Charles B. Polhemus came to California in 1849 and was an active and successful businessman and diplomat, with interests in real estate, the commission and banking business, ranching, and the railroad industry. This collection consists of retained copies of correspondence, diaries, and business records of Charles B. Polhemus and his son George.

Charles B. Polhemus was born in Burlington County, New Jersey on February 10, 1818, to Ann Van Zant of Baltimore and Montgomery Polhemus, a New Jersey merchant and landowner. His paternal grandfather was Major John Polhemus, who served in the Revolutionary Army of 1775 and whose father-in-law, John Hart, was an organizer of the Jersey Blues and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Charles attended school in Burlington County until the age of 12, when he began to learn the drug business, earning a pharmacy diploma within four years.

Number of containers: 5 boxes, 2 cartons Linear feet: 4.6

Copyright has not been assigned to The Bancroft Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of the Manuscripts Division. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Bancroft Library 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.

Collection is open for research.