Searing Family Papers: Finding Aid mssSearing
Gayle Richardson
The Huntington Library
October 2020
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Business Number: (626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Searing family papers
Creator:
Searing (Family)
Identifier/Call Number: mssSearing
Physical Description:
3.75 Linear Feet
(9 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1810-1941
Date (bulk): 1870-1890
Abstract: A collection of personal and
professional material for the Searing and Valentine families of Long Island, New
York.
Language of Material: Materials are in
English.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at
the Huntington Library for more information.
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]. Searing family papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino,
California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Ruth Knowlton, August 1972.
Biographical / Historical
The Searing family was a socially prominent family in Long Island, New York, during the
latter part of the nineteenth century. The family was related by marriage to William E.
Valentine (1820-1896?), a farmer with extensive property holdings in Brooklyn and Flushing,
New York.
Scope and Contents
A collection of 2,245 items from 1810 to 1941, it consists of correspondence, bills,
receipts, banking documents, court papers, tax and school records. The vast majority of the
papers pertain to William E. Valentine (1820-1896?) and his financial and real estate
affairs; this material consists chiefly of bills, accounts, deeds, tax records, and banking
papers. A few items concern other members of the Valentine and Searing families, including
material on the U.S. Sanitary Commission. The collection also includes one map of building
sites located in Long Island in 1872, and 26 family photographs.
Processing Information
Processed by Huntington Library Staff, circa 1976. In 2020, Gayle Richardson created the
finding aid derived from a legacy summary report.
Arrangement
Arranged by subject and format.
General
Former call number: mssSearing family.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Farmers -- New York (State)
Real property -- New York
(State)
Long Island (N.Y.) -- Maps
New York (State) -- History -- 19th century
Financial records -- United States -- 19th century
Family papers -- United States
Letters (correspondence) -- United States
Photographs -- United States
Tax records -- United States
Valentine, William E. , 1820-1896?
United States Sanitary
Commission
Box 1
Valentine papers: bills and receipts
1862-1898
Box 2
Rental property pieces
1878-1888
Box 3
Assorted documents
1810-approximately 1875
Box 4
Family pieces, etc.; Kissam documents
1863-1894
Box 5
Assorted pieces, Kalt and Provost receipts
1859-1895
Box 6
Accounts with G. Clay
1880-1892
Box 7
Bank documents
approximately 1856-1891
Box 8
Kissam and Rhodes accounts
1870-1903
Box 9
Searing family letters, U. S. Sanitary Commission, maps, photographs,
ephemera
1862-1909
