Collection related to Edward Fitzgerald Beale mssBeale
Brooke M. Black
The Huntington Library
May 2020
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
reference@huntington.org
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
Box 1, Folder 1
Index to "Bealeana" kept in History Department, Occidental College by Dennis Alward
1969 October
Scope and Contents
Also synopses of two reels of microfilm.
Box 1, Folder 2
Edward Fitzgerald Beale in California by Dennis Alward
1970
Scope and Contents
M.A. Thesis, Occidental College.
Box 1, Folder 3
The Hump-Route to California by Marilyn Blakey
1964 May 25
Scope and Contents
Student paper, Occidental College.
Box 1, Folder 4
A Sailor of Courage: Edward F. Beale by William D. Ford
1961 June 5
Scope and Contents
Student paper, Occidental College.
Box 1, Folder 5
The Government Camel Experiment by Kathalee Aurelia Powers
1940
Scope and Contents
M.A. Thesis, St. Mary's University, San Antonio, Texas.
Box 1, Folder 6
Edward F. Beale on Television by Ralph Story
1969 May 11
Scope and Contents
Television script.
Box 1, Folder 7
The United States Camel Project in Texas by Ruth Thomas
1940 August
Scope and Contents
M.A. Thesis, Southwest State Teachers College, San Marcos, Texas.
Box 2
Notes by Laurence Cook
1952-1970
Scope and Contents
Topics: Austria-Hungary; Edward F. Beale (list of Occidental College's holdings); Beale in books; Beale's Cut; Biblioteca
Nacional (Mexico) articles and translations; Camels; Chester, Pennsylvania; Mosier Lawsuit; Ships; Tejon Fort and Ranch; Miscellaneous;
Notebooks of research on Edward Fitzgerald Beale and bibliographic cards. Notes are augmented by Andrew F. Rolle.
Photocopies, photographs, audiotapes, and printed material
1956-1960
Box 3, Folder 1
Manuscripts regarding Edward Fitzgerald Beale
undated
Scope and Contents
18 items.
Box 3, Folder 2
Newspaper articles regarding Edward Fitzgerald Beale
undated
Scope and Contents
4 items.
Box 3, Folder 3
Pages from Beale family Bible showing genealogy
undated
Scope and Contents
4 items.
Box 3, Folder 4
Edward Fitzgerald Beale
undated
Scope and Contents
From drawings. 3 items.
Box 3, Folder 5
El Tejon Ranch and La Liebre Ranch, California
approximately 1957
Scope and Contents
21 items.
Box 3, Folder 6
California drawings published by Frost
undated
Scope and Contents
6 items.
Box 3, Folder 7
Galveston, Texas
undated
Scope and Contents
1 item.
Box 3, Folder 8
Inscription Rock (El Morro National Monument), New Mexico
1956
Scope and Contents
15 items.
Box 3, Folder 9
New Mexico to California
undated
Scope and Contents
From original drawings in National Archives. 10 items.
Box 3, Folder 10
David Dixon Porter
undated
Scope and Contents
Two negatives.
Box 3, Folder 11
Decatur House, Washington, D.C.
undated
Scope and Contents
15 items.
Box 3, Folder 12
Miscellaneous
undated
Scope and Contents
Includes the West and the U.S.S. Congress. 5 items.
Box 3, Folder 13
Drawings from book: Central Route to the Pacific by Gwinn Harris Heap
undated
Scope and Contents
13 items.
Box 3, Folder 14
Drawings of midshipmen
undated
Scope and Contents
From published book. 2 items.
Box 3, Folder 15
Plaque to Edward Fitzgerald Beale and Kit Carson
undated
Scope and Contents
In the Smithsonian Institution. 1 item.
Box 3, Folder 16
Laurence Cook reading notes regarding Tejon Ranch
undated
Scope and Contents
1 item.
Box 3, Folder 17
Interview of Laurence Cook with Hillman Arms regarding Tejon Ranch
undated
Scope and Contents
1 item.
Box 3, Folder 18
Printed material
undated
Scope and Contents
6 items.
Box 4
Wooden box with notecards
undated
Scope and Contents
4 x 6" cards. First chronological notes, 1830-1893, then bibliographic notes.
