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Cawston Ostrich Farm Papers: Finding Aid
mssCawston Ostrich Farm Papers
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Table of contents
Description
This collection contains correspondence, manuscripts, documents, and ephemera of the
Cawston Ostrich Farm of Southern California
chiefly reflecting financial, business, and legal affairs of the company and
one of its owners, the Vatcher Family, as well as the ostrich feather industry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Background
The Cawston Ostrich Farm was established in 1886 by Edwin Cawston, a native of
England. The farm was originally located in Norwalk, California. Cawston moved his
ostriches to South Pasadena in 1896 along the banks of the Arroyo Seco and marketed
the enterprise as a tourist attraction. The farm was the first ostrich farm in the
United States, thus South Africa’s first competitors in the ostrich feather
industry. Cawston also took on the Germany feather dyeing monopoly and opened his
own operations in California. The feathers and dyes produced at Cawston Ostrich Farm
won medals in fairs throughout the world between 1904 and 1920. The farm was famous
for being both a tourist attraction, bringing in thousands of visitors, and a
premium feather manufacturer.
Edwin Cawston ([1866]–1920) 1895 m. Frances Routh (1871-?)
Second marriage of Edwin Cawston 1901 m. Edith Doran
Herbert J. Vatcher, Sr. (1859–1931), b. Dorsetshire, England, m. Mary Hyde Vatcher
William H. Vatcher (1888–1960)
Ernest G. Vatcher (died 1961) m. Mary L.
Mary Elizabeth Vatcher (goes by Elizabeth)
Charles E. Vatcher, Herbert J. Vatcher’s brother
Bessie Daffurn, Herbert J. Vatcher’s sister
Rose Craig, Lillian Craig Vatcher’s sister
Elizabeth Rowe, Lillian Craig Vatcher’s sister
Children of Edwin and Edith Cawston:
- John Cawston, 1908
- Daughter
Herbert J. Vatcher, Jr. Family Tree
- Three children: Jane, Marjorie and William
- Joan Elizabeth m. Charles E. Taylor in 1946
Extent
1,156 items in 6 boxes and one
oversize folder.
Restrictions
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to
quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such
activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is
one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
Availability
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services
Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.