Guide to the Pleasants Family Papers

Series 1. Biographical material, 1857-ca. 1979.

Physical Description: 0.6 linear ft.

Scope and Content Note

This series consists of material relating to J.E. Pleasants and both his wives, their lives, families, and associations. It includes diaries, legal documents, and genealogical data. The diaries of Mary Refugio Carpenter Pleasants provide an especially interesting perspective on the life of a teenage girl in Southern California during the 1860s. Other topics documented in this series include beekeeping, cattle ranching, the Orange County Fair, and the Orange County Historical Society.

This series is first arranged first by individual and type of material followed by more general family material, including genealogical material on the Pleasants family added by Don Meadows in the 1960s and 1970s. Topical files represent activities and organizations important in the lives of these individuals.

Box 1 : 1

Carpenter, Lemuel (father of Mary Refugio Carpenter Pleasants). Legal documents, 1857

Box 1 : 2-3

Pleasants, Adelina

Box 1 : 2

Bird watching notes, ca. 1900-ca. 1910

Box 1 : 3

Funeral notice, 1943

Box 1 : 4-5

Pleasants, J.E.

Box 1 : 4

Diaries, 1857-1865.

Physical Description: 2 items.

Box 1 : 5

Biographical material, 1926-1934 and undated

Box 1 : 6-9

Pleasants, Mary Refugio Carpenter

Box 1 : 6

Diaries, 1860-1865.

Physical Description: 6 items.

Box 1 : 7

Teaching certificates, 1865-1866

Box 1 : 8

Association material, ca. 1860-ca. 1879

Box 1 : 9

Obituary, 1888

Box 1 : 10 - 2 : 4

Pleasants family

Box 1 : 10 - 2 : 1

Artifacts

Box 1 : 10

Catholic medallion, undated

Box 1 : 10

Crucifix, undated

Box 1 : 10

Glasses, undated.

Note

Possibly belonged to J.E. Pleasants.

Box 1 : 10

Lady's fan, undated

Box 2 : 1

Printing plate, portrait of J.E. Pleasants, ca. 1920

Box 2 : 2

Documents, deeds, receipts, water filings, and other materials, 1889-1941

Box 2 : 3

Ephemera, 1917-1941 and undated

Box 2 : 4

Genealogical material, ca. 1960-ca. 1979

Box 2 : 5-11

Activities and associations

Box 2 : 5-6

Beekeeping

Box 2 : 5

Notes, correspondence, manuscripts, and other materials, 1885-1935

Box 2 : 6

Published material, 1885-1932

Box 2 : 7

Bancroft Library, U.C. Berkeley, undated

Box 2 : 7

Bowers Museum, 1941-1942

Box 2 : 8

Cattle sales and brands, 1864-1941

Box 2 : 9

Native Daughters of the Golden West, 1931-1935

Box 2 : 10

Orange County Fair Association, 1890-1899

Box 2 : 11

Orange County Historical Society, 1920-1934

Series 2. Correspondence, 1855-1946.

Physical Description: 0.8 linear ft.

Scope and Content Note

This series consists of correspondence to and from J.E. Pleasants and both of his wives. The general incoming correspondence in this series includes a number of condolence letters written after J.E. Pleasants' death in 1934 and an interesting letter dated January 7, 1857, signed only "Carlos," describing the aftermath of the Walker filibuster expedition to Central America. The letters filed by name represent individuals from whom several letters have survived or other prominent correspondents. Recipients are identified when this information is not clear from the letters. Frances Meadows sorted, identified, and dated much of the earliest correspondence. Her holographic notes in the Don Meadows Papers (MS-R01) contain additional information on these correspondents and the topics discussed. The arrangement of this series begins with general incoming correspondence, followed by the correspondence of specific individuals.

Box 2 : 12

General incoming correspondence, 1855-1946 and undated

Box 2 : 13 - 4 : 10

Individuals

Box 2 : 13

Allison, Polly, 1860-1861

Box 2 : 14

Ball, J.E., 1860

Box 2 : 15

Barrows, Henry D., 1905-1913

Box 2 : 16

Bartlett, W. G. (Billy), undated

Box 2 : 17

Bixby, Amelia (to Adelina Pleasants), 1922-1941

Box 3 : 1

Bryant, Susana Bixby, 1930

Box 3 : 2

Blee, Harry and Ida, 1922-1941

Box 3 : 3

Butler, Kathy, 1931-1935

Box 3 : 4

Cardwell, H. C., 1856

Box 3 : 5

Carpenter, Benjamin (to Mary Refugio Carpenter Pleasants), 1869

Box 3 : 6

Carpenter, Frank P., 1864-1870

Box 3 : 7

Carpenter, Henry, 1864

Box 3 : 8

Carpenter, Isabella, 1864-1877

Box 3 : 9

Carpenter, Lola, 1868-1876

Box 3 : 10

Dodson-Schoneman, Florence, 1927

Box 3 : 11

Ellis, Arthur M., 1931

Box 3 : 12

Evertsen, John D. K., undated

Box 3 : 13

Fisher, George D., 1857-1868

Box 3 : 14

Gardner, Margaret, 1930-1932

Box 3 : 15

Gifford, E. W., 1937

Box 3 : 16

Guicado, Juan Francisco (to Mary Refugio Carpenter Pleasants), 1861

Box 3 : 17

Hantsche, Mary R., 1934-1941

Box 3 : 18

Johnson, Washington, 1860-1864

Box 3 : 19

Junkins (?), Caroline, 1884-1888

Box 3 : 20

Junkins, Emma J., 1912-1919

Box 3 : 21

Lawler, Ella, 1934-1935

Box 3 : 22

McPherson, William, 1926-1936

Box 3 : 23

Miller, George R., 1867

Box 3 : 24

Page, Dr. Benjamin M., 1888-1898

Box 3 : 25

Pittam, Veola J., 1938

Box 3 : 26

Pleasants, Adelina (to William McPherson), 1926-1936

Box 3 : 27

Pleasants, Eliza (Lizzie), ca. 1860-ca. 1869

Box 3 : 28

Pleasants, Harvey, 1860

Box 3 : 29

Pleasants, James M., 1868-1871

Box 3 : 30

Pleasants, J.E., 1860-1886

Box 3 : 31

Pleasants, Lucy E., 1859-1863

Box 3 : 32

Pleasants, Maggie, 1889

Box 3 : 33

Pleasants, Mary Refugio Carpenter, 1864-1888

Box 3 : 34

Pleasants, Nancy, 1859

Box 3 : 35

Pleasants, Sarah M., 1860

Box 3 : 36

Pleasants, William J., 1860-1868

Box 3 : 37

Puck, Charles, 1931

Box 3 : 38

Reavis, W. Elmo, 1921-1943

Box 3 : 39

Reavis, W. S., 1867

Box 3 : 40

Rumble, Josephine, 1935

Box 4 : 1

Sackett, B. R., 1860

Box 4 : 2

Sacred Heart Mission House, ca. 1930-ca. 1939

Box 4 : 3

Turrill, Charles B., 1927

Box 4 : 4

Wolfskill, Francisca, 1860-1876

Box 4 : 5

Wolfskill, John, 1857-1859

Box 4 : 6

Wolfskill, Joseph C. (to Mary Refugio Carpenter Pleasants), 1857-1866

Box 4 : 7

Wolfskill, Joseph W., 1858-1864

Box 4 : 8

Wolfskill, Juana, 1859-1861 and undated

Box 4 : 9

Wolfskill, Magdalena, 1860-1862

Box 4 : 10

Wolfskill, Lewis, ca. 1865

Series 3. Manuscripts and research notes, ca. 1901-ca. 1939.

Physical Description: 0.6 linear ft.

Scope and Content Note

This series consists of notes, manuscripts, and typescripts (some incomplete) for articles written by J.E. and Adelina Pleasants, along with notes and material from Adelina's historical research files. Of special interest is the prospectus for her 1931 History of Orange County. Most, if not all, of the articles published under J.E.'s name were written by Adelina. This series is arranged by author, then by the titles of articles or the topics of research notes and files.

Box 4 : 11-18

Pleasants, J.E.

Box 4 : 11

"El Camino Real," manuscript, 1921

Box 4 : 12

"Counted shots," Los Angeles Times, 1931 December 4.

Scope and Content Note

Describes an encounter with bandits in Santiago Canyon, 1863.

Box 4 : 13

"A Fourth of July at San Fernando Mission in 1856," manuscript, ca 1930

Box 4 : 14

"A Mining trip to the Colorado in 1859," typescript, undated

Box 4 : 15

"In Pioneer days. a visit to Santiago Canyon sixty years ago," typescript, ca. 1931

Box 4 : 16

"In the earlier days. An early settler tells of stock raising in years past," typescript, undated

Box 4 : 17

"Life in the mines in 1849," typescript, undated

Box 4 : 18

"Tiding over a dry year on the Mojave in 1864," manuscript and notes, ca. 1930

Box 4 : 19-38

Pleasants, Adelina

Box 4 : 19

"Alpine vegetation in our mountains," typescript, undated

Box 4 : 20

"The Birds of California," manuscript, ca. 1901

Box 4 : 21

"The California thrasher," manuscript, ca. 1901

Box 4 : 22

"California's debt to Spain," typescript, undated

Box 4 : 23

Cattle industry in 19th century California, incomplete typescript, undated

Box 4 : 24

"Henry Dwight Barrows," manuscript, undated

Box 4 : 25

"History of Orange County," prospectus, ca. 1931

Box 4 : 26

"In Old San Juan," incomplete typescript, undated.

Scope and Content Note

Concerns San Juan Capistrano.

Box 4 : 27

"Jedediah Smith's explorations to California," incomplete manuscript, undated

Box 4 : 28

"John Avas, Santa Ana pioneer," manuscript, undated

Box 4 : 29

"The Leap of Juan Flores," typescript, 1921

Box 4 : 30

"Modjeska Ranch," incomplete manuscript and notes, undated

Box 4 : 31

"The Old Round House," typescript, 1937.

Scope and Content Note

Concerns Alexander Adobe in Los Angeles, built in the 1840s.

Box 4 : 32

"Our earliest wildflowers," incomplete manuscript, undated

Box 4 : 33

Rancho era in California, incomplete typescript, undated

Box 4 : 34

"The River," manuscript, undated.

Scope and Content Note

Concerns Los Angeles River.

Box 4 : 35

"Santiago Canyon," incomplete manuscript, undated

Box 4 : 36

"The Serrano family," notes, manuscript, typescript, undated

Box 4 : 37

"A Summer outing in the San Bernardino Mountains," manuscript, undated

Box 4 : 38

"What happened to jay," manuscript, ca. 1901.

Scope and Content Note

Children's bird story.

Box 4 : 39-46

Research notes

Box 4 : 39-40

California history

Box 4 : 39

Clippings, ca. 1900-ca. 1939

Box 4 : 40

Manuscript notes, undated

Box 4 : 41

California pioneers, registration forms, ca. 1930-ca. 1939

Box 4 : 42

Condors, clippings, 1935-1937

Box 4 : 43

Golden Gate discovery and naming, correspondence, 1921

Box 4 : 44

Orange County history, clippings, ca. 1900-1942

Box 4 : 45

Palomares Adobe, Pomona, California, brochure and correspondence, 1940

Box 4 : 46

Poems, undated

Box 5 : 1-5

Research material from other sources

Box 5 : 1

Anonymous. Walter K. Robinson biography, manuscript, undated

Box 5 : 2

Junkins, Emma J. The Garey family, manuscript, 1900

Box 5 : 3

McPherson, William. Notes from an interview with J.E. Pleasants, undated

Box 5 : 4

Veraguer, Fr. Peter. Reminiscences of Agua Mansa, typecript, undated

Box 5 : 5

Works Progress Administration. Orange County plant life, typescript, ca. 1930-ca. 1939

Box 7 : 1 and FB-24 : 2

Restricted original material for which preservation photocopies have been inserted into the collection

Series 4. Photographs, ca. 1860-ca. 1949.

Physical Description: 0.8 linear ft.

Scope and Content Note

This series consists of photographic prints and some tintypes representing many of the Pleasants' associations and activities, including many images of the Santa Ana Mountains, beekeeping, and cattle ranching. Mary Refugio Carpenter Pleasants' carte-de-visite album includes portraits of a number of Southern California pioneers, including members of the Carpenter and Wolfskill families. Adelina Pleasants was a longtime friend of the Fred Bixby family of Long Beach, which probably accounts for the large number of Bixby family photographs also included here. Many of these photographs are mounted on printed cards or are cabinet cards. In addition to the photographs the collection also contains more than 230 original negatives from the early 20th century. Contact prints were made for a selection of these negatives for which no contemporary prints were available. Notes inserted in the appropriate folders identify unprinted negatives relating to that topic. This series is arranged into three general areas: people, places, and subjects.

Box 5 : 6 - 6 : 5

People

Box 5 : 6-7

General, identified, ca. 1880-ca. 1949.

Physical Description: 23 items in 2 folders.

Scope and Content Note

Includes portraits of George Edgar, Andrew Joplin, Lemuel Robinson, Father Peter Sanchez, and Coleman Travis.

Box 5 : 8-9

Bixby family, ca. 1890-ca. 1919.

Physical Description: 23 items in 2 folders.

Box 5 : 10

Hudley, Chet, ca. 1930-ca. 1939.

Physical Description: 2 items.

Box 5 : 11

Pleasants, Adelina, ca. 1900-ca. 1949.

Physical Description: 5 items.

Box 5 : 12-13

Pleasants, J.E.

Box 5 : 12

Portraits, 1868-ca. 1939.

Physical Description: 15 items.

Box 5 : 13

With others, ca. 1920-ca. 1939.

Physical Description: 22 items.

Box 5 : 14 and 8

Pleasants, Mary Refugio Carpenter

Box 8

Carte-de-visite album, undated.

Scope and Content Note

Primarily prints except as specified. Includes manuscript notes on some individuals by Frances Meadows. Pages that are not recorded in this list do not contain prints.

Box 8

Unidentified man (page 1), tintype, undated

Box 8

Joseph Cooper Wolfskill (page 2), undated

Box 8

John Wolfskill (page 3), undated

Box 8

Francisca Wolfskill Shepherd (page 4), undated

Box 8

Magdalena Wolfskill Sabichi (page 5), undated

Box 8

Luis (Louis) Wolfskill (page 6), undated

Box 8

José Guillermo (Joseph William) Wolfskill (page 7), undated

Box 8

Henry Dwight Barrows (page 8), 1868

Box 8

Moses A. Dow (page 9), undated

Box 8

Charles Sherman (page 10),undated

Box 8

Josefa Coronel (page 11), undated

Box 8

Unidentified child (page 12), undated

Box 8

Francisco Sabichi (page 13), undated

Box 8

Unidentified woman (page 14), undated

Box 8

Manuel Dominguez, Jr. (page 15), undated

Box 8

Unidentified women (pages 16-17), undated

Box 8

Adelaida Carpenter (page 18), tintype, undated

Box 8

Martha Reavis (page 19), undated

Box 8

Unidentified child (page 21), undated

Box 8

Tomás Dominguez (page 22), undated

Box 8

Unidentified man (page 23), undated

Box 8

Henry Carpenter (page 24), tintype, undated

Box 8

Francisca Wolfskill Shepherd (page 26), undated

Box 8

Mrs. Horn (page 27), undated

Box 8

Mary Refugio Carpenter Pleasants (page 28), 1868

Box 8

J.E. Pleasants (page 29), 1868

Box 8

Martha Elizabeth and Mary Ellen Miller (page 30), undated

Box 8

Sarah Pleasants Miller (page 31), undated

Box 8

George D. Fisher (page 32), undated

Box 8

Unidentified man (page 33), undated

Box 8

Mr. and Mrs. Horne (pages 34-35), undated

Box 8

L. W. Shrewsbury (page 36), undated

Box 8

Francisco (Frank) Carpenter (page 37), undated

Box 8

Unidentified woman (page 38), undated

Box 8

Elena Dominguez (page 39), undated

Box 8

Dr. Benjamin Page (page 40), undated

Box 8

George R. Miller (page 41), undated

Box 8

Father Farley (page 42), undated

Box 8

Luisa Ramirez (page 44), undated

Box 8

Unidentified individuals (pages 45-47), includes tintype, undated.

Physical Description: 3 items.

Box 8

Jefferson Davis (page 48), undated

Box 8

Robert E. Lee (page 49), undated

Box 8

Andrew Jackson (page 50), undated

Box 5 : 14

Portraits and diary, 1868.

Physical Description: 4 items.

Box 5 : 15

Pleasants family relatives, ca. 1900-ca. 1910.

Physical Description: 2 items.

Box 5 : 16

Reavis family, ca. 1910-ca. 1919.

Physical Description: 4 items.

Box 5 : 17 - 6 : 5

Unidentified

Box 5 : 17

General, includes tintypes, ca. 1870-ca. 1939.

Physical Description: 24 items in 2 folders.

Box 6 : 1-2

Children, ca. 1870-ca. 1939.

Physical Description: 41 items in 2 folders.

Box 6 : 3

Groups, ca. 1880-ca. 1909.

Physical Description: 7 items.

Box 6 : 4

School groups, ca. 1910-ca. 1919.

Physical Description: 2 items.

Box 6 : 5

Servicemen, ca. 1910-ca. 1919.

Physical Description: 4 items.

Box 6 : 6-18

Places in California

Box 6 : 6

Kaweah, post office, ca. 1920-ca. 1929.

Physical Description: 2 items.

Box 6 : 7

Long Beach, Bixby homes, ca. 1900.

Physical Description: 3 items.

Box 6 : 8

Mojave Desert, ca. 1920-ca. 1929.

Physical Description: 7 items.

Box 6 : 9

Northern California, ca. 1890-ca. 1899, ca. 1920-ca. 1929.

Physical Description: 3 items.

Box 6 : 10

Orange County, ca. 1900-ca. 1939.

Physical Description: 8 items.

Box 6 : 11

San Bernardino Mountains, ca. 1900.

Physical Description: 10 items.

Box 6 : 12

San Diego County, ca. 1930-ca. 1939.

Physical Description: 3 items.

Box 6 : 13-17

Santa Ana Mountains

Box 6 : 13

General, ca. 1900-ca. 1939.

Physical Description: 22 items.

Box 6 : 14

Individuals and miscellaneous sites, ca. 1900-ca. 1939.

Physical Description: 15 items.

Box 6 : 15

Homes, ca. 1930-ca. 1939.

Physical Description: 5 items.

Box 6 : 16

Pleasants Ranch, ca. 1890-ca. 1939.

Physical Description: 36 items.

Box 6 : 17

Seldom Inn, ca. 1910-ca. 1919.

Physical Description: 4 items.

Box 6 : 18

Southern California, ca. 1890-ca. 1929.

Physical Description: 5 items.

Box 6 : 19-28

Subjects

Box 6 : 19

Adobe buildings, ca. 1900-ca. 1929.

Physical Description: 4 items.

Box 6 : 20

Beekeeping, ca. 1880-ca. 1929.

Physical Description: 23 items.

Box 6 : 21

Birds, ca. 1920-ca. 1939.

Physical Description: 5 items.

Box 6 : 22

Cattle ranching and cowboys, ca. 1890-ca. 1919.

Physical Description: 27 items.

Box 6 : 23

Dogs, ca. 1900-ca. 1909.

Physical Description: 14 items.

Box 6 : 24

Home gardens and yards, ca. 1920-ca. 1939.

Physical Description: 7 items.

Box 6 : 25

Homes, ca. 1890-ca. 1909.

Physical Description: 3 items.

Box 6 : 26

Horses and riders, ca. 1890-ca. 1929.

Physical Description: 26 items.

Box 6 : 27

Hunting, ca. 1900-ca. 1909.

Physical Description: 12 items.

Box 6 : 28

Orange County Historical Society, 1929.

Physical Description: 2 items.

Collection Contents