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