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Guide to the Ephraim W. Morse Papers
MS 144
MS 144
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Table of contents
Title: Ephraim W. Morse Papers
Identifier/Call Number: MS 144
Contributing Institution:
San Diego History Center Document Collection
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
5.0 Linear feet
(10 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1853-1905
Abstract: This collection consists of correspondence, business papers, and personal papers of Ephraim W. Morse. It covers many of his
business and civic activities in San Diego, California in the mid- to late-nineteenth century.
creator:
Morse, Ephraim W.
This collection is open for research. Detailed inventory of correspondence (Series I) is available at the San Diego History
Center Library.
The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.
Ephraim W. Morse Papers, MS 144, San Diego History Center Document Collection, San Diego, CA.
Collection processed by Samantha Mills on October 10, 2012.
Collection processed as part of grant project supported by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) with generous
funding from The Andrew Mellon Foundation.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Letterpress books contain fragile tissue paper; some pages are faint and illegible.
Text blocks of the Daybooks and Account Ledgers are partially detached from their bindings.
Some pages of the mining diary are ink spattered and difficult to read.
Material added to collection from Document Files Collection: Ephraim W. Morse file, Bills of Lading file, and Buildings file.
Detailed inventory of correspondence (Series I) is available at the San Diego History Center Library.
This collection is arranged into five series:
Series I: Correspondence
Series II: Letterpress Books
Series III: Business Papers
Series IV: Civic Activities
Series V: Personal Papers
Series I is arranged chronologically and Series II-V are arranged by subject.
Biographical / Historical Notes
Ephraim W. Morse was born in Amesbury, Massachusetts on October 16, 1823. He arrived in San Diego, California in 1850, after
a short stint gold panning in San Francisco. His first business venture was the operation of a general store, supplied through
his San Francisco business associates Daniel Breed and A.J. Chase. He quickly expanded his businesses to include sheep ranching,
beekeeping, copper mining, and law. In the late 1860s Morse partnered with Alonzo Horton in the field of real estate speculation,
and their persistent promotion of the area fueled the growth of the City of San Diego and its move to New Town.
Morse’s first wife was Lydia Gray, whom he brought to San Diego in 1851. They had one son, Edward W., who was sent to live
with relatives in Massachusetts after Lydia’s death in 1856. In 1866 Morse married San Diego’s first schoolteacher, Mary Chase
Walker.
In addition to running his businesses, Morse served as Associate Justice of the Court of Sessions, Secretary of the Board
of Trade, County Treasurer, and City Trustee. He promoted and helped organize the San Diego Flume Company, the first railroad
to San Diego, the First Bank of San Diego, the Public Library, construction of the San Diego Wharf, the fortifications at
Ballast Point, and a resolution to set aside land for what became Balboa Park. Morse remained active in the San Diego community
until his death in 1906.
This collection consists of correspondence, business papers, and personal papers of Ephraim W. Morse. Correspondence is from
Morse's business partners, clients, and employees. There are also twelve large letterpress books containing mostly legible
copies of Morse’s outgoing letters. Business papers include real estate paperwork, ledgers for Morse’s general stores, and
notes and expenditures related to his mining and honey businesses. Additionally there are documents included on Morse’s involvement
in several lawsuits and estate settlements. Documents related to Morse’s civic appointments include financial documents and
a ledger of court expenses collected during his service as San Diego City Treasurer. Personal papers include Morse's personal
finances and his involvement in local associations such as the San Diego Benevolent Association and San Diego Lodge No. 35,
for which he was treasurer in both.
Microfilm copy of Morse correspondence and some account books (circa 1850-1889) from California State Archives is available
for access in SDHC Library (9 rolls of microfilm).
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Anti-Monopoly League.
Atlantic and Pacific Railroad Company.
Barnes, G. W.
Bidleman, J. B.
Breed, D. C.
Breed, D. N.
Brown, Nathan W.
Burleson, C. J.
Chase, A. J.
Cissa, J. C.
Coltman, John
Corbet, J. E.
Crosthwaite, Philip
Cuaig, J.
Culver, C. B.
Doyle, John
Doyle, R. D.
Fitzgerald, Edward H.
Gould, Mary
Gould, O. W.
Grant & Colfax Club.
Hayes, Benjamin, 1815-1877
Horton, Alonzo E., 1813-1909
Howell, S. E.
Howell, W. C.
Keighler, William
Lovett, E.
Lowry, L.
McKee, D. B.
Morgan, Mary Clark
Morgan, Rufus, 1846-1880
Morse, Ephraim W.
Morse, Lydia
Morse, Mary Chase
Pierce, James M.
Rose, Louis
San Diego Benevolent Society.
San Diego Lodge No. 35 F.&A.M..
Smith, Alex
Southern Pacific Railroad Company.
Stearns, Abel
Stewart, W. W.
Taggart, C. P.
Texas Pacific Railroad.
Vettigar, William
Whaley, Thomas, 1823-1890
Winder, W. A.
Account books
Actions and defenses
Ballast Point Site (Calif.)
Bee culture
Copper mines and mining
Correspondence
Deeds
Delfina mine
Executors and administrators
General stores
Gold mines and mining
Iron mines and mining
Jesus Maria mine
Leases
Mortgages
Oak Glen apiary
Oriflamme mine
Promissory notes
Prospecting
Real property
Receipts (Acknowledgements)
San Antonio copper mine
San Diego (Calif.)
San Francisco (Calif.)
Woodglen apiary