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Meeks (William Newton) Papers
mssMK  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Conditions Governing Access
  • Conditions Governing Use
  • Preferred Citation
  • Immediate Source of Acquisition
  • Biographical / Historical
  • Scope and Contents
  • Processing Information
  • Arrangement
  • General
  • Related Materials

  • Contributing Institution: The Huntington Library
    Title: William Newton Meeks papers
    Creator: Meeks, William Newton, 1821-1899
    Identifier/Call Number: mssMK
    Physical Description: 26.60 Linear Feet (22 boxes)
    Date (inclusive): 1792, 1831-1973
    Abstract: Papers of San Francisco real estate businessman William Newton Meeks.
    Language of Material: Materials are in English.

    Conditions Governing Access

    Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

    Conditions Governing Use

    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]. William Newton Meeks papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

    Immediate Source of Acquisition

    Gift of Mrs. Constance Pearson, October 1976.

    Biographical / Historical

    William Newton Meeks (1821-1899) sailed from New York around Cape Horn to Valparaiso, Chile, in 1839 to help his brother, Robert Smelt Meeks, in his commercial business in Bolivia. After many political disruptions, Robert moved to Valparaiso, followed by William, who soon left by ship for the California Gold Rush. He entered the real estate business in San Francisco and married Abigail Livia Martha Davis, who had come to California as a schoolteacher. In 1871, Abigail moved their four children to be educated first in Philadelphia and then in Lausanne, Nice, and finally Paris. After her death in 1876, of breast cancer, William and the children returned to California.

    Scope and Contents

    The collection consists of letters, manuscripts and documents related to William Newton Meeks, his wife, Abigail, and their children. There are also materials related to his brother, Robert Smelt Meeks, and to the Meeks and Davis families (including genealogical notes and charts). Additional persons represented in the collection include Charles Sylvanus Davis (brother of Abigail), Mary E. Meeks Haydock, Constance Adelia Meeks, Edward Meeks, and Susan Molineux Meeks. The collection includes descriptions of and life in Bolivia, 1837 to 1861, Chile, 1849-1861, France, and San Francisco, California, including the earthquake of 1906.

    Processing Information

    Processed by Virginia Rust in 1993. In 2022, Brooke M. Black created a finding aid.

    Arrangement

    Organized in the following series: 1. Letters, manuscripts and documents; 2. Miscellaneous; 3. Genealogical notes and charts; 4. Microfilm.

    General

    Individual call numbers included in the collection: mssMK 1-1249, mssFAC 1286-1305.

    Related Materials

    The Collection of Photographs of William Newton Meeks Family was transferred to the Photo Archives in 1992 (photCL 376).

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Real property -- California -- San Francisco
    San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, Calif., 1906
    Bolivia -- Description and travel
    Bolivia -- Social life and customs -- 19th century
    California -- Description and travel
    California -- Gold discoveries -- Personal narratives
    California -- Social life and customs -- 19th century
    Chile -- Description and travel
    Chile -- Social life and customs -- 19th century
    France -- Description and travel
    San Francisco (Calif.) -- History -- Sources
    Valparaíso (Chile) -- History -- 19th century
    Family papers -- California
    Letters (correspondence) -- California
    Davis, Charles Sylvanus, 1834-
    Haydock, Mary E. Meeks
    Meeks, Abigail Davis, 1826-1876
    Meeks, Constance Adela, 1862-1947
    Meeks, Edward, 1861-1899
    Meeks, Robert Smelt, 1803-1890
    Meeks, Susan Molineux