Register of the James Howard Collection
MSS.698
Finding aid prepared by Mandeville Special Collections Library
Mandeville Special Collections Library
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla, California, 92093-0175
858-534-2533
spcoll@ucsd.edu
2009-03-30
Title: James Howard Collection
Identifier/Call Number: MSS.698
Contributing Institution:
Mandeville Special Collections Library
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
1.4 lin. ft.
(1 archives box and 5 oversize folders)
Date: circa 1882-1939
Abstract: The James Howard Collection documents the life of a mining foreman who lived in Guadalajara, Mexico. Most of the papers relate
to Howard’s experience as a foreman at the Amparo Mining Company. The materials, written in both English and Spanish, include
blueprints and plans for mining equipment, a large amount of photography from throughout the region, and a personal diary
from Howard. The collection also includes a small amount of biographical material about Howard, including personal correspondence
and a genealogical chart for the Howard clan.
creator:
Howard, James, 1868-
Biographical/Historical note
James H. Howard was born in England on January 20, 1868. In 1883 he emigrated from England and came to New York; he then moved
to Texas in 1885, where he worked for the International Mining Company as a timberman. In 1889 Howard moved to Guadalajara,
Mexico, where he settled in the American Colony of Colonia Seattle. Howard took a job working at the Amparo Mining Company
in Bolaños, a mining district north of Guadalajara.
In Guadalajara, Howard met and married Maria Ignacia Martínez. In order to marry Martínez, he had to prove to the Mexican
government that we was indeed single, and that he had never married before in England or America. As proof, Howard obtained
three letters from his former employers as documentation to contest to his unmarried status. Howard and Martínez had their
first child, Katherine Eleanor Howard on March 6, 1911.
Scope and Contents note
The materials from the James Howard Collection are written in English and Spanish and date from the late-19th and the early-20th
centuries. They relate largely to mining, as well as James Howard's family life in Guadalajara.
The papers are arranged in four series: 1) CORRESPONDENCE, 2) GUADALAJARA HOUSING AND MINING DOCUMENTS, 3) PHOTOGRAPHS, and
4) BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS.
SERIES 1: CORRESPONDENCE
The CORRESPONDENCE series is comprised of letters pertaining to Howard's personal life, including a personal letter from his
sister and a postcard from his mother. The majority of the correspondence is written in Spanish, with the exception of one
letter from H. Winninghoff that is written in both English and Spanish. These letters are organized in alphabetical order.
SERIES 2: GUADALAJARA HOUSING AND MINING DOCUMENTS
The GUADALAJARA HOUSING AND MINING DOCUMENTS series includes blueprints and plans for mining equipment and operations in central
Mexico. These plans include a blueprint for the installation of three boilers for the Amparo Mining Company, as well as a
pen and ink drawing from the San Nicolas del Monte mines in Guanajuato. Most of these documents are in Spanish. This series
also contains two pamphlets, published in 1913, from
Colonia Seattle, the American Colony in Guadalajara where Howard and his family resided.
These documents are arranged in alphabetical order.
SERIES 3: PHOTOGRAPHS
The PHOTOGRAPHS series is made up of black-and-white photographs of the Bolaños mines. This is the largest portion of the
collection, and includes three photo albums and loose prints. The photographs portray daily life in Bolaños, including images
of the mill and mines, as well as photographs of Howard working at the mill or riding his horse around the settlement.
One important thing to note regarding these photographs is the photo album Howard created in 1921. This photo album, which
contains thirty black-and-white prints of the Bolaños township, were labeled by Howard and are a good reference to the layout
of the town and its settlements. Another photo album, which contains twelve black-and-white prints from Hacienda de Nueva,
was given to Howard as a gift from F.K. Boyd, and has photographs that capture the working mill. Loose prints include a cyanotype
of Howard and a companion taken in Bolaños in front of steps which appear to lead into one of the silver mines.
SERIES 4: BIOGRAPHICALS MATERIALS
The BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS series contains documents pertaining to James Howard and his family, which include a baptism announcement
for Howard's first born daughter, Katherine Eleanor, dated March 16, 1911, as well as an official listing of her birth in
the publication
Diario Oficial, dated April 22, 1911. This series also includes James Howard's diary from 1919, which gives a daily account of Howard's
personal life and business dealings.
These items have been arranged in alphabetical order.
Access
Collection is open for research.
Preferred Citation note
James Howard Collection. MSS 698. Mandeville Special Collections Library, UCSD.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Amparo Mining Company.
British--Mexico--Jalisco--Guadalajara
Mines and mineral resources--Mexico--Jalisco
Mining corporations -- Mexico -- Jalisco
Portrait photographs -- 19th century.
Portrait photoprints -- 20th century.
Box 1, Folder 1
F.E.H. Postcard to James Howard
September 8, 1906
Language of Material:
English
Box 1, Folder 2
Graham, H. Letter to James Howard
May 24, 1900
Language of Material:
Spanish; Castilian
Box 1, Folder 3
Noble, O.J. Letter to James Howard
May 16, 1900
Language of Material:
Spanish; Castilian
Box 1, Folder 4
Sister (Erica?) Letter to James Howard
February 17, 1917
Language of Material:
Spanish; Castilian
Box 1, Folder 5
Winninghoff, H. Letter to James Howard. In Spanish and English
May 14, 1900
Language of Material:
Spanish; Castilian
Guadalajara Housing And Mining Documents
Box 1, Folder 6, Oversize FB 483-06
Colonia Seattle, American Colony of Guadalajara - Pamphlets
1913
Language of Material:
English
Box 1, Folder 7, Oversize FB 483-07
La Esperanza - Stock Certificate
August 1915
Language of Material:
Spanish; Castilian
Box 1, Folder 8, Oversize FB 483-08
Instalación de 3 Calideras Allas Amparo Mining Company - Blueprint
Language of Material:
Spanish; Castilian
Box 1, Folder 9
Profile from La Asunción to El Durazno - Map
Language of Material:
English
Box 1, Folder 10
Proyecto sistema de Beneficio de Para la Mina San Nicolas Del Monte - Pen and ink drawing
September 1932
Language of Material:
Spanish; Castilian
Box 1, Folder 11
Bolaños buildings and structures
Language of Material:
Spanish; Castilian
Box 1, Folder 12
Bolaños mountains and valleys
Language of Material:
Spanish; Castilian
Box 1, Folder 13
Couchiño Mill, Chihuahua, Mexico
Language of Material:
Spanish; Castilian
Box 1, Folder 14
Guadalajara, Mexico
December 1900
Language of Material:
Spanish; Castilian
Box 1, Folder 15
House in Hacienda de Nueva
Language of Material:
Spanish; Castilian
Box 1, Folder 16
Howard, James and companion in Bolaños, Guadalajara- Cyanotype
Language of Material:
Spanish; Castilian
Box 1, Folder 17
Howard, James and family in King Stanley (United Kingdom)
circa 1882
Language of Material:
Spanish; Castilian
Box 1, Folder 18
Howard, James and others at the Amparo Mines, Guadalajara, Mexico
Language of Material:
Spanish; Castilian
Box 1, Folder 19, Oversize FB 483-09
Howard, James and others on horseback, Guadalajara, Mexico
Language of Material:
Spanish; Castilian
Box 1, Folder 20
Howard, James Portrait - Callaway portraits, San Antonio
Box 1, Folder 21
Plaza in Mexico
1898
Language of Material:
Spanish; Castilian
Box 1, Folder 22
Presiúa Mill, Parral
Language of Material:
Spanish; Castilian
Box 1, Folder 23
Photo Album - Twelve black-and-white prints of Hacienda da Nueva
Language of Material:
Spanish; Castilian
Box 1, Folder 24
Photo Album - Thirty black-and-white prints of Bolaños Township
1921
Language of Material:
Spanish; Castilian
Box 1, Folder 25
Photo Album - Thirty-two black-and-white prints of Bolaños and mine
Language of Material:
Spanish; Castilian
Box 1, Folder 26
American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers Membership Cards
1928 and 1939
Box 1, Folder 27, Oversize FB 483-10
Diario Oficial - Newsletter
April 22, 1911
Language of Material:
Spanish; Castilian
Box 1, Folder 28
Genealogical Account of the Howard Family - Notebook
Box 1, Folder 29
La Hora Santa - Pamphlet
1887
Language of Material:
Spanish; Castilian
Box 1, Folder 30
Howard, James - Personal card holder
Box 1, Folder 31
Howard, James - Personal diary
January 1 - July 18, 1919
Box 1, Folder 32
Howard, Katherine Eleanor - Baptism announcement
March 16, 1911
Language of Material:
Spanish; Castilian
