Guide to the Cowell Ranch records MS.080
UCSC OAC Unit
University of California, Santa Cruz
2006
1156 High Street
Santa Cruz 95064
speccoll@library.ucsc.edu
Contributing Institution:
University of California, Santa Cruz
Title: Cowell Ranch records
source:
S.H. Cowell Foundation
source:
Lazarotti, Claude T.
Identifier/Call Number: MS.080
Physical Description:
41.8 Linear Feet
40 boxes, 3 framed items
Date (inclusive): 1890-1955
Abstract: This collection contains various record
books, ledgers, cash books, tax records and artifacts from the Cowell properties and
businesses, Henry Cowell Lime & Cement Company and Cowell Portland Cement
Company.
Language of Material:
English .
Access
Collection open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright for the items in this collection is owned by the creators and their heirs.
Reproduction or distribution of any work protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair
use requires permission from the copyright owner. It is the responsibility of the user to
determine whether a use is fair use, and to obtain any necessary permissions. For more
information see UCSC Special Collections and Archives policy on Reproduction and Use.
Preferred Citation
Cowell Ranch records. MS 80. Special Collections and Archives, University Library,
University of California, Santa Cruz.
Acquisition Information
Gift of S.H. Cowell Foundation, Claude Lazarotti, and Barbara Murray and varioius
students.
Biographical History
A comprehensive history of the Cowell family can be found on the Santa Cruz Public
Libraries web site under
Henry Cowell and His Family (1819-1955)
Scope and Content of Collection
This collection contains various record books, ledgers, cash books, tax records, artifacts,
and maps from the Cowell properties and businesses, Henry Cowell Lime & Cement Company,
and Cowell Portland Cement Company.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Cowell Ranch (Calif.) -- History
Santa Cruz County (Calif.) -- History
Cowell, Henry, 1819-1903
S.H. Cowell Foundation
Lazarotti, Claude T.
Henry Cowell Lime & Cement Company
Henry Cowell Lime & Cement Company Series 1
1880-1952
Physical Description: 15
boxes
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series contains various account books, petty ledgers, tax books, cash books,
property tax books, voucher registers, trial balance books, etc. Also included are an
annotated plat book of the Cowell property holdings, and a ranch diary.
Box 10
January 1925 - December 1929
Box 11
January 1925 - December 1942
Box 11
Purissma, San Mateo
November 1902 - November 1910
Box 15
Annotated Plat Book
ca. 1880-1920
Box 13
#32
September 1942 - August 1946
Box 22
Accounts
September 1946 - July 1947
Box 19,
22
General ledger / Accounts Receivable
Box 20
[Ranch Diary]
1902-1910
Scope and Contents note
Includes expenses, receipts, animal births/deaths, grain threshed, rents, supplies,
etc.
Box 21
Stock Ledger
1898-1913
Scope and Contents note
Stock certificates issued or cancelled
Box 15
Book 1
January 1925 - December 1933
Box 14
Book 6
October 1939 - February 1952
Box 25
Journal 1869 - [Davis and Cowell Lime Works]
1869-1/17/1887
Box 26
Isaac E. Davis Property Deeds
1869-1879
Box 20
Cowell Portland Cement Company Series 2
1907-1913
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series contains one volume of the stock certificates of the Cowell family.
S. H. Cowell Foundation Series 3
1946-1953
Physical Description: 2
boxes
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series contains one Ledger book and one Cash book for the S.H. Cowell
Foundation.
Box 17
Cash Book
June 1946 - March 1952
Box 16
Ledger
July 1950 - March 1953
Box 35
Insurance records - Cowell properties Box 35
1955-1966
Physical Description: 1 Linear
FeetBox 35
Realia Series 4
ca. 1890-1955
Physical Description: 5 Linear
Feet10 boxes
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series contains realia from Henry Cowell, the Cowell Ranch offices as well as
artifacts found on the property.
Box 23
Cowell and Lime Cement Company metal stencil ms0080_obj_0001
undated
Box 27
Arrow heads and rock samples
ca. 1890-1955
Box 28
Misc. artifacts - Lead bottle cap, glass tube with rubber tip, spoon, small
bottle with cork, shell buttons, cork, metal stencils D& C and H.C., pottery
shards
ca. 1890-1955
Box 29
Misc. metal artifacts - railroad spikes, washer, nail, square head nails,
gear fragment, horseshoe, splitting wedge
ca. 1890-1955
Box 30
Misc. business artifacts - 3 signs; "Principles of Business Conduct"; "Let's
keep Jack Anderson" card; 2 certificates 1913, 1925; leather brief case; Henry
Cowell's leather portfolio; leather book cover
ca. 1890-1955
Box 31
Misc. business artifacts - Mt. Diablo Portland Cement Co. / Cowell Portland
Cement Co.; Pencil Pointer instructions; Pencil Pointer Jupiter N. Favor Ruhl Co.
N.Y.; brass "Clip path sundial"; pen & ink stand (2 horses in stall); glass card
holder (H. Cowell Lime & Cement Co.)
ca. 1890-1955
Box 31, Folder 1
Klu Klux Klan question sheet found on Cowell property in the
1920s
undated
Acquisition Information
Gift of Phyllis Patten
Box 36
Advertising artifacts - 1 Apron - Mt. Diablo Cement, Cowell Santa Cruz Lime,
Henry Cowell Lime and Cement Company, No. 2 Market Street, San Francisco, CA; 1 Apron
- Cowell Portland Cement Co. - Cowell, Cal Awarded Gold Medal P.P.I.E. Mt. Diablo
Cement; 1 Bag - #10 Cowell Portland Cement Co. Mt. Diablo Cement; 1 Hat - Cowell Santa
Cruz Lime; 1 Banner - "Mt. Diablo Cement for Sale Here"
Box 36
1900-1962
Physical Description: 1 Linear
FeetBox 36
Photographs Series 5
ca. 1870-1940
Physical Description: 1 Linear
Feet3 photographs
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series contains three framed black and white photographs.
Processing Information
Boxes 32-34 are framed items.
frame [Box 32]
Famous ox team owned by Henry Cowell Lime & Cement Company
ca. 1870-1912
Physical Description:
Dimensions note: 15.5" x 25"
frame [Box 33]
H. C. Cowell Land & Cattle Co., Davis, Yolo Co., CA
ca. 1900-1940
Physical Description:
Dimensions note: 9" x 33.5"
frame [Box 34]
Ernest W. Cowell
ca. 1880-1940
Physical Description:
Dimensions note: 21.5" x 17.5"
Scope and Contents note
Gift of Barbara Murray
Accession 2022.035 Addition to Cowell Ranch records
circa
1898-1935
Physical Description: 3.8 Linear
Feet1 document box, 2 flats, 1 roll
box
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Maps and plans are rolled.
Processing Information
This accrual was retrospectively accessioned in 2022. Prior to this, the material was
stored offsite and cataloged as "uncat-1" Santa Cruziana. It was recalled in 2022 and
added to MS80 Cowell Ranch records by Kate Dundon.
Box 37
Deeds, correspondence, business records related to property
circa
1898-1935
Box 38-40
Building plans, maps
circa
1898-1935
