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Pellerano Family Papers
MSS.2015.10.22  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Access
  • Access Restrictions
  • Publication Rights
  • Preferred Citation
  • Processing Information
  • Biographical History
  • Organizational History
  • Related Material
  • Arrangement
  • Scope and Content of Collection

  • Language of Material: English
    Contributing Institution: Archives & Special Collections, Santa Clara University Library
    Title: Pellerano Family Papers
    creator: Pellerano Family
    Identifier/Call Number: MSS.2015.10.22
    Identifier/Call Number: 92
    Physical Description: 3.86 linear feet (5 boxes)
    Date (inclusive): 1879-1945
    Date (bulk): 1879-1894
    Abstract: The Pellerano Family Papers, 1879-1945 (bulk 1879-1894) document the business and professional lives of the Pellerano family. The records consist of business ledgers that belonged to Clorinda, Pedrina, and Nicholas Pellerano as well as school essays written by Nicholas Pellerano during his time at Santa Clara College, from 1888-1891. Also included are photographs, correspondence, and other ephemera associated with the Pellerano, Boitano, and Wempe families. This collection is arranged into two series: Series I. Business Ledgers and Essays, 1879-1894; and Series II. Photographs, Letters and Miscellanea, 1879-1945 (bulk 1879-1894).
    Physical Location: This collection is located in Santa Clara University Library's Archives & Special Collections.
    Language of Material: NO LANGUAGE NOTE

    Access

    Collection is open for research.

    Access Restrictions

    None

    Publication Rights

    Materials in Archives & Special Collections may be subject to copyright. All requests for permission to publish from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the University Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Archives & Special Collections as the owner of the physical materials, and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained. Copyright restrictions also apply to digital reproductions of the original materials.

    Preferred Citation

    Pellerano Family Papers, MSS.2015.10.22, Santa Clara University Library, Archives & Special Collections.

    Processing Information

    Collection processed by Michelle Runyon. Finding aid EAD encoded by Shannon Hartman. Reviewed by Erin Louthen. Folder-level descriptive information added by Daniela Baez in 2018.

    Biographical History

    The Pellerano Family was originally from Italy and immigrated to the United States sometime in the last half of the nineteenth century. Nicholas Pellerano was a licensed pharmacist-turned-banker who attended Santa Clara College from 1888-1891 and Heald's Business College of San Francisco in 1891. Nicholas was at one point the vice-president of the Bank of America in San Jose and when he died, he was on the advisory board of the San Jose office of Bank of America. His sister Pedrina appears to have run Pellerano's Pharmacy alongside him, as her name was listed along with his in directories for the business. Nicholas Pellerano married Marie Wempe during a trip to Europe. His sister Clorinda Pellerano married Angelo Boitano and his other sister, Mary Pellerano, married Gerhardt Wempe in 1903. This collection includes material from the Boitano and Wempe families.
    Bibliography
    "National Institute of Pharmacy." The Western Druggist XIX. No. 1 (1897): P. 143. Google Books (Accessed Sept. 30 2015)
    "Prominent Banker Is Called." San Jose News, June 10, 1944, Evening ed. (Accessed Sept. 30 2015)
    "Wealthy Business Man Wins San Jose Belle." San Francisco Call, June 18, 1903. (Accessed Sept. 30 2015)

    Organizational History

    Santa Clara University was founded in 1851 by the Society of Jesus as Santa Clara College and is California's oldest operating institution of higher learning. It was established on the grounds of Mission Santa Clara de Asìs, the eighth of the original 21 California missions. The college originally operated as a preparatory school and did not offer courses of collegiate rank until 1853. The institution became known as the University of Santa Clara in 1912, when the schools of engineering and law were added. For 110 years, Santa Clara University was an all-male school. In 1961, women were accepted as undergraduates and Santa Clara University became the first coeducational Catholic university in California. The number of students and faculty tripled over the next decade and the university began the largest building program in school history with eight residence halls, a student union, and an athletic stadium. In the early 1970s, the Board of Trustees voted to limit the size of the undergraduate population, an action that was intended to preserve the character and ensure the quality of the university for generations to come. In 1985, the university adopted Santa Clara University as its official name.
    Bibliography
    Santa Clara University. "About SCU – History." www.scu.edu/about/history.cfm (Accessed Nov. 23, 2010)
    McKevitt, Gerald, S.J. The University of Santa Clara: A History, 1851-1977. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 1979.

    Related Material

    The Golden Butterfly Album, 1883-1891. Link to online record on Santa Clara University Library website: http://sculib.scu.edu/record=b1789623

    Arrangement

    This collection is arranged into two series: Series I. Business Ledgers and Essays, 1879-1894; and Series II. Photographs, Letters and Miscellanea, 1879-1945 (bulk 1879-1894).

    Scope and Content of Collection

    The Pellerano Family Papers, 1879-1945 (bulk 1879-1894), document the lives of the Pellerano, Boitano, and Wempe families in the San Francisco Bay Area. The records consist of the personal papers of Nicholas, Clorinda, and Pedrina Pellerano along with memorabilia associated with several other family members. Nicholas Pellerano was an early vice-president of Bank of America and previously worked as a licensed pharmacist. He was also a student of the Santa Clara College Commercial Department from 1888-1891. His sister Pedrina assisted him in running his own pharmacy, Pellerano Pharmacy.

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    California -- History -- 19th century -- Archival resources
    Santa Clara University (Calif.)
    University of Santa Clara (Calif.)
    Santa Clara College (Calif.)
    Santa Clara County (Calif.)