Register of the Rhodes Family Papers, 1838-1942
Processed by Holt Atherton staff; revised by Don Walker; machine-readable finding aid created by
Don Walker
Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections
University Library, University of the Pacific
Stockton, CA 95211
Phone: (209) 946-2404
Fax: (209) 946-2810
URL: http://www.pacific.edu/Library/Find/Holt-Atherton-Special-Collections.html
© 1998
University of the Pacific. All rights reserved.
Register of the Rhodes Family Papers, 1838-1942
Collection number: Mss30
Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections
University Library
University of the Pacific
Contact Information
- Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections
- University Library, University of the Pacific
- Stockton, CA 95211
- Phone: (209) 946-2404
- Fax: (209) 946-2810
- URL: http://www.pacific.edu/Library/Find/Holt-Atherton-Special-Collections.html
- Processed by:
- Holt Atherton staff; revised by Don Walker
- Date Completed:
- October 1998
- Encoded by:
- Don Walker
© 1998 University of the Pacific. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Rhodes Family Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1838-1942
Collection number: Mss30
Creator:
E.L. Pister, Richard Rhodes & Robert Chandler
Extent: 1 linear ft.
Repository:
University of the Pacific. Library. Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections
Shelf location: For current information on the location of these
materials, please consult the library's online catalog.
Language:
English.
Administrative Information
Access
Collection is open for research.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Rhodes Family Papers, Mss30, Holt-Atherton Department of
Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library
Access Points
Personal Names
Rhodes, William Henry (1822-1876)
Rhodes, Elisha (1791-1858)
Rhodes, Mary W. Kimball (1808-1893)
Rhodes, Robert H.
Rhodes family
Pister family
Smith family
Subjects
Voyages to the Pacific coast
Authors -California
Ranch life -California -San Joaquin County
Women -California -San Joaquin County
Medicine -New York -History
Economic conditions -California -San Joaquin County
San Joaquin County (Calif.) -History -Sources
Texas -History -Sources
United States -History -Mexican War, 1846-1848
United States -History -Civil War, 1861-1865
Personal Names
McDermott family
Biography
Dr. Robert H. Rhodes, a physician from New York City, came to California in 1849. His
cousin, Col. Elisha A. Rhodes (1791-1858), a widower, had earlier gone to Texas where he
was appointed U.S. Consul(1838). There Elisha married a widow, Mary Kimball (1808-1893)
of Houston, and they had two sons, Cullen C. (b. 1839) and Edward A. (b. 1841). Both
Elisha and Mary Rhodes also had children by their previous marriages. One of Col. Rhodes'
sons, William Henry Rhodes (1822-1876), later achieved fame in California as author
"Caxton" Rhodes. Elisha Rhodes was incapacitated by a stroke during the late 1840s and
his wife, Mary, went to California with William H. (1850), leaving her husband behind. In
1852 she returned to Texas and brought the entire Rhodes family to California, settling
them on Windsor Ranch about five miles from Stockton. After Col. Rhodes' death Mary
Rhodes continued to operate their ranch for many years. She was also active in prisoner
relief work during the Civil War.
William Henry Rhodes studied at Harvard Law School (1844). Upon his arrival in San
Francisco, Rhodes practised law and dabbled in politics. When his Southern sympathies
caused difficulties for him in California during the Civil War, Rhodes withdrew to
Virginia City, Nev. (1863-1865). At war's end, he returned to California where he
launched a literary career, publishing poetry and science fiction under the nom de plume
"Caxton." While holding a judgeship in the 12th Circuit Court, Rhodes also became
well-known for public readings of his works, the most noteworthy of which was probably
the anthology, Caxton's Book, published in the year of his death (1876).
Scope and Content
The Rhodes Family Papers consist of correspondence (1838-1877), Robert H. Rhodes diary
(1848-1849), California ranch business records(1858-1898), and miscellaneous biographical
and genealogical materials pertaining to the Rhodes, Smith, Pister and McDermott
families.
Container List
BOX 1: RHODES FAMILY PAPERS
1.1: DIARY OF DR. ROBERT H. RHODES (1848-1849) [describes career as medical student; voyage to California; incl. some plays
& poetry]
1.2: RHODES FAMILY CORRESPONDENCE & OTHER PAPERS (1838-1877)
a-Col. Elisha Rhodes letter describing conditions in Texas on his arrival (1838)
b-Mary Rhodes letter describing Sam Houston (1843)
c-Galveston residents to John C. Calhoun (1844) [testifies to Rhodes' good character]
d-Deed to Windsor Ranch (1856)
e-Edward A. Rhodes, Virginia Military Institute to family (1860)
f-Mary Rhodes to Edward A. Rhodes (1861) [describes sectional hostilities in Calif.]
g-? Rhodes, Texas to Mary Rhodes (1877) [protests election of Rutherford B. Hayes]
1.3: MISC. BUSINESS PAPERS (1868-1880) [25 items; principally rcpts. for ranch supplies and eqpt.; some tax rcpts., etc.]
1.4: MISC. BUSINESS PAPERS (1881-1883) [15 items]
1.5: MISC. BUSINESS PAPERS (1884-1886) [18 items]
1.6: MISC. BUSINESS PAPERS (1887-1898) [15 items]
1.7: MISC. GENEALOGICAL MATERIAL (1857-c1942) [15 items; primarily family corresp. showing relationships of Rhodes, Smith
and Pister families; incl. some poetry by Mary Rhodes]
1.8: MARY RHODES [clippings re]
BOX 2: WILLIAM H. "CAXTON" RHODES
2.1: BIOGRAPHICAL & GENERAL INFO
b-Biography from History of the Island City of Galveston
c-Biography from The Poets
d-Biography from Science Fiction in Old San Francisco
2.2: SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS & RECITATIONS
2.4: MCDERMOTT (MATERNAL LINE) FAMILY INFO
2.5: WRITINGS AND ACTIVITIES
b-Caxton's Book (1876) [photocopy]
c-"The hobby horse," SF Call (7-26-1874)
d-Indian Gallows & Other Poems (1846) [photocopy]
e-"Caxton: The enrobing of liberty," from May Wentworth. Poetry of the Pacific (1867)
2.6: MISC. PUBLISHED MATERIALS, INCL. "THE VIGILANCE COMMITTEE OF 1856"
