George Turner Marsh papers
Finding aid prepared by Gina C Giang.
The Huntington Library
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2191
Fax: (626) 449-5720
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
© June 2019
The Huntington Library. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: George Turner Marsh papers
Inclusive Dates: 1875-2001
Bulk Dates: 1875-1931
Collection Number: mssMarsh
Collector:
Marsh, George Turner, 1857-1932
Extent:
26 boxes, 2 oversize folders, and 1 envelope (11 linear feet)
Repository:
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2191
Fax: (626) 449-5720
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract: The George Turner Marsh papers consist of personal and professional material related to Marsh's business selling primarily
Japanese arts and antiques.
Language of Material: The material is in English.
Administrative Information
Access
Collection is open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information,
please go to following
web site .
Publication Rights
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], George Turner Marsh papers. The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Caterina Marsh, June 2018.
Biography
George Turner Marsh (1857-1932) was born in Richmond, Australia; son of Stephen Hale Marsh, who was court musician to Queen
Victoria. When George Marsh was 15 years old his family decided to move to America. On the journey to America they stopped
in Japan and the young Marsh fell in love with both the country and culture; he then persuaded his parents to let him stay.
His father found him work with a tea import/export firm in Yokohama, Japan. Several years later he joined his family in San
Francisco where he went on to use the expertise he gained in Japan to open one of the first Asian art galleries in the United
States. Sometime after 1876, G.T. Marsh & Company: Japanese Art Repository opened at 625 Market Street at the Palace Hotel
in San Francisco, California. Marsh married Lucy Elvira Whiteside in 1880; the couple had one daughter and five sons. He passed
away in 1932 at the age of 75.
G.T. Marsh & Company specialized in fine antiques, works of art and textiles; the store quickly flourished as the West embraced
Japanese culture and became increasingly fascinated with all things Eastern. Marsh was keen to share his enthusiasm and interest
in Asia with his clients and as his experience and success grew, he opened branches in Coronado, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara,
Pasadena, and Monterey. According to William Hertrich's (1878-1966) memoir
The Huntington Botanical Gardens, 1905-1949 : personal recollections of William Hertrich curator emeritus, Henry E. Huntington purchased the house in the Japanese Garden, along with the ornaments and fixtures from Marsh's store
located on Fair Oaks Avenue and California in 1911. Source: "Marsh & Co." Hancocks. Accessed 1 June 2019.
https://www.hancocks-london.com/maker/marsh-%26-co./
Scope and Content
The George Turner Marsh papers consist of professional and personal correspondence, documents, ephemera, financial records,
legal documents, negatives, photographs, and typescripts dating from 1875-2001. The bulk of the first series contains correspondence
to and from customers, export agents, art, and antique dealers including Singleton, Benda & Co., Ltd, Zung Chang Ziang Company,
and Zung Chang Trading Company, Ltd (1879-1970). Included are letters from C.R. Conway and legal documents related to San
Fernando Petroleum and Mining Company; Conway claimed to be one of the original claimants with interest in the company. The
more recent letters, with supporting enclosures, concern the origin of the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco, California.
The second series includes letters from Marsh's wife Lucy E. Whiteside Marsh writing from Pasadena, California (1903), grateful
recipients of Marsh's book
Citizenship for Nations (1931-1932), and direct mail from the International Coalition and the New Commonwealth (1928-1953). Included in the same
series are research notes, possibly conducted by Marsh for his 1931 book. The third series includes numerous clippings, ephemera,
and postcards concerning arts, culture, and politics (1881-2001). Also included is a box containing various drafts about Japanese
sword mountings entitled
Catalogue of Kozuka by George Turner Marsh. The fourth series consists of one daguerreotype, negatives, photograph albums, and photographs (1894-1986).
Most of the photograph albums and photographs showcase Asian arts and antiques for sale at Marsh's stores and from dealers.
Also included are scenes from the Japanese Village during the California Midwinter International Exposition of 1894. Note:
There is an envelope of unavailable negatives too fragile to be handled.
Arrangement
Arranged in four series:
- Series 1: Business material, 1875-2001
- Series 2: Personal material, 1877-1953
- Series 3: Ephemera, 1881-2001
- Series 4: Photographs, 1894-1986
Indexing Terms
Personal Names
Janel, Emil G., 1897-1981
Marsh, George Turner, 1857-1932
Stilwell, Alison
Corporate Names
G.T. Marsh and Company
San Fernando Petroleum Mining Company
Subjects
Antique dealers
Art dealers
Art, Japanese -- Collectors and collecting
Disarmament
Gardens, Japanese -- California
Gardens, Japanese -- Exhibitions
International cooperation
Oriental art
Petroleum -- California
Sword guards -- Japan
Geographic Areas
California -- Exhibitions
Coronado (Calif.)
Monterey (Calif.)
Santa Barbara (Calif.)
Genre
Correspondence
Ephemera (general object genre)
Negatives
Photograph albums
Photographs
Sales catalogs
Typescripts
Alternate Authors
Conway, C.R.
Whiteside, Lucy Elvira
Business material
1875-2001
Physical Description: 9 boxes and 1 oversize folder
Box 1
1903-1993
Signed by customers.
Six albums.
Box 2
1935-2001
Signed by customers.
Six albums.
Box 3, Folder 3
1884-1885
Related to San Fernando Petroleum Mining Company.
Box 3, Folder 4
1903-1931
Related to Japanese Tea Garden (Coronado).
Includes leases.
Box 3, Folder 5
1903
Related to Singleton, Benda & Co., Ltd.
Box 4, Folder 1
1904
Related to Singleton, Benda & Co., Ltd.
Box 4, Folder 2
1905
Related to Singleton, Benda & Co., Ltd.
Box 4, Folder 3
1906
Includes letters related to San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, Calif. 1906.
Box 4, Folder 4
1930-1931
Related to Emil Janel.
Includes clippings, lists, negatives, photographs, and printed ephemera.
Box 4, Folder 5
1936-1947
Related Zung Chang Ziang Company and Zung Chang Trading Company, Ltd.
Includes invoices.
Box 5, Folder 1
1940-1941
Related to Jordan and Happa, Export Commission Agents.
Box 5, Folder 2
1940-1982, undated
Includes letters removed from "Work Organizer" folder.
Box 5, Folder 3
1963-1970
Primarily thank you letters from customers.
Removed from binder.
Box 5, Folder 4
1967
Related to Huntington Botanical Gardens "school journey" program.
Box 5, Folder 5
1979-1998
Related to origin of the Japanese Tea Garden (San Francisco).
Includes enclosures provided by George T. Marsh and Lucy Wyckoff Marsh.
Box 5, Folder 6
Documents, 1931-1946
Miscellaneous.
Includes Citizens' Building and Loan Association. Report of Audit, Telegraph Hill Property, McCloud Building and lots.
Box 6, Folder 1
1882-1970
Miscellaneous bills, notes, receipts, and statements.
Box 6, Folder 3
1919-1933
Account for goods sold at Coronado store.
Box 6, Folder 4
1924-1926
Possibly account for goods purchased in Japan.
Box 6, Folder 5
1952-1954
Consular Invoice of Merchandise.
Box 6, Folder 6
undated
Statement of Proposed Quarry Enterprises to consist of Quarry, Quarrying, and Finishing Plants and Contracting Department.
Box 7, Folder 1
1879-1885
Related to San Fernando Petroleum Mining Company.
Includes interviews, memorandums, power of attorney, and stock certificates.
Box 7, Folder 2
1883-1931
Miscellaneous.
Includes Deeds of Trust, Globe Indemnity Company, Re-Assignment of Promissory Note, War Damage Corporation policy, Contents
of Safe Deposit Box of G.T. Marsh and Company, Settlement of M. Levy's consignment account with E. Amsden, and The Los Angeles
Electric Company contract.
Box 7, Folder 3
1897
Z. Yamabe sold, assigned, and transferred patents to George T. Marsh.
Box 7, Folder 4
1903
Agreements between George T. Marsh and E.F. Wheeler and J. Allyn Ormond.
Box 7, Folder 5
1930-1956
Agreement between Companía Mexicana del Rosarito, S.A. and G.T. Marsh and Company.
Includes correspondence and stock certificate.
Box 7, Folder 6
1931
In the Matter of the Application of G.T. Marsh and Company, a corporation, to Perpetuate Testimony.
Deposition of George T. Marsh, pages 1-181.
Box 7, Folder 7
1931
In the Matter of the Application of G.T. Marsh and Company, a corporation, to Perpetuate Testimony.
Deposition of George T. Marsh, pages 182-428.
Box 7, Folder 8
1931-1932
J.D. and A.B. Spreckels Investment Company, a corporation, Plaintiff, vs. G.T. Marsh and Company, a corporation, Defendant.
Numbers 233727 and 69482.
Includes notes and "Extracts of Records Pertaining to Coronado Garden."
Box 7, Folder 9
Minutes, 1909-1934
Special meeting of the Board of Directors of G.T. Marsh and Company.
Box 8, Folders 1-2
Notebooks, 1875-1911, undated
Box 8, Folder 3
Notes, undated
Related to tsuba and menuke.
Box 8, Folder 4
Paintings, undated
Merchandise for sale at George T. Marsh and Company.
Oversize folder 1
Paintings, undated
Merchandise for sale at George T. Marsh and Company.
Box 9, Folder 1
Sketches, 1928
Sketches of "Vault at Monterey," Japanese Tea Garden (San Francisco), and merchandise for sale at George T. Marsh and Company.
Box 9, Folder 3
Stock certificates, after 1909
Blank George T. Marsh and Company certificates.
Box 9, Folder 4
Stock certificates, 1912-1928
Includes United States Automotive Corporation; British and Australian Gold Mining Company Limited; Municipal Properties Company;
and Sanitary Telephone Mouthguard Company certificates.
Personal material
1877-1953
Physical Description: 3 boxes and 1 oversize folder
Box 9, Folder 5
Biography, 1916-1958
Related to George T. Marsh.
Includes extract from "Who's Who in California."
Box 9, Folder 7
1903-1930
Letters from Lucy Elvira Whiteside.
Box 9, Folder 8
1928-1953, undated
Direct mail only.
Includes publications from
International Conciliation,
The New Commonwealth,
The Home Financer, and
The Landmark.
Box 10, Folder 1
1931-1932
Related to
Citizenship for Nations by George T. Marsh.
Box 10, Folder 2
1878-1879
George T. Marsh's trip to British Columbia, Canada and Yokohama, Japan.
Box 10, Folder 3
1928
Lucy Elvira Whiteside's trip to Japan.
Box 10, Folder 4
undated
Related to unidentified individual's travel in Japan.
Account written on onionskin paper.
Box 10, Folder 5
Disks, undated
Unidentified 6-inch disk.
Box 10, Folder 6
Financial records, 1893-1902
Related George T. Marsh's personal property.
Box 10, Folders 7-8
Notebooks, undated
One notebook related to patriotism and religion; and the second notebook consists of one page related to garment measurements.
Box 10, Folder 9
after 1912
"From the Personal Notes of G.T. Marsh."
Photocopies.
Box 10, Folder 10
1930-1931
Possibly research related to
Citizenship for Nations by George T. Marsh.
Box 10, Folder 11
Paintings, undated
Image of a hand and man by Emil Janel.
Box 10, Folder 12
Poems, undated
Entitled "Pungle" by H.H.J.
Oversize folder 2
Scrapbooks, 1877-1930
Laid-in articles, clippings, and letters related to economics, international relations, society, and politics.
Box 10, Folder 13
Sketches, undated
Six miscellaneous sketches.
Box 10, Folder 14
The Lords of Sengami: A Tale of the Dawn of an Empire by Ronald Temple and George T. Marsh., 1930s
Box 11, Folder 1
Citizenship for Nations by George T. Marsh., before 1931
Box 11, Folder 2
Armageddon: A Foreshadow of the World's Great War: A Novel of Old and New Japan by Ronald Temple and George T. Marsh., undated
Box 11, Folder 3
"Eight Boots and Yellow Booty: An Article on China" by Harry W. Wyckoff in collaboration with George T. Marsh., undated
Box 11, Folder 4
"The Silent Army -- The Reserves. An Article" by Harry W. Wyckoff., undated
Box 11, Folder 5
The Ten Demon Rulers of the Chinese Buddhist Hells.", undated
Ephemera
1881-2001
Physical Description: 6 boxes and 2 oversize boxes.
Oversize box 12
Black-and-white prints, undated
Images from various gardens in Japan.
Oversize box 13
Black-and-white prints, undated
Images from various gardens in Japan.
Box 11, Folder 6
Books, 1916
The Lords of Dawn by Gorge T. Marsh and Ronald Temple.
Box 11, Folder 7
Books, 1931
Citizenship for Nations by George T. Marsh.
Box 11, Folder 8
Books, 1924
The Gōda Collection of Japanese Sword Fittings by Robert Hamilton Rucker.
Box 14, Folder 1
Business cards, 1971, undated
Box 14, Folder 5
1931-1932
Two articles written by George T. Marsh.
Box 14, Folder 8
1979-2001
Related to Japanese Tea Gardens and George T. Marsh and Company.
Box 15, Folder 1
Descriptions, 1937-1968
Descriptions and historical notes about oriental art.
Box 15, Folder 2
Greeting cards, 1910-1930
Box 15, Folder 3
Empty envelopes, 1916-1961
Box 15, Folder 4
American, Canadian, Chinese, and Japanese arts and culture, 1930-1948
Includes booklets, exhibition catalogs, fliers, index, newsletters, prints, and a map of Dairen.
Includes typewritten copies of excerpts and notes related to Alison Stilwell.
Box 15, Folder 5
Economics, international relations, society, and politics, 1925-1930
Includes booklets, pamphlets, and publications.
Box 16, Folder 1
George T. Marsh and Company, undated
Box 16, Folder 2
George T. Marsh and Company and Japanese Tea Garden (San Francisco), 1894-1998
Includes a bulletin, fliers, invitations,
Orientations 29, no. 4, and photocopies.
Box 16, Folder 3
League of Nations, 1927-1930
Includes draft of a memorandum, program, flier, and publications.
Box 16, Folder 4
Miscellaneous, 1889-1931
Includes booklets, brochures, fliers, newsletters, and theater programs.
Box 16, Folder 5
Miscellaneous, 1912-1947
Includes
The Forum,
Western Livestock Journal, and
Overland Monthly.
Box 16, Folder 6
Monterey Peninsula, 1963-1972
Includes booklets, magazines, and travel guides.
Box 17, Folder 1
Travels, 1896-1931
Includes passenger ships' passenger lists, menus, and booklets.
Box 17, Folder 2
Victoria, Queen of Great Britain, 1819-1901, 1900-1901
Includes songbook and funeral program.
Box 17, Folder 3
Lists, 1931-1939
Miscellaneous contacts, goods, and historical facts.
Box 17, Folder 4
Postage stamps, 1969-1985
Box 17, Folder 5
Postcards, undated
Primarily related to Japanese Tea Garden (Coronado).
Blank.
Box 17, Folder 6
1896-1936
Miscellaneous.
Includes order forms.
Box 18, Folder 1
1913-1914
Catalogue of Kozuka by George T. Marsh.
Box 18, Folder 2
1913-1914
Catalogue of Kozuka by George T. Marsh.
Fragments only.
Box 18, Folder 3
1913-1914
Catalogue of Kozuka by George T. Marsh.
Notebooks with pasted fragments only.
Photographs
1894-1986
Physical Description: 7 boxes, 1 oversize box, and 1 envelope.
Box 19, Folders 2-4
Negatives, 1904-1941, undated
Envelope 1
NOT AVAILABLE: Negatives, undated
Negatives are too fragile to be handled.
Box 20, Folder 3
George T. Marsh and family, undated
Box 20, Folder 4
George T. Marsh and Company store, 1928
Box 20, Folder 5
George T. Marsh and Company store, 1930
Box 21, Folders 1-3
George T. Marsh and Company (Monterey and/or Santa Barbara), undated
Box 22, Folder 1-2
George T. Marsh and Company (Santa Barbara), undated
Box 22, Folder 3
Japanese Tea Garden (Coronado), 1905-1915
Box 22, Folder 4
Miscellaneous, undated
Furniture and household goods.
Includes loose pages.
Box 23, Folders 1-3
Oriental art, undated
Includes furniture, household goods, and printed papers.
Box 23, Folders 5-6
Figurines, 1957-1969, undated
Box 25, Folder 1
Furniture, 1937-1969, undated
Box 25, Folder 2
George T. Marsh and Company (Los Angeles and Pasadena), 1904, undated
Box 25, Folder 3
George T. Marsh and Company (Monterey), 1956-1986, undated
Box 25, Folder 4
George T. Marsh and Company (San Francisco), undated
Box 25, Folder 5
George T. Marsh and Company (Santa Barbara), 1930-1955, undated
Box 25, Folder 6
Japanese Tea Garden (Coronado), undated
Box 25, Folder 7
Japanese Tea Garden (San Francisco), 1894, undated
Scenes from California Midwinter International Exposition of 1894.
Box 25, Folder 8
Mill Valley home, undated
Box 26, Folder 1
Miscellaneous objects, undated
Box 26, Folder 2
Miscellaneous people and places, undated
Includes may be photographs from George T. Marsh's gardens, stores, or travels.
Box 26, Folder 3
Stone lanterns and pagodas, undated
Box 26, Folder 4
Travels to Arizona, Baja California, and other unidentified locations, undated
Box 26, Folder 5
Travels to Asia, 1935, undated
Box 26, Folder 7
Portraits, 1901-1930, undated
Includes Charles Doyle, J. Allyn Ormond, and George T. Marsh.
Mostly unidentified.
