Finding aid to the Melville Schweitzer collection of California
miscellany, 1846-1878, Vault MS 55
Finding aid prepared by Tierney Haupt
California Historical Society
678 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA, 94105-4014
(415) 357-1848
reference@calhist.org
2011
Title: Melville Schweitzer collection of California miscellany
Date: 1846-1878
Collection Identifier: Vault MS
55
Creator:
Schweitzer, Melville, 1875-1932.
Extent:
1.0 box
(0.2 linear feet)
Repository:
California Historical Society
678 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA, 94105-4014
(415) 357-1848
reference@calhist.org
URL: http://www.californiahistoricalsociety.org/
Location of Materials: Collection is stored onsite.
Language of Materials: Most materials are in English, with a few documents in Spanish.
Abstract: Letters, records, and other documents collected by
Melville Schweitzer, including material related to John C. Frémont's California
Battalion of Mounted Riflemen and the Bear Flag Revolt; a handwritten history of
Howard Engine Company No. 3, a volunteer fire department in San Francisco, giving a
list of the men who served in the company; a letter book (1850) of James King of
William, which includes a name index; six letters (1855-1878) to or from General
Mariano Vallejo; and miscellaneous letters, receipts, deeds, and other documents
(1850-1877). Battalion materials include financial accounts kept by quartermaster
Jacob R. Snyder.
Access
Publication Rights
All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from or otherwise use collection materials
must be submitted in writing to the Director of the Library and Archives, North
Baker Research Library, California Historical Society, 678 Mission Street, San
Francisco, CA 94105. Consent is given on behalf of the California Historical Society
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. 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], Melville Schweitzer collection of California miscellany,
Vault MS 55, California Historical Society.
Acquisition Information
The Melville Schweitzer collection of California miscellany was given to the
California Historical Society by Mrs. Lolita Schweitzer, wife of Melville
Schweitzer, in 1932.
Biographical Information
Melville Schweitzer was born September 7, 1875. As a businessman, he was involved in
the importation of meats from the Far East, first with Schweitzer & Co. and
later with F. E. Booth Co. He married his wife, Lolita Heyneman Schweitzer in 1908.
They were both members of the California Historical Society. Schweitzer amassed this
collection of materials with the intent of donating them to the California
Historical Society. Schweitzer died March 11, 1932, in San Francisco, where he had
been taken after having a stroke in his Sonoma home.
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of letters, records, and other documents collected by
Melville Schweitzer. It includes receipts, vouchers, requests for materials, supply
lists, and letters related to John C. Frémont's California Battalion of Mounted
Riflemen and the Bear Flag Revolt. Battalion materials include financial accounts
kept by quartermaster Jacob R. Snyder. Also in the collection is a handwritten
history of Howard Engine Company No. 3, a volunteer fire department in San Francisco
organized by William Davis Merry Howard, Joseph L. Folsom, and Samuel Brannan, that
gives a list of the men who served in the company from 1850-1860. A volume of
letters from James King of William, which includes a name index, is also part of the
collection. James King (who added "of William" to distinguish himself from other men
of the same name) was the editor of the
Daily Evening
Bulletin
and the business partner of Jacob R. Snyder. King's letter book
contains business correspondence, including bills. Additionally, the collection
contains six letters (1855-1878) to or from General Mariano Vallejo, including
personal and business correspondence; and miscellaneous letters, receipts, deeds,
and other documents (1850-1877).
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Frémont, John Charles, 1813-1890.
Howard Engine Company, No. 3 (San
Francisco, Calif.)
King, James, 1822-1856.
Snyder, Jacob Rink, 1812-1878.
United States. Army. California
Battalion.
Vallejo, Mariano Guadalupe, 1808-1890.
Letter books.
Volunteer fire departments -- California -- San Francisco --
History -- 19th century.
Bibliography
Source consulted for biographical note:
Wheat, Carl I. "The Schweitzer Collection of Californiana."
California Historical Society Quarterly 11, no. 2 (1932):
184-187. Accessed 2011 July 21 from http://www.jstor.org/stable/25178142
Previous Title
Collection previously titled: Melville Schweitzer papers, 1846-1878
Box 1, Folder 1
California Battalion records
1846-1847
Physical Description:
1.0 folder
Box 1, Folder 2
General Mariano Vallejo letters
1855-1878
Physical Description:
1.0 folder
Letter from Pacificus Ord to Vallejo on the California
Constitutional Convention of 1849
1855 July 4
Letter from Dr. Levi Frisbie to Vallejo accusing Vallejo of
affronting his medical talents
1859 January 7
Letter from Vallejo to Francisca
1877 February 23
Language of Material: Item is in Spanish.
Letter from James G. Fair to Vallejo regarding the Chihuahua
lands
Condolence letter from Vallejo to Raquel Sears, widow of J. R.
Sears of the California Battalion
1877 May 2
Letter from Vallejo to Francisca
1878 February 5
Language of Material: Item is in Spanish.
Box 1, Folder 3
Letter from Bret Harte to Miss Mills regarding Hart's vacation to
Crystal Springs
undated
Physical Description:
1.0 folder
Box 1, Folder 4
History of Howard Engine Company No. 3
1860 November 15
Physical Description:
1.0 folder
Box 1, Folder 5
Miscellaneous letters, receipts, and deeds
1847-1877
Physical Description:
1.0 folder
Deed for property, Sonoma County, from H. A. Green to John H.
Nash
1847 January 1
Letter from John A. Sutter to Major T. Gensley & Co.
requesting blankets for local Indians
1850 January 10
Deed for property, Sacramento County, James King of William to
Jacob R. Snyder
1852 October 15
Cancelled check, James King of William to P. A. Roach
1853 May 21
Account of money due Dr. Peter Campbell for his services to the
City of Sonoma
1853 October 18
Letter from William Burling to H. S. Dexter requesting Dexter's
presence at a board meeting for the American-Russian Commercial Company,
San Francisco
1857 March 21
Receipt for $440 given by H. S. Dexter to the American-Russian
Commercial Company
1857 June 8
Deed for property, Fresno County, S. Gastin and Josiah Royal to
Ira McCray
1857 September 4
Letter from James F. Stuart to Friend Pierce concerning land
deals
1858 January 11
Independent Order of Odd Fellows membership certificate issued to
L. Wachenheim
1869 July 12
Letter from Archbishop J. S. Alemany to J. R. Snyder concerning
the burial of an unnamed man in the Snyder family vault
1877 April 21
Box 1, Folder 6
Letter book of James King of William
1850
Physical Description:
1.0 volume
