Heller Ehrman historical collection, 1893-2007, bulk 1980-2000

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Summary

Creators:
Heller, Ehrman, White and McAuliffe.
Abstract:
The collection consists of the historical collection of the Heller Ehrman law firm, including papers, books, photographs, and audiovisual materials related to the firm’s history, dated from 1893 to 2007.The materials were collected by Heller Ehrman staff to document the firm’s corporate history, and some were included in history exhibits installed in the firm’s offices. The collection does not include legal case files or materials documenting the firm’s 2008 dissolution.
Extent:
20.0 Linear feet
Language:
Collection materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Heller Ehrman historical collection, MS 4135, California Historical Society.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection consists of the historical collection of the Heller Ehrman law firm, including papers, books, photographs, and audiovisual materials related to the firm’s history, dated from 1893 to 2007.The materials were collected by Heller Ehrman staff to document the firm’s corporate history, and some were included in history exhibits installed in the firm’s offices. The collection does not include legal case files or materials documenting the firm’s 2008 dissolution.

The collection includes papers, photographs, and digitized audiovisual materials related to the firm’s history and centennial commemoration in 1991; oral histories, biographies, and personal papers of partners and members of the firm; materials on corporate culture including the firm’s core values, fair practices, diversity, work and social activities; digitized television broadcasts covering cases represented by Heller Ehrman lawyers; financial records; tributes and awards honoring Heller Ehrman and its partners; photographs; and a portion of the Heller Ehrman law library.

Biographical / historical:

Heller Ehrman had its start in 1890 when Emanuel S. Heller opened his law office at 124 Sansome Street, San Francisco. Early in his career Heller provided legal counsel to Isaias W. Hellman’s Nevada Bank and the Union Trust Company. In 1891 Heller moved his office to 309 Montgomery, perhaps to be closer to these two early San Francisco financial institutions. In 1896 Ehrman partnered with Francis H. Powers to form Heller & Powers; in 1905 the firm took on another partner, Sidney M. Ehrman forming Heller, Powers & Ehrman. The growing firm moved to 14 Montgomery in late 1905, but by April of 1906 their offices, law library and records had been destroyed by the San Francisco earthquake and fire. The firm, along with Wells Fargo Nevada National Bank and the Union Trust Company, took temporary refuge in Heller’s home at 1801 California Street. Eventually the firm relocated to more permanent offices at the convergence of Post, Montgomery and Market streets. Powers died in 1920 and shortly thereafter Jerome White and Florence McAuliffe joined the partnership, establishing the firm as Heller, Ehrman, White & McAuliffe. The firm continued under this name until 2005 when it was shortened to Heller Ehrman.

The firm played a major role in the development of San Francisco and the Bay Area, providing legal counsel for Wells Fargo Nevada National Bank, the Spring Valley Water Company and negotiating the financing for the construction of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. The firm also had an active role in the construction of Hoover Dam and the Golden Gate Bridge. From the firm’s earliest beginnings it provided legal counseling to corporations, facilitating corporate public offerings, mergers and acquisitions, anti-trust litigation and commercial litigation. Heller Ehrman was also recognized for its pro bono work, providing counsel for conscientious objectors, prison inmates, animal welfare causes, environmental groups, refugees and Native Americans.

Throughout the late 1970s and into the early 2000s the firm expanded worldwide until its dissolution in 2008.

Acquisition information:
The Heller Ehrman historical collection was given to the California Historical Society by Heller Ehrman, LLP.
Processing information:

This collection was processed by Jaime Henderson in 2013.

Arrangement:

The Heller Ehrman historical collection is arranged in three series. The series arrangement of the collection is as follows: Series 1: Organizational history, 1893-2007; Series 2: Law library, 1852-1924, 1978; Series 3: Photographs, 1930s-2000s.

The arrangement of the collection was imposed by California Historical Society staff.

Accruals:

No additions are expected.

Physical / technical requirements:

The Heller Ehrman historical collection contains audiovisual materials that have been digitized. Some material is only available on DVD.

Physical location:
Collection is stored onsite.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

California Historical Society collections have been transferred to Stanford University Libraries. Collections will be unavailable as Stanford accessions them and updates records. Please contact chscollection@stanford.edu with any inquiries.

Terms of access:

All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Director of Library and Archives, North Baker Research Library, California Historical Society, 678 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94105. Consent is given on behalf of the California Historical Society as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright owner. Restrictions also apply to digital representations of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational purposes.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Heller Ehrman historical collection, MS 4135, California Historical Society.

Location of this collection:
Department of Special Collections, Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford, CA 94305-6004, US
Contact:
(650) 725-1022
chscollection@stanford.edu
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