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Joseph Oliver Carter Papers: Finding Aid

Finding aid prepared by Brooke M. Black, November 25, 2011.
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
© 2011
The Huntington Library. All rights reserved.

Overview of the Collection

Title: Joseph Oliver Carter Papers
Dates (inclusive): 1893-1935
Collection Number: mssHM 76530-76710
Creator: Carter, Joseph Oliver, 1835-1909.
Extent: 199 items in 4 boxes
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 primarily contains correspondence written to Hawaiian journalist, diplomat, and financier Joseph Oliver Carter (1835-1909). Most of the collection is about Queen Liliuokalani, her property and finances, and politics in Hawaii including the 1893 revolution and its consequences for Carter, Hawaiian annexation by the United States, the Hawaiian government and royalty.
Language: English.

Access

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Administrative Information

Publication Rights

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]. Joseph Oliver Carter Papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Provenance

Purchased from Bonhams auction #19421, lot #1030, October 10, 2011.

Cataloger's Note

Queen Liliuokalani is a subject throughout the entire collection (she is the addressee of eight letters, which are listed under Indexing: Added Entries). Specific instances of her being a subject are not indexed in the finding aid, but her name appears on the folders where she is talked about. Other subjects not specifically indexed due to the number of items having them as subjects include: Hawaiian royalty, the Hawaiian government, the 1893 overthrow of the government, annexation of Hawaii by the U.S. and the issue of Statehood. These subjects can be found in the majority of the items.

Biographical Note

Joseph Oliver Carter, Jr. (1835-1909), journalist, public official, diplomat, financier and philanthropist, was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on December 20, 1835, to Captain Joseph Oliver Carter and Hannah Lord. Carter attended school in Boston at an early age. After returning to Hawaii in 1847, he finished school and began employment with A. B. Howe in Honolulu. He later worked as a clerk in the post office and became associated with H. M. Whitney, a dealer in books and a cotton grower in Hawaii. Carter then began working for the Pacific Commercial Advertiser until 1872 when he was elected to the Hawaiian Legislature. He was appointed Registrar of Public Accounts in 1874, after having been financier to prominent families in Hawaii. In 1880 he went back to business life becoming cashier and correspondent for C. Brewer & Co. In 1891, he became president of the company.
Throughout his life, Carter played an important role with Hawaiian royalty, the legislature and cabinet officers, often being called on for advice. He was the Privy Councilor to Queen Liliuokalani. During the 1893 Revolution, Carter sided with the Hawaiian people, working for their rights; he stood by the Queen’s side. After the overthrow of the Queen, Carter resigned his position at C. Brewer & Co. due to political differences with his business colleagues and opened his own business. He continued to be in charge of the business affairs of the former Queen, as well as trustee of the James Campbell Estate, the B. P. Bishop Estate, the Kamehameha Schools, and various private accounts and estates.
In 1898, when the question of Hawaii annexation came up, Carter went to Washington D. C. as a member of a mission to the present the cause of the Hawaiians, who were against such action. Carter held various other positions including Board of Health of the Republic of Hawaii and superintendent and teacher at the Bethel Church.
Carter married Mary Ladd, a member of another prominent pioneer Honolulu family, in 1859. They had six children: Charlotte, Mary, Rachel, Joseph Oliver, Sarah, and Henry Cushman.
Carter became blind in his last years, but continued his business dealings until his death on February 27, 1909. He was buried in Oahu Cemetery in Honolulu.

Bibliography

Carter, George Robert. Joseph Oliver Carter: the founder of the Carter family in Hawaii: with a brief genealogy . Honolulu: Printed by the Star-Bulletin, 1915.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of 177 letters, two manuscripts, 1 piece of ephemera and 17 newspaper clippings.
The majority of the collection is correspondence written to Joseph Oliver Carter (there are only two letters written by him, one of which is to Queen Liliuokalani). Notable participants include: Joseph K. Aea, attorney for the Queen; Calvert T. Bird, attorney for the James Campbell estate; Charles Reed Bishop; J. A. Cummins, Hawaiian royalty and businessman; attorney Clarence Woods DeKnight; journalist Julian Hawthorne; Hawaiian diplomat and politician Curtis Pi’ehu ‘Iaukea; Prince David Kawananakoa; William Kinney, Hawaiian businessman; G. W. MacFarlane, attorney for the Queen; reporter Julius A. Palmer; Abigail Campbell Parker, widow of James Campbell and mother of Princess Abigail Kawananakoa; Senator Richard F. Pettigrew; Hawaiian Chief Justice Alexander George Morison Robertson; Hawaiian politician Robert W. Shingle; Hawaiian minister David Willis Keliiokamoku White; Albert Shelby Willis, United States Congressman and Minister to Hawaii; and Charles Burnett Wilson, Marshall of Kingdom of Hawaii and Royal Guard.
Most of the collection is about Queen Liliuokalani, her property and finances, and politics in Hawaii including the 1893 revolution and its consequences for Carter, Hawaiian annexation by the U.S., the Hawaiian government and royalty. (Letters between Carter and Senator Pettigrew are all about the Hawaiian government and annexation by the U.S. as are the letters between Carter and his friend Ned McFarlane.) Other subjects include: James Campbell and his estate; Samuel Mills Damon; Benjamin Franklin Dillingham; Sanford B. Dole; Princess Kaiulani; Princess Abigail Campbell Kawananakoa; education in Hawaii; the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum; Punuhou School; Chinese and Japanese immigrants in Hawaii; Mormons in Hawaii; and sugar growing and tariffs.
The letters by L. M. Keaunui and S. K. Mahoe to Queen Liliuokalani are in Hawaiian.
The two manuscripts consist of a copy of a resolution made by C. Brewer & Co. stating that it is in full support of the provisional government of Hawaii and that any officer or employee that shows “any other disposition on the part of the Company as against the said Government, such action is disavowed by us as Stockholders…” and a printed copy of the “Proposed Investigation of the Government of the Territory of Hawaii: Hearing Before the Committee on Territories and Insular Affairs United States Senate,” from 1932, January 16.
The ephemera consists of a sheet of paper with three signatures including the Governor of Maui, John M. Kapena. The 17 newspaper clippings are about the Hawaiian Princess Abigail Kawananakoa, the possible statehood of Hawaii, and the Virgin Islands.

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by author.

Indexing: Added Entries

Additional contributors in this collection include:
Kapena, John Makini.
  • Autograph on Ephemera: Sheet with signatures (1875). HM 76710.
Kawananakoa, David.
  • Addressee of George H. Fairchild telegram (189?). HM 76564.
Liliuokalani, Queen of Hawaii, 1838-1917.
  • Addressee of Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909, letter (1906, Aug. 31). HM 76559.
  • Addressee of Clarence Woods De Knight, 1867-1936, letter (1905, June 26). HM 76561.
  • Addressee of A. Fried-Griselda letter (1904, Sep. 4). HM 76565.
  • Addressee of Julian Hawthorne, 1846-1934, letter (1901, July 3). HM 76567.
  • Addressee of L. M. Keauni letter (1905, Oct. 5). HM 76577.
  • Addressee of G. W. MacFarlane letters (1899). HM 76603-76604.
  • Addressee of S. K. Mahoe letter (1902, Oct. 24). HM 76632.
Pettigrew, Richard F. (Richard Franklin), 1838-1926.
  • Addressee of Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909, letter (1898, Feb. 5). HM 76560.

Indexing: Subjects

Subjects in this collection include:
Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum.
  • Subject in Charles Reed Bishop, 1822-1916 letters (1895-1908) letters to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76536-76557.
Bishop, Charles Reed, 1822-1915.
  • Subject in Samuel C. Allen letters (1894-1900) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76533-76536.
  • Subject in F. W. MacFarlane letter (1898, Mar. 8) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76583.
  • Subject in C. E. Mason letter (1907, Aug. 10) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76633.
Campbell, James, 1826-1900.
  • Subject in Samuel C. Allen letters (1894-1900) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76533-76536.
  • Subject in Calvert T. Bird letter (1906, June 29) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76540.
  • Subject in Holmes & Stanley letter (1908, Feb. 17) to Abigail Campbell Parker. HM 76570.
  • Subject in G. W. MacFarlane letter (1907, Apr. 6) to P. N. Lilienthal. HM 76602.
  • Subject in C. E. Mason letter (1907, Aug. 10) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76633.
  • Subject in Abigail Campbell Parker letters (1900-1904) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835- 1909. HM 76644-76672.
Chinese – Hawaii
  • Subject in Richard F. (Richard Franklin) Pettigrew letter (1899, Sep. 8) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76680.
Damon, Samuel Mills, 1845-1924.
  • Subject in Samuel C. Allen letters (1894-1900) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76533-76536.
  • Subject in Charles Reed Bishop, 1822-1916 letters (1895-1908) letters to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76536-76557.
  • Subject in Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909 letter (1898, Feb. 5) to Richard F. (Richard Franklin) Pettigrew, 1848-1926. HM 76560.
  • Subject in Julius A. (Julius Auboineau) Palmer, 1840-1899 letters (1895-1896) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76636-76637.
Dillingham, Benjamin Franklin, 1844-1918.
  • Subject in Charles Reed Bishop, 1822-1915 letters (1897) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76553, HM 76555.
Dole, Sanford B. (Sanford Ballard), 1844-1926.
  • Subject in Charles Reed Bishop, 1822-1915 letters (1897-1908) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76553, HM 76557.
  • Subject in Ned MacFarlane letter (1900, Feb. 17) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76625.
  • Subject in Julius A. (Julius Auboineau) Palmer, 1840-1899 letters (1896-1897) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76637, HM 76641.
  • Subject in Richard F. (Richard Franklin) Pettigrew letter (1900, Mar. 7) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76683.
Education – Hawaii
  • Subject in Charles Reed Bishop, 1822-1916 letters (1895-1908) letters to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76536-76557.
Japanese – Hawaii
  • Subject in Richard F. (Richard Franklin) Pettigrew letter (1899-1900) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76680, HM 76686.
Kaiulani, Princess of Hawaii, 1875-1899.
  • Subject in Julius A. (Julius Auboineau) Palmer, 1840-1899 letter (1897, Oct. 20) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76643.
Kawananakoa, Abigail Campbell.
  • Subject in Abigail Campbell Parker letters (1900-1904) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835- 1909. HM 76644-76672.
  • Subject in Newspaper Clippings (1935).
Kawananakoa, David.
  • Addressee of George H. Fairchild telegram (189?). HM 76564.
Mormons – Hawaii
  • Subject in Richard F. (Richard Franklin) Pettigrew, 1848-1926 letter [1989, before July 7] to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76673.
Punahou School.
  • Subject in Charles Reed Bishop, 1822-1916 letters (1895-1908) letters to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76536-76557.
  • Subject in Julius A. (Julius Auboineau) Palmer, 1840-1899 letter (1895, Aug. 7) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76636.
Sugar growing – Hawaii
  • Subject in Samuel C. Allen letter (1894, Oct. 16) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76535.
  • Subject in Richard F. (Richard Franklin) Pettigrew letter (1899, June 3) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76677.
  • Subject in O. M. Vesper letters (1894) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76695-76696.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Huntington Library's Online Catalog.  

Subjects

Campbell, James, 1826-1900.
Carter, Joseph Oliver, 1835-1909 -- Archives.
Damon, Samuel Mills, 1845-1924.
Dillingham, Benjamin Franklin, 1844-1918.
Dole, Sanford B. (Sanford Ballard), 1844-1926.
Kaiulani, Princess of Hawaii, 1875-1899.
Kawananakoa, Abigail Campbell.
Kawananakoa, House of.
Liliuokalani, Queen of Hawaii, 1838-1917.
Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum.
Punahou School.
Chinese -- Hawaii.
Education -- Hawaii.
Japanese -- Hawaii.
Mormons -- Hawaii -- History -- Sources.
Plantations -- Hawaii.
Sugar growing -- Hawaii.
Hawaii -- Annexation to the United States.
Hawaii -- Description and travel.
Hawaii -- History -- Overthrow of Monarchy, 1893 -- Sources.
Hawaii -- History -- 1893-1900 -- Sources.
Hawaii -- Kings and rulers.
Hawaii -- Politics and government.
Honolulu (Hawaii)
United States -- History -- 19th century -- Sources.
United States -- Politics and government -- 19th century -- Sources.
Virgin Islands -- History -- 20th century -- Sources.

Forms/Genres

Letters (correspondence) Hawaii -- 19th century.
Letters (correspondence) Hawaii -- 20th century.
Manuscripts -- United States -- 19th century.
Newspaper clippings -- United States -- 20th century.

Additional Contributors

Aea, Joseph K.
Bird, Calvert T.
Bishop, Charles Reed, 1822-1915.
Cummins, J. A. (John Adams), 1834-1919, recipient.
De Knight, Clarence Woods, 1867-1936.
Hawthorne, Julian, 1846-1934.
'Iaukea, Curtis Pi'ehu, 1855-1940.
Kapena, John Makini.
Kawananakoa, David.
Kinney, William, b. 1832.
Liliuokalani, Queen of Hawaii, 1838-1917, recipient.
MacFarlane, G. W.
Palmer, Julius A. (Julius Auboineau), 1840-1899.
Parker, Abigail Campbell.
Pettigrew, Richard F. (Richard Franklin), 1848-1926.
Robertson, A. G. M. (Alexander George Morison), 1867-1947.
Shingle, Robert W.
White, David Willis Keliiokamoku.
Willis, Albert S. (Albert Shelby), 1843-1897.
Wilson, Charles Burnett, 1850-1926.
C. Brewer and Company.
United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Territories and Insular Affairs.

 

mssHM 76530-76710

Box 1

A – K

 

Aea, Joseph K. 3 letters (1907) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76530-76532

 

Allen, Samuel C. 4 letters (1894-1900) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76533-76536

 

Barnes, W. P., Mrs. 2 letters (1905) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76537-76538

 

Bird, Calvert T. 7 letters (1905-1908) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76539-76545

 

Bishop, Charles Reed, 1822-1915. 12 letters (1895-1908) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76546-76557

 

C. Brewer and Company. Resolution regarding Provisional Government of Hawaii: manuscript copy? [1893]. In fragile condition. HM 76558

 

Carter, Joseph Oliver, 1835-1909. 1 letter (1906, Aug. 31) to Liliuokalani, Queen of Hawaii, 1838-1917. HM 76559

 

Carter, Joseph Oliver, 1835-1909. 1 letter (1898, Feb. 5) to Richard F. (Richard Franklin) Pettigrew, 1838-1926. Includes typed copy. HM 76560

 

De Knight, Clarence Woods, 1867-1936. 1 letter (1905, June 26) to Liliuokalani, Queen of Hawaii, 1838-1917. HM 76561

 

Dickey, J. H. 1 letter (1897, Feb. 22) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76562

 

Fairchild, George H. 1 letter (1900, Oct. 9) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76563

 

Fairchild, George H. 1 telegram (189?) to David Kawananakoa. HM 76564

 

Fried-Griselda, A. 1 letter (1904, Sep. 4) to Liliuokalani, Queen of Hawaii, 1838-1917. HM 76565

 

Gulick, Charles T. 1 letter (1894, Feb. 8) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76566

 

Hawthorne, Julian, 1846-1934. 1 letter (1901, July 3) to Liliuokalani, Queen of Hawaii, 1838-1917. HM 76567

 

Highton, Henry E. 1 letter (1904, Feb. 23) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76568

 

Holmes & Stanley. 1 letter (1905, Apr. 26) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76569

 

Holmes & Stanley. 1 letter (1908, Feb. 17) to Abigail Campbell Parker. HM 76570

Signed by Henry Holmes.
 

Humphreys, A. S. 2 letters (1903-1905) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76571-76572

 

ʻIaukea, Curtis Piʻehu, 1855-1940. 3 letters (189?-1900) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76573-76575

 

Kawananakoa, David. 1 telegram (1899, Nov. 30) to G. W. MacFarlane. HM 76576

 

Keaunui, L. M. 1 letter (1905, Oct. 5) to Liliuokalani, Queen of Hawaii, 1838-1917. HM 76577

In Hawaiian.
 

Kinney, William, b. 1832. 1 letter (1894, Apr. 15) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76578

Box 2

L – M

 

Laine, L. I. 1 letter (1903, June 12) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76579

 

M. W. McChesney & Sons. 1 letter (190?) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76580

Signed by J. M. McChesney?
 

McCartney, M., Mrs. 1 letter (1905, May 5) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76581

 

McClellan, George B. 1 letter (1902, Jan. 6) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76582

 

MacFarlane, F. W. 5 letters (1898-1908) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76583-76587

 

MacFarlane, F. W. 1 letter (1902, May 5) to J. A. (John Adams) Cummins, 1834-1919. HM 76588

 

MacFarlane, Florence. 7 letters (1902-1904) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76589-76595

 

MacFarlane, G. W. 6 letters (1894-1900) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76596-76601

 

MacFarlane, G. W. 1 letter (1907, Apr. 6) to P. N. Lilienthal. Incomplete. HM 76602

 

MacFarlane, G. W. 2 letters (1899) to Liliuokalani, Queen of Hawaii, 1838-1917. HM 76603-76604

 

MacFarlane, Gardie. 1 letter (1897, July 22) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76605

 

MacFarlane, F. W. 1 letter [undated] to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909 and Mary Carter. HM 76606

 

MacFarlane, H. R. 1 letter ([1899], Apr. 30) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76607

 

[MacFarlane], Ned. 19 letters (1894-1901) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76608-76626

 

Mahoe, S. K. 5 letters (1902-1904) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76627-76631

 

Mahoe, S. K. 1 letter (1902, Oct. 24) to Liliuokalani, Queen of Hawaii, 1838-1917. HM 76632

In Hawaiian.
 

Mason, C. E. 1 letter (1907, Aug. 10) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76633

 

Merry, John F., b. 1844. 1 letter (1899, June 6) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76634

Box 3

P

 

Palmer, Julius A. (Julius Auboineau), 1840-1899. 9 letters (1894-1897) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76635-76643

 

Parker, Abigail Campbell. 29 letters (1900-1904) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76644-76672

 

Pettigrew, Richard F. (Richard Franklin), 1848-1926. 17 letters (1898-1900) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76673-76689

Box 4

R – W, unidentified, Ephemera, and Newspaper Clippings

 

Robertson, A. G. M. (Alexander George Morison), 1867-1947. 1 letter (1906, Aug. 31) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. Includes two copies of letter. HM 76690

 

Single, Robert W. 1 letter (1908, Dec. 23) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76691

 

United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Territories and Insular Affairs. HM 76692

Vesper, O. M. 4 letters (1894) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76693-76696.
 

Walton, C. M. 1 letter (1894, Feb. 17) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76697

 

Wells, C. B. 1 letter (1894, Feb. 10) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76698

 

White, David Willis Keliiokamoku. 2 letters (1906) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76699-76700

In fragile condition.
 

Whitney, J. M. 1 letter (1894, Feb. 8) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76701

 

Wiedemann, H. A. 1 letter (1894, July 23) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76702

 

Willis, Albert S. (Albert Shelby), 1843-1897. 1 letter (1895, June 10) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76703

 

Wills, T. C. 1 letter (1894, Feb. 18) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76704

 

Wilson, Charles Burnett, 1850-1926. 1 letter (1901, July 15) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76705

 

-----, George. 3 letters (1900-1904) to Joseph Oliver Carter, 1835-1909. HM 76706-76708

 

-----. 1 letter (1894, Apr. 18) to “Dear Sir.” HM 76709

Incomplete.
 

Ephemera: Sheet with signatures (1875). 1 item. HM 76710

 

Newspaper clippings (1935). 17 items.

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