Sacramento Valley Sugar Company Records, 1905-1963, bulk 1905-1958

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Summary

Title:
Sacramento Valley Sugar Company Records
Dates:
1905-1963, bulk 1905-1958
Creators:
Sacramento Valley Sugar Company
Abstract:
Extent:
Items: 216 boxes, Linear Feet: 84
Language:
Preferred citation:

Sacramento Valley Sugar Company Records. California State University, Chico

Background

Scope and content:

The collection covers a period of time from 1905 to 1963, with only a very small amount of material representing the period after 1958. The collection is organized in sections under the various company names, which were adopted in a series of corporate reorganizations. These are: Pacific Sugar Construction Company (1905-1909), Alta California Sugar Company (1905-1909), Hamilton Land Company (1906-1935), Alta California Sugar Company-Sacramento Valley Sugar Company combined (1911-1928), Pacific Sugar Company- Sacramento Valley Sugar Company combined (1905-1930), and Sacramento River Farms, Ltd. (1930-1961). Large number of records including company by-laws, payroll ledgers, annual reports, minutes, photographs, water rights, leaseholds, maps. Subjects include labor records, railroad competition, eastern and oil money, land speculation, land distribution, agricultural mechanization, crop experiments, irrigation projects, creation and distribution of electric power, ethnic minorities, fossil fuels, alternative fuels, crop disease, water transportation, roads, bridges, levees, sugar tariffs, sugar factory mechanization, and town planning. The geographic area covered: Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Tehama Counties in California and Klamath County, Oregon, some parts of Sutter, Yolo Counties of California as well. The company purchased or leased part of Capay Rancho (Mexican Land Grand in California) and leased part of Stanford Vina Ranch (owned by California Governor Leland Stanford). Information about Southern Pacific Railroad line and spurs is of special interest. Also of interest is information on Pacific Gas & Electric and their early operations. Additionally, there are embossing stamps used by each of the aforementioned companies.

Biographical / historical:

Pacific Sugar Construction Company and Alta California Beet Sugar Company were established by James Hamilton in 1905 after purchasing part of the Capay Rancho and Wilson Ranch. Both properties were adjacent to each other across the Sacramento River. Hamilton was backed by Thomas Bard and his associates from Union Oil Company for the purpose of developing the sugar beet industry in the central Sacramento Valley. It was the first agribusiness to develop in Northern California. The plant later became part of the Holly Sugar Corporation, which discontinued processing sugar in 1996 and the plant was partially demolished in 2006.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Berylwood Investment Company, 1965

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid created by California State University, Chico staff.
Date Prepared:
1905-1963, bulk 1905-1958
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using Record Express for OAC5 on July 14, 2025, 2:55 p.m.

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research without restriction.

Terms of access:

The library can only claim physical ownership of the collection. Users are responsible for satisfying any claimants of literary property.

Preferred citation:

Sacramento Valley Sugar Company Records. California State University, Chico

Location of this collection:
California State University, Chico, Special Collections Meriam Library
400 West First Street
Chico, CA 95929-0295, US
Contact:
(530) 898-6603
SpecialCollections@csuchico.edu
Website