Spear family papers and addenda, 1845-1978

Printable guide [HTML]
Request items

Summary

Creators:
Spear (Family)
Abstract:
The collection consists of the papers of three generations of the Spear family: Alexander Fulton Spear (1800-1853), Alexander Fulton Spear (1827-1900), and Lewis Eugene Spear (1867-1953).
Extent:
3.67 Linear Feet (5 boxes)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Spear family papers and addenda. The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection consists of the papers of three generations of the Spear family: Alexander Fulton Spear (1800-1853), Alexander Fulton Spear (1827-1900), and Lewis Eugene Spear (1867-1953). It includes the Gold Rush journal of Alexander Fulton Spear (1800-1853), which documents his ocean journey from Maine to California aboard the ship "Perfect" and mining near Coloma, California. There are also papers regarding the marine service of Alexander Fulton Spear (1827-1900) and a few business papers pertaining to Lewis Eugene Spear (1867-1953), the Pacific Steel & Wire Co., and the Pacific Wire Rope Co. Two noteworthy items in the collection are a photograph album showing Southern California, Monterey, and a trip to Alaska (1900-02) and a diary of a trip from San Francisco to Coquille, Oregon, on the steam schooner "Chico" which includes 25 photographs (1903). The addenda consists of ephemera, genealogy material, and photographs related to the Spear and Whitney family.

Biographical / historical:

Alexander Fulton Spear (1800-1853) came to California from Maine in 1849. His son, Alexander Fulton Spear (1827-1900), a ship captain, settled in San Francisco in 1872. His grandson, Lewis Eugene Spear (1867-1953), organized the Pacific Steel & Wire Co. in San Francisco and later moved to Los Angeles and established the Pacific Wire Rope Co. in 1909.

Acquisition information:
Gifts from Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Spear, 1980 and 1988.
Arrangement:

The family papers is arranged in chronological order.

The addenda is arranged according to genre.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

Terms of access:

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Spear family papers and addenda. The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
Website