Alfred Edward Thomas Worley Papers,
1866-1891
MS 1835A
Finding aid prepared by California Historical Society staff.
California Historical Society
678 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA, 94105
415-357-1848
reference@calhist.org
Revised 2010
Title: Alfred Edward Thomas Worley papers
Dates: 1866-1891
Collection Number: MS 1835A
creator:
Worley, Alfred Edward Thomas, 1838-1892
Physical Description:
4 boxes (2.0 Linear feet)
Repository:
California Historical Society
678 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA, 94105
415-357-1848
reference@calhist.org
URL: http://www.californiahistoricalsociety.org/
Physical Location: Collection is stored onsite.
Language of Materials: Collection materials are in English.
Abstract: Legal correspondence, court petitions, summaries, and summons; together with bound shorthand court notes, political pamphlets,
and newspaper clippings relating to meetings of Sacramento Board of Freeholders, of which Worley was elected secretary in
1881, and his campaign for San Francisco Police Court judge, which position he held 1891-1892. Includes one scrapbook of clippings
about California water rates, a daily journal for 1889 with entries for half of January, and an envelope of business cards
and ephemera.
Information for Researchers
Access
Publication Rights
Copyright has not been assigned to the California Historical Society. All requests for permission to publish or quote from
manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Research Collections. Permission for publication 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
of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Alfred Edward Thomas Worley Papers, MS 1835A. California Historical Society.
Biography
Alfred E.T. Worley was born in Portsmouth, England in 1838. Throughout the 1860's, Worley was employed as a journalist for
several major newspapers in London. In April, 1865, Worley was elected clerk to the Lambeth Burial Board. He resigned his
duties as Board clerk in August, 1870, to pursue his journalistic career in California.
Worley's first job placement was as a journalist for the
Oakland News and the
Vallejo Chronicle. In 1871, Worley began working for the
San Francisco Bulletin reporting the business of the California and Nevada State Legislatures. Worley's career as a journalist peaked in 1878, when
he began writing editorials for the San Francisco Evening Bulletin. In 1880, Worley entered into a publishing partnership
with A.D. Milne in Stockton. By January 12, 1881, Worley was elected secretary of the Sacramento Board of Freeholders which
was created to frame a municipal charter for Sacramento.
In 1885, Worley went into private legal practice, as well as serving as Assistant City and County Attorney in San Francisco.
As a lawyer, Worley handled cases involving personal and public disputes. For instance, in 1887, Worley was a legal advisor
to the sub-committee to the Board of Supervisors with regard to the widening of Mission Street in San Francisco. This enabled
Worley to work with John Daly, J.J. O'Farrell and Adolph Sutro. In 1888, Worley was attorney for the Executor in the probate
case of Rankin vs. Goddard. This case was eventually heard before the California Superior Court. Several other cases that
Worley handled included pardons, real estate agreements, traffic violations and landlord/tenant disputes.
In 1889, Worley compiled and published
The Consolidation Act and Other Acts Relating to the Government of the City and County of San Francisco. This compilation includes all amendments to the Legislative Acts up to 1886.
On January 6, 1891, Worley, a republican, succeeded James Lawler as San Francisco Police Court Judge. In his first case, Worley
dismissed charges against John Hayes for driving his horse too fast. Worley's term lasted until Jan. 1892, when he died, leaving
behind a widow.
Scope and Contents
The Alfred Edward Thomas Worley papers consist of legal correspondence, court petitions, summaries, and summons; together
with bound shorthand court notes, political pamphlets, and newspaper clippings relating to meetings of Sacramento Board of
Freeholders, of which Worley was elected secretary in 1881, and his campaign for San Francisco Police Court judge, which position
he held 1891-1892. Includes one scrapbook of clippings about California water rates, a daily journal for 1889 with entries
for half of January, and an envelope of business cards and ephemera.
Boxes 1-2 are arranged chronologically and by subject heading. Folders 1-12 contain several court cases in which Worley participated
as a lawyer, court petitions, summaries, eviction notices and client correspondence. One well-documented case is the Goddard-Rankin
Probate case (1888). Papers include the court petition, notices proving the will, case briefs and legal correspondence. Folder
17 contains copies of newspaper articles. Of particular interest are two biographical articles dated August 18, 1870 and 1891.
Boxes 3-4 contain pamphlets, bound court notes, meeting minutes, poll lists of the Board of Freeholders and original newspaper
clippings. Folder 18 consists of pamphlets relating to California State Legislature 22nd Session, December, 1877 to March,
1878. Other political pamphlets in this folder include petitions on the subject of education, Governor William Irvin's message
on transportation and a copy of the California Constitution. In folder 20 are the minutes of the Mission Street residents
meeting on the widening of Mission Street. Included in folder 21 are several bound Superior Court petitions and defendants'
briefs.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
British Americans--California.
California--Politics and government--1850-1950.
Courts--California.
Lawyers.
Municipal government--California.
Police magistrates.
Practice of law--California.
Sacramento (Calif.)--Board of Freeholders.
Sacramento (Calif.)--Officials and employees.
Sacramento (Calif.)--Politics and government.
San Francisco (Calif.)--Officials and employees.
San Francisco (Calif.)--Politics and government.
San Francisco (Calif.).--Police Court.
Business cards.
Legal documents.
Scrapbooks.
Box 1, Folder 1-5
Court briefs and correspondence
1866-1888
Box 1, Folder 6-7
Goddard vs. Rankin Probate Case
1888
Box 1, Folder 8-10
Court briefs and correspondence
1889-1891
Box 2, Folder 11
Correspondence and personal notes
Box 2, Folder 12
Court briefs and correspondence
Box 2, Folder 17
Newspaper articles
1870,
1891
Box 3, Folder 18
Meeting minutes: Mission St. Widening
1887
Box 3, Folder 19
Poll list: Board of Freeholders
1882
Box 3, Folder 21
Pamphlets: 22nd Senate Session
1887
Box 4, Volume 1
Scrapbook, newspaper clippings: Board of Freeholders
1882
Box 4, Volume 5
Shorthand notes and newspaper clippings
