Description
Documenting educational and commercial life in
California in the 1820s and 1830s, the collection consists of a treatise on algebra
(183?),
Tratado sobre el Algebra, written by P.
Nicholson and translated into Spanish by Hartnell; and a daybook (1823-1827) and
account book (1815-1816, 1826-1828), maintained by Hartnell, containing financial
accounts for various missions, government offices, commercial houses, ships, and
individuals with whom Hartnell conducted business in California.
Background
Born in England in 1798, William Edward Petty Hartnell, also known as Guillermo
Eduardo Hartnell, came to California in 1822 after spending several years in South
America in the employ of Lima's John Begg and Co. Beginning in 1823, Hartnell, with
his partner Hugh McCulloch, conducted an extensive trade with the California
missions, exchanging hides and tallow, foodstuffs, and other goods. Hartnell
converted to Catholicism in 1824, married María Teresa de la Guerra in 1825, and
became a Mexican citizen in 1830. In 1834, Hartnell was granted the Alisal Ranch
near Monterey, where he founded a school, the Casa de Educacion y Pupilage, which
would be attended by his children and other students. He also held offices under the
Mexican and United States governments of California, serving as visitador-general of
missions (1839-1840), and official interpreter for United States (1847-1850).
Hartnell died in 1854.
Extent
1 oversize volume, 2 volumes in slipcases
Restrictions
All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from or otherwise use collection materials
must be submitted in writing to the Director of the 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.
Availability
CHS is not taking appointments for research at this time. Please check the Library's website updates: https://californiahistoricalsociety.org/collections/north-baker-research-library/