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Finding Aid to the Collection of San Francisco Graft Prosecution Records, 1906-1911
BANC MSS C-B 447  
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Collection Details
 
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  • Collection Summary
  • Information for Researchers
  • Administrative Information
  • Historical Information
  • Scope and Content of Collection

  • Collection Summary

    Collection Title: Collection of San Francisco graft prosecution records
    Date (inclusive): 1906-1911
    Collection Number: BANC MSS C-B 447
    Extent: Number of containers: 93 volumes in 8 cartons, and 11 scrapbooks Linear feet: 12.2
    Repository: The Bancroft Library
    University of California, Berkeley
    Berkeley, California, 94720-6000
    Phone: (510) 642-6481
    Fax: (510) 642-7589
    Email: bancref@library.berkeley.edu
    URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/
    Abstract: The Collection of San Francisco Graft Prosecution Records contains copies of legal records and scrapbooks of newspaper clippings, including transcripts of the trials of Abe Ruef, Eugene E. Schmitz, Louis Glass, Michael W. Coffey, Patrick Calhoun, et al., and contempt proceedings against William J. Burns. Also includes materials relating to Francis J. Heney and Hiram W. Johnson. The records were assembled for the president of United Railroads, Patrick Calhoun, and his chief counsel, Tirey L. Ford, chiefly by their attorney Albert A. Moore with his son Stanley Moore. Copies of the Eugene Schmitz trial papers (volumes 2-4) were formally in the possession of F.C. Drew.
    Languages Represented: Collection materials are in English
    Physical Location: Many of the Bancroft Library collections are stored offsite and advance notice may be required for use. For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.

    Information for Researchers

    Access

    Collection is open for research.

    Publication Rights

    All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from, or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Head of Public Services, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, 94270-6000. Consent is given on behalf of The Bancroft Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright owner. See: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/reference/permissions.html .
    Restrictions also apply to digital representations of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational purposes.

    Preferred Citation

    [Identification of item], Collection of San Francisco Graft Prosecution Records, BANC MSS C-B 447, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.

    Alternate Forms Available

    There are no alternate forms of this collection.

    Related Collections

    Photographs related to the San Francisco graft trial, (BANC PIC 1905.02613-02623)
    Francis J. Heney papers (BANC MSS C-B 389)

    Indexing Terms

    The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
    Glass, Louis
    Schmitz, Eugene E
    Ruef, Abraham, 1864-1936
    Moore, A. A. (Albert Alfonzo), b. 1842
    Moore, Stanley, b. 1880
    Drew, Frank C., 1861-1925
    Burns, William J., 1861-1932
    Calhoun, Patrick, b. 1856
    Coffey, Michael W
    Ford, Tirey L. (Tirey Lafayette), 1857-1928
    Heney, Francis J. (Francis Joseph), 1859-1937
    Johnson, Hiram, 1866-1945
    United Railroads of San Francisco
    Political corruption--California--San Francisco
    Public utilities--California--San Francisco
    San Francisco (Calif.)--Politics and government
    San Francisco (Calif.)--History
    Scrapbooks

    Administrative Information

    Acquisition Information

    The Collection of San Francisco Graft Prosecution Records were given to The Bancroft Library by Stanley W. Moore, Sr. and Stanley W. Moore, Jr. in 1946. Volumes 2-4 were purchased from John Howell in 1928.

    Accruals

    No additions are expected.

    System of Arrangement

    Arranged to the container level.

    Processing Information

    Processed by Bancroft Library staff.

    Historical Information

    The San Francisco graft prosecution came as the result of the activities (ca. 1902-1907) of Abraham Ruef a San Francisco attorney and notorious political boss. With the assistance of Mayor Eugene Schmitz, Ruef arranged for the bribery of the Board of Supervisors by public utility companies and other powerful business interests including United Railroad. The prosecutor in the case was Francis J. Heney, who was succeeded by Hiram W. Johnson, when Heney was shot in the courtroom. The case helped launch Johnson's political career. Detective William J. Burns assisted the prosecution. Only Ruef was convicted of bribery in 1908 and sentenced to a 14 year prison term.

    Scope and Content of Collection

    The Collection of San Francisco Graft Prosecution Records contains copies of legal records and scrapbooks of newspaper clippings, including transcripts of the trials of Abe Ruef, Eugene E. Schmitz, Louis Glass, Michael W. Coffey, Patrick Calhoun, et al., and contempt proceedings against William J. Burns. Also includes materials relating to Francis J. Heney and Hiram W. Johnson. The records were assembled for the president of United Railroads, Patrick Calhoun, and his chief counsel, Tirey L. Ford, chiefly by their attorney Albert A. Moore with his son Stanley Moore. Copies of the Eugene Schmitz trial papers (volumes 2-4) were formally in the possession of F.C. Drew.