Lowden (William Spencer) Papers, 1856-1930

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Summary

Title:
William Spencer Lowden papers
Dates:
1856-1930
Creators:
Lowden, William Spencer, 1830-1912
Abstract:
A collection of business and personal papers related to the lives and work of William Spencer Lowden and his son Henry L. Lowden, California businessmen.
Extent:
19 Linear Feet (8 boxes and 94 volumes)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. William Spencer Lowden papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

A collection of approximately 12,500 items from 1856 to 1930, it consists of letters, documents, account books, diaries, and letter books related to the business and personal lives of William S. Lowden and Henry L. Lowden. The collection contains family correspondence and records; business records of the three companies with which the Lowdens were involved: the Weaverville and Minersville Wagon Road Company, the Weaverville and Shasta Wagon Road Company, and the Lewiston Turnpike Company. Also included are miscellaneous land and legal papers as well as various mining and surveyors' reports, unsorted bills, receipts, and material related to the wagon road operations.

Biographical / historical:

William Spencer Lowden (1830-1912) was born in Windsor, Massachusetts and came to Sacramento, California by wagon train in 1849. He moved to Weaverville, California, in 1850, where he engaged in mining. Following work as a trader, contractor, surveyor, and express rider, he settled in Grass Valley, California. In 1857 he founded the Weaverville and Shasta Wagon Road Company. Lowden's son, Henry L. Lowden (1857-1935) worked with his father in a surveying company for many years and served, at one time, as U.S. Deputy County Surveyor.

Acquisition information:
Purchased from Leo J. McGlynn, November 1951.
Processing information:

Processed by Huntington Library Staff, circa 1955. In 2020, Gayle Richardson created the finding aid derived from a legacy summary report.

Arrangement:

Arranged by subject and format.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Gayle Richardson
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2021-09-09 15:10:35 -0700 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

Terms of access:

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]. William Spencer Lowden papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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