Helen and Robert W. Long Collection of Moreno Documents, 1818-1974, bulk 1839-1869

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Summary

Creators:
Moreno, José Matías
Abstract:
This collection consists mainly of the original correspondence (1839-1869) to and from José Matías Moreno (born ca. 1818), with the bulk of it dating from 1850s and 1860s when Moreno was an important agent, merchant, and political figure in San Diego and Baja, California. There is also some later material dealing with the subsequent history of his Rancho Guadalupe in northern Baja, California.
Extent:
Approximately 1,500 items in 26 boxes
Language:
The records are in Spanish and English .

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists mainly of the original correspondence (1839-1869) to and from José Matías Moreno (born ca. 1818), with the bulk of it coming in the 1850s and 1860s when Moreno was an important agent, merchant, and political figure in San Diego and Baja, California. There is also some later material dealing with the subsequent history of his Rancho Guadalupe in northern Baja, California.

Boxes 1-17 consist mainly of correspondence, documents, and manuscripts to and from José Matías Moreno. Some subjects include the history of his Rancho Guadalupe in northern Baja California; politics in Baja California and American economic and political influence there; filibustering; ranchos and land sales; commerce and shipping along the California coast; mining; and the social and domestic history of the Californios. Boxes 23-26 consist of additional oversize correspondence, documents, and manuscripts at the end of the collection. Note: At the end of Box 15, there are facsimiles, translations, and a group of loose notes and fragments. The notes and fragments appear to be a working translation. These folders do not have an HLG call number.

Box 18 consists of papers regarding Rancho Guadalupe in northern Baja California. There are correspondence, documents, empty envelopes, miscellaneous financial records, negatives, printed matter, sketches, and maps from the 1880s-1948. Correspondence consists of mainly letters to and from Percy William Barré, Sarela Flower de Mygrant, Ella Mygrant, and two attorneys.

Box 19 consists of the Flower family genealogy and photographs. The photographs are primarily reproductions. Also in Box 19 is Robert W. Long’s dissertation: Life and Times of José Matías Moreno.

Box 20 consists of appeals, applications, circulars, correspondence, instructions, and notices to and from the United States Department of the Interior General Land Office from 1911 to 1968. The miscellaneous printed matter folder includes a newspaper clipping, a Baja California Travels Series list by Dawson’s Book Shop, The Journal of San Diego History, 1970, Old Main Towns of Northern Part of the Frontier of Lower California and Their Significance in English and Spanish, and a photocopy of Gabriel González, Last Dominican in Baja California by Peter Gerhard.

Boxes 21 and 22 consist of index cards corresponding to the correspondence, documents, and manuscripts. The information found on these cards vary from only a name and a date to subject matter. The cards in Box 21 are arranged chronologically from 1850 to 1868. The cards in Box 22 are arranged alphabetically. Note: Not all of these cards are accurate. They appear to be a reference resource for the collection that was never completed.

This collection is arranged chronologically.

Biographical / historical:

José Matías Moreno was born about 1818 in Baja, California, the son of a Scottish whaler and a Mexican mother. As a youth he participated in various revolutionary movements, and eventually became the secretary to Governor Pío Pico in Alta California in 1845. A strong supporter of Mexico all his life, he fled to Baja California with Pico in 1846 in the face of American forces to continue the fight there against the U.S. After the war he came to San Diego, where he married the natural daughter of Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, thereby becoming related to many of the major californio families. He was vocal in his opposition to the californios who had backed the U.S. in the war, and defended the interests of his fellow Hispanics in their dealings with American Anglo businessmen. At the same time he acted as an agent, promoting the development of Baja California and soliciting American capital. He was also long active in Mexican internal politics in Baja and served in 1861-1862 as political chief of the border region of the territory for the Mexican government. His frequent extended absences from home resulted in an extensive correspondence with his wife which lasted throughout their marriage until his death in 1869.

José Matías Moreno and Prudenciana López de Moreno had at least nine children: José Matías Moreno III, Carmen Carmelita Moreno, Dolores Moreno, Constatina Moreno, Mateo R. Moreno, Regina Moreno, Manuel Constantino Moreno, Constantino Moreno II, and Carmen Carmelita Moreno II. Dolores Moreno married George Anson Flower. Dolores and George had seven children: Andrew Flower, George Constantino Flower, Maria Nancy Flower, Dolores Flower, Sarela Flower, Lucinda Jane Flower, and Flora Cheatum. Lucinda Jane Flower married Percy William Barré. Lucinda and Percy had four children: Myron George Barré, Katherine Dolores Barré, Harriet Eugenia Barré, and William Percy Barré.

Acquisition information:
Purchased from Helen P. Long, May 1988.
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
reference@huntington.org
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