Thomas H. Hansbrow Papers: Finding Aid

Finding aid prepared by Stephanie E. Clayton, March 3, 2010.

The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens

Manuscripts Department

1151 Oxford Road

San Marino, California 91108

Phone: (626) 405-2129

Email: reference@huntington.org

URL: http://www.huntington.org

Overview of the Collection

Title: Thomas H. Hansbrow Papers

Dates (inclusive): 1852-1972

Bulk dates: 1852-1881

Collection Number: mssHM 72850-72867

Creator: Hansbrow, Thomas H.

Extent: 50 items.

Repository: The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. Manuscripts Department

1151 Oxford Road

San Marino, California 91108

Phone: (626) 405-2129

Email: reference@huntington.org

URL: http://www.huntington.org

Abstract: This collection contains one manuscript, 19 letters, and 30 pieces of ephemera related to Thomas H. Hansbrow (1826-1868) of Sacramento, California. Most of the correspondence and ephemera relates to the various pumps Hansbrow designed for mining, steamers, agriculture and railroads. The manuscript is the 1921 memoir of Hansbrow's brother-in-law, Samuel A. Randel, with sections which relate to Hansbrow's marriage and travel to California in 1849.

Language: English.

Access

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Administrative Information

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]. Thomas H. Hansbrow Papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Provenance

Gift of Herbert C. Price, June 16, 1982.

Biographical Note

Thomas H. Hansbrow's early life is a bit obscure, but he was born in 1826 and was a tinner before he traveled from Illinois to the gold rush in California. There he ran a stove and hardware store and invented a pump, which won awards at the World's Fair of 1862. He was a rather important figure in Sacramento during the 1850s and 1860s, serving as the Superintendent of the City Water Works and as a member of the Board of Supervisors. He was a director of the California State Agricultural Society and served as a state assemblyman from 1865-1866. He died in 1868.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of one manuscript which has been separated into 4 folders and 19 pieces of correspondence arranged by date and 30 pieces of ephemera arranged by subject.

The manuscript is the memoir of Thomas H. Hansbrow's brother-in-law, Samuel A. Randel, and there are sections which relate to Hansbrow's marriage and travel to California in 1849. Mostly, the manuscript recounts the author's family history and his personal life. There are many descriptions of his boyhood in Illinois in the 1840s and 1850s. Most of the correspondence is to Thomas H. Hansbrow regarding the various pumps he designed for mining, steamers, agriculture and railroads. There are a few letters regarding family and friends. The ephemera consists of 30 items. It contains diagrams and graphs of the pumps Hansbrow designed and sold, his wife's will, materials from Hansbrow's involvement in the World's Fair and newspaper articles regarding Hansbrow. Subjects in the collection include: California State Agricultural Society; DePauw University; Farm life in Illinois; inventors of California; history of Macoupin County, Ill.; Design and construction of Pumping machinery; the United States Civil War; and Voyages to the Pacific coast.

Arrangement

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Huntington Library's Online Catalog.

Subjects

Hansbrow, Thomas H.

California State Agricultural Society (Sacramento, Calif.)

DePauw University.

Farm life -- Illinois -- History -- 19th century.

Inventors -- California -- Archives.

Pumping machinery -- Design and construction.

Voyages to the Pacific coast.

California -- History -- 19th century -- Sources.

Macoupin County (Ill.) -- History -- 19th century -- Sources.

United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives, Union.

Forms/Genres

Letters (correspondence) -- 19th century.

Memoirs -- 20th century.

Indexing: Subjects

California State Agricultural Society (Sacramento, Calif.)

Subject in D.C. Wheeler (1861, Feb. 8) letter to Thomas H. Hansbrow. HM 72852.

DePauw University

Subject in Reminiscences of Samuel A. Randle (1921, Dec.) memoir by Samuel A. Randle. HM 72866b.
Subject in Reminiscences of Samuel A. Randle (1921, Dec.) memoir by Samuel A. Randle. HM 72866d.

Farm life – Illinois

Subject in Reminiscences of Samuel A. Randle (1921, Dec.) memoir by Samuel A. Randle. HM 72866a.
Subject in Reminiscences of Samuel A. Randle (1921, Dec.) memoir by Samuel A. Randle. HM 72866b.

Macoupin County (Ill.) – History

Subject in Reminiscences of Samuel A. Randle (1921, Dec.) memoir by Samuel A. Randle. HM 72866a.

Pumping machinery – Design and construction

Subject in Pumping machinery: patents and drawings (1861-1872). Box 2 (3).

United States – History – Civil War, 1861-1865 – Personal narratives, Union

Subject in Reminiscences of Samuel A. Randle (1921, Dec.) memoir by Samuel A. Randle. HM 72866c.

Voyages to the Pacific coast

Subject in Lucy A. Hansbrow (1852, Feb. 24) letter to “Dear Sister.” HM 72850.

Box 1

Manuscripts and Correspondence, 1852-1972

1852, Feb. 24. Hansbrow, Lucy A. 1 letter to “Dear Sister.” HM 72850

1854, Apr. 26. Green, Lucy. 1 letter to Lucy A. Hansbrow. HM 72851

1861, Feb. 8. Wheeler, D.C. 1 letter to Thomas H. Hansbrow. HM 72852

1862, Mar. 28. Simmons, G.S. 1 letter to Thomas H. Hansbrow. HM 72853

1862, Oct. 12. Denison, Charles H. 1 letter to Thomas H. Hansbrow. HM 72854

1863, July 7. Hansbrow, Thomas H. 1 letter to Lucy A. Hansbrow. HM 72855

1863, Aug. 7. Hastings, Mrs. B.F. 1 letter to Caroline Rees. HM 72856

1863, Aug. 9. Simmons, G.S. 1 letter to Thomas H. Hansbrow. HM 72857

1865, Dec. 16. Locke & Montague. 1 letter to Thomas H. Hansbrow. HM 72858

1866, Mar. 9. Dexter, Frank. 1 letter to Thomas H. Hansbrow. HM 72859

1867, May 2. Dexter, Frank. 1 letter to Thomas H. Hansbrow. HM 72860

1867, May 11. Goddard & Co. 1 letter to Thomas H. Hansbrow. HM 72861

1867, June 4. Goddard & Co. 1 letter to Thomas H. Hansvrow. HM 72862

1868, Jan. 31. Locke & Montague. 1 letter to Thomas H. Hansbrow. HM 72863

1872. Sep. 21. Chandler, F. 1 letter to Lucy A. Hansbrow. HM 72864

1877. July. Clarke, C.W. 1 letter to Lucy A. Hansbrow. HM 72865

1921, Dec. Randle, Samuel A. Reminiscences of Samuel A. Randle [memoir: p. 1-79]. HM 72866a

1921, Dec. Randle, Samuel A. Reminiscences of Samuel A. Randle [memoir: p. 80-176]. HM 72866b

1921, Dec. Randle, Samuel A. Reminiscences of Samuel A. Randle [memoir: p. 177-256]. HM 72866c

1921, Dec. Randle, Samuel A. Reminiscences of Samuel A. Randle [memoir: p. 257-, Index page missing]. HM 72866d

1972, Nov. 22. -----, Kathy. 1 letter to Geri. Includes 1 list of material regarding Thomas H. Hansbrow at the California State Library, Sacramento and 1 photocopy. HM 72867

Box 2

Ephemera

Folder 1

Miscellaneous Ephemera (1865-1875). 7 items.

Folder 2

Newspaper Clippings (1862-1906). 8 items.

Folder 3

Pumping machinery: patents and drawings (1861-1872). 10 items. Fragile.

Folder 4

Wills and Probate (1868-1881). 2 items.

Folder 5

World’s Fair Materials (1862-1865). 3 items. Fragile.