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Matfield Family Collection: Finding Aid
mssHM 64508-64531
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Title: Matfield Family Collection
Dates (inclusive): 1849-1993
Bulk dates: 1873-1918
Collection Number: mssHM 64508-64531
Creator:
Matfield family.
Extent: 204 items in 3 boxes + 1 envelope
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 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.
Language: English.
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services
Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.
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.
[Identification of item]. Matfield Family Collection, The Huntington Library, San
Marino, California.
Gift of Dr. Robert Stragnell, October 4, 2001.
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.
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.
Arranged in the following order:
- Box 1: Manuscripts and Documents – 24 items, arranged chronologically
- Box 2: Research Material – 22 items, arranged alphabetically by type Ephemera – 28 items, arranged alphabetically by type
- Box 3: Photographs and Negatives – 130 items, arranged alphabetically by subject
- Oversize envelope
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
Huntington Library's Online Catalog.
Matfield
family.
Bella Union Hotel (Los
Angeles, Calif.)
Hotels -- California -- Los
Angeles.
Hunting and fishing clubs --
California.
California -- History
-- Sources.
Los Angeles (Calif.)
-- Description and travel.
Los Angeles (Calif.)
-- History -- 18th century -- Sources.
Los Angeles (Calif.)
-- History -- 19th century -- Sources.
Los Angeles (Calif.)
-- History -- 20th century -- Sources.
Papeete (French
Polynesia) -- Description and travel.
Deeds -- California -- 19th century.
Family papers -- California.
Letters (correspondence) -- United
States.
Legal documents -- California.
Notes -- 20th century.
Photographs.
Scrapbooks.