Collection Contents

Physical Description: 4 file folders

Arranged chronologically.

Chronological files of the California State Geological Survey, or Whitney Survey. Included are many correspondences by Josiah D. Whitney and other members of the Geological Survey to the governors of California regarding progress of the Survey, its funding, and progress made on publications produced by the Survey. Also contained in the files are letters of congratulations on the formation of the Survey, support for its continuance, and requests for copies of its publications. Bills and receipts are also included for the initial outfitting of the Survey. Throughout the files are found statements of expenditures for work done over either a six or twelve month period. Another series of correspondence is related to the controversial work done by Amos Bowman for the Survey.

Of interest is a petition calling for the continuance of the Survey that is signed by such figures as R.S. Williamson, Alvinza Hayward, Amos Bowman, Henry Hanks, Theodore Hittell, A.W. Von Schmidt. J. Ross Browne, Britton & Rey, J.D. Hooker, H.H. Bancroft & Co., and Goodyear & Blake. Also of interest is a statement by C.E. Hoffmann, Chief Topographer, regarding the inaccuracies in the codes on location of county boundaries. In the letters concerning the dissolution of the Survey is a statement by Whitney on his suggestions for disposition of their collection and includes a call for a State Museum.