Henry Huntley Haight Papers mssHT
Gayle Richardson
The Huntington Library
November 2020
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
reference@huntington.org
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Henry Huntley Haight papers
Creator:
Haight, Henry H.,
1825-1878
Identifier/Call Number: mssHT
Physical Description:
7.5 Linear Feet
(6 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1846-1885
Abstract: A collection of material related to the
personal and professional life of Henry Huntley Haight, lawyer, businessman and governor of
California.
Language of Material: Materials are in
English.
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at
the Huntington Library for more information.
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from
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responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining
necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
[Identification of item]. Henry Huntley Haight papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino,
California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased for the Huntington from Edwin Grabhorn, by the Friends of the Huntington Library,
April 1941 and January 1945.
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.
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.
Processed by Huntington Library Staff, circa 1950. In 2020, Gayle Richardson created the
finding aid derived from a legacy summary report.
Arranged chronologically.
Individual call numbers included in the collection: mssHT 1-457.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Lawyers -- California
Railroads -- California
Slavery -- United States -- Extension to
the territories
Governors -- California
California -- History -- 19th century
California -- Politics and Government --
1850-1950
San Francisco (Calif.) -- History -- 19th century
Letters (correspondence) -- California -- 19th century
Professional papers -- California -- 19th century
Bush, James S., active 1850-1877
Casserly, Eugene,
1820-1883
Gary, Joseph E. (Joseph
Easton), 1821-1906
Haight, Fletcher M.
(Fletcher Mathews), 1799-1866
Haight, Samuel S.,
1778-1863
Taylor, Bayard,
1825-1878
Wells, Joseph B.
Wells, Haight and Gary
Box 1, Folder 1-83
1846-1851
Box 2, Folder 1-85
1852-1854 April 29
Box 3, Folder 1-80
1854 May 4-1855
Box 4, Folder 1-72
1856-1857
Box 5, Folder 1-88
1858-1868
Box 6, Folder 1-43
1869-1885