Finding Aid of Thomas Oliver Larkin Letters C057951
Finding aid prepared by Samantha Ronzano
Society of California Pioneers
November 10, 2015
300 Fourth Street
San Francisco, CA, 94107-1272
(415) 959-1849
pkeats@californiapioneers.org
Title: Larkin, Thomas Oliver, Letters
Identifier/Call Number: C057951
Contributing Institution:
Society of California Pioneers
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
1.0 folder
7 handwritten letters from Larkin to Edward L. William; 3 photocopies of a handwritten letter from Larkin
Date (inclusive): 1816-1856
Abstract: File contains 7 handwritten letters from Thomas O. Larkin to Edward L. William from 1856, and 3 photocopies of a handwritten
letter from Larkin to the Consulate of the United States 1846 (3 copies of same letter).
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
Gift of Mrs. Chas. L. Pioda, January 1, 1933.
Thomas Oliver Larkin Letters. The Society of California Pioneers.
Existence and Location of Originals note
The Society of California Pioneers, 101 Montgomery St. Suite 150, The Presidio of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94129.
There are no restrictions on access.
Conditions Governing Access note
Collection is open for research.
Thomas Oliver Larkin was bron in Charleston, Massachusetts, September 16, 1802. In 1831, he boarded the Newcastle ship, and
landed in San Francisco in April, 1832. He was able to purchase a sawmill in Santa Cruz in 1833, and later that year married
his wife, Rachel. In 1835 he built California's first two-story house, which still remains in Monterey. In the 1840s, his
political participation gained him recognition from President Tyler, who appointed Larkin the American consul in Alta, California,
in 1843. He had a strong role in the Mexican-American war, and later acquired several rancheros. In 1858, he contracted typhoid
and died within a week.
File contains 7 handwritten letters from Thomas O. Larkin to Edward L. William from 1856, and 3 photocopies of a handwritten
letter from Larkin to the Consulate of the United States 1846 (3 copies of same letter).
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Larkin, Thomas Oliver, 1802-1858
William, Edward L.
San Francisco (Calif.)