Rodman M. Price papers, 1842-approximately 1890

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Summary

Creators:
Price, Rodman M. (Rodman McCamley), 1816-1894
Abstract:
A collection of material related to the American naval officer, and New Jersey politician, Rodman M. Price.
Extent:
2.34 Linear Feet (2 boxes)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Rodman M. Price papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

A collection of 256 items from 1842 to 1890, it consists of letters, manuscripts and documents related to the various activities and interests of Rodman M. Price. The collection includes material on naval affairs, mostly before 1864; national politics; and the business affairs of Ward and Price. Additional topics include the passenger trade to California in 1850 and the steamship "Constitution;" and San Francisco, California, property values and land titles. Correspondents in the collection include Simon B. Bissell, John B. Rittenhouse, Edward Wolff, and the companies Maunsel White and Co., and Smith and Lewis.

Biographical / historical:

Rodman McCamley Price was born in Sussex County, New Jersey in 1816; he married Matilda C. Trenchard. In 1840 he was appointed as a purser in the U. S. Navy; he served on the steam frigates "Fulton" and "Missouri" and on the sloop of war "Cyane." In 1846 the "Cyane" brought Price to Monterey, California, where he took part in the occupation, and for a short time, acted as alcalde and prefect. In 1848, Price was appointed naval agent at San Francisco and was a member of San Francisco's first municipal council; he was also a member of the California Constitutional Convention in 1849. During this time, Price invested heavily in San Francisco real estate. He returned to New Jersey in 1850 and with his partner, Samuel Ward, established the New York office of Ward and Price, Bankers and Agents for California; this business ultimately failed in 1851. In New Jersey he ran as a staunch Democrat and served as congressman from 1851 to 1853 and as governor from 1854 to 1857. After his return to private life, Price engaged in several profitable business enterprises; he died in Oakland, New Jersey, in June 1894.

Acquisition information:
Purchased from Edwin Grabhorn, January 1945.
Processing information:

Processed by Huntington Library Staff, circa 1950. In 2020, Gayle Richardson created the finding aid derived from a legacy summary report.

Arrangement:

Arranged chronologically.

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]. Rodman M. Price papers, 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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