Collection Guide
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Guide to the Lewis Riley Papers
MS 92
MS 92
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Table of contents
Title: Lewis Riley Papers
Identifier/Call Number: MS 92
Contributing Institution:
San Diego History Center Document Collection
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.25 Linear feet
(1 box)
Date (inclusive): 1899-1922
Abstract: The collection contains business papers of the lawyer Lewis Riley while practicing in Colorado and San Diego, California.
creator:
Riley, Lewis S.
Items in the collection are arranged by subject.
Collection processed by Lauren Rasmussen on March 22, 2012.
Collection processed as part of grant project supported by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) with generous
funding from The Andrew Mellon Foundation.
Lewis Riley Papers, MS 92, San Diego History Center Document Collection, San Diego, CA.
This collection is open for research.
The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.
The collection pertains to Riley’s business endeavors between 1899 and 1922, though the bulk of the collection covers 1918
to 1922. The business correspondence covers topics related to Riley’s cases, including general real estate matters, divorce
cases, client claims, and estate administration. Some miscellaneous business correspondence is also present, in which Riley
consults with his clients on more minor topics. Financial paperwork includes correspondence from First National Bank, accounting
notes, and records of client payment. Of particular interest is a set of more personal letters between Riley and Joyce’s employer,
W.J. Finkbohner of Republic Motor Sales Co. The letters discuss both Joyce’s acrimonious divorce and financial trouble, and
a matter of $150 that Joyce owed to Finkbohner.
Biographical / Historical Notes
Lewis S. Riley practiced law in Antonito, Colorado and San Diego, California in the late 1800s and early 1900s, respectively.
He married Louise J. (maiden name unknown) and had a son, Joyce. In the late 1800s, Riley was the County Attorney in Antonito,
Colorado, a small town in Conejos County. The first listing for Lewis Riley in the San Diego City Directory appears in 1905.
Riley’s occupation is listed as an attorney, working in firms including Holcomb, Shaw & Riley; Holcomb, Riley, & Hubbell;
Riley & Hubbell; and Riley & Heskett. His practice of law included estates, divorce, and property damage. In 1922, the Laurel
Building Company was formed by George Gans and his wife, Amalia, along with their attorney, Riley. The Company is noted for
constructing homes in North Park during the 1920s. It appears that Riley suffered from poor health in the early 1920s, as
mentioned in correspondence to his clients and his niece, Cora Elam, but it is not known when he died. The last listing of
Lewis S. Riley occurs in the 1923 San Diego City Directory.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Braiden, John C.
Braly, Robert L.
Carlisle, Amelia
Elam, Cora
Finkbohner, W. J.
Finley, J. E.
First National Bank of San Diego.
Griffith, C. O.
Lobato, Jesus M.
Lobato, Manuelita
Macomber, Carrie R.
Richardson, Mary E.
Riley & Heskett.
Riley, Joyce
Riley, Lewis S.
Riley, Louise J.
Antonito (Colo.)
Conejos County (Colo.)
Estate planning
Estates (Law)
Lawyers
Lemon Grove (Calif.)
Mortgages
Practice of law
Real property
San Diego (Calif.)
Stockton (Calif.)
Ventura (Calif.)