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Guide to the Douglas Gunn Papers
MS 220
MS 220
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Title: Douglas Gunn Papers
Identifier/Call Number: MS 220
Contributing Institution:
San Diego History Center Document Collection
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.25 Linear feet
(1 box)
Date (inclusive): 1873-1889
Abstract: This collection contains information on Douglas Gunn who was the owner of the San Diego Union newspaper (1873-1886) and served
as San Diego’s first mayor (1889-1891). It includes essays, speeches, correspondence, and information on Gunn’s business affairs.
creator:
Gunn, Douglas
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The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials.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 Jody Valente on November 7, 2011.
Collection processed as part of grant project supported by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) with generous
funding from The Andrew Mellon Foundation.
Douglas Gunn Papers, MS 220, San Diego History Center Document Collection, San Diego, CA.
Biographical / Historical Notes
Douglas Gunn was born in Southern Ohio in 1841 to Dr. and Mrs. Lewis C. Gunn. He had three sisters along with a brother, Chester
C. Gunn. The Gunn family moved from Ohio in 1852 and settled in Sonora, California. Douglas’ father, Lewis, was involved in
the newspaper business and became editor of the San Francisco Times. In 1868, the Gunn family moved to San Diego. Initially
Gunn served as a reporter and printer for the San Diego Union, and in June 1873 he purchased the newspaper interest from Edward
Bushyhead, becoming the seventh owner. Gunn introduced the first steam printing press to San Diego, which greatly increased
printing speed and efficiency. He served as the newspaper’s owner for thirteen years, selling it in 1886.
Gunn was involved in various aspects of San Diego civic affairs. He worked to promote the railway line that linked the Atchison,
Topeka and Santa Fe system to San Diego and purchased interest in the rail line. He wrote several literary pieces on San Diego,
including a Historical Sketch of San Diego, Picturesque San Diego and San Diego Illustrated. In May, 1886, a new city charter
was adopted, which organized San Diego as a city of the sixth class . In December, 1888 fifteen freeholders were elected to
frame a new charter and Douglas Gunn was one of the appointees. In 1889, he was elected the first mayor under this new charter
and served until 1891. He passed away in 1891 from a heart condition.
The collection contains documents related to Gunn’s involvement in the newspaper, the railroad and the municipality of San
Diego. Correspondence for the San Diego Union Newpaper includes letters from Charles Nordhoff, who worked as a New York journalist.
Several letters mention the politician Horace Greeley, who served as the newspaper editor for the Jeffersonian in New York.
Of particular interest is the sale of interest for the San Diego Union newspaper, signed by Edward Bushyhead.
Documents related to the railroad include a promissory note dated August 13, 1880 to E.W. Morse in the amount of one hundred
dollars to connect the rail line with the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad. Once the railway connected to San Diego, Gunn invited
various politicians and businessmen to a celebration of its completion. Correspondence declining the invitation to attend
includes letters from: George Stoneman, Governor of California; Lucius G. Pratt, railroad representative; and E.F. Spence,
Mayor of Los Angeles.
Various literary pieces written by Gunn are in the collection, including essays on the freedom of the press and the role of
newspapers, and a copy of Gunn’s publication "A Historical Sketch of San Diego." Thank you letters acknowledge receipt of
Gunn’s book "Picturesque San Diego" which he mailed as a gift to colleagues.
The collection also contains a number of speeches, including one that Gunn gave in 1887, making his endorsements for the upcoming
city elections, and another that was given on the day of President Benjamin Harrison’s visit to San Diego in 1891.
Items in the collection are arranged by subject.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Company.
Bushyhead, Edward
Evans, Taliesin
Greeley, Horace, 1811-1872
Greely, Henrietta Hudson Cruger Nesmith
Gunn family
Gunn, Douglas
Harrison, Benjamin, 1833-1901
Nordhoff, Charles, 1830-1901
Stoneman, George, 1822-1894
Local government
Newspapers
Political science
Public speaking
Publications
Railroads
San Diego (Calif.)
Speeches, addresses, etc.