Cameron Erskine Thom papers, 1785-1923, bulk 1863-1923

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Summary

Creators:
Thom, Cameron Erskine, 1825-1915
Abstract:
Papers belonging to Los Angeles politician and mayor Cameron Erskine Thom.
Extent:
1.25 Linear Feet (1 box)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Cameron Erskine Thom papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection consists of personal letters, reminiscences, biographical sketches, and photographs related to the life, family, and career of Cameron Erskine Thom. Subject matter represented in the collection includes: the Confederate States of America, Los Angeles history and politics, and the Thom family. The collection also contains one facsimile copy of a letter from 1785.

Biographical / historical:

Cameron Erskine Thom (1825-1915) was Los Angeles County district attorney, mayor of Los Angeles, from 1882 to 1884, and a California state senator. Born in Culpeper County, Virginia, Thom moved to California in 1849, and briefly mined before opening a law office in Sacramento. He was appointed agent for the U.S. Land Commission but later moved to Los Angeles, where he became Los Angeles city attorney and Los Angeles County district attorney. During the American Civil War, he returned to Virginia to become an officer for the Confederacy and was wounded at Gettysburg. After the war he returned to Los Angeles to reopen his law office, renew his political career, and invest in real estate in Southern California. He helped found the city of Glendale, California in 1887.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Rowena Thom Rathbone, October 1981.
Processing information:

Processed by Virginia Rust in November 1981. In 2022, Brooke M. Black created a finding aid.

Arrangement:

Arranged chronologically.

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]. Cameron Erskine Thom papers, 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
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