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Bell (Horace) Papers
mssBellh
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Horace Bell papers
Creator:
Bell, Horace, 1830-1918
Identifier/Call Number: mssBellh
Physical Description:
4.68 Linear Feet
(4 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1829-1890
Abstract: Papers of Los Angeles pioneer, lawyer, and newspaper owner Horace Bell.
Language of Material: Materials are in English.
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader
Services.
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]. Horace Bell papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Mrs. J. R. Phillips, November 1936, and gift of Everett Herman Yocam in 1987.
Horace Bell, pioneer Los Angeles resident, was born in Indiana in 1830 and came to California in 1850 to engage in mining
and settled in Los Angeles in 1852. He joined the Rangers, a local group formed to provide law and order, and later wrote
Reminiscences of a ranger: early times in southern California (1881), describing his experiences in early Los Angeles. Bell
established a weekly newspaper, The porcupine, and practiced law in Los Angeles. He died in June 1919 in Los Angeles.
The collection contains manuscripts of Horace Bell's published works, including On the old West Coast and twelve other stories.
There is also family correspondence, including letters to his sister Caroline Bell Rush and other materials collected by Bell
about early California. There is also an Abel Stearns deed and a manuscript about Junipero Serra.
Processed by Huntington Library Staff. In 2020, Brooke M. Black created a finding aid.
Organized in the following series: Correspondence, Manuscripts, and Correspondence and affidavit.
Individual call numbers included in the collection: mssHM 39687-39718, mssHM 39781-39800.
Everett Herman Yocam originally put eleven letters on deposit in 1973 (they were also under restriction). They were gifted
to the Library upon his death in 1987 and the restriction was lifted in 2021.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Frontier and pioneer life -- California -- Los Angeles
Western stories
Los Angeles (Calif.) -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
Vigilance committees -- California -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
Affidavits -- California -- 19th century
Deeds -- California -- 19th century
Letters (correspondence) -- California -- 19th century
Manuscripts for publication -- California -- 19th century
Serra, Junípero, Saint, 1713-1784
Stearns, Abel, 1798-1871