Collection Guide
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Guide to the McGurk Family Papers
MS 36
MS 36
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Table of contents
Title: McGurk Family Papers
Identifier/Call Number: MS 36
Contributing Institution:
San Diego History Center Document Collection
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.25 Linear feet
(1 box)
Date (inclusive): 1868-1911
Abstract: This collection consists primarily of correspondence between Edward McGurk (a businessman in San Diego in the late 1800s)
and his family, as well as several other family papers.
creator:
McGurk, Edward
Biographical / Historical Notes
Edward McGurk is first listed in the militia rolls for San Diego County in 1881. Described in one source as a tugboat captain,
McGurk was listed in the city directory of 1887 as a capitalist. In that year, he was responsible for the development of the
McGurk Block in what is now the Gaslamp Quarter. McGurk was responsible for the construction of the three-storied building
which houses the Ferris Drug store. McGurk was listed in the directories for 1906 and 1907 as the president of the Pioneer
Truck Company. The last listing for McGurk in any of the directories is for 1908, after which his name disappears.
The collection consists primarily of correspondence between Edward McGurk and his family. Also included are copies of deeds
and death records of other members of the McGurk family. Most of the correspondence is with family and friends who live in
either Philadelphia, New Jersey or Europe, and contain subtle references to the Irish sense of family and community. Little
information on San Diego is included, although one letter from 1896 mentions a carnival on the bay and a 1903 letter mentions
a strike by plumbers and carpenters.
This collection is arranged by material type.
McGurk Family Papers, MS 36, San Diego History Center Document Archives, San Diego, CA.
This collection is open for research.
The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.
Collection processed by Sean Shiraishi in November 2006 and Samantha Mills in February 2017.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Cullen Family
Farren Family
McAnulty Family
McGurk Family
San Diego (Calif.)