Access
Publication Rights
Preferred Citation
Existence and Location of Copies
Acquisition Information
Accruals
Processing Information
System of Arrangement
Corporate History
Scope and Contents
Technical Access
Existence and Location of Originals
Indexing Terms
Title: Heller Ehrman historical collection
Date (inclusive): 1893-2007
Date (bulk): 1980-2000
Collection Identifier: MS
4135
Creator:
Heller, Ehrman, White and McAuliffe.
Physical Description:
20.0 Linear feet
Repository:
California Historical Society
678 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
415-357-1848
URL:http://californiahistoricalsociety.org/
Location of Materials: Collection is stored
onsite.
Language of Materials: Collection materials are in English.
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.
Access
Collection is open for research, with the following exceptions: motion picture, VHS,
Umatic and Beta tapes are unavailable for viewing. Use digitized copies, available
on DVD.
Publication Rights
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.
Existence and Location of Copies
Digitized copies of VHS, Umatic and Beta tapes are available for research.
Acquisition Information
The Heller Ehrman historical collection was given to the California Historical
Society by Heller Ehrman, LLP.
Accruals
No additions are expected.
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Jaime Henderson in 2013.
System of 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.
Corporate History
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.
Scope and Contents
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.
Technical Access
The Heller Ehrman historical collection contains audiovisual materials that have been
digitized. Some material is only available on DVD.
Existence and Location of Originals
Original VHS, Umatic, and Beta tapes are not available for research. Use DVD
copies.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
library's online public access catalog:
Ehrman, Sidney M.
Heilbron, Louis H.
Heller, Ehrman, White & McAuliffe.
Heller, Emanuel S.
McAuliffe, Florence
Weinberger, Caspar W.
White, Jerome
Artifacts.
Corporate culture.
DVDs.
Electronic mail messages.
Financial records.
Heller, Ehrman, White and McAuliffe -- Archive.
Heller, Ehrman, White and McAuliffe -- History.
Lawyers -- Biography.
Lawyers -- Interviews.
Memorandums.
Newsletters.
Oral histories.
Photograph albums.
Photographic prints.
Presentations.
Speeches.