Matfield family collection, 1849-1993, bulk 1873-1918

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Summary

Creators:
Matfield family.
Abstract:
This collection consists of material collected by physician Robert Stragnell (1923-2015) regarding the Bella Union Hotel, its owners the Matfield family, and early Los Angeles and California history, chiefly dating from 1873-1918.
Extent:
5 Linear Feet (4 boxes)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Matfield family collection, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection consists of material collected by Southern California physician Robert Stragnell (1923-2015) regarding the Bella Union Hotel, early Los Angeles and California history and the Matfield family. It includes original manuscripts and documents, correspondence, a scrapbook containing photographs of and articles about the Los Angeles City Gun Club (of which James Matfield was a member), and research material including notes written by Dr. Stragnell, ephemera, photographs and negatives. Most of the material focuses upon the history of Los Angeles and California; however, there are a few letters, postcards, and photographs related to Papeete, Tahiti. The photographs are mostly portraits of Matfield family members, while the negatives are family snapshots; both the photographs and negatives are dated roughly between 1890 and 1920. The negatives are of photographs that are not included in the collection.

Biographical / historical:

In the 1860s, the Matfield family became owners of the Bella Union Hotel, one of the earliest hotels in Los Angeles, California. The family consisted of George Matfield, his wife Alice, and their children James and Dora.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Dr. Robert Stragnell, October 4, 2001.
Processing information:

Processed by Brooke M. Black, September 2002. In July 2024, Mari Khasmanyan rehoused a loose envelope into box 4, updated the linear feet of the collection, and the collection call number.

Arrangement:

Arranged in the following order:

  1. Box 1: Manuscripts and documents – 24 items, arranged chronologically
  2. Box 2: Research material and ephemera – 50 items, arranged alphabetically by type
  3. Box 3: Photographs and negatives – 130 items, arranged alphabetically by subject
  4. Box 4: Oversize - 1 box
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

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

Terms of access:

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]. Matfield family collection, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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