Collection Guide
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Vail (Henry) Papers
mssVail
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Henry Vail papers
Creator:
Vail, Henry, 1842-1918
Identifier/Call Number: mssVail
Physical Description:
0.4 Linear Feet
(1 box)
Date (inclusive): 1840-1918
Date (bulk): 1882-1899
Abstract: A collection of material related to the
emerging mining industry in California and businessman Henry Vail.
Language of Material: Materials are in
English.
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at
the Huntington Library for more information.
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.
[Identification of item]. Henry Vail papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino,
California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from Argonaut Book Shop, August 1963.
Henry Vail was born on January 25, 1842, in New York. According to History of Butte County,
he moved to California with his family in 1855. After several years, he began prospecting in
the local mines where he observed the rapid changes in mining technology. He later served as
a director of the American Dredging Company and prospectors hired him as a mining expert. He
remained in California until his death on July 29, 1918.
A collection of 108 items from 1840-1918, which contains personal and business
correspondence as well as government records pertaining to the emerging mining industry in
California. The collection includes legal and governmental records such as agreements, bills
and receipts, bills of sale, deeds, a deposition, homestead claims, land indentures, an
insurance policy, mine maps, mine reports, notices of location, a land protest, and a Water
Appropriation Notice. Because Henry Vail created and stored these records, his outgoing
letters are not included in this collection. Additionally, some of the discussions are
fragmented or may have long periods of silence within the surviving material.
Processed by Jeffrey Grittith, July 2013. In 2020, Gayle Richardson created the electronic
finding aid derived from the earlier finding aid.
Arranged alphabetically by format.
Former call number: mssVail papers.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Gold mines and mining -- California -- Butte County --
History
Real property -- California -- Butte County
California -- History -- 19th century
Business records -- California -- 19th century
Deeds -- California -- 19th century
Letters (correspondence) -- California -- 19th century