Neal H. Brockmeyer Collection of Banking and Mining Ephemera: Finding Aid priBrockm
Mari Khasmanyan
The Huntington Library
February 2022
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Business Number: (626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Neal H. Brockmeyer collection of banking and mining ephemera
Creator:
Brockmeyer, Neal H.
Identifier/Call Number: priBrockm
Physical Description:
3.22 Linear Feet
(1 flat box and 5 binders)
Date (inclusive): 1850-1941
Abstract: The Neal H. Brockmeyer collection consists of approximately 1,030 checks, certificates of deposit, bills of exchange, stock
and bond certificates, and other financial documents. Materials date from approximately 1850 to 1941 and relate primarily
to banking and mining businesses in California, Nevada, Arizona, and Hawaii. A majority of the items are engravings, but some
are lithographs.
Language of Material: Materials are in English.
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[Identification of item]. Neal H. Brockmeyer collection of banking and mining ephemera, The Huntington Library, San Marino,
California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Neal H. and Mary Jane Brockmeyer, December 2010.
Neal H. Brockmeyer (1938-) is a California native who resides in La Cañada Flintridge, California. He graduated from Stanford
University in 1960 and received his law degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall) in 1963.
He practiced law in Los Angeles for over 50 years.
Brockmeyer developed a strong interest in Western Americana from his travels throughout the Gold Country and other historical
areas of the West. His interests, along with his specialization in corporate and securities law, led to his collecting of
banking, mining and financial documents. Brockmeyer concentrated on collecting primarily California and Nevada historical
items of the late 19th century. His collection was acquired over a span of forty years, either directly through collectors
and dealers in the country, or by frequenting coin and currency shows and antique shops.
The Neal H. Brockmeyer collection consists of approximately 1,030 checks, stock and bond certificates, and other financial
documents. Materials date from approximately 1850 to 1941 and relate primarily to banking and mining industries in California,
Nevada, Arizona, and Hawaii.
The collection has 20 oversize items comprised mainly of stock and bond certificates. Smaller sized items number over 1,010
and are comprised mainly of checks, stock and bond certificates, certificates of deposit, and bills of exchange.
Imagery and text on the materials pertain to the history of business and economics in Western Americana. Many of the items
are decorated with engraved imagery of miners, patriotic symbols (presidents, eagles, shields), classical and allegorical
motifs (Lady Liberty, Greco-Roman figures), and of views (buildings, rural areas, naval ships). A majority of the items are
engravings, but some are lithographs.
Some of the recurrent printers and lithographers of the items in the collection include: A.L. Bancroft & Co.; Edward Bosqui
& Co.; Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co.; Britton & Rey; B.F. Butler's Lithograph Co.; A. Carlisle & Co.; Ezra A. Cook & Co.; H.S.
Crocker & Co.; Hall & O'Donald Lithograph Co.; Geo. B. Hitchcock & Co.; A. Hoen & Co.; Krebs Lithographing Co.; LeCount Bros.
& Mansur's Stationery Establishment; Major & Knapp Engraving Manufacturing and Lithographic Co.; Schmidt Label & Lithograph
Co.; Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co.; Union Lithograph Co.; and Western Lithograph Co.
The collection was organized and rehoused by David Mihaly in 2018. The preliminary finding aid was prepared by Krystle Satrum
in April 2021. In February 2022, Mari Khasmanyan completed the finding aid and processing.
Organized in the following series:
- Series 1. Small size banking and mining ephemera, 1850-1941, bulk 1870-1921
- Series 2. Large size banking and mining ephemera, 1852-1910
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Banks and banking
Bonds
Checks
Ephemera
Gold mines and mining
Prints
Printed ephemera
Stock certificates.
Goldfield Deep Mines Company of Nevada
Series I. Small size banking and mining ephemera 1850-1941, bulk 1870-1921
Physical Description: 1.05 Linear Feet (5 binders)
This series contains mainly check stubs, billheads, and stock and bond certificates. Of note are check stubs for the Goldfield
Deep Mines company, largely issued by the banking company John S. Cook & Co. The checks are an incomplete run numbering from
1 to 920, dated 1920 to 1921.
This series consists of items 8 x 10 inches or smaller. Materials are housed in 5 binders and are arranged alphabetically
by geographic location, then by name of company.
Series II. Large size banking and mining ephemera 1852-1910
Physical Description: 2.17 Linear Feet (1 flat box)
This series contains mainly stock and bond certificates from California, Nevada, New York, and other states and countries.
This series consists of items 11 x 14 inches or larger. Materials are housed in one flat box and are arranged in folders alphabetically
by geographic location.