, Creed, John C. Burch and John H. McKune.
The penal code of California. Sacramento:
T.A. Springer.
1872
Carton 1
Jones, Leonard A.
An index to legal
periodical literature
. Boston: The Boston Book
Company.
1888
Carton 1
Jones, Leonard A.
An index to legal
periodical literature, 1887-1899.
Vol. 2. Boston: Boston
Book Company.
1899
Carton 1
Chipman, Frank E.
An index to legal
periodical literature, 1908-1922.
Vol. 4. Boston: The
Chipman Law Publishing Company.
1924
Carton 1
Chipman, Frank E.
An index to legal
periodical literature, 1898-1907
. Vol. 3. Boston: The Boston
Book Company.
1919
Carton 1
Johnston, A.J.
Index to the laws of
California, 1850-1893
. Sacramento: State Printing
Office.
1894
Carton 1
Legislative Counsel.
Index to the laws of
California, 1850-1920
. Sacramento: California State Printing
Office.
1921
Carton 1
Legislative Counsel.
Index to the laws of
California, 1850-1920, supplement
. Sacramento: California
Printing Office.
1921
Carton 3
Pomeroy, Carter P.
The codes and statutes
of California
. San Francisco: Bancroft-Whitney
Company.
1901
Carton 3
Pomeroy, Carter P.
Supplement to Pomeroy's
annotated codes of 1901
. San Francisco: Bancroft-Whitney
Company.
1902
Carton 3
Hyatt, W.H.
Henning's general laws of
California, 3rd. ed.
Vol. 1. San Francisco: Bender-Moss
Company.
1921
Carton 3
Hyatt, W.H.
Henning's general laws of
California, 3rd ed.
Vol. 2. San Francisco: Bender-Moss
Company.
1921
Carton 2
Garfielde, S. and F.A. Snyder.
Compiled
laws of the state of California
. Boston: Press of the
Franklin Printing House.
1853
Box 17
Parker, Charles H.
The general laws of the
state of California, 1864-1871
. San Francisco: A.L. Bancroft
and Company.
1871
Carton 5
Hittell, Theodore H.
Codes and statutes of
California: civil procedure, penal code, statues
. Vol. 2.
San Francisco: A.L. Bancroft and Company.
1876
Box 17
White, Clinton L. and Wilbur F. George.
Criminal law and practice of California. San Francisco:
A.L. Bancroft and Company.
1881
Carton 1
Hart, Albert.
The civil code of the state
of California
. San Francisco: Sumner Whitney and
Company.
1881
Carton 3
Finlayson, Frank G.
Street work laws of
the state of California
. Los Angeles: Chas. W. Palm
Co.
1893
Carton 2
Deering, James H.
Supplement to the codes
of California
. San Francisco: Bancroft-Whitney
Co.
1893
Carton 4
United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit.
The San Francisco National Bank v. Washington
Dodge
. San Francisco: The Filmer Brothers Co.
1903
Carton 5
Palm's California case citations. Vols.
1-147. Los Angeles: Chas. W. Palm Company.
1906
Carton 5
Coffey, James V.
Reports of decisions in
probate
. Vols. 1-6. San Francisco: Bancroft-Whitney
Company.
1908
Carton 4
Ross, Peter V.
California unreported
cases, annotated
. Vols. 1-7. San Francisco: Bender-Moss
Company.
1913
Carton 3
Stern, Julian M.
Ciba-Geigy corporation:
purchase of preferred stock of Alza Corporation.
1978
MSP Box 1, Folder 1
Lloyd Dinkelspiel, Sr.
undated
MSP Box 1, Folder 2
Sidney Ehrman
1953-1989, undated
MSP Box 1, Folder 3
Richard Guggenhime, Sr.
undated
MSP Box 1, Folder 5
Emanuel S. Heller
undated
MSP Box 1, Folder 6
Florence McAuliffe
undated
MSP Box 1, Folder 8
Caspar Weinberger
undated
MSP Box 1, Folder 9, MSP Flat box 3, Folder 1
MSP Box 1, Folder 10, MSP Flat box 3, Folder 1
Miscellaneous partners and members of firm
1970-1980, undated
MSP Flat box 3, Folder 1, MSP Box 1, Folder 11
San Francisco, California office
1980s, undated
MSP Box 1, Folder 12
Anchorage, Alaska office
undated
MSP Box 1, Folder 13
Portland, Oregon office
1980s
MSP Box 1, Folder 14
Miscellaneous offices
undated
MSP Box 1, Folder 16
Firm history
undated
Technical Access
Some of the photographs in Firm History have been digitized and are
available on disc.
MSP Box 1, Folder 18
Centennial celebration
1991
MSP Flat box 1
Photograph album, Heller Ehrman annual dinner
undated
MSP Flat box 1
Photograph album, partners and members of firm
1961
MSP Flat box 2
Photograph album, dinner honoring Caspar Weinberger
1970
MSP Flat box 3
Photograph album, firm Christmas party
1974
MSP Flat box 2
Photograph album, firm picnic at Stern Grove
1979
MSP Box 1, Folder 19
Miscellaneous negatives
undated
MSP Box 2, Folders 1-2
Slides, centennial slide show
1990
MSP Box 2, Folder 3
Slides, partners and members of the firm
undated
MSP Box 2, Folder 4
Slides, corporate culture
undated
MSP Box 3
Hard drives containing digitized material
Access
Hard drives are unavailable for paging. Use files on compact discs or
DVDs.