Register of the Shiman Family Papers,
1859-1921
Processed 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
URL:
https://www.pacific.edu/university-libraries/find/holt-atherton-special-collections
© 1998
University of the Pacific. All rights reserved.
Register of the Shiman Family Papers,
1859-1921
Collection number: Mss31
Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections
University
Library
University of the Pacific
Contact Information
- Processed by:
- Don Walker
- Date Completed:
- 1994
- Encoded by:
- Don Walker
© 1998 University of the Pacific. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Shiman Family Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1859-1921
Collection number: Mss31
Creator:
Reginald R. Stuart
Extent: 7 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], Shiman Family Papers, Mss31, Holt-Atherton
Department of Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library
Biography
John L. Shiman and his wife Johanna J. Shiman came to California from
Germany in the mid-19th century. John Shiman settled at San Lorenzo, Alameda
county, where he operated a general merchandise store, and, in 1857, became
first postmaster. For about twelve years he was in partnership with Lewis
Lengfeld (1853-c1865) then remained in business for himself until his death in
1898.
During the 1870s Shiman purchased substantial tracts of agricultural
land east of San Lorenzo and north of San Lorenzo Creek where he grew cherries.
He was one of the first California growers to ship fruit east by refrigerator
railroad car.
By the 1880s Shiman apparently owned stores in San Leandro, Mt. Eden and
San Lorenzo. His Mt. Eden store stood on the north corner of present-day
Hesperian Boulevard and Jackson Street. Shiman's insurance accounts reveal that
he also owned a butcher shop and a cobbler shop, as well as residential
properties in Oakland and southern Alameda county. From the late 1880s, three
of his four sons, Louis G., William J. and Lorenzo also participated in the
operation of the various family businesses. The original Shiman Store in San
Lorenzo ceased operations after 1901.
Southern Alameda county seems first to have been a German enclave,
although by 1900 it was probably more widely known as a Portuguese colony. Many
of the important pioneers of southern Alameda county--especially those with
German and Portuguese surnames--did business with John L. Shiman. Biographies
of nine of these individuals, including Edward Clawiter, Justus Gading, J.H.
Gansberger, William Meek, Henry Meininger, George S. Meyer, Erik Ruus, and A.W.
Schafer, are to be found in various histories of Alameda county.
Scope and Content
The Shiman Family Papers consist principally of the records of the San
Lorenzo store. These records occupy six journals (1860-1863, 1869-1890), eleven
day books (1859-1863, 1873-1885, 1888-1890), three cash books (1879-1896), an
inventory book (1888, 1891) and a purchase order book (1866-1880). There is
also a small collection of business correspondence (1870-1890), tax receipts
and miscellaneous licences.
A secondary collection within the papers consists of a scrapbook,
scattered correspondence and some domestic accounts (1872-1875) produced by
Mrs. Johanna Shiman. These materials are partly in German.
Arrangement
Series I: San Lorenzo Store Records
Series II: Shiman
Family Personal Papers
Series 1: Shiman San Lorenzo Store Records
1859-1901
Folder 1
1860-1863 [includes index]
Folder 1
Jun. 19, 1859-Aug. 15, 1859
Folder 2
Aug. 1, 1860-Aug. 15, 1861
Folder 3
Nov. 11, 1862-Dec. 31, 1863 [scattered dates in 1864
& 1865]
BOX 4
Day Books,
1873-Dec. 1,
1877
BOX 5
Day Books,
Dec. 2, 1877-Dec. 1,
1881
Folder 6
Dec. 2, 1877-Aug. 19, 1879
Folder 7
Aug. 20, 1879-Dec. 1, 1881
BOX 6
Day Books,
Dec. 1, 1881-Jun. 15,
1885
Folder 8
Dec. 1, 1881-Dec. 31, 1883
Folder 9
Jan. 1, 1884-Jun. 15, 1885
Folder 11
Oct. 12, 1889-Dec. 31, 1890
Folder 12
1891-1901 [incl. employee payroll for 1901 in
back]
Folder 1
Cash Book, Feb. 3, 1879-Aug. 31, 1880
Folder 2
Cash Book, Feb. 5, 1886-Feb. 22, 1888
Folder 3
Cash Book supplement, Aug. 1, 1889-April 30,
1890
Folder 4
Cash Book, Mar. 17, 1890-Mar. 22, 1896
BOX 9
Other Business Records,
1866-1894
Purchase order book,
1866-1880
List of debtor names,
1871-1882
Wells Fargo & Co. Express Tariffs Book,
1881
"Inventory of stock," Dec. 26, 1888; "Inventory of stock
sold to J. Lindsay,"
1891 [lacks covers]
Misc. [store] Accounts,
1889-1894
Misc. Accounts,
1886-1891 [principally mortgage-secured
loans to individuals and rent records]
Misc. business corresp.,
1870s [5 items]
Misc. business corresp.,
1880s [2 items, 3 l.]
Misc. stmts. & rcpts.,
1870s [4 items]
Misc. stmts. & rcpts.,
1880s [3 items]
Misc. tax rcpts.,
1865-66, 69, 83-84 [9 items]
Misc. business licences [tobacco, liquor, etc.],
1885-86 [9 items]
Series 2: Shiman Family Personal Papers
1872-1921
Day Book [San Lorenzo store], Jul. 23, 1862-Jul. 29,
1862; Household expenses of Johanna Juliane Shiman, Oct. 9, 1872- Feb. 17,
1875; One page diary, Mar. 1875; Records of pay for household workers [washing,
etc.], 1876 [lacks covers]
Cancelled checks written by John L. Shiman, 1887-91; by
Johanna Shiman, 1906 [50 items]
Bay area business cards [5 items]
Johanna J. Shiman corresp.,
1901, 1921
Johanna J. Shiman scrapbook,
c1870-1910 [contains a few family clippings;
chiefly news & oddities]
Loose scraps formerly laid-in scrapbook
Loose clippings formerly laid-in scrapbook
Misc. ballots, rcpts., ads, papers [13
items]
