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Wolter (Charles) Papers
mssHM 45506-40681
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Charles Wolter papers
Creator:
Wolter, Charles, 1792-1856
Identifier/Call Number: mssHM 45506-40681
Physical Description:
5 Linear Feet
(4 boxes, 17 volumes)
Date (inclusive): 1792-1970
Date (bulk): 1833-1881
Abstract: A collection of material related to the
life and work of Charles Wolter, Californian ship captain and landowner.
Language of Material: Materials are in
English.
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at
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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]. Charles Wolter papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino,
California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gifts of Irene Hogan Wolter, December 1970, February 1971, and August 1976.
Charles Wolter (1792-1856) a native of Germany, was a ship captain and pioneer California
landowner; he sought his fortune in the coastal shipping trade off the coast of South
America. Wolter had business interests in Lima, Peru, and Mazatlan, Mexico, before coming to
Monterey, California, as master of the ship "Lenore" in 1833. In Monterey, he married Josefa
Antonia Gomez (daughter of José Mariano Estrada and widow of Rafael Gomez). Wolter served as
pilot for Commodore Stockton during the Mexican War, and he invested in property in the city
of Monterey and in Rancho Lupyomi in partnership with the artist Edward Vischer. Harry
Meiggs Wolter (1884-1940) was the grandson of Charles Wolter and a professional baseball
player and coach for the Universities of Santa Clara and Stanford. In 1936, he took the
United States Baseball team to Berlin to participate in the Olympic Games.
A collection of 448 items from 1792 to 1970, which contains letters, five letter books,
documents, two account books, 11 scrapbooks, and photographs related to the life of Charles
Wolter and the Wolter family. There are materials related to Wolter's land and business
interests in early California including Monterey, Rancho Los Tualrcitos, Rancho El Toro, and
Rancho Lupyomi. Correspondents include William Antonio Richardson, David Spence, and Edward
Vischer. There is also memorabilia related to Harry Meiggs Wolter as a baseball player and
coach. He went with the U.S. baseball team to participate in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, and
the collection contains an album from the Olympic Games with autographs of various
participants, including Jesse Owens. The collection also contains genealogical materials for
the Wolter family, including many scrapbooks assembled by Irene Hogan Wolter, wife of Harry
Meiggs Wolter.
Processed by Huntington Library Staff, circa 1980. In 2021, Gayle Richardson created the
finding aid derived from a legacy summary report.
Arranged chronologically.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Baseball coaches -- California -- Palo Alto
Baseball players -- California
Education -- California -- History -- 19th century
Land tenure -- California -- Monterey
Real property -- California -- Monterey
Ship captains -- California
Monterey (Calif.) -- History -- 19th century
Rancho El Toro (Calif.)
Rancho Lupyomi (Calif.)
Rancho Los Tularcitos (Calif.)
Account books -- 19th century
Family papers -- California
Letter books -- 19th century
Letters (correspondence)
Scrapbooks
Richardson, William A.,
1795-1856
Spence, David, 1798-1875
Taylor, Alexander S.
(Alexander Smith), 1817-1876
Vischer, Edward
Wolter, Irene Hogan
Wolter, Harry Meiggs, 1884-1940
Wolter (Family)
Olympic Games (11th : 1936)
(Berlin, Germany)