Lewis Wolfskill Papers mssWO

Gayle Richardson
The Huntington Library
January 2021
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
reference@huntington.org


Contributing Institution: The Huntington Library
Title: Lewis Wolfskill papers
Creator: Wolfskill, Lewis, 1848-1884
Identifier/Call Number: mssWO
Physical Description: 15.2 Linear Feet (13 boxes and 1 oversize folder)
Date (inclusive): 1830-1946
Date (bulk): 1872-1877
Abstract: A collection of material related to the personal and professional life of Lewis Wolfskill, California rancher and businessman.
Language of Material: Materials are in English and Spanish.

Conditions Governing Access

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

Conditions Governing Use

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]. Lewis Wolfskill papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Frank A. Wolfskill, 1949. Gift of Marcella Wolfskill Palethorpe, October 1950. Purchased from Mrs. R. H. Dart, 1959.

Biographical / Historical

Lewis Wolfskill (1848-1884) was a Southern California rancher and businessman; he was the son of pioneer landowner, William Wolfskill and Magdalena Lugo. Lewis Wolfskill married Luisa Dalton, daughter of Henry Dalton, another ranch owner in the Los Angeles area. Wolfskill held extensive interests in ranching, mining, real estate, and other business ventures. In 1866 he inherited Rancho Santa Anita but sold it soon after. He conducted the affairs of Henry Dalton from 1873 to 1875 and managed the Centinela Orchard of Rancho Aguaje de Centinela from 1873 to 1879 for Robert Burnett.

Scope and Contents

The collection of 1,622 items consists of letters, manuscripts, documents, and maps (1830-1946, bulk 1872-1877), in English and Spanish, related to the business affairs of Lewis Wolfskill. There are land papers concerning various California ranchos, legal papers and bills related to property in both the county and city of Los Angeles, mining papers (San Bernardino County), papers related to Henry Dalton and the Mexican government, papers related to the Centinela Orchard, and papers related to the estate of Francisca Wolfskill Shephard. Correspondents in the collection include: Arizona Superior Mining Company, Robert Burnett, Burnoel Petroleum Company, Charles Cabot, William Cardwell, Francisco Contreras, Manuel Franco Coronel, José Carman Cos, Henry Dalton, Winnall Augstin Dalton, Victoria Pedrorena de Magnee, Gastón Oxarart, François Louis Alfred Pioche, José Rubio, Herbert Wolfskill, John Reid Wolfskill, and William Wolfskill. The California ranches which are part of the land papers in this collection include: Rancho Aguaje de Centinela, Rancho Azusa, Rancho la Ballona, Rancho la Cañada, Rancho Cañón de Santa Ana, Ranco Rincón de los Bueyes, Rancho San Francisquito, Rancho San Jacinto, Rancho San Jacinto Nuevo, Rancho San José, Rancho San Pedro, Rancho San Rafael, Rancho San Vicente, Rancho Santa Anita, Rancho Santa Mónica, Rancho Sausal Redondo, Rancho Suscol, Rancho Temecula, and Rancho Wolfskill.

Processing Information

Processed by Huntington Library Staff, September 1972. In 2021, Gayle Richardson created the finding aid derived from a legacy summary report.

Arrangement

Organized in the following manner: 1. Lewis Wolfskill papers (1830-1887); 2. Herbert Wolfskill papers (1906-1946); 3. Francisca (Wolfskill) Shepherd estate papers (1904-1946). All material is arranged chronologically.

General

Individual call numbers in the collection: mssWO 1-491, FAC 668.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Land titles -- California -- Los Angeles County
Mines and mineral resources -- California -- San Bernardino County
Ranch life -- California, Southern
Ranchers -- California -- Los Angeles County
Ranches -- California -- Los Angeles County
Real property -- California -- Los Angeles County
California, Southern -- History -- 19th century
Centinela Orchard (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Rancho Aguaje de Centinela (Calif.)
Rancho Azusa (Calif.)
Rancho La Ballona (Calif.)
Rancho La Cañada (Calif.)
Rancho Cañón de Santa Ana (Calif.)
Rancho Rincón de los Bueyes (Calif.)
Rancho San Francisquito (Calif.)
Rancho San Jacinto (Calif.)
Rancho San Jacinto Nuevo (Calif.)
Rancho San José (Calif.)
Rancho San Pedro (Calif.)
Rancho San Rafael (Calif.)
Rancho San Vicente (Calif.)
Rancho Santa Anita (Calif.)
Rancho Santa Mónica (Calif.)
Rancho Sausal Redondo (Calif.)
Rancho La Sierra (Calif.)
Rancho Suscol (Calif.)
Rancho Temecula (Calif.)
Rancho Wolfskill (Calif.)
Business records -- California -- 19th century
Business records -- California -- 20th century
Letters (correspondence) -- California -- 19th century
Letters (correspondence) -- California -- 20th century
Maps (documents) -- California -- 19th century
Burnett, Robert, active 1873-1877
Cabot, Ch. (Charles)
Cardwell, William, active 1879-1881
Contreras, Francisco R.
Coronel, Manuel F. (Manuel Franco)
Cos, José Carmen
Dalton, Henry, 1803-1884
Dalton, Winnall Augstin
Oxarart, Gastón
Pedrorena de Magee, Victoria
Pioche, F. L. A., -1872
Rubio, José, active 1873-1878
Shepherd, Francisca Wolfskill
Wolfskill, Herbert
Wolfskill, John Reid, 1804-1897
Wolfskill, William, 1798-1866
Arizona Superior Mining Company
Burnoel Petroleum Company

Box 1

1830-1866

Box 2

1868-1872

Box 3

1873

Box 4

1874

Box 5

1875

Box 6

1876-1877 May

Box 7

1877 June-1878 June

Box 8

1878 July -approximately 1878

Box 9

1879-1880

Box 10

1881-1887

Box 11

Herbert Wolfskill papers 1906-1946

Box 12

Francisca (Wolfskill) Shepherd estate papers

Box 13

Shepherd estate papers

Folder 1

Legal folder 1830-1832

Scope and Contents

Folder includes ledger (incomplete) and photocopy (FAC 668).