William Rich Hutton papers: Finding Aid mssHuttonw

Finding aid prepared by Huntington staff, before 1942, re-keyed by Brooke M. Black in May 2013.
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Note

Last updated in January 2024 by Brooke M. Black.


Contributing Institution: The Huntington Library
Title: William Rich Hutton Papers
Creator: Hutton, Wm. R. (William Rich), 1826-1901
Identifier/Call Number: mssHuttonw
Physical Description: 3.4 Linear Feet (3 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1840-1861
Abstract: This collection contains 96 drawings, 14 original letters, and 39 facsimiles of letters and manuscripts of California surveyor, topographer, and engineer William Rich Hutton (1826-1901). Includes both watercolor and pencil drawings of California (including Los Angeles, Monterey, San Francisco, the New Almaden Quicksilver Mine, and the California Missions), Baja California, Mexico, and Peru.
Language of Material: English.

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Preferred Citation

[Identification of item]. William Rich Hutton papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Provenance

Gift and purchase from Mary A. Hutton, 1939-1946; photostat (FAC 817) from John J. Lynch, City Clerk, San Jose, CA, December 26, 1939; and photostat (FAC 1010) from California Historical Society, San Francisco.

Existence and Location of Copies

The drawings from this collection have been digitized. Digital reproductions are available in the Huntington Digital Library. 

Biographical Note

William Rich Hutton (1826-1901), surveyor, topographer, and engineer, came to California in 1847 as a clerk with his uncle, Major William Rich, paymaster for U.S. volunteer troops. For the next six years, Hutton was employed as a surveyor and draftsman. During this time he made watercolor and pencil drawings of California scenes. In 1853 he returned to the East and worked as an engineer on various projects including the Washington Bridge and Hudson River Tunnel in New York City. Hutton's younger brother, James D. Hutton, was also a topographer and artist.

Scope and Content

The collection contains 96 drawings, 14 original letters, and 39 facsimiles of letters and manuscripts.
The illustrative material includes both watercolor and pencil drawings of California (including Los Angeles, Monterey, San Francisco, the New Almaden Quicksilver Mine, and the California Missions), Baja California, Mexico, and Peru. The ones in color are noted below in the container list. One of the drawings is a facsimile (FAC 1010).
The majority of letters by William Rich Hutton are written to his uncle William Rich and his mother Salome Rich Hutton. There is also some correspondence between William Rich Hutton and his brother James D. Hutton. There are also letters by author María Amparo Ruiz de Burton (these letters are in Spanish), California Governor Persifor Frazer Smith, and Henry Wager Halleck. Some subjects of the correspondence include: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Benjamin Davis Wilson, Edward Otho Cresap Ord, William Goodwin Dana and his Nipomo Ranch (Dana Adobe), the New Almaden Mine, geologist Louis Agassiz, Henry H. Burton, Jessie Benton Frémont, and the Civil War in Washington DC and Baltimore. There are several facsimiles of manuscripts by William Rich Hutton, mostly anecdotes about his time in California.
Note: FAC 1010 is physically located after drawing #32.

Arrangement

Letters and manuscripts are arranged chronologically in one box. Hutton's drawings (96) are arranged in numerical order in the oversize box. Cards are filed in both the alphabetical and chronological sections of the Manuscripts catalog.

General

Individual call numbers included in the collection: mssHM 43213-43227, mssFAC 807-845, mssFAC 1010.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Drafters -- California -- Archives
Missions -- California -- Pictorial works
Surveyors -- California -- Archives
Baja California (Mexico : Peninsula) -- Pictorial works
California -- Description and travel
California -- Pictorial works
California -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
California -- Social life and customs -- 19th century
Los Angeles (Calif.) -- Description and travel
Los Angeles (Calif.) -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
Los Angeles (Calif.) -- Pictorial works
Mexico -- Pictorial works
Monterey (Calif.) -- Description and travel
Monterey (Calif.) -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
Monterey (Calif.) -- Social life and customs -- 19th century
Monterey (Calif.) -- Pictorial works
Peru -- Pictorial works
San Francisco (Calif.) -- Description and travel
San Francisco (Calif.) -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
San Francisco (Calif.) -- Pictorial works
Santa Barbara (Calif.) -- Pictorial works
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Anecdotes.
Drawings -- California -- 19th century
Drawings Mexico Baja -- California -- 19th century
Letters (correspondence) -- California -- 19th century
Letters (correspondence) Mexico Baja -- California -- 19th century
Watercolors -- California -- 19th century
Watercolors Mexico Baja -- California -- 19th century
Agassiz, Louis, 1807-1873
Burton, Henry H.
Dana, William Goodwin, 1797-1858
Frémont, Jessie Benton, 1824-1902
Halleck, H. W. (Henry Wager), 1815-1872
Hutton, James D.
Ord, Edward Otho Cresap, 1818-1883
Rich, William, 1800-1864
Ruiz de Burton, María Amparo, 1832-1895
Smith, Persifor Frazer, 1798-1858
Wilson, Benjamin Davis, 1811-1878
New Almaden Quicksilver Mines (Calif.) -- Pictorial works.

Box 1

Drawings mssHM 43214

Online items

Scope and Contents

Includes mssFAC 1010.
 

"U.S.S. Ohio" and storeship "Southhampton," 1847, probably at La Paz or Mazatlan

 

Fort San Lorenzo, Chagres, January 1847

 

Paita, Peru, March 1847

 

Church, Paita, Peru

 

Mole [breakwater] at Mazatlan, February 1848

 

Outer harbor, Mazatlan, November 15, 1847

 

Mazatlan, 1847

 

Mazatlan, November 16, 1847

 

Old harbor, Mazatlan, November 15, 1847

 

La Paz, Lower California, 1847, entrance to bar

 

La Paz, Lower California, 1847-1848

 

Old Cuartel, La Paz, Lower California, [December 8, 1847?]

 

American fortifications, La Paz, Lower California, 1847

 

Cactus, La Paz, Lower California, January 1848 [various coastal scenes on verso]

 

Mexican quail

 

Nevada de Toluca [Mexico], May 23, 1853 color

 

California scene

 

Mission San Luis Rey, 1848

 

Mission San Luis Rey, March 17, 1848

 

Mission San Luis Rey, March 17, 1848

 

Fort San Bernardino, October 1852

 

Fort San Bernardino or Mormon Camp, October 1852

 

Mormon Camp [Fort San Bernardino], October 1852

 

San Pedro, California, 1847

 

Fort Moore, Los Angeles, July 10, 1847

 

Near Los Angeles, September 18, 1852 color (sky only)

 

Los Angeles from the South, 1848

 

Ciudad de Los Angeles, March 27, 1848

 

Part of Los Angeles showing the Plaza and church, 1847

 

Los Angeles, part of town and vineyard, 1847

 

Los Angeles, September 1852

 

City of Los Angeles from the North, 1852

General

Followed by FAC 1010 – see end of drawing list.
 

Santa Barbara, 1852

 

Santa Barbara from the Anchorage, June 30, 1847

 

Mission Santa Barbara from the hill, 1852 color

 

Santa Barbara Mission, 1848

 

Santa Barbara, 1847

 

Water works, Santa Barbara Mission, August 3, 1847

 

Rancho of Santa Manuela ([Francis Ziba] Branch) Arroyo Grande, [1851]

 

Santa Manuela Arroyo Grande, May 19, 1851

 

Valley of Los Osos (near San Luis Obispo), December 31, 1850

 

Rancho de Los Osos (near San Luis Obispo) (Don Juan Wilson), October 1850

 

Mission San Luis Obispo, December 3, 1850

 

Mission San Luis Obispo, December 23, 1850

 

Mission San Luis Obispo, December 27, 1850

 

View of Monterey, 1849

 

Monterey from Jones' Fort, May 10, 1847

 

Monterey (view from Garner's house), 1848

 

Monterey, 1849

 

Monterey, 1849

 

Monterey (from the old fort), June 5, 1847

 

Monterey, 1849

 

Main street near custom house, Monterey, 1849

 

Monterey redoubt, November 18, 1848

 

Monterey redoubt, June 1849

 

Monterey from the redoubt, September 1851

 

Rancheria de las Lavanderas (near the church), Monterey (washerwomen's huts), November 19, 1848

 

Custom house, Monterey, 1848

 

Mission San Juan Bautista, September 20, 1847

 

Mission San Juan Bautista, September 29, 1847

 

Trying out the tallow, Monterey [1848?] color

 

The slaughter ground, Monterey[1848?] color

 

Chapel of the Presidio at Monterey, May 15, 1847

 

Oak and pine trees, Monterey, 1849

 

Monterey, 1849

 

Pine cones

 

Tree, near Monterey, October 15, 1848

 

Mission San Carlos de Monterey, Carmel, [1848?] color

 

Mission de San Carlos, Carmel, June 3, 1847

 

Carmel Mission, 1847

 

Carmel Mission, June 3, 1847

 

New Almaden Quicksilver Mine, 1852 color

 

New Almaden Quicksilver Mine, October 21, 1851 color

 

New Almaden Quicksilver Mine, January 4, 1852 color (sky only)

 

New Almaden Quicksilver Mine, October 1851

 

New Almaden Quicksilver Mine, January 1852

 

New Almaden Quicksilver Mine, January 4, 1852

 

New Almaden Quicksilver Mine, February 8, 1852

 

San Francisco from Rincon Point, 1847

 

San Francisco from Rincon Point, October 6, 1847

 

San Francisco, 1847

 

San Francisco, view from City Hotel (south side of Plaza), September 27, 1847

 

San Francisco Bay (looking north from Telegraph Hill), 1851

 

Entrance to San Francisco Bay, [1851?]

 

Redwoods, near Corte Madera, San Francisco Bay, October 1, 1847

 

Benecia City from the Anchorage, July 4, 1848

 

"Camp," 1850 color

 

Huehuero, My camp in the mountains, June 4, 1851

 

Pine tree at Sutter's Mill, 1849

 

Sutter's Fort, Sacramento, 1849

 

Sutter's Fort, April 1849

 

Angel's Camp Diggings, April 25, 1849

 

Dry creek near Mokelumne River, April 22, 1849

 

Mormon Island, April 15, 1849

 

Mormon Island, April 1849

 

Mission of San Gabriel [ca. 1850]: facsimile. On verso: Scenes in Calif. [Located after drawing #32]. FAC 1010

Box 2

Letter and Manuscripts (original and facsimile)

 

Hutton, James D. 1 letter (1847, Feb. 22) to Salome Rich Hutton: facsimile. FAC 816

 

Hutton, James D. Obligation of James D. Hutton to survey The Pueblo Lands of San Jose, California (1847, July 19): facsimile. FAC 817

 

[Hutton, Wm. R. (William Rich), 1826-1901]. The Battle of La Paz – From the Journal of an Officer: facsimile (1847, Nov. 16-Dec. 1). FAC 845

Scope and Contents

In the handwriting of William Rich Hutton.
 

[Hutton, Wm. R. (William Rich), 1826-1901]. Extracts from diary (1847-1849: facsimile. FAC 809

 

Hutton, Wm. R. (William Rich), 1826-1901. 1 letter (1848, May 19) to Salome Rich Hutton: facsimile. FAC 820

 

Hutton, Wm. R. (William Rich), 1826-1901. Trial and attempted execution of a horse thief at Monterey [1849, Feb.]. FAC 812

 

Smith, Persifor Frazer, 1798-1858. 1 letter (1849, June 9) to William Rich. HM 43227

 

Rich, William. 1 letter (1849, July 30) to Salome Rich Hutton. HM 43226

 

Hutton, Wm. R. (William Rich), 1826-1901. 1 letter (1849, July 14) to William Rich: facsimile. FAC 834

 

Hutton, Wm. R. (William Rich), 1826-1901. 1 letter (1849, July 19) to William Rich: facsimile. FAC 835

 

Hutton, Wm. R. (William Rich), 1826-1901. 1 letter (1849, July 29) to William Rich: facsimile. FAC 836

 

Hutton, Wm. R. (William Rich), 1826-1901. 1 letter (1849, Aug. 5) to William Rich: facsimile. FAC 837

 

Hutton, Wm. R. (William Rich), 1826-1901. 1 letter (1849, Aug. 8) to William Rich: facsimile. FAC 838

 

Hutton, Wm. R. (William Rich), 1826-1901. 1 letter (1849, Aug. 19) to William Rich: facsimile. FAC 839

 

Hutton, Wm. R. (William Rich), 1826-1901. 1 letter (1849, Sep. 1) to William Rich: facsimile. FAC 840

 

Hutton, Wm. R. (William Rich), 1826-1901. 1 letter (1850, Jan. 31) to Salome Rich Hutton: facsimile. FAC 821

 

Hutton, Wm. R. (William Rich), 1826-1901. 1 letter (1850, Mar. 30) to Salome Rich Hutton. HM 43225

 

Hutton, Wm. R. (William Rich), 1826-1901. 1 letter (1850, Apr. 15) to Ellen S. Hutton: facsimile. FAC 818

 

Hutton, Wm. R. (William Rich), 1826-1901. 1 letter (1850, Apr. 18) to Nathaniel Henry Hutton: facsimile. FAC 819

 

Hutton, Wm. R. (William Rich), 1826-1901. 1 letter (1850, May 24) to Salome Rich Hutton: facsimile. FAC 822

 

Hutton, Wm. R. (William Rich), 1826-1901. The Wedding [1850, July]: facsimile. FAC 813

 

Hutton, Wm. R. (William Rich), 1826-1901. 1 letter (1850, Sep. 30) to Salome Rich Hutton: facsimile. FAC 823

 

Hutton, Wm. R. (William Rich), 1826-1901. Narrative of a horseback ride from San Luis Obispo to Monterey, a supposed ride of Victor Linares from Los Angeles to Monterey, and incidents at Francis Ziba Branch's Rancho including the pursuit of Indian raiders (1850, Sep.): facsimile. FAC 810

 

Hutton, Wm. R. (William Rich), 1826-1901. 1 letter (1850, Oct. 9) to Salome Rich Hutton: facsimile. FAC 824

 

Hutton, Wm. R. (William Rich), 1826-1901. 1 letter (1850, Dec. 23) to William Rich: facsimile. FAC 841

Scope and Contents

Two copies.
 

Hutton, Wm. R. (William Rich), 1826-1901. Anecdotes concerning Rev. Walter Cotton alcalde of Monterey, 1846-1848 [c.1850]: facsimile. FAC 807

 

Hutton, Wm. R. (William Rich), 1826-1901. Description and characterization of the Spanish Californians, especially the women [ca.1850]. facsimile. FAC 808

 

Ruiz de Burton, María Amparo, 1832-1895. 1 letter (1851, Feb. 17) to Wm. R. (William Rich) Hutton, 1826-1901. HM 43219

 

Hutton, Wm. R. (William Rich), 1826-1901. 1 letter (1851, Feb. 24) to William Rich: facsimile. FAC 842

 

Hutton, Wm. R. (William Rich), 1826-1901. 1 letter (1851, May 18) to William Rich: facsimile. FAC 843

 

Hutton, Wm. R. (William Rich), 1826-1901. 1 letter (1851, Dec. 11) to William Rich: facsimile. FAC 844

 

Hutton, Wm. R. (William Rich), 1826-1901. 1 letter (1851, May 24) to Salome Rich Hutton: facsimile. FAC 825

 

Hutton, Wm. R. (William Rich), 1826-1901. 1 letter (1852, Feb. 29) to Salome Rich Hutton: facsimile. FAC 826

 

Hutton, Wm. R. (William Rich), 1826-1901. 1 letter (1852, May 31) to Salome Rich Hutton: facsimile. FAC 827

 

Hutton, Wm. R. (William Rich), 1826-1901. 1 letter (1852, June 25) to Salome Rich Hutton: facsimile. FAC 828

 

Hutton, Wm. R. (William Rich), 1826-1901. 1 letter (1852, Oct. 8) to Salome Rich Hutton: facsimile. FAC 829

 

Ruiz de Burton, María Amparo, 1832-1895. 1 letter (1852, Nov. 15) to Wm. R. (William Rich) Hutton, 1826-1901. HM 43215

Scope and Contents

Following the above: letters from Henry Stanton Burton to Wm. R. (William Rich) Hutton, 1826-1901, 1852, Nov. 27.
 

Hutton, Wm. R. (William Rich), 1826-1901. 1 letter (1852, Nov. 26) to Salome Rich Hutton: facsimile. FAC 830

 

Hutton, Wm. R. (William Rich), 1826-1901. 1 letter (1852, Dec. 15) to Salome Rich Hutton: facsimile. FAC 831

 

Hutton, Wm. R. (William Rich), 1826-1901. Story of an alleged attempt to sell the city of San Francisco, a document purporting to be a grant to the city of two square leagues of pueblo lands (1852): facsimile. FAC 811

 

Hutton, Wm. R. (William Rich), 1826-1901. 1 letter (1853, Jan. 31) to Salome Rich Hutton: facsimile. FAC 832

 

Hutton, Wm. R. (William Rich), 1826-1901. 1 letter (1853, Feb. 15) to Salome Rich Hutton: facsimile. FAC 833

 

Ruiz de Burton, María Amparo, 1832-1895. 1 letter (1853, Nov. 20) to Wm. R. (William Rich) Hutton, 1826-1901. HM 43216

 

Halleck, H. W. (Henry Wager), 1815-1872. 1 letter (1855, May 31) to Wm. R. (William Rich) Hutton, 1826-1901: facsimile. FAC 814

 

Ruiz de Burton, María Amparo, 1832-1895. 1 letter ([1855], July 30) to Wm. R. (William Rich) Hutton, 1826-1901. HM 43217

 

Halleck, H. W. (Henry Wager), 1815-1872. 1 letter (1855, Oct. 28) to Wm. R. (William Rich) Hutton, 1826-1901: facsimile. FAC 815

 

Ruiz de Burton, María Amparo, 1832-1895. 1 letter ([1855], July 30) to Wm. R. (William Rich) Hutton, 1826-1901. HM 43217

 

Ruiz de Burton, María Amparo, 1832-1895. 1 letter (1855, Nov. 3) to Wm. R. (William Rich) Hutton, 1826-1901. HM 43218

 

Hutton, James D. 1 letter (1860, Jan. 13) to Mary Augusta Clopper Hutton. HM 43220

 

Hutton, James D. 1 letter (1861, Apr. 19) to Wm. R. (William Rich) Hutton, 1826-1901. HM 43221

 

Hutton, James D. 1 letter (1861, Apr. 19) to Wm. R. (William Rich) Hutton, 1826-1901. HM 43222

 

Hutton, James D. 1 letter (1861, Apr. 22) to Wm. R. (William Rich) Hutton, 1826-1901. HM 43223

 

Hutton, James D. 1 letter (1861, Apr. 25) to Wm. R. (William Rich) Hutton, 1826-1901. HM 43224

Box 3

Drawing facsimiles