Salvador A. Ramirez papers, 1860-1930

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Summary

Abstract:
This collection of research papers was assembled by Salvador Ramirez as information for the books he authored.
Extent:
12 Linear Feet 12 record cartons + 1 oversized box
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Salvador A. Ramirez Papers, MS 735, California State Railroad Museum Library & Archives, Sacramento, California.

Background

Scope and content:

Series 1: Transcribed Correspondence ranges from 1860-1892. Materials are transcribed copies of letters from originals.

"In Their Own Words" is a transcription of the correspondence from C.P. Huntington. The correspondents are primarily Charles Crocker, Collis Potter Huntington, Leland Stanford and Mark Hopkins, railroad financiers, officials and administrators, congressmen, lobbyists, industrialists, bankers, lawyers and engineers. Includes a transcribed index of the letters. The original letters are part of the Collis Potter Huntington Papers at Syracuse University Library.
Ramirez does include citations on the bottom of the transcribed letters with the series and reel numbers for the correspondence transcribed from the Collis Potter Huntington Papers, Syracuse University Library.
Transcribed correspondence dated 1860-1863 written between Theodore Judah to Anna Judah, and Mark Hopkins and Charles Crocker to Dr. D. W. Strong. These transcriptions of the letters from the California State Library, Amos Parmalee Catlin Papers, 1850-1900, box 500, folder 3

The Series 2: J.M. Bassett Series includes editorial letters sent to Bay Area newspapers under the heading "Dear Old Pard" written by newspaperman James M. Bassett.

Bassett, who at one time was employed by Stanford as the general inspector of the Southern Pacific Railroad. After a falling out with the Big Four, Bassett began writing critical editorials, addressed to C.P. Huntington as 'Dear Old Pard'. These editorials were published in Bay Area newspapers between 1895-1897.
Bassett was once on the editorial staff of the "Chronicle" and the "Post in San Francisco".
Also includes obituary photocopies and cemetery information for Bassett and his extended family and photocopied biography information. Photocopies of the 'Dear Pard' letters on the Davie Mayoral Race (1893-1897) and the 'Dear Pard' letters on the Councilman Bassett (1895-1897) includes copies of the 'Tim' letters published September 1893 (letters to the editor from 'Tim' supporting J.M. Bassett).

Series 3 Research files include photocopied newspaper clippings and articles, publications and theses that Ramirez used in his research.

The series has been arranged in the following subseries 1-3

Sub-series 3.1 Subject files

The files are related to the research Ramirez gathered during his research for his book, "The Inside Man". Includes biographical information on Charles Crocker found in transcribed notes and newspaper articles. There is a Polaroid photo of Crocker's burial tomb. Also contains biographical information on E.B. Crocker found in transcribed newspaper articles. Includes a SACRAMENTO UNION death notice for E.B. Crocker. Additional subjects include: the Nickel Ferry at the Oakland Waterfront (1890-1897), the Pullman Strike (1894), and repayment of government loans by Central Pacific. Also includes photocopied government reports on railroad policies and practices, railroad commission reports; SOUTHERN PACIFIC BULLETIN; TRAILS TO RAILS Southern Pacific Bulletin, Trails to Rails articles and excerpts from various books about Tulare and Kings County history. Included in this series are photocopied books, court testimonies and railroad history related thesis.
Includes California newspapers, the LOS ANGELES HERALD, the OAKLAND MORNING TIMES, the QUINCY HERALD, the SAN JOSE RECORD and the SACRAMENTO UNION and copies of indexed letters written by Arthur McEwen, a one-time editor of the SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER, printed in the OAKLAND MORNING TIMES between 1890 and 1897.
Includes biographical information on Charles Crocker, Edwin Bryant Crocker, C.P. Huntington, as well as biographical notes on David Douty Colton (D.D. Colton). Colton, one-time sheriff of Siskiyou County (1853-1857) moved his family to San Francisco in 1859 after being authorized to practice law in California. Colton joined business with the Big Four, eventually becoming Vice President of the Southern Pacific Railroad. After his death in 1878, his widow, Ellen, sued the Big Four to obtain one fifth of the company and its profits. After 12 years, she eventually lost the lawsuit, but in the course of the lawsuit, presented, as evidence to the court case, the "Colton Letters". The "Colton Letters" were letters written by C.P. Huntington to David Colton, describing how government officials can and were bribed during the construction of the Central Pacific Railroad.
Conflict correspondence includes newspaper copies and a letter index from 1890 until Leland Stanford's death on 21 June 1893. Includes letters to and from C.P. Huntington, Leland Stanford and Aaron Augustus Sargent.
The Golden Era was a 19th Century San Francisco newspaper that featured the writing of Mark Twain, Bret Harte, Charles Warren Stoddard (writing as Pip Pepperpod), Fitz Hugh Ludlow, Adah Isaacs Menken and Ada Claire.
The Golden Era began in 1852 as a weekly founded by Rollin Daggett and J. Macdonough Foard. In 1860 it was sold to James Brooks and Joseph E. Lawrence and became more literary. Harr Wagner bought the weekly in 1882. In January 1886, Wagner changed to monthly publication and hired Joaquin Miller as editor. Wanger married Poet Madge Morris who was already a contributor, and her contributions became more numerous. In 1887, Wagner moved the periodical to San Diego, California- city officials enticed him with $5,000 subsidy. -From the notes of Salvador Ramirez

Subseries 3.2 Publications

Subseries 3.2 includes genealogy and biographical records of the of the Hopkins and Buell Family in the United States. Titles include, A Chapter of Hopkins Genealogy 1735-1905, Early Marriage Records of the Hopkins Family in the United States, Genealogy of One Branch of the Hopkins Family (John of Harford), Genealogy of One Branch of the Hopkins Family of Descendent of Stephen Hopkins Thru Giles, History of the Buell Family in England from the remotest times ascertainable from our ancient histories and in America from town, parish, church and family records, Notes on Thomas Hopkins of Providence, R.I. ca 1640 and his son Thomas Hopkins and his descendants, Stephen and Giles Hopkins: Mayflower Passengers and Some of Their Descendants Including an Eldridge Line.

Subseries 3.3: Theses

Subseries 3.3 are a selection of theses that Ramirez used in his research. The topics range from people specific (Charles Crocker and Mark Hopkins) to histories of railroads, such as The Los Angeles and San Pedro Railroad, the San Francisco and San Jose Railroad and the Sacramento Valley Railroad. These items have been catalogued in the California State Railroad Museum Library and Archives online catalog.

Series 4: Salvador Ramirez files include research files on specific libraries where Ramirez conducted research. Included is correspondence from Ramirez to Alice Mayhew, Simon & Schuster. This letter addresses Ramirez's page-by-page critique on the errors in Stephen Ambrose's book "Nothing Like it in the World: The Men who built the Transcontinental Railroad, 1863-1869.

Series 5 is a collection of photograph copies and photo DVD's of C.P. Huntington, Mark Hopkins, Charles Crocker, Leland Stanford, their wives and others. Includes digital images, reprints and photocopies found in historical societies and libraries. Some of the photographs were published in Ramirez's books. Includes page mockups with photographs for publication. The files are organized by the name of the institution from where Ramirez received the images.

Biographical / historical:

Salvador Ramirez was born 22 January 1936 in Los Angeles, California and died 24 August 2014 in Carlsbad, California. He was a United States Navy/NSA Veteran and public-school educator. He received his BA and MA from CSU Long Beach and his counseling credential from UCLA. Ramirez taught in the Los Angeles School District for nine years and was a principal in San Fernando Valley for four years. He spent the remainder of his education career as the principal of San Dieguito High School in Encinitas, California. Ramirez was very passionate about California history and this passion led him to research and write six books on the history of railroading in California. His writings primarily focused on the Southern Pacific Railroad.

Sparked by lectures on the Southern Pacific Railroad during his graduate studies Mr. Ramirez published, in 1982, "The Octopus Speaks: The Colton Letters", which brought to light correspondence long thought to be lost between Collis P. Huntington and David D. Colton. These letters were considered crucial evidence in a much-publicized 1880's trial. The trial drew nationwide attention because the letters purported to describe how congressmen were bribed, and exposed for the first time, details of the inner workings of the Southern Pacific. This was followed three years later by the publication of "From New York to San Francisco via Cape Horn in 1849-The Gold Rush Voyage of the Ship 'Pacific' - An Eyewitness Account", which was a reconstruction of the daily activities, rigors, and conflict experienced by Mark Hopkins and his contemporary Argonauts on their 194-day voyage to gold rush California. The "Inside Man" continued Ramirez's groundbreaking research narrating the first complete biography of Mark Hopkins, the least known of the railroad's founders and, in the process debunks the many fabrications by latter day fortune seekers.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Victor Ramirez, 2016
Processing information:

New file folders were labeled with the same titles Mr. Ramirez had given the original files and/or binders. Original arrangment of the binders duplicated.

Arrangement:

Processed material has been organized into the following series

Series 1. Transcribed Correspondence

Series 2. J.M. Bassett

Series 3. Research Files

Subseries 3.1 Subject Files
Subseries 3.2 Publications
Subseries 3.3 Theses

Series 4. Salvador Ramirez Files

Series 5. Photographs

Physical location:
Statewide Museum Collections Center
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research by appointment.

Terms of access:

Copyright has not been assigned to the California State Railroad Museum. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the CSRM Library & Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the CSRM as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Salvador A. Ramirez Papers, MS 735, California State Railroad Museum Library & Archives, Sacramento, California.

Location of this collection:
111 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814, US
Contact:
(916) 323-8073
Library.CSRM@parks.ca.gov
Website