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Inventory of the Abel Stearns Papers, Collection I, 1804-1935
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Title: Abel Stearns Papers, Collection I,
Date (inclusive): 1804-1935
Creator: Stearns, Abel, 1798-1871
Extent: Approximately 12,500 pieces
Repository: The Huntington Library
San Marino, California 91108
Language:
English.
Most of the Abel Stearns Papers were purchased in February, 1937, from Mrs. Margaret Gaffey Kilroy of San Pedro, California.
In 1939 additional manuscripts were given to the library by Mrs. Kilroy and by Mrs. Susanna Bryant Dakin.
Collection is open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information
please go to following
URL .
In order to quote from, publish, or reproduce any of the manuscripts or visual materials, researchers must obtain formal permission
from the office of the Library Director. In most instances, permission is given by the Huntington as owner of the physical
property rights only, and researchers must also obtain permission from the holder of the literary rights. In some instances,
the Huntington owns the literary rights, as well as the physical property rights. Researchers may contact the appropriate
curator for further information.
[Identification of item], Abel Stearns Papers, Collection I, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Abel Stearns (1798-1871) was born in Lunenberg, Massachusetts. As a young man he spent some years at sea, taking part in the
trade with South America and China. About 1826 he reached Mexico and during his residence there became a naturalized citizen.
He arrived in California in 1829 and soon settled in Los Angeles, where he made his home for the rest of his life. From a
small beginning as a trader and merchant Stearns expanded his activities into the fields of landholding, cattle ranching,
mining, politics, education and so forth, gradually becoming a wealthy and influential figure. Because he was a participant
in so many important phases of the development of California, his papers constitute a valuable source of historical information.
The Abel Stearns Papers are of value chiefly to students of the economic and political history of California. Of particular
importance are the materials relating to the following subjects:
- A. The cattle industry
- B. The gold discoveries of 1842 and of 1848 - 1849
- C. The hide and tallow trade, especially as it was carried on at Stearns' warehouse in San Pedro
- D. Land titles and transfers
- E. Mines and mineral resources
- F. Politics and government
- G. Ranchos of Upper and Lower California
Correspondents represented by ten or more pieces
- David W. Alexander
- 18 pieces
- Juan Bautista Alvarado
- 13 pieces
- José Antonio Argüello
- 27 pieces
- José Ramón Argüello
- 33 pieces
- María Guadalupe (Estudillo) de Argüello
- 16 pieces
- José Antonio Avila
- 12 pieces
- José Bandini
- 10 pieces
- José María Bandini
- 21 pieces
- Juan Bandini
- 190 pieces
- Juan Bautista Bandini
- 118 pieces
- Eugenio Bonnet
- 23 pieces
- Charles H. Brinley
- 34 pieces
- Samuel C. Bruce
- 17 pieces
- Lewis T. Burton
- 15 pieces
- Carlos Antonio de Jesús Carrillo
- 21 pieces
- José Antonio Carrillo
- 12 pieces
- Pedro C. Carrillo
- 45 pieces
- José Miguel Castañeda
- 22 pieces
- Francisco Castillo
- 16 pieces
- José Castro
- 11 pieces
- M. G. Cobb
- 37 pieces
- John Bautista Roger Cooper
- 10 pieces
- Cave Johnson Couts
- 90 pieces
- W. Blunt Couts
- 12 pieces
- Henry Dalton
- 12 pieces
- William Goodwin Dana
- 10 pieces
- Robert J. Elwell
- 12 pieces
- Thomas Eleuterio Esténaga
- 106 pieces
- John H. Everett
- 20 pieces
- Edward H. Faucon
- 14 pieces
- Francisco Figueroa
- 27 pieces
- Henry Delano Fitch
- 45 pieces
- Charles Henry Forbes
- 83 pieces
- John Forster
- 83 pieces
- John Charles Frémont
- 11 pieces
- Francisco Javier Gastelum
- 10 pieces
- Marcelin Giraudeau
- 92 pieces
- Miguel Gonzalez
- 55 pieces
- Ramón Gonzalez de la Riva
- 49 pieces
- Rafael Guirado
- 15 pieces
- Isaac Hartman
- 11 pieces
- William Davis Merry Howard
- 29 pieces
- Charles R. Johnson
- 119 pieces
- James Johnson
- 13 pieces
- John Coffin Jones
- 10 pieces
- Thomas Oliver Larkin
- 93 pieces
- Jacob Primer Leese
- 15 pieces
- Los Angeles (Alta Calif.). Courts. Juzgado de Primera Instancia
- 13 pieces
- Timothy Lynch
- 13 pieces
- James McKinlay
- 19 pieces
- William S. Manning
- 11 pieces
- Silvestre Mireles
- 17 pieces
- Eugenio Montenegro
- 14 pieces
- Vicente Moraga
- 70 pieces
- Thomas Wallace More
- 14 pieces
- José Hilario Morillo
- 13 pieces
- Edward F. Northam
- 13 pieces
- Agustín Olvera
- 27 pieces
- Blas Ordaz
- 18 pieces
- Thomas B. Park
- 44 pieces
- Parrott & Co.
- 17 pieces
- Sherman Peck
- 12 pieces
- Miguel F. de Pedrorena
- 25 pieces
- Juan Crispin Peres
- 11 pieces
- José Antonio Bernardino Pico
- 26 pieces
- Pío Pico
- 21 pieces
- Nathaniel Miguel Pryor
- 49 pieces
- Perfecto Hugo Reid
- 116 pieces
- Alfred Robinson
- 221 pieces
- Francisco Rodriguez
- 14 pieces
- Mariano Reyes Roldan
- 58 pieces
- Horace C. Rolfe
- 47 pieces
- James G. Scott
- 30 pieces
- Thomas Shaw
- 20 pieces
- Nathan Spear
- 17 pieces
- David Spence
- 16 pieces
- Abel Stearns
- 169 pieces
- Oliver Stearns
- 39 pieces
- Joseph Steele
- 21 pieces
- Max von Strobel
- 11 pieces
- Alexander S. Taylor
- 10 pieces
- John Temple
- 13 pieces
- Henry Frederick Teschemacher
- 16 pieces
- Alpheus B. Thompson
- 73 pieces
- Dixey W. Thompson
- 14 pieces
- Joseph P. Thompson
- 57 pieces
- José María Villavicencio
- 36 pieces
- Jonathan Trumbull Warner
- 14 pieces
- Stephen Mallory White
- 69 pieces
- Isaac Williams
- 11 pieces
- Bernardo Yorba
- 14 pieces
- Tomás Antonio Yorba
- 24 pieces
- Levi Young
- 10 pieces
Some important or interesting items
- Argüello, Luis Antonio. Document granting permission to McCulloch and Hartnell to build a warehouse at San Pedro. May 21, 1823
- Bandini, Juan. Libro manual de ingresos que en el año de 1831 tiene la Comisaria Prãl de la alta California al cargo provicionalmente del Ciudadano Juan Bandini. Jan. - Oct., 1831
- Bandini, Juan. Report of William Walker's invasion of Lower California. May 25, 1854
- Documents relating to cattle brands of Juan Bandini and Abel Stearns (11 pieces). 1834 - 1859
- Documents relating to damage done by troops of Frémont, Kearny and Stockton in Los Angeles (10 pieces). 1847
- Larkin, Thomas Oliver. Letters to Abel Stearns referring to California politics and government (24 pieces). 1842 - 1856
- Mission San Gabriel (Alta Calif.). Deed of transfer of the Casa de San Pedro to Abel Stearns. Aug. 23, 1834
- Pico, Pío. Letter to John Drake Sloat relating to the latter's proclamation to the inhabitants of California. July 25, 1846. (Note: This is a certified copy, dated Aug. 7, 1846.)
- Rancho Los Coyotes. Testimony regarding the measurements of the Rancho de Los Coyotes, property of Don Juan José Nieto. 1835 - 1863
- Rancho Ensenada de Todos Santos (Lower Calif.). Expediente. 1804 - 1876
- Rancho Valle de San Rafael (Lower Calif.). Expediente. 1830 - 1876
- Stearns, Abel. An account of the stabbing of Abel Stearns by William Day. 1835
- Stearns, Abel. Day Book... Jan. 1 - Sept. 30, 1840
- Stearns, Abel. Draft of a letter to Peirce & Brewer relating to the discovery of gold in California in 1842. Apr. 25, 1842
- Stearns, Abel. Petition to Fray Narciso Durán to dispense with the marriage banns of Abel Stearns and Arcadia Bandini because of the discrepancy in their ages. Apr. 29, 1841. (Note: This is an autograph copy.)
- Stearns, Abel. Tariff list for the Casa de San Pedro. Jan. 1, 1835
- Stearns, Abel and Stearns, Arcadia (Bandini). Draft of a deed of conveyance of various Southern California ranchos to Alfred Robinson. May 25, 1868