Frank Hinckley Papers: Finding Aid mssHinckley
Maggie Hughes
The Huntington Library
September 2019
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
reference@huntington.org
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Frank Hinckley papers
Creator:
Hinckley, Frank, 1838-1890
Identifier/Call Number: mssHinckley
Physical Description:
3.84 Linear Feet
(3 boxes, 1 volume)
Date (inclusive): 1863-1898
Abstract: Frank Hinckley worked as a civil
engineer and surveyor in Northern California in the mid-1800s. Materials in this collection
document his life and professional activities.
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]. Frank Hinckley papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino,
California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Mr. and Mrs. George S. Hinckley, Gift, May 1935.
Biographical / Historical
Frank Hinckley was born in Rhode Island and came to California via the Isthmus of Panama in
1863 and became a civil engineer for the government in San Francisco. He worked as a
surveyor for the Western Pacific Railroad in and around the Bay area until 1872, when he
became foreman of the Meek Ranch in Hayward, California (which was owned by his
father-in-law, William Meek). Hinckley and his family moved to a ranch near Redlands,
California, in 1883, where he lived until his death in 1890.
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of letters, diaries (29 volumes), two account books, and documents
related to the life and professional activities of Frank Hinckley. Subject matter includes:
life in San Francisco, 1863-1866; working for the Western Pacific Railroad Company as a
surveyor, 1863-1890; and ranch life in both Hayward and Redlands, California. There are also
some materials by additional Hinckley family members in the collection.
Processing Information
Processed by Huntington Library staff, circa mid-20th century. In 2019, Maggie Hughes
created a finding aid derived from a legacy summary report.
Related Materials
Hinckley, George Stevens and Trask, F. E. Report on Municipal Water System for the City of
Redlands, 1912 April 12. mssHM 40688.
Arrangement
Materials are arranged by material type: letters, diaries and account books, and one bound
volume.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Agriculture -- California
Civil engineers -- California -- Archives
Railroads -- Surveying -- California
Ranchers -- California -- Archives
Ranches -- California
Surveyors -- California -- Archives
California -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
Hayward (Calif.) -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
Redlands (Calif.) -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
San Francisco (Calif.) -- History -- 19th century --
Sources
San Francisco (Calif.) -- Social life and customs -- 19th
century
Diaries -- California -- 19th century
Letters (correspondence) -- California -- 19th century
Western Pacific Railroad
Company
Hinckley family
Box 1, Folder 1-4
Letters from Frank Hinckley to his family
1863-1866
Box 1, Folder 5
Letters from Elias B. Hinckley to Frank Hinckley
1872-1875
Box 1, Folder 6
Other family letters
1879, 1895, undated
Box 1, Folder 7
School reports for Seymer Langley
1914-1925
Box 2, Box 3
Diaries and account books
1863-1898
Scope and Contents
Includes diaries and account books of Frank Hinckley, 26 volumes; Elias B. Hinckley, 1
volume; Sarah Charlotte Hinckley, 1 volume; and possibly Nathaniel Barns Hinckley, 3
volumes.
Volume 1
Facsimile of "Water Record for Mill Creek Water Ditch in the State of
California, County of San Bernardino"
1873-1884
