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Collection related to Edward Fitzgerald Beale
mssBeale  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Conditions Governing Access
  • Conditions Governing Use
  • Preferred Citation
  • Immediate Source of Acquisition
  • Biographical / Historical
  • Scope and Contents
  • Processing Information
  • Arrangement
  • Related Materials

  • Contributing Institution: The Huntington Library
    Title: Collection related to Edward Fitzgerald Beale
    Identifier/Call Number: mssBeale
    Physical Description: 1.66 Linear Feet (3 boxes, plus one wooden box)
    Date (inclusive): 1855-1983
    Date (bulk): 1940-1983
    Abstract: Papers of Edward Fitzgerald Beale, American naval officer, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, and California rancher.
    Language of Material: Materials are in English.

    Conditions Governing Access

    Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

    Conditions Governing Use

    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]. Collection related to Edward Fitzgerald Beale, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

    Immediate Source of Acquisition

    Gift of Andrew H. Rolle, January 1984 and January 1987.

    Biographical / Historical

    Edward Fitzgerald Beale (1822-1893) was a naval officer in California during the Mexican War, Superintendent of Indian Affairs for California, organizer of the U.S. Camel Corps, and brigadier-general in the California state militia. Beale was also an explorer for wagon roads and railroads in the U.S. West, owner of Rancho El Tejón (Kern County, California) and Decatur House (Washington, D.C.), and served as U.S. Ambassador to Austria-Hungary.

    Scope and Contents

    The collection contains source material about Edward Fitzgerald Beale (1822-1893) which was gathered by Laurence R. Cook and later by Andrew F. Rolle. It contains original manuscripts which date from 1940-1983 (mainly student theses), correspondence (1951-1983), notes, copies of other materials, audiotapes, photographs, and microfilm. Subjects represented in the collection include: Beale's role in the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Army Camel Corps, Decatur House (Washington, D.C.), exploration of the Southwest and establishment of roads, Tejón Ranch, Fort Tejón, cattleman Henry Miller, and George R. Gliddon. There are also two negatives of a photograph of Navy Admiral David Dixon Porter. There is also a microfilm copy of correspondence by Stephen Mallory White, as well as letters from Beale to James K. Polk and John M. Clayton. There are also letters that came from the Robert Todd Lincoln collection of the papers of Abraham Lincoln and a letterbook kept by Robert F. Stockton.

    Processing Information

    Collection was processed by Huntington Staff in 1984. In 2020, Brooke M. Black created a finding aid.

    Arrangement

    Organized in the following series: Manuscripts, Correspondence, Notes by Laurence Cook, Photocopies, photographs, audiotapes, and printed material, Wooden box with notecards.

    Related Materials

    Twenty-five reels of microfilm (MFilm 00664) accompany the collection and relate to Edward Fitzgerald Beale, and these materials are a part of the microform collections administered by the Reader Services Department of the Huntington Library.

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Camels
    Explorers -- West (U.S.)
    Soldiers -- West (U.S.)
    Roads -- Southwest, New
    Transportation -- Southwest, New
    California -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
    California -- Militia
    Rancho El Tejón (Calif.)
    Southwest, New -- Description and travel
    Southwest, New -- History -- 1848-
    Tejon Fort (Calif.)
    Tejon Ranch (Kern County, Calif.)
    Letters (correspondence) -- California -- 20th century
    Photographs -- 20th century
    Research (document genres) -- 20th century
    Beale, Edward Fitzgerald, 1822-1893
    Cook, Laurence R.
    Clayton, John M. (John Middleton), 1796-1856 -- addressee
    Gliddon, George R. (George Robins), 1809-1857
    Heap, Gwinn Harris
    Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865
    Miller, Henry, 1827-1916
    Polk, James K. (James Knox), 1795-1849 -- addressee
    Porter, David D. (David Dixon), 1813-1891
    Rolle, Andrew F.
    Stockton, Robert Field, 1795-1866
    White, Stephen Mallory, 1853-1901
    Decatur House (Washington, D.C.)
    United States. Army. Camel Corps -- History
    United States. Navy -- Officers