William Henry Pratt Papers: Finding Aid mssHM 73026-73031
Melissa Haley
The Huntington Library
September 2022
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Business Number: (626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: William Henry Pratt papers
Creator:
Pratt, William Henry, 1827-1911
Identifier/Call Number: mssHM 73026-73031
Physical Description:
1.7 Linear Feet
(4 folders)
Date (inclusive): 1882-1908
Abstract: Collection consists of material relating to William Henry Pratt's activities in California from 1882 to 1908, including certificates
of appointment for California and Humboldt County positions.
Language of Material: Materials are in English.
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more
information.
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.
[Identification of item]. William Henry Pratt papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Lyman and Albert Bridges, August 1955.
William Henry Pratt (1827-1911) was born in Saybrook, Connecticut. Following the discovery of gold in California, he sailed
from New York in 1848, arriving aboard the steamer California in San Francisco in February 1849. He returned briefly to New
York before going into trade in California, eventually establishing a hotel and store at Georgetown in 1854 after a series
of business failures. Pratt was actively involved in the Republican Party in El Dorado County and in California and was nominated
for State Senate in 1856 and 1860. In 1861, President Abraham Lincoln appointed him Receiver of Public Moneys at the Humboldt
Land Office in Eureka, California. He was also appointed Collector of Customs for Humboldt by President Chester A. Arthur
in 1883 and as Surveyor General of California by President Benjamin Harrison in 1890. Pratt died in Easton, California, at
age 84.
Collection consists of material relating to William Henry Pratt's activities in California. Items include a certificate for
Pratt's appointment as Surveyor General of California signed by Benjamin Harrison, 1890 March 4 (HM 73028); a certificate
for his appointment as Collector of Customs for Humboldt County signed by Chester A. Arthur, 1883 December 26 (HM 73026);
a typescript letter signed congratulating Pratt from then-Governor of Ohio William McKinley, 1893 November 13 (HM 73029);
a letter addressed to "Lyman" in which Pratt writes of the ships Corona and Pomona, and a postcard of a ship at Fort Ross
sent to Pratt by "Walter." Also included is a certificate appointing Jared Turner Deputy Postmaster of Georgetown, California,
signed by President James Buchanan, dated 1857 August 14 (HM 73027).
This finding aid was created in 2022 by Melissa Haley as part of the American Presidential Papers Project with enhanced description
of the presidential material present. The items had been assembled physically and arranged by Huntington Library former staff
in the mid-20th century.
Collection is arranged chronologically.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Surveyors -- California -- Archives
California -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
Georgetown (Calif.) -- History
Humboldt County (Calif.) -- History
Appointing -- United States -- 19th century
Certificates -- United States -- 19th century
Letters (correspondence) -- United States -- 19th century
Arthur, Chester Alan, 1901-1972
Buchanan, James, 1791-1868
Harrison, Benjamin, 1833-1901
McKinley, William, 1843-1901
Folder 1-4
William Henry Pratt papers 1882-1908