William Norton collection, 1661-1979, bulk 1840-1890

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Summary

Creators:
Norton, William.
Abstract:
This small collection contains correspondence of William Norton (died 1908) regarding his voyage to California from Massachusetts in 1849 and his time in the gold mines, as well as 17th and 18th century items regarding the Massachusetts ancestors of Norton and some other miscellaneous documents.
Extent:
7.53 Linear Feet (1 box, 3 oversize folders)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. William Norton collection, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The manuscripts include a variety of material including several 17th and 18th century land deeds and wills related to William Norton's ancestors in Massachusetts. There is one letter from Norton's voyage on the ship "Argonaut" and four letters from his years spent living in California. In these letters Norton gives details about specific mines in California, the towns in which he lives, and his fellow miners. There is also a list of passengers of the ship "Argonaut." The oversize items include William Norton's membership certificate for the Society of California Pioneers of New England, and a sketch and painting of the ship "Argonaut," both by Oliver Clark. The ephemera is made up of both printed material and realia and includes military records, such as discharge papers and pension certificates for Simon M. Nudd and Charles Walton, both of whom fought in the Civil War; a booklet for a meeting of the Associated Pioneers of the Territorial Days of California; a list of the members of and badge for the Society of California Pioneers of New England; and a lock and pocket compass which both belonged to William Norton.

Biographical / historical:

William Norton (died 1908) left Lynn, Massachusetts, for California in 1849 on the ship "Argonaut." Norton first settled in Maxwell's Creek (also called Coulterville), Mariposa County, and later moved to Big Oak Flat, Tuolumne County. Norton returned to Massachusetts in 1855. He later invented the Norton Clasp for shoes, and with the money he earned in California, opened the Norton Clasp Shoe Company. He was a member of the Society of California Pioneers of New England and the Associated Pioneers of the Territorial Days of California. Norton died in 1908 at the age of 76.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Ruth E. Bacon, Helen N. Bacon, and Eunice Bacon Pippart, February 20, 1986.
Processing information:

Processed by Brooke M. Black in April 2002. In July 2024, Mari Khasmanyan updated the collection's linear feet and call number.

Arrangement:

Arranged in the following order:

  1. Manuscripts (organized chronologically)
  2. Oversize items (organized alphabetically)
  3. Ephemera (organized alphabetically)
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]. William Norton collection, 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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