Guide to the James A. Clayton Family Papers, circa 1850-1905
Part of the Edith C. Smith
Photograph Collection
Guide prepared by Daniel Jarvis
Sourisseau Academy for State and Local History
San Jose State University
One Washington Square
San Jose, CA 95192-0147
Phone: (408) 808-2064
Email: research@sourisseauacademy.org
URL: http://www.sourisseauacademy.org/
©2010Sourisseau Academy for
State and Local History. All rights reserved.
Guide to the James A. Clayton Family Papers, 1850-1905
Sourisseau Academy for State and Local History
San Jose State
University
Contact Information:
- Sourisseau Academy for State and Local History
- San Jose State University
- One Washington Square
- San Jose, CA 95192-0147
- Email: research@sourisseauacademy.org
- URL: http://www.sourisseauacademy.org/
- Collection processed and guide prepared and encoded by:
- Daniel Jarvis
- Date Completed:
- March 2010
©2010 Sourisseau Academy for State and Local History. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: James A. Clayton Family Papers
Date (inclusive): 1850-1905
Collection Number: ECS03.06
Creator:
James A. Clayton Family
Extent:
Containers: 2 boxes
Volume: 1.5 cubic feet
Selected online items available
Repository:
Sourisseau Academy for State and
Local History,
San Jose State University
Abstract: The James A. Clayton Family Papers is a collection of
correspondence and photographs that document life in the Clayton family of Santa
Clara County during the latter half of the nineteenth century and the beginning of
the twentieth century. The family correspondence records aspects of life events and
personal dynamics among its members; this is especially the case with James A.
Clayton and his wife Anna.
Language of Material: All material is in English.
Administrative Information
Access
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright has not been assigned to the Sourisseau Academy. Neither the original
photographs nor the digital images held by the Sourisseau Academy may be
reproduced, published, or used on the Internet without the expressed, written
permission of the Executive Secretary. Permission for publication is given on
behalf of the Sourisseau Academy 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 researcher. The credit line, "Courtesy of the Edith C. Smith
Trust Collection, Sourisseau Academy for State and Local History" must accompany
any such use.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], James A. Clayton Family Papers, ECS03.08, Edith C.
Smith Photograph Collection, Sourisseau Academy for State and Local History, San
Jose State University, San Jose, California
Acquisition Information
The James A. Clayton Family Papers were donated to the Sourisseau Academy by the
Edith Corinne Smith Trust in 2009. The collection appears to have been part of the
Florence Gates Baldwin estate, granddaughter of James and Anna Clayton.
Biographical Note
James A. Clayton was born 20 Oct 1831 in Bugsworth, Derbyshire, England, and died
1896 in Los Angeles, CA. He married Anna Louinia Thomson in March 1869, daughter of
Robert Thomson and Amy Brown. She was born June 1843 in Richmond, Indiana, and died
19 Feb 1917 in San Jose, Santa Clara Co., CA.
In 1853, Clayton became permanently identified with Santa Clara where he operated a
photography studio. He subsequently moved the studio to San Jose; and in the late
1850s, he relocated his family to San Jose. While in Santa Clara, Clayton and John
B. Hewston started the city's first temperance movement. Clayton was also one
of the region's first leaders to initiate the establishment of a local YMCA. In
1861, Clayton was elected county clerk on the Republican ticket and was elected
again in 1863, while continuing to operate his photograph studio. In 1867, he
entered the real estate business in San Jose and remained active in that profession
until his death in 1896.
Prior to 1887, most property available for purchase in Santa Clara Valley passed
through his hands at least once. Clayton started the first abstract and title
business in Santa Clara County, one of the first in the state. He became a promoter
and partial owner of the first electric lighting plant in the county and was one of
the founders of the First National Bank of San Jose in 1874. He later served as its
president for many years. After Clayton had been in the realty business several
years, he started to promote the Santa Clara Valley with illustrated literature that
was distributed widely in the American Mid-West.
James and Anna Clayton had seven children: Mary E., married to Caroll W. Gates and
lived in Los Angeles; Edward W., for many years associated with his father and later
with the James A. Clayton Company real estate business; Willis C., also connected
with James A. Clayton Company real estate interests and one of the presidents of the
First National Bank of San Jose; Ethel, a graduate from the University of the
Pacific and associate with her father's company; Grace Elizabeth, who died in
infancy; John J.; and Florence.
Excerpt adapted from Eugene T. Sawyers'
History of Santa Clara County, California, (Los
Angeles: Historic Record Co, 1922), pp 803.
Indexing Terms
The following terms may be used to index this collection.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Clayton, James A.
(1831-1896)
Correspondence
James A. Clayton Family
Photograph Albums--California--Santa
Clara County (Calif.)--19th Century
Real estate business--California--Santa
Clara County (Calif.)--19th Century
Santa Clara County
(Calif.)
Tomas, Anna Louinia
(1843-1917)
Scope and Content
The James A. Clayton Family Papers is composed of personal letters and photographs
from the Clayton family in Santa Clara County during the latter half of the 19th
century. The papers are divided into two series: Series I dates from 1850 to 1896
and contains letters and postcards between James A. Clayton, his wife Anna, and
their children. Series II contains the Clayton family photograph album, which spans
the latter half of the nineteenth century and the dawn of the twentieth century. The
majority of these photographs consist of portraits of immediate and extended family
members, along with friends and associates.
Arrangement of the James A. Clayton Papers
The papers are arranged into two series:
- Series I: Correspondence, 1850-1896
- Series II: Photographs, 1850-1905
Series I
Correspondence
1850-1896
Physical Description: 14 folders
Series I Description:
Series I contains the correspondence between members of the Clayton family,
arranged chronologically by year, if given. James Clayton wrote much of this
correspondence to his wife while he was traveling. There are also numerous
letters from the Clayton children to their parents, with one group of
letters recounting a visit to the Yosemite Valley. Two additional documents
worth mentioning, since they are not correspondence, are filed with Series I
for the sake of simplicity. The first item is located in the folder one and
consists of a court document dated March 26, 1863. In this document Clayton
certifies the motion of a defendant to "strike out portions of
complaint" in the court case. The second item, located in the folder
two, is a basic receipt for the purchase of a piano from a merchant in San
Francisco.
SERIES II
Photographs
Circa 1850-1905
Physical Description: 107 photographs
Series II Description
Series II contains the Clayton family photograph album, and with the
exception of several photographs stored separately, is kept in its original
order. Three of the photographs display two of the family residences, their
early home on N. Market Street and later home on N. First Street. In one of
the photos James A. Clayton is pictured in his garden at their home on N.
First Street. Most of the photographs, however, display individual and group
portraits of immediate and extended family members.
ecs2006
Edward William Clayton
ecs2007
Willis Sherman Clayton
ecs2008
Mary Emma Clayton
ecs2011
James A. Clayton (2 copies)
ecs2012
Anna S. Clayton (2 copies)
ecs2013
Bradley & Jean Clayton
ecs2014
Edna Clayton, 1890-1908
ecs2018
Hannah J. Clayton
ecs2019
Unidentified Woman
ecs2021
Mrs. John Clayton
ecs2022
Uncle William Clayton
ecs2024
Three Haskell Brothers. Henry, Daniel, and third unidentified brother
ecs2025
Flora, Allie, & Walter Haskell
ecs2026
Aunt Alvana Haskell
ecs2028
Unidentified Woman
ecs2030
Grandma Thomson (Amy F.)
ecs2031
Cousin Edward Clayton. Son of William
ecs2032
Teresa Leigh (Rodgers)
ecs2033
Mary Clayton Embree, daughter of Eli & Hannah
ecs2035
Hannah Woodward Clayton
ecs2036
Charles S. Preble
ecs2037
Ella Thomson Preble
ecs2039
Unidentified girl
ecs2042
Unidentified Woman
ecs2043
Nettie Clayton Flewton
ecs2044
Unidentified Woman
ecs2050
Edward W., Mary, & Willis Sherman Clayton
ecs2051
Charles Edward Clayton
ecs2052
Unidentified woman
ecs2053
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Rea
ecs2055
William H. Quinn Sr.
ecs2057
William & Emma Bechtel
ecs2058
Joshua R. Bechtel
ecs2059
George Howe Bechtel
ecs2060
Dophia Palmer Stetson
ecs2064
Emma Thomson Bechtel & William Bechtel
ecs2065
Christianian Vietzman "Ann" Clayton
ecs2066
Samuel Joel Clayton
ecs2067
Johnnie Clayton (Samuel's son)
ecs2068
Charles W. Clayton
ecs2069
Unidentified Woman
ecs2070
Unidentified Woman
ecs2071
William Howdle, Esq.
ecs2072
Hannah Clayton Howdle
ecs2075
Hazel Preble & Amy Thomson
ecs2076
Amy French Brown Thomson
ecs2078
Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.
ecs2080
Ella Thomson Preble
ecs2081
Anna L.Thomson Clayton
ecs2082
Flora, Allie, & Walter Haskell
ecs2083
Edward, Willis, & Mary Clayton
ecs2085
Ethel, Dorma, & Hazel Preble
ecs2086
Florence Gates Baldwin
ecs2087
Willis Sherman Clayton & Ernest P. Lion
ecs2090
Unidentified Women
ecs2091
Anna Florence Clayton
ecs2092
John James Clayton
ecs2093
Mary Emma Clayton
ecs2094
Anna Florence Clayton
ecs2095
Anna Florence Clayton
ecs2097
Clara D. Houghton
ecs2102
Willis Clayton & George Carter
ecs2103
Mary, Eddie, & Willie Clayton
ecs2104
Mary & Eddie Clayton
ecs2107
Clayton Residence at 143 North Market Street
ecs2108
Clayton Residence at 471 North First Street
ecs2109
Clayton Residence at 471 North First Street