Haight (Henry Huntley) Papers, 1846-1885

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Summary

Title:
Henry Huntley Haight papers
Dates:
1846-1885
Creators:
Haight, Henry H., 1825-1878
Abstract:
A collection of material related to the personal and professional life of Henry Huntley Haight, lawyer, businessman and governor of California.
Extent:
7.5 Linear Feet (6 boxes)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Henry Huntley Haight papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

A collection of 508 items from 1846 to 1885, which consists of letters, documents and manuscripts related to the life and interests of Henry Huntley Haight. Subject matter includes the political history of California; the development of San Francisco; railroad subsidies; and anti-slavery and secession questions in California. The collection also includes the business papers of Joseph B. Wells and the legal firm of Wells, Haight and Gary. Correspondents frequently represented in the collection include: James S. Bush, Eugene Casserly, Joseph E. Gary, Fletcher Matthews Haight, Samuel Haight, Bayard Taylor and Joseph B. Wells.

Biographical / historical:

Henry Huntley Haight (1825-1878) was born in New York, the eldest son of Fletcher Matthews Haight, a prominent lawyer. Henry Haight graduated from Yale University in 1844 and two years later was admitted to the bar in St. Louis, Missouri. Haight practiced law there with his father until 1850, when he traveled to California and settled in San Francisco; he married Anna E. Bissell of St. Louis in 1855. Haight practiced law in San Francisco until 1867, when, as a candidate of the Democratic party he was elected governor of California. As governor, he was a leader in the fight against railroad subsidies and during his term Haight established the University of California in 1868. After losing his bid for reelection in 1871, Haight returned to private practice until his death in Alameda, California, in 1878.

Acquisition information:
Purchased for the Huntington from Edwin Grabhorn, by the Friends of the Huntington Library, April 1941 and January 1945.
Processing information:

Processed by Huntington Library Staff, circa 1950. In 2020, Gayle Richardson created the finding aid derived from a legacy summary report.

Arrangement:

Arranged chronologically.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Gayle Richardson
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2021-07-09 12:32:50 -0700 .

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]. Henry Huntley Haight papers, 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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