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Wolfskill (William) 1830-1855 Ledgers
MS.594
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Contributing Institution:
Library and Archives at the Autry
Title: William Wolfskill 1830-1855 Ledgers
Creator:
Wolfskill, William
Identifier/Call Number: MS.594
Physical Description:
0.4 Linear Feet
(10 folders)
Date (inclusive): 1913-1955
Abstract: John and William Wolfskill were pioneers to California and New Mexico from Kentucky and Missouri in the 1830s. William Wolfskill
is credited with being the first to ship California oranges as a commercial commodity. This collection contains one typed
copy and one carbon copy of William Wolfskill's dry goods store ledgers from 1830-1854, as well as biographical newspaper
clippings on the Wolfskill family from 1913-1955.
Language of Material:
English
.
John and William Wolfskill were pioneers to California and New Mexico from Kentucky and Missouri in the 1830s. William Wolfskill
is credited with being the first to ship California oranges as a commercial commodity.
William Wolfskill (1798, March 20 – 1866, October 3) was a cowboy and agronomist from Los Angeles, California, who was highly
influential in the development of California's agricultural industry in the 19th century. Arguably his greatest contribution
to agriculture was the Valencia orange, which quickly became the most popular juice orange in America and led to the naming
of Valencia, California.
In California, Wolfskill took advantage of the Mexican land ownership laws and became a pioneer of viticulture in Southern
California. After acquiring land from the Mexican government where downtown Los Angeles now stands, he began growing grapevines.
He eventually planted 32,000 vines on a 48 acre vineyard. Initially, he planted mission vines, but he experimented with other
varietals later. At his death in 1866, he was producing 50,000 gallons of wine a year. He was, by far, the greatest producer
of table grapes in California during the Mexican era and has been named by historians as one of the three most important men
in the history of California viticulture.
Wolfskill is credited with starting the commercial citrus industry by selling a shipload of lemons to the gold miners for
up to $1 apiece and shipping oranges the following year. He is also credited with building the first schooner in California.
Processed by Glenna Schroeder, circa 1977-1981. Finding aid completed by Holly Rose Larson, NHPRC Processing Archivist, 2012
October 19, made possible through grant funding from the National Historical Publications and Records Commissions (NHPRC).
This collection contains one typed copy and one carbon copy of William Wolfskill's dry goods store ledgers from 1830-1854,
as well as biographical newspaper clippings on the Wolfskill family from 1913-1955. Ledgers were copied from the original
account book by the courtesy of Mrs. Marcella Wolfskill Palethorpe, great-granddaughter of William Wolfskill. The copy was
made by Madeline Amsden for the Southwest Museum research library. Ledgers are for Taos, New Mexico, 1830-1832, and for Willmington,
California, 1843-1854. The New Mexico ledger pages are in English, and the California ledger pages are in Spanish.
The dates for folders 1-9 reflect the dates documented in the ledger. It does not reflect the dates the copies were created.
New Mexico ledger received in Library, 1941 April 18. California ledger received in Library, 1946. Other materials from donations
from Charles Fletcher Lummis, 1913.
William Wolfskill 1830-1855 Ledgers, 1913-1955, Braun Research Library Collection, Autry Museum of the American West, Los Angeles; MS.594; [folder number] [folder
title][date].
Copyright has not been assigned to the Autry Museum of the American West. All requests for permission to publish or quote
from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Research Services and Archives. Permission for publication is
given on behalf of the Autry Museum of the American West as the custodian of the physical items and is not intended to include
or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.
Appointments to view materials are required. To make an appointment please visit
https://theautry.org/research-collections/library-and-archives and fill out the Researcher Application Form.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Clippings
Ledgers
Dry goods stores
Merchants -- Southwest, New
Taos (N.M.)
Wilmington (Calif.)
Citrus fruit industry
Frontier and pioneer life -- New Mexico
Frontier and pioneer life -- California
Wolfskill Family
Wolfskill, John