Description
This collection documents the career of Frederick Augustus Hihn, an immigrant from Germany
and early settler of Santa Cruz, California who was involved with the early timber,
railroad, water infrastructure, road construction, and real estate industries in the Santa
Cruz area from 1851 to his death in 1913. It contains ledger books which include deeds,
leases, inventories, and contracts for work and supplies, and which document the business
transactions of Hihn, the F.A. Hihn Company, the Capitola-Hihn Company, the Santa Cruz Water
Company, the Valencia-Hihn Company, and related corporate enterprises. The collection also
includes five letter impression books which primarily contain business correspondence,
though not exclusively. The collection also includes a small number of Hihn's personal
records, including his marriage certificate, application for citizenship, and documents from
the execution of his will from 1913 to 1917.
Background
Frederick Augustus Hihn (originally Hühn) was an early settler to Santa Cruz County and a
prominent businessman in the development of the City of Santa Cruz, from his arrival to the
area in 1851 to his death in 1913. He owned a range of businesses, including real estate,
water, lumber, and railroad companies. He also served in local Santa Cruz and state
politics.
Restrictions
Copyright for the items in this collection is owned by the creators and their heirs.
Reproduction or distribution of any work protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair
use requires permission from the copyright owner. It is the responsibility of the user to
determine whether a use is fair use, and to obtain any necessary permissions. For more
information see UCSC Special Collections and Archives policy on Reproduction and Use.