Finding Aid to California Views from the R.W. Waterman Family Papers, approximately 1869-1895

Processed by Chris McDonald.

The Bancroft Library

University of California

Berkeley, CA 94720-6000

bancref@library.berkeley.edu

URL: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/libraries/bancroft-library

Contributing Institution: The Bancroft Library

Title: California Views from the R.W. Waterman Family Papers

Creator: Waterman family

Identifier/Call Number: BANC PIC 1905.04221-.04377 & 1905.04562-.04576

Physical Description: 175 photographs and 142 digital objects : chiefly albumen prints ; 19 x 35 cm or smaller

Date (inclusive): approximately 1869-1895, bulk 1885-1890

Abstract: Nineteenth century photographic views, chiefly of California, from the family papers of California governor R.W. Waterman.

Physical Location: Many Bancroft Library collections are stored off-site and advance notice may be required for use. For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the library's online catalog.

Language of Material: Collection materials are in English

Access

The bulk of the collection is available for use. Portions of the collection are restricted. Use viewing prints or digital images only of restricted originals. Use of restricted originals only by permission of the appropriate curator.

Publication Rights

Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction of some materials may be restricted by terms of University of California gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user. For additional information about the University of California, Berkeley Library's permissions policy please see: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/about/permissions-policies

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], California Views from the R.W. Waterman Family Papers, BANC PIC 1905.04221-.04377--PIC and BANC PIC 1905.04562-.04576--PIC, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley

Digital Representations Available

Digital representations of selected original pictorial materials are available in the list of materials below. Digital image files were prepared from selected Library originals by the Library Photographic Service. Library originals were copied onto 35mm color transparency film; the film was scanned and transferred to Kodak Photo CD (by Custom Process); and the Photo CD files were color-corrected and saved in JFIF (JPEG) format for use as viewing files.

Related Collection

Title: Waterman Family Papers,

Identifier/Call Number: BANC MSS C-B 491

Acquisition Information

The California Views from the R.W. Waterman Family Papers were transferred from the Waterman Family Papers, BANC MSS C-B 491.

Biography

Robert Whitney Waterman was born December 15, 1826 in Fairfield, New York. At the age of 13 he moved to Newbury, Illinois to join his older merchant brothers as a clerk, and a few years later established his own business. In 1847 he married Jane Gardner in Belvedere, Illinois. In 1850 Waterman sold his assets to finance a journey to California. He traveled with F.A. Park, and, while staying in Salt Lake City, befriended Brigham Young. Upon his arrival in California, Waterman joined one of his brothers as a miner at Oregon Creek, near the South Fork of the Feather River. Waterman returned to his family in Wilmington, Illinois in 1851 and became a successful grain dealer. As a result of his involvement in state politics, Waterman was chosen to be a delegate to the 1854 Republican Party convention in Bloomington, Illinois, and was later instrumental in helping Abraham Lincoln carry the state in the 1860 presidential election. After further ventures in business and politics in Illinois, Waterman returned to California in 1873, becoming a machinery salesman in Redwood City. The following year he moved to San Bernardino County, where he would soon return to mining. In 1880, with J.L. Porter, Waterman founded the Calico Mine, a silver mine near what is presently Barstow, which became extremely prosperous for him. Waterman was also the owner of the Stonewall Gold Mine, the Cuyamaca Ranch, and the Cuyamaca Railroad, all in San Diego County. In 1886 Waterman was nominated by the state Republican convention as its candidate for lieutenant governor. Waterman won the election, while Democrat Washington Bartlett was elected governor, marking the first occurrence of such a split in state history. Waterman became California's seventeenth governor when Bartlett died after only a few months in office. Waterman's administration suffered from his lack of experience in public office and poor advisory support. R.W. Waterman died in San Diego in 1891, shortly after his term as governor had ended.

Scope and Content

The California Views from the R.W. Waterman Family Papers collection contains 175 photographic prints (8 of which are stereographs, and 3 being cartes de visite) taken approximately 1869-1895, with the majority dating from 1885-1890. Perhaps as a reflection of Governor Waterman's interests and activities during his career, the collection features a broad variety of subject matter and location. Much of the collection relates to the California mining industry, and includes photographs from Waterman's Stonewall Mine in San Diego County and his Calico Mine in San Bernardino County. Also included are several other locations and subjects in San Diego and San Bernardino counties, such as Del Mar, the Hotel Del Coronado, Sweetwater Dam, the San Diego Flume, and various views of the city of San Bernardino and Arrowhead Hot Springs, where the governor resided. Other California locations featured include Yosemite Valley, Santa Cruz, Sacramento, San Francisco, Santa Monica, San Gabriel, Los Angeles, the Lick Observatory near San Jose, Monterey, Oakland, the prison quarry at San Quentin, and the University of California at Berkeley. Also included are scenes of U.S. Navy war ships.

The collection also includes views taken in Illinois, New York, and New Mexico.

Professional photographers featured in the collection include, among others, Carleton E. Watkins, Isaiah W. Taber, Joseph C. Parker, E.W. Turner, H.B. Wesner, J.E. Slocum, E.J. Hayward, W.A. Vale, George Fiske, G.M. Greene, and Bradley & Rulofson.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

California--Pictorial works

Fiske, George, 1835-1918

Greene, G. M

Hayward, E. J., fl. 1874-1883

Parker, J. C. (Joseph Chamberland), 1834-1910

Slocum, J. E

Taber, I. W. (Isaiah West)

Turner, Eustace Whereat

Vale, W. A

Waterman family. Waterman family papers

Waterman, R. W. (Robert Whitney), 1826-1891

Watkins, Carleton E.

Wesner, H. B

Relief Map of the site of the University of California. His Excellency -- R.W. Waterman -- Compliments the Engineering Dept., Univ. Of California. Frank Soule Prof., Wm. G. Raymond, Instructor. O.V. Lange photo, #26 Montgomery St. S.F. Waterman Papers. BANC PIC 1905.04221--PIC 1888[?]