El Dorado County (Calif.) Archives, 1850-1933, bulk 1850-1890

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Summary

Creators:
El Dorado County (Calif.)
Abstract:
Records of El Dorado County, California, chiefly dating from 1850 to 1890, including county court documents, ledger books and other business records, mining papers, land records, school records, treasury records (including tax rolls and assessment rolls), and merchandising accounts (principally for mining camps). Many of the mining papers and records are from the El Dorado Water and Deep Gravel Mining Company.
Extent:
Approximately 1,600 pieces (consisting of 183 volumes; 14 document boxes; and 1 oversized box) 23 linear ft.
Language:
English.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection consists of El Dorado County records as seen in county court documents, ledger books and other business records, mining papers, land records, school records, treasury records (including tax rolls and assessment rolls), and merchandising accounts (principally for mining camps). Many of the mining papers and records are from the El Dorado Water and Deep Gravel Mining Company.

Some of the documents are fragile and damaged due to fold lines wear, water and mold. Please handle them with care.

Biographical / historical:

One of the original 27 counties of California, El Dorado County was created in 1850 at the time of statehood with Coloma as the county seat. It is in the Sierra Nevada east of Sacramento, in the heart of the gold mining country. Placerville, which had been known as Hangtown due to the numerous hangings in the town, was incorporated in 1854 and became the county seat in 1857.

The discovery of gold, on the morning of January 24, 1848 by James W. Marshall near Sutter's sawmill in Coloma, ushered in the era of Gold Rush, dramatically altering the American West. The history of El Dorado County is intricately linked to this momentous event. News of the discovery traveled far and wide, and people all over the country --- and indeed all over the world --- were lured to El Dorado County, to the “Gilded One”, with the dream of instant wealth.

It is estimated that about 4,000 people worked in mines in the summer of 1848; by the end of 1849 that number grew to 40,000. Mining camps sprouted, as did restaurants, shops, schools, churches, and other establishments necessary to sustain the mining economy. Thriving Gold Rush towns, in the span of a few short years, had transformed the county and the state.

Acquisition information:
With the exception of the series “County records: Grants,” the collection was purchased from James H. Sweeney in September 1945. The series “County records: Grants” was acquired from Talisman Press in August 1979. A box of material was found in 2018 and added as Box 14.
Arrangement:

The El Dorado County Archives consists of the following series and sub-series:

  • 1. Bound volumes (183 volumes)
  • 2. Civil court case files (9 boxes)
  • 3. County records (1 box)
    • a. Grants
    • b. Animal bounties affidavits
    • c. Court and other legal records
    • d. Estray notices
    • e. Bills of cost
    • f. Blank legal forms
  • 4. Manuscripts (3 volumes)
  • 5. Mining papers (4 folders)
    • a. South Dakota
    • b. Oregon and Idaho
    • c. California
    • d. Victoria (B.C.)
  • 6. Business records (7 folders)
    • a. Promissory notes
    • b. Checks and receipts
    • c. Insurance records
    • d. Ledgers and statements
    • e. Arthur Baring Gould papers
    • f. Brown family papers
    • g. Correspondence
  • 7. Ephemera (3 folders)
    • a. Various
    • b. Newspapers
    • c. Envelopes
  • 8. Fragments (1 folder)
  • 9. Certificates of sale (1 oversize box)
  • 10. Addenda (1 box)

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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