New San Diego Hotel Registers, 1869 January 1-1877 August 31

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Summary

Title:
New San Diego Hotel Registers
Dates:
1869 January 1-1877 August 31
Creators:
New San Diego Hotel.
Abstract:
This collection contains two registers from the New San Diego Hotel dated January 1, 1869-October 15, 1875 and October 15, 1875-August, 31, 1877, each listing guest names and residences.
Extent:
1.5 Linear feet (1 box)
Language:
Preferred citation:

New San Diego Hotel Registers, MS 13, San Diego History Center Document Collection, San Diego, CA.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection contains two registers from the New San Diego Hotel dated January 1, 1869-October 15, 1875 and October 15, 1875-August, 31, 1877.

The first register (1869-1875), manufactured by Jas. B. Smith and Company, Philadelphia, contains pre-printed pages with columns for date, names, residence, room, and time of arrival. The time of arrival column is often occupied by a B, L, D, or S, or sometimes contains the full spelling of Bed, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, or Supper. This is the same for the second register in the collection. All entries in this register are in black ink except for some entries in blue ink on November 29 and December 22, 1869.

The second register (1875-1877), manufactured by Hicks and Company, contains pre-printed pages with the name of the hotel and S.S. Dunnells as proprietor. Each page contains columns individually listing date, name, residence, room, and arrival. Between each register page is a blotter page that contains the same local advertisements, as well as some from Los Angeles and San Francisco, including an advertisement for the San Francisco Chronicle. The register also contains an additional loose blotter page with more advertisements.

Both registers include local prominent guests such as John G. Capron, Couts family, Thomas Hodges, Abraham Klauber, and Frank Whaley, as well as traveling shows such as the Great Paris Exposition Circus Co., California Minstrels, San Francisco Minstrels, and the Circus and Animal Show. The jury in the case of "Cal. vs. Daniel Nourian" and a number of judges are also listed as guests. Many local guests stayed at the Hotel on multiple occassions and are listed on multiple dates. Most of the guests traveled from towns local to San Diego and throughout California, while others came from as far as Pudget Sound, New York, Mexico, France, and Norway.

Biographical / historical:

The New San Diego Hotel property was one of the first two residences in New Town (San Diego) built in 1850 by William Heath Davis and located at the corner of State and F streets – the other property was the Davis residence, known as the Davis House. Before beginning operations as the New San Diego Hotel, the property was run by Davis as a rental house. In 1867 it was purchased for $100 by Alonzo Horton, who then sold the property the following year to Captain Samuel Sumner Dunnells for $1000. Dunnells remodeled the property and began operating it as the New San Diego Hotel in 1868. Dunnells leased the Hotel to G.G. Bradt and S.S. Gordon one year later, but remained as the Hotel's proprietor for a number of years. The Hotel was touted as a “first-class house” and continued operations until 1885.

Processing information:

Collection processed by Sean Flores and Stephanie Mirkin on July 29, 2011.

Collection processed as part of grant project supported by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) with generous funding from The Andrew Mellon Foundation.

Arrangement:

The two registers and pages within each register are arranged chronologically.

Physical / technical requirements:

Both registers are discolored and the covers are warped. The cloth covers on both registers are torn and receding. Several register and blotter pages are torn. Some pages are also either detached from binding or removed from registers. Ink splatters and transfers are on many pages. (July 29, 2011)

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Sean Flores and Stephanie Mirkin
Sponsor:
Collection processed as part of grant project supported by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) with generous funding from The Andrew Mellon Foundation.
Date Prepared:
July 29, 2011
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2012-01-16T10:54-0800

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.

Preferred citation:

New San Diego Hotel Registers, MS 13, San Diego History Center Document Collection, San Diego, CA.

Location of this collection:
1649 El Prado, Suite 3
San Diego, CA 92101, US
Contact:
(619) 232-6203
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