Arrangement
Biographical / Historical
Conditions Governing Access
Conditions Governing Use
Preferred Citation
Processing Information
Scope and Contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
Title: Henry French Papers
creator:
Henry, French, 1851-1916
source:
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
Identifier/Call Number: MSS-2019-01-22
Physical Description:
1 Box
(1.29 linear feet)
Date (inclusive): 1875-1907
Abstract: 114 letters to and from Henry French between 1875-1907, with a gap between 1887-1897. Bulk of letters relate to French's grocery
business, his involvement with the YMCA, the University of Pacific Alumni Association, personal/family correspondences, and
letters relating to his later profession as a lawyer in San Jose.
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Biographical / Historical
Henry French (1851-1916) was born in Camelford, Cornwall, England. He married Rebecca Tretheway (1852-1919), also an English
native from Cornwall, in Lockeford, CA in 1876. They had 5 children; Mary Arthur French (1878-191), Beatrice French Bolt
(married to Dr. Richard Bolt), Henry Nelson French, John Warren French (1886-1940), Annie Cordeila French, and William Edward
French (1896-1900). Henry French died on August 27, 1916 in Pacific Grove, Monterey County, CA - he is buried at Oak Hill
Memorial Park, San Jose.
Henry French was a graduate of the University of the Pacific and the Stanford law school. Henry ran a groceries and provisions
store, later a law practice, and resided for many years in the French Building (most likely owned by Henry French) on S. 1st
Street in San Jose. He served on the board of trustees at the San Jose State Normal School, and was the first secretary for
the YMCA's San Jose chapter. French was a member of the Prohibition Party, and ran for State Treasurer in 1890, as well as
unsuccessfully running for Governer of California on the Prohibition ticket in 1894.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright has not been assigned to the San Jose State University Library Special Collections & Archives. All requests for
permission to publish or quote manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of San Jose State University Special
Collections & Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Special Collections & Archives as the owner of
the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained
by the reader. Copyright restrictions also apply to digital representations of the original materials. Use of digital files
from or derived from these collections is restricted to research and educational purposes.
Preferred Citation
Henry French Papers, MSS-2019-01-22, San Jose State University Library, Special Collections & Archives
Processing Information
Processed by Jacob Rabinowitz, February 2019
Scope and Contents
The bulk of early correspondences (1875-1887) relate to Henry's grocery business on S. 1st Street in San Jose, and his work
as the Secretary for the San Jose YMCA. Many of the letters to Henry are orders for goods from his store, as well as some
outgoing letters from Henry requesting balance payments for accounts at his grocery store.
The bulk of his later correspondences (1898-1907) relate to letters with friends and family to and from Henry as well as letters
from the University of the Pacific Alumni Association. Many of the letters involve his law practice in San Jose with several
relating to cases Henry was working on in his law practice. Also includes one 1901 letter from R. E. Ragland, President of
the recently formed California State Bar Association inviting Henry French to become a member.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Grocery trade -- Records and correspondence
Law offices -- Records and correspondence
Young Men’s Christian Association (San Jose, Calif.) -- Records and correspondence
Henry, French, 1851-1916
SJSU Special Collections & Archives