Jump to Content

Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Harvey, Isaac Family Diaries
C058757  
View entire collection guide What's This?
Search this collection
Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Scope and Contents
  • Biographical / Historical
  • Conditions Governing Access
  • Conditions Governing Use
  • Preferred Citation
  • Immediate Source of Acquisition
  • Existence and Location of Copies
  • Existence and Location of Originals

  • Contributing Institution: Society of California Pioneers
    Title: Harvey Family Diaries
    Creator: Harvey, Isaac Julian
    Creator: Harvey, Absolam Benton
    Creator: Swinnerton, Eleanor Josephine Harvey
    Creator: Baker, Mabel Harvey
    Identifier/Call Number: C058757
    Physical Description: 1 folder 4 typed transcripts, 94 pages total
    Date (inclusive): 1850-1875
    Abstract: The Harvey Family Diaries are comprised of 4 documents created by the family of Isaac Julian Harvey. The first is a recollection by Isaac Harvey describing his overland journey from Indiana to Oregon in 1850. The second is the diary of A.B. Harvey of an overland trip from Los Angeles to Tucson in 1864. The third is recollections by Eleanor Josephine Harvey Swinnerton of her childhood at Spanish Ranch, Plumas Co, California. The last is a short memoir by Mabel Harvey Barker of girlhood at Spanish Ranch and in early Salinas
    Language of Material: English .

    Scope and Contents

    The Harvey Family Diaries are comprised of 4 transcripts created by the family of Isaac Julian Harvey.
    The first is a recollection by Isaac Harvey describing his overland journey from Indiana to Oregon in 1850.Harvey finances the journey with 12 hired mechanics who want to settle in Portland. They travel via the South Platte across South Pass and up the Snake and Columbia to Portland.
    The second is the diary of A.B. Harvey of an overland trip from Los Angeles to Tucson in 1864. The left San Francisco on Feb 10 travelling by boat to Los Angeles. From Feb 21 until May 13 they were on the trail on horseback across "some of the worst country in the world to travel over." The purpose to the trip was to discover the mining prospects in Pinos Altos, AZ, which turned out to be bleak. On July 24, they sold out all their equipment and returned to San Francisco via Guaymas, Mexico.
    The third is recollections by Eleanor Josephine Harvey Swinnerton of her childhood at Spanish Ranch, Plumas Co, California.
    The last is a short memoir by Mabel Harvey Barker of girlhood at Spanish Ranch and in early Salinas

    Biographical / Historical

    Isaac Julian Harvey was a successful merchant, entreprenuer and businessman from Saint Joseph, MO. He came west overland in 1850 to Portland, Oregon where he managed a merchantile business. He returned to Missouri and brought his family to Marysville, CA in 1853. He bought the Spanish Ranch in Plumas, CA. It served as a distribution center for the mining camps in the area, hotel, restaurant, post office and store. In 1868 the family moved to Salinas where he opened Harvey and Company a successful general store. He became an influential citizen and was the 1st Mayor of Salinal

    Conditions Governing Access

    Collection open for research

    Conditions Governing Use

    There are no restrictions on access

    Preferred Citation

    Harvey Family Diaries, The Society of California Pioneers

    Immediate Source of Acquisition

    Gift of Florence M. Baker, date unknown

    Existence and Location of Copies

    The Society of California Pioneers

    Existence and Location of Originals

    The Bancroft Library, University of California

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Overland journeys to the Pacific
    Gold mines and mining -- California -- Shasta County
    Mines and mineral resources -- Oregon
    Arizona History 19th century.
    Pioneers -- California -- History -- 19th century
    Salinas (Calif.)--History.
    Carson, Kit