Finding aid to the Harold C. Holmes collection of early California
manuscripts
Finding aid prepared by Marie Silva.
California Historical Society
678 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA, 94105-4014
(415) 357-1848
reference@calhist.org
2013
Title: Harold C. Holmes collection of early California manuscripts
Collection Identifier: MS
714
Contributing Institution:
California Historical Society
678 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA, 94105-4014
(415) 357-1848
reference@calhist.org
URL: http://www.californiahistoricalsociety.org/
Date: 1846-1868
Language of Materials: Collection materials are in
English, with one document in Spanish.
Location of Materials: Collection is stored onsite.
Abstract: Accounts, receipts for wages and goods, Gold Rush
correspondence, and other documents collected by Oakland bookseller Harold C.
Holmes, mostly relating to commercial activities in California between the years
1846 and 1868. Materials were created by various individuals and firms, including
Captain J. L. Folsom, Archibald C. Peachy, Mellus & Howard, and members of the
Fitch family. Some materials document the exchange of and disputes over horses
during the Mexican War period.
Creator:
Holmes, Harold C., 1877-1965.
Acquisition Information
The collection was given to the California Historical Society by Harold C. Holmes in
1952.
Access
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], Harold C. Holmes collection of early California
manuscripts, MS 714, California Historical Society.
Biographical Information
Harold C. Holmes was an antiquarian bookseller and owner of the Holmes Book Company
in Oakland, California.
Scope and Contents
Collection consists of accounts, receipts for wages and goods, Gold Rush
correspondence, and other documents collected by Oakland bookseller Harold C.
Holmes, mostly relating to commercial activities in California between the years
1846 and 1868. Materials were created by various individuals and firms, including
and prominently Captain J. L. Folsom, Archibald C. Peachy, Mellus & Howard, and
members of the Fitch family. Some materials document the exchange of and disputes
over horses during the Mexican War period.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
library's online public access catalog.
Fitch family.
Folsom, J. L. (Joseph Libbey),
1817-1855.
Mellus & Howard
Company.
Peachy, Archibald C.
Businessmen--California.
California--Gold discoveries.
Commerce--California.
Horses--California.
Receipts.
Mellus and Howard account with D. Ygnacio Pacheco, San
Francisco
1846-1847
Language of Materials: In Spanish.
Thomas Farrell receipts for saddles and bridles received from J. L.
Folsom, Monterey
1847 April 14
Guillermo Castro bill of sale for a horse sold to James Spears, San
Jose
1848 March 13
Scope and Contents
Bill of sale includes sketch of the horse's brand.
S. Brannan & Co. receipt, signed by Wm. Stout
1846 September 27
Jose Ycidro Sanchez statement certifying his ownership of three
horses in the possession of the United States government, witnessed by Edwin
Bryant, alcalde, San Francisco
1847 April 6
Scope and Contents
Statement includes sketches of the horses' brands.
James Alex Forbes statement certifying receipt of one horse from J.
L. Folsom, from the band in service of the United States forces, witnessed
by Edwin Bryant, alcalde, Yerba Buena
1847 May 17
Scope and Contents
Statement includes a sketch of the horse's brand.
Mereano Higero and Augustin Bernal statement empowering John McMurphy
to reclaim two horses in the government cavalcade going to Yerba Buena, San
Jose de Guadalupe
1847 September 13
William Blasdell receipt for cash for horse received from Capt. J. L.
Folsom, Corta Medeira
1848 August 6
James A. Pardee receipt for one old garrison flag to Capt. Folsom,
San Francisco
1849 April 9
Receipt to Peachy, Billings & Blunt
1850 February 12
Albert Smith receipt to Mrs. Fitch, San Diego
1850 November 19
W. H. Fitch receipt for groceries bought of John Richardson, San
Francisco
1852 April 1
San Francisco Custom House receipt for wages paid to S. E. Tesmacher,
clerk
1852 May 31
J. R. E. Raimond and R. M. Tuttle receipt for drayage and wharfage to
Mr. Fitch, San Francisco
1852 October 6
Capt. J. L. Folsom payments to Cornelius O'Connor for carpenter
work
1853 November and December
Capt. J. L. Folsom payments to Thomas Frawley for horse work, signed
by P. W. Van Winkle, San Francisco
1853 December 17
Letter to Dan McClean from his brother, San Francisco
1853 November 27
Scope and Contents
Letter discusses gold mining prospects in California.
Adams & Co. certificate of deposit to Frank Pixley
1854 September 29
Extracts from the account current of the Civil Fund of California for
the second quarter of 1849, sent to Capt. J. L. Folsom by Edward Fitzgerald,
San Francisco
1854 December 3
Receipts to Mr. Fitch, San Francisco
1855 June 29
Dan McLean letter to his brother, Camptonville
1853 December 15
Scope and Contents
Letter describes McLean's Camptonville claim.
A. C. Peachy and Josh Lewis [?] agreement concerning the sale of
Peachy's interest in the Keyser Grant, commonly known as the Llano Seco
Grant
1856 January 21
James F. S. White receipt for one beef steer, received from William
Fitch on account of potatoes delivered last fall
1858 July 22
C. C. Donnell letter to his sister, Sacramento
1861 May 9
Letter to Charley [C. C. Donnell], Sacramento
1863 March 9
Judy duty summons, issued from the District Court of the United
States, for the District Court of California, to Epes Ellery
1868 August 12
Roster of citizens of Yankee Jims pledging to contribute money for
the purpose of rebuilding a dance hall destroyed by fire
undated
Thomas B. Parks promissory note to Henry Mellus for the account of
William Leidesdorff
undated
Fragment of a letter from Joseph to his brother concerning the
journey to California
undated
