W.T. Baldwin notes on California land grants MSS.207

Finding aid prepared by Dillon Wackerman, Pamela Nett Kruger, Mary Ellen Bailey
California State University, Chico, Special Collections, Meriam Library
400 West First Street
Chico, CA, 95929-0295
(530) 898-6342
SpecialCollections@csuchico.edu
July 5, 2012


Title: W.T. Baldwin notes on California land grants
Identifier/Call Number: MSS.207
Contributing Institution: California State University, Chico, Special Collections, Meriam Library
Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 1.0 folder
Date: 1908-1914
Language of Materials note: English
creator: Baldwin, W.T.

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research without restriction.

Usage Restrictions

No restrictions.

Biographical/Historical note

Spanish settlers began populating California in 1769, and from then until 1822, land titles in California remained within Spanish control. Following 1822, land was granted to Mexican settlers and by 1847 Mexican land grants covered the western half of California up to the Sacramento Valley. After the war between Mexico and the United States, and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hildalgo (1848), California came under the jurisdiction of the United States. The passing of a land claim act in 1851 by the United States Government created a board of land commissioners, and most land grants to European settlers followed. In Butte County, all Spanish or Mexican land grants occurred between 1860 and 1863.
William Thomas Baldwin (1862-1914) was born in Chariton (Iowa) before moving with his family to Colusa County. He attended grade school in Colusa and enrolled at U.C. Berkeley, but he left before graduation to begin work as a bookkeeper in Lodi. After working as a teacher in Lodi, he moved to Gridley, where he was elected as the Butte County tax collector, serving from 1898 to 1908. In 1908 he began work as an abstractor, acquiring the Butte County Title Abstract Company, which was established in 1877.

Scope and Contents note

This collection contains typed and hand-written notes on land grants in California, including sizes and purchasers of properties. The notes relate to Butte County, Tehama County and Colusa County, during the 18th and 19th centuries. The notes were created between 1908 and 1914. Names pertaining to land grants mentioned include: John Bidwell, Edward Farwell, Dionecius Fernandez, Peter Lassen, Samuel Neal, John Parrott, James Phelan, Samuel Todd and John Williams.

Immediate Source of Acquisition note

Gift

Preferred Citation note

W.T. Baldwin notes on California land grants, MSS 207, Special Collections, Meriam Library, California State University, Chico

Related Archival Materials note

Abstract of title Bosquejo Grant/Gerke Rancho, MSS 055, Special Collections, Meriam Library, California State University, Chico
Land patent, Plumas County, California to Melissa Bailey, MSS 115, Special Collections, Meriam Library, California State University, Chico

Publication Rights

The library can only claim physical ownership of the collection. Users are responsible for satisfying any claimants of literary property.

Arrangement note

Original order

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Butte County (Calif.)--History
Colusa County (Calif.) -- History
Land grants--California--History
Tehama County (Calif.) -- History

 

Notes on California land grants, 1908-1914

Physical Description: 1.0 folder