Robinson-Farrand Papers, 1903-1958

Collection context

Summary

Abstract:
This collection contains papers of Henry M. Robinson (1868-1937), chairman of the board of the Security-First National Bank in Los Angeles, California, and attorney George E. Farrand (1878-1954), who worked with Robinson and also served as trustee of his estate. The collection includes correspondence with letters related to business transactions such as the merger of First National and Security Pacific Banks in Los Angeles and the Julian Petroleum scandal as well as personal correspondence amongst friends, acquaintances, and political allies. Also includes twenty journals written by Farrand, dating from 1915-1954.
Extent:
3,504 items in 19 boxes
Language:
English.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains papers of Henry M. Robinson (1868-1937), chairman of the board of the Security-First National Bank in Los Angeles, California, and attorney George E. Farrand (1878-1954), who worked with Robinson and also served as trustee of his estate. The papers are arranged in the following series: 1. Manuscripts (Boxes 1-5); 2. Correspondence (Boxes 6-18); and Ephemera (Boxes 18-19).

The Manuscript series contains 20 journals written by George E. Farrand from 1915 to 1954 as well as two printed publications. The journals include daily entries regarding his law practice, the weather, his weight, as well as details regarding family matters and world events, such as the Great Depression, the bombing of Pearl Harbor, World War II and the start of the Cold War. At the end of most of the journals, he includes a brief summary of his year, including personal, business and world events. The later journals also include numerous news clippings.

The Correspondence series is arranged alphabetically by author and predominantly contains letters related to business transactions such as the merger of First National and Security Pacific Banks in Los Angeles and the Julian Petroleum scandal as well as personal correspondence amongst friends, acquaintances, and political allies, including Henry M. Robinson, George E. Farrand, Harry Chandler, George E. Hale, Lou Henry Hoover, Herbert Hoover (many through Hoover’s assistants, including Lawrence Richey and Paul Sexson), and Alonzo Englebert Taylor.

The Ephemera series is arranged alphabetically by subject and then chronologically within each folder. It contains separate folders for biographical and genealogical materials, cards, empty envelopes, event programs, indices and disposition of the files of Henry M. Robinson, judicial opinions, law school examination, legal documents and research memoranda, miscellaneous office documents, newspaper clippings, notes and minutes from meetings, pamphlets and printed statements, photographs, receipts, securities issues and offering materials, Senate hearings transcripts, speeches and statements of assets and “C” memoranda. The detailed indices of Henry M. Robinson’s files indicate the status of his files upon his death and the disposition of those materials by his brother and George E. Farrand.

Biographical / historical:

Henry Mauris Robinson (1868-1937) was born in Ravenna, Ohio, to George Foreman Robinson (1844-1917), judge of the Court of Common Pleas in the 2nd subdivision of the Judicial District of Ohio and Mary (Gillis) Robinson. He married Laurabelle Arms in February 1894. Henry Mauris Robinson was educated at Western Reserve Academy and Cornell University and practiced law in Ohio and New York City before moving to Southern California in 1905. He served as chairman of the board of Security-First National Bank of Los Angeles and was also on the board of directors of numerous Southern California corporations and institutions, including the Huntington Library. From 1917 to 1927, he served on the Council of National Defense, the Supreme Economic Council of Peace in Paris, the U.S. Shipping Board, the International Labor Conference, the President's Industrial Conference, the Bituminous Coal Commission, the Unemployment Conference, and the International Economic Conference at Geneva, in 1927. He died without issue in November 1937.

George E. Farrand (1878-1954) was born in Dogton, Pennsylvania, to William and Jeanette (McKevett) Farrand. He moved from Pennsylvania to Ventura County, California, in 1899. He served as Ventura County Clerk from 1900 to 1907. He married Alice Knox in November 1903. He was a founding partner at the law firm of Farrand & Slosson. His sons, Knox and Stephen, joined him in his practice. George E. Farrand served as the Chairman of the California Agricultural Legislative Committee and as legal counsel for farmers’ co-operative organizations, including the California Fruit Growers Exchange and the California Walnut Growers. Herbert Hoover appointed him to the position of general counsel of the Federal Farm Board. George E. Farrand worked with his friend Henry Mauris Robinson on the merger of First National and Security Pacific Banks and subsequently served as a member of the executive committee of the consolidated bank. George E. Farrand also served as trustee of Henry M. Robinson’s estate after he died in 1937.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Edgar J. Scherick, March 30, 2001.
Arrangement:

Arranged in the following series:

1. Manuscripts (Boxes 1-5)

2. Correspondence (Boxes 6-18)

3. Ephemera (Boxes 18-19)

Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191