Finding Aid to the Howard Family Papers
Angelica Pena
The Bancroft Library
2017
The Bancroft Library
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720-6000
bancref@library.berkeley.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
The Bancroft Library
Title: Howard family papers
Creator:
Howard (Family : 1849- : Howard, William Davis Merry, 1819-1856)
Identifier/Call Number: BANC MSS 2017/229
Physical Description:
6 linear feet
(3 cartons, 3 oversize boxes, 1 box, 1 oversize folder)
Date (inclusive): 1756-2016
Abstract: The correspondence and papers of William Davis Merry Howard, his wife Agnes, and several generations of their family. The
majority of the papers are from: William Henry Howard (I), Edward Whiting Howard, and William Henry Howard (II). Collection
also includes papers and photographs from Frances Sargent Howard, Olivia Lansdale Howard, Ana D. Whiting, John Kenneth Howard,
Olivia Howard, Marion Howard, Anne Howard, Virginia Howard, George Henry Howard (I), George Henry Howard (II), Agnes Howard,
George Henry Howard (III) and Henry S. P. Howard.
Access to Collection
Collection is open for research.
Biographical / Historical
William Davis Merry (WDM) Howard (1819-1856), originally from Boston, arrived in San Francisco in 1847. Shortly after, he
and Henry Mellus purchased the Hudson Bay Company’s San Francisco post. The company saw much success with the influx of the
Gold Rush. With his wealth, WDM bought and developed various areas of downtown San Francisco. He became involved with the
formation of the city’s government and early efforts to bring law and order and civic infrastructure. WDM served on the city’s
first city council, co-founded the Society of California Pioneers, helped form the Committee of Vigilance and donated buildings
that served as a hospital and schools for the San Francisco Public School system.
In 1849, WDM Howard married Agnes Poett (1833-1893). In 1850, the couple welcomed their first son, William Henry Howard (I)
and purchased Rancho San Mateo and built their El Cerrito estate. The couple had a second son in 1851, Alfred Howard, who
tragically died a year later. Shortly after, WDM began to suffer from health issues and passed away in 1856.
In 1857, Agnes remarried WDM’s younger brother, George Henry Howard. The couple had four children together: George Henry Howard
II (1864-1935), Julia Howard, Agnes “Babette” Howard and Joseph Henry Poett Howard. The family spent much of their time in
their San Mateo home, El Cerrito, where George managed property and businesses he inherited from his brother, including a
cattle and livestock business. During their time in San Mateo, they couple donated land to St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church
(1865) and hired Jonh McClaren as their chief gardener (1873), both important milestones in the development of Hillsborough.
George Henry Howard passed away in 1878 at the age of 51. Agnes married for a third time to Henry P. Bowie in 1879. Agnes
passed away in 1893 at the age of 60.
William Henry Howard (I) (1850-1901) married Anna D. Whiting in 1872. The couple had five children: Gertrude Howard, William
Davis Merriam Howard (II), Edward “Ted” Whiting Howard, Francis Sargeant Howard and John Kenneth Howard. The couple spent
much of their early marriage in Paris, France before settling in San Mateo where they had Uplands, their estate, built not
far from El Cerrito. William Henry Howard continued his family’s work of developing the San Mateo area by managing his family’s
land, including Coyote Point, co-founding the Burlingame Country Club and donating the land for the area’s train station.
William passed away in 1901.
Edward “Ted” Henry Howard (1878-1915) continued managing the family properties and businesses after his father passed away.
He served on the California State Board of Agriculture and formed the successful Howard Cattle Company. In 1905, he married
Olivia Lansdale with whom he had five children: Olivia Howard, William Henry Howard, Ann Howard, Gertrude Howard, and Marion
Howard. The family spent much of their time in their San Joaquin Valley ranch, Quinto Ranch. Edward died in 1915 in San Francisco
due to injuries from an elevator accident. Olivia went on to remarry Robert Frazer in 1923.
William Henry Howard (II) (1907-1991) continued to manage his family properties. In 1941, he married Virginia Wilson. The
couple had two daughters: Virginia “Jeannie” Howard and Marion Howard.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Howard family papers, BANC MSS 2017/229, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.
Scope and Contents
The correspondence and papers of William Davis Merry, his wife Agnes, and several generations of their family. The collection
documents the Howard Family history in California, W.D.M.’s early days in San Francisco circa 1949, marriages, business dealings,
various properties and the family’s role in the development of Hillsborough and San Mateo, CA.
The majority of the papers are from: William Henry Howard (I), Edward Whiting Howard, and William Henry Howard (II). Collection
also includes papers and photographs from Frances Sargent Howard, Olivia Lansdale Howard, Ana D. Whiting, John Kenneth Howard,
Olivia Howard, Marion Howard, Anne Howard, Virginia Howard, George Henry Howard (I), George Henry Howard (II), Agnes Howard,
George Henry Howard (III) and Henry S. P. Howard.
The collection contains photos, correspondence and ephemera from five generations of the Howard family. For each generation,
the collection includes letters that detail family events and concerns and details of day to day life. The ephemera in the
collection includes certificates from involvement in various organization such as WDM Howard’s participation in the SF Vigilance
Committee and Edward Howard’s membership on the California State Board of Agriculture. The collection also contains family
related research such as genealogy notes. The photos in the collection range from formal portraits, photos of the family estates
and documentation of their many travels and vacations.
Conditions Governing Use
Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction
of some materials may be restricted by terms of University of California gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions,
privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond
that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be
commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from, or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted to The Bancroft Library.
See: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/reference/permissions.html
Processing Information
Processed by Angelica Pena in 2017-2018.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Virginia Howard Siegman in 2016.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Howard (Family : 1849- : Howard, William Davis Merry, 1819-1856)
Howard, William Davis Merry
Howard, Agnes Poett
Howard, George Henry
Howard, Anna D. Whiting
Howard, Edward Henry
Frazer, Olivia Lansdale
Howard Cattle Company
Families -- California
Families -- California -- San Mateo
Ranching -- California
San Mateo (Calif.) -- History
Series 1:
WDM and Agnes Poett Howard Family Papers
1841-1913
carton 1, folder 1
WDM Howard: Photos
undated
carton 1, folder 2
WDM Howard: Correspondence
1841-1853
carton 1, folder 3
WDM Howard: Boston Bank Balance Book
1853-1855
carton 1, folder 4
WDM Howard: Invoice
undated
oversize-box 2
WDM Howard: Assorted Oversized Items
1841-1913
Scope and Contents
Photos, San Francisco: It's Builders, Past & Present, Committee of Vigilance Certificate, U.S. Government Identification Certificate
carton 1, folder 5
Agnes and WDM Howard: Correspondence
approximately 1854
carton 1, folder 6
Agnes Poett Howard: Correspondence
1847-1854
carton 1, folder 7
Agnes Poett Howard: Photos
undated
Series 2:
William Henry Howard (I) Family Papers
1884-1913
carton 1, folder 8
William Henry Howard (I): California Map
1866
carton 1, folder 9
William Henry Howard (I): Legal Dispute Correspondence
1884-1888
carton 1, folder 10
William Henry Howard (I): Legal Dispute Documents
1885-1887
carton 1, folder 11
William Henry Howard (I): Business Documents
1886-1898
carton 1, folder 12
William Henry Howard (I): Writing
undated
carton 1, folder 13
William Henry Howard (I): Photos
undated
oversize-box 3, folder 2
William Henry Howard (I): Assorted Oversized Items
1901-1913
Scope and Contents
St. Matthew's Church Announcement regarding death, San Francisco: It's Builders, Past & Present
carton 1, folder 14
Ana D. Whiting Howard: Photos
undated
Series 3:
Frances Sargent Howard Papers
1884-1913
carton 1, folder 15
Frances Sargent Howard: Correspondence
1900
oversize-box 3, folder 4
Frances Sargent Howard: Daughters of the American Revolution Membership Certificate
1901
Series 4:
John Kenneth Howard Papers
1943
carton 1, folder 16
John Kenneth Howard: Miscellaneous
approximately 1943
Series 5:
Edward and Olivia Lansdale Howard Family Papers
1756-1980
carton 1, folder 17
Edward "Teddy" W. Howard: Correspondence
1890-1914
carton 1, folder 18
Edward "Teddy" W. Howard: School photos and certificates
approximately 1899
oversize-box 1, folder 1
Edward "Teddy" W. Howard: St. Paul's School Scrapbook
1892-1895
carton 1, folder 19
Edward "Teddy" W. Howard: Photos
undated
carton 1, folder 20
Edward "Teddy" W. Howard: Miscellaneous
1905-1915
oversize-box 3, folder 3
Edward "Teddy" W. Howard: Assorted Oversized Items
approximately 1900-1913
Scope and Contents
Photos, San Francisco: It's Builders, Past & Present, School and business certificates, Harvard Diploma
carton 1, folder 21
Edward and Olivia Howard: Correspondence
1904-1914
carton 1, folder 22
Olivia Lansdale Howard and Children: Family Photos
1909-1960
oversize-box 3, folder 5
Olivia Lansdale Howard and children: Oversized family photos
approximately 1907-1943
oversize-box 3, folder 4
Olivia Lansdale Howard and Children: Assorted Oversized Family Photos
Approximately 1933
Scope and Contents
Anne Howard, Marion Howard, and Olivia Lansdale Howard 1933 Court of St. James Portraits,
carton 1, folder 23
Olivia Lansdale Howard: Lansdale Family
1971-1972
carton 1, folder 24
Olivia Lansdale Howard: Lansdale Family History
1899
oversize-box 3, folder 4
Olivia Lansdale Howard: Oversized Lansdale Family History
1756-1783
Scope and Contents
Masonic membership certificate for Lancaster Lansdale, Military certificate for Colonel Stephen Moylan
box 1
Great Grandfather Gowen, framed portrait
undated
Scope and Contents
Portrait has family tree written on back. This family tree does not appear to be accurate
carton 1, folder 25
Olivia Lansdale Howard: Photos
approximately 1900-1969
carton 1, folder 26
Olivia and Robert Frazer: Newspaper Clippings
1939-1941
carton 1, folder 27
Olivia and Robert Frazer: Photos
undated
carton 1, folder 28
Olivia and Robert Frazer: Correspondence regarding William Henry Howard's (II) Health
1924
carton 1, folder 29
Olivia Howard: Photos
1924-1937
carton 1, folder 30
Marion Howard: Photos
1936-approximately 1980
carton 1, folder 31
Gertrude Howard: Miscellaneous
1940
carton 1, folder 32
Anne Howard: Miscellaneous
approximately 1920-1968
Series 6:
William Henry Howard (II) Family Papers
1907-2010
carton 1, folder 33
William Henry Howard (II): Correspondence
1914-1973
carton 1, folder 34
William Henry Howard (II): Rudyard Kipling Book
1944
oversize-box 2
William Henry Howard (II): Middlesex School Scrapbook
1921-1926
carton 1, folder 35
William Henry Howard (II): Military Records, Certificates
1942-1953
carton 1, folder 36
William Henry Howard (II): Military Records, Active Duty
1941-1945
carton 1, folder 37
William Henry Howard (II): Military Records, Personnel File
1942-1954
carton 1, folder 38
William Henry Howard (II): Military Records, Discharge
1945-1948
carton 1, folder 39
William Henry Howard (II): Childhood Photos
1907-1918
carton 1, folder 40
William Henry Howard (II): Adolescence Photos
approximately 1920
carton 1, folder 41
William Henry Howard (II): Adult Photos
1930-1989
carton 1, folder 42
William Henry Howard (II): Adult Photos
1930-1960
carton 1, folder 43
William Henry Howard (II): Gun Club Photo Album
1954-1965
carton 1, folder 44
William Henry Howard (II): Miniature Photo Album
undated
carton 1, folder 45
William Henry Howard (II): Miniature Photo Album Negatives
undated
carton 1, folder 46
William Henry Howard (II): Second Marriage
1969
carton 1, folder 47
William Henry Howard (II): Olivia L. Frazer Trust Documents
1972-1972
carton 1, folder 48
William Henry Howard (II): Miscellaneous
1907-1973
carton 2, folder 1
William and Virginia Howard: Marriage
1941
carton 2, folder 2
William and Virginia Howard: Photos
1940-1960
carton 2, folder 3
William, Virginia and children: Family Photos
1945-1960
carton 2, folder 4
William, Virginia and children: Family Photos
1945-1961
carton 2, folder 5
Virginia Wilson Howard: Photos
1940-1960
carton 2, folder 6
Virginia Wilson Howard: Miscellaneous
1942-1968
carton 2, folder 7
Virginia "Jeannie" Howard Siegman: Miscellaneous
1948-2010
Series 7:
Agnes and George Howard Family Papers
1865-1968
carton 2, folder 8
Dr. Joseph Henry Poett
undated
carton 2, folder 9
George Henry Howard (I): Correspondence
1874
oversize-box 2
George Henry Howard (I): Bible from his mother, Lucy Howard Merry
approximately 1843
carton 2, folder 10
George Henry Howard (I): Financial Documents
1865-1875
carton 2, folder 11
George Henry Howard (I): Insurance Company Shareholders List (Copy)
undated
carton 2, folder 12
George Henry Howard (II): Writing
undated
carton 2, folder 13
George Henry Howard (II): Architecture Work
undated
carton 2, folder 14
George Henry Howard (II): Death
1935
carton 2, folder 15
Agnes "Babette" Howard: Photos
undated
carton 2, folder 16
George Henry Howard (III): Autograph Book
1902
carton 2, folder 17
Henry S. P. Howard: Miscellaneous
1919-1962
carton 2, folder 18
Henry S. P. Howard: Photos
undated
carton 2, folder 19
Henry S. P. Howard: Newspaper Clippings
1962-1968
Series 8:
Howard Cattle Company Papers
1889-1960
Series 9:
Properties
1880-1985
oversize-box 3, folder 6
Assorted Oversized Photos
approximately 1880-1913
Scope and Contents
Photos include: Stonehedge Road, El Cerrito, Uplands, Burlingame Country Club, San Mateo Polo Club
carton 2, folder 29
Howard Estate Land Assessment
1872
carton 2, folder 32
Newspaper Clippings
1919-1975
carton 2, folder 33
Miscellaneous Financial
1954-1990
carton 2, folder 37
TXO Production Corporation Lease
1989
carton 2, folder 38
Phillips Petroleum Lease
1986-1988
carton 2, folder 39
Rushing Minerals, Inc. Lease
1987
carton 2, folder 40
Texalta Oil Lease
1981-1985
carton 2, folder 41
Trico Oil and Gas Lease
1965-1967
carton 2, folder 42
Aschutz Exploration Corporation Lease
1999
carton 2, folder 45
Oil Drilling Photos
approximately 1950
Series 10:
Publicity
1915-2016
carton 3, folder 1
Newspaper Clippings
1915-1947
carton 3, folder 2
Newspaper Clippings
1928-1962
oversize-folder 1
Oversize Newspapers
1941-1975
carton 3, folder 3
The Bullard Bulletin
2000-2001
carton 3, folder 4
California Historical Society Quarterly
undated
carton 3, folder 5
La Peninsula Journal
1942-1973
Series 11:
Research
undated
carton 3, folder 7
Peninsula History Script
undated
carton 3, folder 8
Antique Family Furniture Appraisal
undated
carton 3, folder 9
St. Matthews Church
undated
oversize-box 3, folder 9
Oversized Family letters
undated
Scope and Contents
Copies of letters written to WDM Howard, including a couple letters from Thomas O. Larkin. Original letters dated 1845-1849
Series 12:
Assorted General Family Papers and Unidentified Family Photographs
1854-1987
carton 3, folder 21
Elizabeth Farrel San Francisco City Taxes
1855
carton 3, folder 23
Mining Company Stock Certificates
1874-1876
carton 3, folder 24
Society of California Pioneers List of Members
1895
carton 3, folder 25
St. Matthews Church Programs
1905-1968
carton 3, folder 26
Illustration of 1849 San Francisco
undated
carton 3, folder 27
First Landing of the Pilgrims - Copy
undated
carton 3, folder 28
Silver Belt Buckle
undated
carton 3, folder 29
Ronald Reagan Inauguration Letter and Photo
1982
carton 3, folder 30
J.B. Clapp Receipt for Eleazer Howard
1867
carton 3, folder 31
Unidentified Family Photos
1909-1987
oversize-box 3, folder 8
Oversized Unidentified Family Photos
undated
Scope and Contents
Contains photo of St. Matthews Church and portrait of King George IV
carton 3, folder 32
Unidentified Family Photos: Mexico
approximately 1930
carton 3, folder 33
Unidentified Family Photos: Bay Bridge Construction Photos
1935
carton 3, folder 34
Unidentified Family Photos: Unidentified
1934-1949
carton 3, folder 35
Unidentified Family Photos: Unidentified
1939-1943
carton 3, folder 36
Unidentified Family Photos: Unidentified
approximately 1930
carton 3, folder 37
Unidentified Family Photos: Unidentified
approximately 1920-1930
carton 3, folder 38
Unidentified Family Photos: Unidentified
approximately 1920-1970
carton 3, folder 39
Unidentified Family Photos: Photo Negatives
approximately 1930-1980
carton 3, folder 40
Unidentified Family Photos: Photo Negatives
1930-1960