Spear family papers and addenda
Finding aid prepared by Gina C Giang.
Manuscripts Department
The Huntington Library
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2203
Fax: (626) 449-5720
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
© 2016
The Huntington Library. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Spear family papers and addenda
Dates: 1845-1978
Collection Number: mss48734-48771
Creator:
Spear (Family)
Extent:
123 items in 5 boxes
Repository:
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
Manuscripts Department
The Huntington Library
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2203
Fax: (626) 449-5720
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract: The collection consists of the papers of three generations of the Spear family: Alexander Fulton Spear (1800-1853), Alexander
Fulton Spear (1827-1900), and Lewis Eugene Spear (1867-1953).
Language of Material: The records are in English.
Administration Information
Access
Collection is open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information,
please go to following
web site .
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
HM 48734-48771, Spear family papers and addenda. The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Acquisition Information
Gift from Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Spear, 1980 and 1988.
Biography
Alexander Fulton Spear (1800-1853) came to California from Maine in 1849. His son, Alexander Fulton Spear (1827-1900), a ship
captain, settled in San Francisco in 1872. His grandson, Lewis Eugene Spear (1867-1953), organized the Pacific Steel & Wire
Co. in San Francisco and later moved to Los Angeles and established the Pacific Wire Rope Co. in 1909.
Scope and Content
The collection consists of the papers of three generations of the Spear family: Alexander Fulton Spear (1800-1853), Alexander
Fulton Spear (1827-1900), and Lewis Eugene Spear (1867-1953). It includes the Gold Rush journal of Alexander Fulton Spear
(1800-1853), which documents his ocean journey from Maine to California aboard the ship "Perfect" and mining near Coloma,
California. There are also papers regarding the marine service of Alexander Fulton Spear (1827-1900) and a few business papers
pertaining to Lewis Eugene Spear (1867-1953), the Pacific Steel & Wire Co., and the Pacific Wire Rope Co.
Two noteworthy items in the collection are a photograph album showing Southern California, Monterey, and a trip to Alaska
(1900-02) and a diary of a trip from San Francisco to Coquille, Oregon, on the steam schooner "Chico" which includes 25 photographs
(1903).
The addenda consists of ephemera, genealogy material, and photographs related to the Spear and Whitney family.
Arrangement
The family papers is arranged in chronological order.
The addenda is arranged according to genre.
Indexing Terms
Personal Names
Spear, Alexander Fulton, 1800-1853
Spear, Alexander Fulton, 1827-1900
Spear, Clara Whitney
Spear, Lewis Eugene, 1867-1953
Corporate Names
Pacific Steel & Wire Rope Co. (San Francisco, Calif.)
Pacific Wire Rope Co. (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Subjects
Mines and mineral resources--Californai--Coloma
Ocean travel
San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, Calif., 1906--Photographs
Ship captains--California--San Francisco
Voyages to the Pacific coast
Geographic Areas
Alaska--Photographs
California--Gold discoveries
California--History--19th century--Sources
California--History--20th century--Sources
California, Southern--Photographs
Oregon--Photographs
Genre
Business records--California
Correspondence
Daguerreotypes (photographs)
Family papers--California
Genealogies (histories)
Journals--California
Photograph albums--West (U.S.)
Photographs--West (U.S.)
HM 48754
Rose, Edwin. Certificate of citizenship of Alexander [Fulton] Spear (b)
(1845, Nov. 11)
HM 48755
Spear, Alexander Fulton (a). Journal of a voyage from Maine to San Francisco via Cape Horn abroad the ship "Perfect" and
mining near Coloma
(1849-1850)
Also: Photograph of Alexander Fulton Spear (a) and Xerox copy of description by John B. Goodman of the ship "Perfect" and
the voyage
HM 48736
Carter, Ezra. Certificate of citizenship of Alexander Fulton Spear (b)
(1857, Feb. 19)
HM 48734
Andrews, T---- S----. To Alexander Fulton Spear (b): [Testimonial certificate of admission to the Third Degree of Masonry]
(1861, Aug. 9)
HM 48740
Dillingham, E---- L----. To all the Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons: [Certificate of good standing for Alexander Fulton
Spear (b)]
(1872, May 7)
HM 48746
Lack, H---- Reader. To Alexander Fulton Spear (b): [Patent for drum attachment for pin rails]
(1886, May 25)
HM 48764
Whitney, Susan Durgen (Eastman). Diary of European trip
(1888)
Europe—Description and travel
HM 48762
Whitney (A.H.) & Company. To Clara (Whitney) [Spear]: Receipt
(1892, Sep. 10)
HM 48763
Whitney (Arthur L.) & Company. To Clara (Whitney) [Spear]: Receipt
(1893, Feb. 1)
HM 48757
Spear, Lewis Eugene. To Clara (Whitney) Spear: [deed to land in San Francisco]
(1893, May 19)
HM 48741
Duffy (James) & Company. To Lewis Eugene Spear: Receipt
(1893, Sep. 19)
HM 48739
Derrick, George H. To Alexander Fulton Spear (b)
(1897, June 10)
Also: Appointment as Honorary Deputy State President for San Francisco of the State Council of the American Protective Association
of the State of California
HM 48738
Cypress Lawn Improvement Company. To Alexander Fulton Spear (b): [deed to cemetery plot]
(1898, Dec. 20)
HM 48756
Spear, Alexander Fulton (b). Captain A.F. Spear's Sea Voyage
[1899?]
Originally rolled on wooden spindle and kept in metal tube (see end of collection). Also: Photograph of Alexander Fulton
Spear (b)
HM 48758
[Spear, Lewis Eugene]. Photograph album showing Southern California, Monterey, and Alaska voyage via Lake Lebarge to Dawson
in the Yukon to St. Michael, Alaska
(1900-1902)
HM 48747
McKee, John W. To Knauth, Nachod & Kuhne (firm)
(1901, Apr. 15)
HM 48743
Gregg, Wellington. To Whom it may concern
(1901, Apr. 15)
HM 48742
Goodall, H---- W----. To Lewis Eugene Spear
(1901, Nov. 16)
HM 48759
[Spear, Lewis Eugene]. Vacation taken with Bank Somers Started on Steam Schooner "Chico": [diary of trip from San Francisco
to Coquille, Or., with album of 25 photographs]
(1903)
HM 48771
Photographs of Pacific Steel & Wire Company of San Francisco and Oakland
(1903-1908)
7 photographs. Also: related items and clippings
HM 48761
Webster, Everett B. and others. To Lewis Eugene Spear
(1904, May 17)
Also signed by: Shellaberger, E.F. and Huntington, Henry Edwards, 1850-1927
HM 48744
Huntington, Henry Edwards, 1850-1927. To Lewis Eugene Spear
(1904, June 2)
HM 48752
Pacific Steel & Wire Company. To Bank of California: promissory note
(1905, Apr. 3)
Signed by: Brown, Frank Lampson and Spear, Lewis Eugene
HM 48735
Bank of California. To Frank Lampson Brown and Lewis Eugene Spear
(1905, Apr. 4)
HM 48770
Photograph of San Francisco Earthquake
(1906)
25 photographs. Also: pass to cross the lines during the period after the San Francisco fire. San Francisco Earthquake and
Fire, Calif., 1906—Photographs
HM 48751
Pacific Material Life Insurance Company. To Clara (Whitney) Spear
(1907, July 3)
HM 48753
Requa, M.L. (Mark Lawrence), 1865-1937. To Lewis Eugene Spear
(1907, Dec. 10)
HM 48750
Nutting, L.H. To J.S. Boyd
(1907, Dec. 11)
HM 48748
Morgan, Percy Tredegar. To Lewis Eugene Spear
(1909, Sep. 13)
HM 48745
Huntington, Howard Edwards. To A.C. Balch
[1909?]
HM 48769
Photographs of Pacific Wire Rope Company, Los Angeles
(1909-1910)
7 photographs. Also: clippings and related items
HM 48765
Biographical Sketch of Albion Paris Whitney
[1911?]
Also: typewritten copy of excerpt from An Illustrated History of Sonoma County and other papers relating to Albion Paris
Whitney
HM 48766
Biographical Sketch of Susan Durgin (Eastman) Whitney
[1911?]
Also: copy of photographs of Susan Durgin (Eastman) Whitney from History of Sonoma County
HM 48767
The Day's Play: [verse re: Lewis Eugene Spear's family trip in Model T. Ford in 1913 to Mount Lassen and return]
[1913]
Affixed: note by Ruth Spear [c. 1980]
HM 48760
Spear, Lewis Eugene. Stockholders season book for the Panama-Pacific International Expoisition, containing photographs of
Lewis Eugene Spear
(1915, Feb. 1)
Also: Stockholders season book for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, containing photograph of Clara (Whitney)
Spear and also other memorabilia
HM 48749
Morgan, Percy Tredegar. To Percy Eugene Spear
(1915, Sep. 25)
HM 48737
Clerk, Enoch M. Certified copy of birth certificate of Lewis Eugene recorded Mar. 12, 1867
(1946, Jan. 21)
HM 48768
Spear Family Genealogy
[after 1970]
Folder 1
Grubstake. A Tale of Early Mining Days in Nevada by Mark L. Requa [book]
(1933)
Inscribed: Lewis E. Spear with best wishes Mark L. Requa, July 1933
Folder 2
Petaluma's Architectural Heritage by Dan Peterson [book]
(1978)
Folder 3
The Story of the Bible in Poetry and Song edited by Daphne Dale [book]
(1892)
Folder 4
Claremont Country Club, Oakland, California [bylaws (administrative records)]
(1903)
Folder 5
California Landmarks. Historical Records Bureau, Inc.
(1934)
Folder 6
Correspondence
(1884-1907)
6 items. San Francisco Produce Exchange. Included: Letter from Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding Victor D. Dubuce, 1899
Box 2
Spear family addenda
Physical Description: 14 Daguerreotypes (photographs)
Fragile
Folder 1
Miscellaneous ephemera
(1893-1938)
Folder 2
Certification concerning the family name of Whitney [genealogies (histories)]
[undated]
Folder 3
Family of Albion Paris Whitney and Susan Durgin Eastman-Whitney [genealogies (histories)]
[undated]
Folder 4
The Generations of George Speere 1642-1942 Three Centuries of American Life
[undated]
Folder 5
Photographs
[before 1970]
1 item. Framed picture of a man in a car
Folder 6
Photographs
[before 1970]
Folder 7
Photographs
[before 1970]
