Description
This collection contains correspondence and legal documents related to the case of Henry Burton, son of María Ampara Ruíz
de
Burton (1832-1895) and Mexican-War general Henry S. Burton (1819-1869), to confirm legal
claim to land in Baja California, chiefly in the 1920s in both Washington, D.C., and Mexico City. Much of the collection reflects
issues between Burton, the Los Angeles law firm of Spalding and Myers, and attorney Harry B. Lind. The legal documents are
primarily about cases
brought against Burton and Spalding and Myers by Lind for breach of contract.
Background
Henry Burton was the son of General Henry S. Burton (1819-1869) who fought in the
Mexican-American War and settled in San Diego, California, at the conclusion of the
conflict. General Burton married a Mexican woman, María Ampara Ruíz (1832-1895) , who was the
heir to two Spanish land grants—the Enseñada de Todos Santos and San Antonio de las
Minas parcels in Baja California. The Spanish government granted the lands, totaling
over 1,000,000 acres, to María Ampara Ruíz’s grandfather, Don José Manuel Ruíz, in
1804. Ruíz served as the military governor of Baja California. María Ampara Ruíz de
Burton was a noted Mexican-American author and published two books about the Mexican
experience in the United States after the Mexican- American War.
Extent
292 items in 2 boxes
Restrictions
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.
Availability
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services
Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.