Guide to the Isaiah W. Lees Collection, 1863-1903

Processed by The California State Library staff; machine-readable finding aid created by James Lake
California History Room
California State Library
Library and Courts Building II
900 N. Street, Room 200
P.O. Box 942837
Sacramento, California 94237-0001
Phone: (916) 654-0176
Fax: (916) 654-8777
Email: cslcal@library.ca.gov
URL: http://www.library.ca.gov/
© 1998
California State Library. All rights reserved.

Guide to the Isaiah W. Lees Collection, 1863-1903



California State Library

Sacramento, California

Contact Information:

  • California History Room
  • California State Library
  • Library and Courts Building II
  • 900 N. Street, Room 200
  • P.O. Box 942837
  • Sacramento, California 94237-0001
  • Phone: (916) 654-0176
  • Fax: (916) 654-8777
  • Email: cslcal@library.ca.gov
  • URL: http://www.library.ca.gov/
Processed by:
The California State Library staff
Encoded by:
James Lake
© 1998 California State Library. All rights reserved.

Descriptive Summary

Title: Isaiah W. Lees Collection,
Date (inclusive): 1863-1903
Box Number: 1548
Creator: Lees, Isaiah W., 1830-1918
Repository: California State Library
Sacramento, California
Language: English.

Administrative Information

Access

Unrestricted.

Conditions of Use

Please credit California State Library.

Publication Rights

Copyright has not been assigned to California State Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing. Permission for publication is given on behalf of California State Library 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], Isaiah W. Lees Collection, California State Library.

Access Points

Lees, Isaiah W., 1831-1902.
Law enforcement--California--San Francisco.
San Francisco Mining Company (Calif.)
California Cygnet Company.

Contents

San Francisco Mining Company and California Cygnet Company (1863-1902) list of shareholders and legal papers; Investigative files: Robert W. Souter (1973-1876), Charles G. Mugg (1874-1878, Joseph Wrigley (1858-1872), Piper-Baldwin (1863-1900), Fair-Craven Case (1890s); photographs; notes; correspondence; resolution book.

Biography

Isaiah W. Lees was born in Lancashire, England, December 25, 1830. When he was nine months old, his family settled in Patterson, New Jersey. He sailed to San Francisco aboard the Mary Francis, arriving on December 20, 1848. He joined the San Francisco police force on October 26, 1853. He served continuously forty-seven years, retiring in January 1900. Mr. Lees was promoted to Chief of Police and served as Chief of Detectives. As a criminal officer, he travelled to Scotland Yard several times and his picture hangs there to represent one of the great criminal officers of his day. It was Captain Lees who founded the Rogues Gallery, using his own money to make the original collection of pictures. He died on December 21, 1902, president of the Veteran Police Association. He and his wife had five children, two of whom survived him.

Correspondents

  • Bombee, William
  • Bunce, Addie
  • Burr, J.B., Hyde & Company
  • Gagan & Fairchild
  • Harrington, Nellie
  • Harvey, George H.
  • Hatch, Joe F.
  • Heggerty, Charles J.
  • Knight, George A.
  • Mugg, C. K.
  • Pinkerton, Willam A. (William Allan), 1846-1923.
  • Souter, Robert W.
  • Stanford, Leland, 1824-1893.
  • Woods, George L.
  • Wrigley, Joseph.

Box Box 1548

San Francisco Mining Company and California Cygnet Company (1863-1902) list of shareholders and legal papers; Investigative files: Robert W. Souter (1973-1876), Charles G. Mugg (1874-1878, Joseph Wrigley (1858-1872), Piper-Baldwin (1863-1900), Fair-Craven Case (1890s); photographs; notes; correspondence; resolution book