Inventory of the John S. Harbison Papers
Sara Gunasekara
Department of Special Collections
General Library
University of California, Davis
Davis, CA 95616-5292
Phone: (530) 752-1621
Fax: (530) 754-5758
Email: speccoll@ucdavis.edu
© 2008
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Creator:
Harbison, J. S. (John S.)
Title: John S. Harbison Papers
Date (inclusive): 1857-1920
Extent:
1.3 linear feet
Abstract: John S. Harbison (1826-1912) was one of the first beekeepers to import bees into
California and was an inventor of innovative beehives and new methods of rearing queen bees. He authored
An Improved System of Propagating the Honey Bee (1860) and
The Beekeeper's
Directory
(1861). His papers contain daybooks documenting Harbison's beekeeping activities;
correspondence to and from his brothers, his patent representatives, and business partners; and deeds, business
receipts and patent grants.
Physical location: Researchers should contact Special Collections to request collections, as many
are stored offsite.
Repository:
University of California, Davis. General Library. Dept. of Special Collections.
Davis, California 95616-5292
Collection number: D-080
Language of Material: Collection materials in English.
Biography
John Stewart Harbison was born to William and Margaret (Curry) Harbison in Beaver County, Pennsylvania on
September 28, 1826. Harbison followed in his father's footsteps and became interested in beekeeping and the
nursery trade.
In 1854, he settled in Calaveras County, California where he began searching for gold. His quest for gold did
not last long and in early 1855 he relocated to Sutterville, near Sacramento, where he started the first nursery
of fruit and shade trees in the Sacramento Valley.
Harbison returned to Pennsylvania in 1857 with the intention of shipping bees back to California. His first
shipment of bees arrived in San Francisco on November 30, 1857 aboard the Sonora. Since this endeavor was
successful, he obtained a second supply of bees from Pennsylvania the following year.
During 1857-1858, Harbison created a bee hive with a section honey box. The hive, which was patented by
Harbison, is described and illustrated in his book, The Beekeeper's Directory (1861).
Harbison formed a four year partnership with R.G. Clark in 1869 for the purpose of introducing and keeping bees
in San Diego County. Harbison agreed to furnish one hundred and ten colonies of bees, bee supplies, and the
necessary financing to transport and keep the bees in San Diego County, while Clark had complete charge of the
apiaries
. The partners equally divided the surplus honey and any increase in the colonies.
By 1873, Clark & Harbison had sold three hundred colonies of bees to the residents of San Diego County.
When their four year contract expired in November 1873, they split the bees and
apiary
sites evenly and operated
their
apiaries
separately.
Harbison continued his nursery and
apiary
business near Sacramento until February 1874 when he moved to San
Diego.
He passed away on October 12, 1912.
Source:
Watkins, Lee H. "John S. Harbison: Pioneer San Diego Beekeeper." The Journal of San Diego History. 15.4 (1969):
17-26.
Scope and Content
The John S. Harbison Papers contain daybooks documenting Harbison's beekeeping activities; correspondence to
and from his brothers, his patent representatives, and business partners; and deeds, business receipts and
patent grants. Also included are manuscripts of his book
The Beekeepers' Directory.
Arrangement of the Collection
The collection is arranged in six series: 1. Writings by Harbison, 2. Correspondence, 3. Legal and Financial
Materials, 4. Works by Others, 5. Ephemera, 6. Photographic Materials.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public
access catalog.
Harbison, J. S. (John S.)--Archives
Beekeepers--California
Bee culture--California
Bees--California
Access
Collection is open for research.
Processing Information
Sara Gunasekara processed this collection and created and encoded this finding aid.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], John S. Harbison Papers, D-080, Department of Special Collections, General Library,
University of California, Davis.
Publication Rights
Copyright is protected by the copyright law, chapter 17, of the U.S. Code. All requests for permission to
publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of the Department of Special Collections, General Library, University of
California, Davis 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.
Series 1.
Writings by Harbison
1857-1911
Physical Description:
19 folders
Scope and Content Note
Contains daybooks documenting Harbison's beekeeping activities as well as manuscripts of his book,
The Beekeeper's Directory.
Arranged alphabetically by title.
Box 2:1
The Beekeeper's Directory, Advertisement and List of plates
circa 1860
Box 2:2
The Beekeeper's Directory, Explanation of plates and Preface
circa 1860
Box 2:3
The Beekeeper's Directory, p. 1-89
circa 1860
Box 2:4
The Beekeeper's Directory, p. 90-158
circa 1860
Box 2:5
The Beekeeper's Directory, p. 159-254
circa 1860
Box 2:6
The Beekeeper's Directory, p. 255-320
circa 1860
Box 2:7
The Beekeeper's Directory, p. 321-358
circa 1860
Box 3:1
The Beekeeper's Directory, p. 359-414
circa 1860
Box 3:2
The Beekeeper's Directory, p. 415-447
circa 1860
Box 3:3
The Beekeeper's Directory, p. 486-499
circa 1860
Box 3:4
The Beekeeper's Directory, p. 505-508; Index
circa 1860
Box 1:1
Daybook
1857 June 12-1858 February 3
Physical Description:
1 volume
Box 1:2
Daybook
1866 January 4-1866 December 3
Physical Description:
1 volume
Box 1:3
Daybook
1876 April 20-1876 August 11
Physical Description:
1 volume
Box 1:4
Daybook
1876 September 4-1876 October 31
Physical Description:
1 volume
Box 1:5
Instructions for care of bees while enroute to Japan
undated
Box 1:6
Explanation of parts
undated
Box 1:7
Notes of bee book titles?
undated
Box 1:8
Outline Suggestion for an Aparian Experiment Station
1911 November 8
Series 2.
Correspondence
1858-1920
Physical Description:
52 folders
Scope and Content Note
This series contains correspondence to and from Harbison's brothers, his patent representatives, and
business partners.
Arranged in three subseries: Outgoing, Incoming, and Third Party.
Subseries 2.1
Outgoing
1865-1912
Physical Description:
12 folders
Scope and Content Note
Arranged alphabetically by correspondent.
Box 1:9
Benton, Frank
1912 September 16
Box 1:10
Clark, R.C.
1865 March 25
Box 1:11
Daly, John C.
1875 June 30
Box 1:12
Harbison, J.H.
1876 September 9
Box 1:13
Harbison, J.H.
1876 October 30
Box 1:14
Harbison, J.H.
1876 November 1
Box 1:15
Harbison, J.H.
1876 November 4
Box 1:17
Harbison, Mary H.
1876 September 26
Box 1:18
Harbison, Mary H.
1876 October 7
Box 1:19
Harbison, Mary H.
1876 October 21
Box 1:20
Munn & Co.
1875 September 29
Subseries 2.2
Incoming
1858-1885
Physical Description:
34 folders
Scope and Content Note
Arranged alphabetically by correspondent.
Box 1:21
Boston Journal of Commerce
1877 February 15
Box 1:24
Central Pacific Railroad Company
1880 July 12
Box 1:25
Central Pacific Railroad Company
1880 August 6
Box 1:26
Clark, R.G.
1873 September 26
Box 1:27
Curtis, Willie J.
1875 June 11
Box 1:28
Daly, John C.
1875 June 9
Box 1:30
Dewey & Co.
1872 August 23
Box 1:31
Dewey & Co.
1872 August 28
Box 1:32
Dewey & Co.
1872 September 19
Box 1:33
Garduer, Robert
1875 June 16
Box 1:34
Gaskill Bros.
1881 July 28
Box 1:35
Gerber & Lorenz
1875 June 3
Box 1:36
Harbison, Andrew
1875 December
Box 1:37
Harbison, W.C.
1876 August 10
Box 1:38
Harbison, W.C.
1876 September 14
Box 1:39
Hellman, Samuel
1875 June 17
Box 1:40
Lohman, Coghill, & Rountree
1875 December 15
Box 1:41
Nagura, Asam
1876 December 20
Box 1:42
Perrine, C.O.
1875 June 25
Box 1:43
Pleasants, J.E.
1884 December 20
Box 1:44
Pleasants, J.E.
1885 January 8
Box 1:45
Pleasants, J.E.
1885 January 13
Box 1:46
Pleasants, J.E.
1885 April 15
Box 1:47
Putnam, Seth H. and Dinwoody, Henry
1872 May 30
Box 1:49
Roberts, George H.
1875 June 26
Box 1:50
Scientific American
1875 June 15
Box 1:51
Scientific American
1875 September 6
Box 1:52
Scientific American
undated
Box 1:53
Sweetser & Alsip
1875 June 9
Box 1:54
Umpleby, John H.
1875 June 18
Box 1:55
United States Patent Office
1858 February 16
Box 1:56
United States Patent Office
1876 November 1
Box 1:57
United States Patent Office
1876 November 8
Subseries 2.3
Third Party
1875-1920
Physical Description:
6 folders
Scope and Content Note
Letters that are to or between individuals other than Harbison. Arranged alphabetically by author
Box 1:58
National Gold Bank to Gentlemen
1876 September 9
Box 1:59
Phillips, E.F. to Mary Harbison
1920 March 4
Box 1:60
Scientific American to Andrew Harbison
1875 December 20
Box 1:61
United States Patent Office to Andrew Harbison
1875 November 18
Box 1:62
United States Patent Office to Andrew Harbison
1875 December 2
Box 1:63
United States Patent Office to Andrew Harbison
1875 December 17
Series 3.
Legal and Financial Materials
1857-1892
Physical Description:
10 folders
Scope and Content Note
Contains deeds, patent grants, and receipts. Arranged alphabetically.
Box 1:64
Articles of agreement between Guy S. Hamilton, John S. Harbison, and S.M. Lincoln
1859 October 21
Box 1:65
Assignment of patent, A. Harbison to J. Harbison
1875 October 22
Box 1:66
Deed from United States General Land Office to Peter Nelson
1892 February 23
Box 1:67
Deed of J.S. Harbison to Odd Fellows Bank as mortgage
1870 September 17
Box 1:68
Deed of real estate from S.M. Lincoln to John S. Harbison
1859 October 21
Box 1:69
Deed of real estate from V.N. Leonard to John S. Harbison
1858 January 29
Box 1:70
Deed of trust from J.S. Harbison to C.H. Swift and William P. Coleman
1868 August 28
Box 1:71
Deed or farm right of Kidder hive from S.H. Putnam to J.S. Harbison
1879 May 26
Box 3:5
Grant of letters patent to Harbison for improvement in grated entrances to bee hives
1876 January 11
Box 1:72
Receipts
1857-1880
Physical Description:
9 receipts
Scope and Content Note
Contains receipts, mostly for freight shipped via the railroad.
Series 4.
Works by Others
circa 1860
Physical Description:
3 folders
Scope and Content Note
Contains writings by individuals other than Harbison. Arranged alphabetically by author.
Box 3:6
Cleveland, Daniel. Bee pasturage plants of San Diego County, California
undated
Box 3:7
Sherman, E.A. Wax, Transportation of bees, Untitled manuscript.
undated
Box 3:8
Wheeler, O.C. Introductory Essay to Harbison's Beekeeper's Directory
circa 1860
Series 5.
Ephemera
1859-1877
Physical Description:
10 folders
Box 1:73
Advertisement about centennial diploma reproductions by Theo Leonhardt & Sons
1877 October 20
Box D Folio 6
Article about Harbison in
Boston Journal of Commerce
1876 December 16
Box D Folio 6
Article about Harbison in
San Diego News, extra edition
undated
Box 1:74
Certificate to Harbison from the California State Agricultural Society
1859 December 19
Box 1:75
Clipping: The Uses of Honey
undated
Box 1:76
Description of Charles Foulk improvement in bee hives
1874 June 19?
Box 1:77
Description of John Harbison improvement in grated entrance to bee hives
1876 January 11
Box 1:78
Flyer from Thurber & Co. announcing partnership with Harbison
1877?
Box 1:79
Flyer from Thurber & Co. announcing produce prices
1877?
Box 1:80
Fragment from United States Government circular regarding patents
undated
Box 1:81
Harbison & Dowling labels for honey comb cases, (in pieces)
undated
Series 6.
Photographic Materials
circa 1905-1919
Physical Description:
10 folders
Scope and Content Note
Contains prints and lantern slides of Harbison and his
apiary
.
Box 1:82
Harbison and one of his hives
circa 1905
Physical Description:
1 lantern slide
Box 1:83
Harbison
apiary
, San Diego County
1919
Physical Description:
9 prints
Box 1:84
Harbison examining one of his colonies
circa 1905
Physical Description:
1 lantern slide
Box 1:85
Harbison, John [poor quality copy photograph]
undated
Physical Description:
1 print
Box 1:86
Harbison, John
undated
Physical Description:
1 print
Box 1:87
Harbison section of comb honey
undated
Physical Description:
1 print
Box 1:88
Harbison's Sweetwater
apiary
circa 1905
Physical Description:
1 lantern slide
Box 1:89
Harbison's two pound honey sections
circa 1905
Physical Description:
1 lantern slide
Box 1:90
Hive at Harbison's
apiary
, San Diego County
1919
Physical Description:
1 print
Box 1:91
Hives at Harbison's
apiary
, San Diego County
1919
Physical Description:
1 print