Monterey Collection: Finding Aid mssMR
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supplied by Xiuzhi Zhou in 2004 and Diann Benti in 2017.
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Finding aid last updated on January 13, 2022, by Maggie Hughes.
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Monterey collection
Identifier/Call Number: mssMR
Physical Description:
10 Linear Feet
(8 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1785-1877
Date (bulk): 1828-1854
Abstract: This collection consists of letters and
documents related to the government of the municipality of Monterey, California, primarily
during the period 1828-1854.
Language of Material: Materials are in Spanish and
English.
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[Identification of item]. Monterey collection, The Huntington Library, San Marino,
California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from Mr. and Mrs. Wilford R. Holman, of Pacific Grove, Calif., February 15,
1959.
The town of Monterey, California, founded by the Spanish as a presidio in 1770, remained
under the rule of New Spain until the Mexican government took control in 1822. During the
Mexican period, the city was governed by an Ayuntamiento and an alcalde. Walter Colton
became the first American alcalde of Monterey on July 28, 1846, serving during this
formative period when the territory was under the rule of United Staets military governors.
California officially became a U.S. possession in 1848, and after obtaining statehood in
1850 the Ayuntamiento became the Common Council, and a mayor was elected in place of the
alcalde.
This collection consists of letters and documents related to the government of the
municipality of Monterey, California, primarily during the period 1828-1854, with two
earlier items for 1785 and 1798, and a later one for 1877. The collection also includes
minute books, election results, and records of disbursements of funds and of ordinances
passed. Most of the documents are in Spanish until 1846, and in English thereafter.
The papers offer a good example of the California municipal system of government operating
under an
ayuntamiento during the Mexican period, when Monterey
was the capital of the province, and under a common council during the early American
period.
Subject matter includes:
- Common welfare and the preservation of the public order
- Health measures, sanitation and hospitals
- Financial administration: salaries of public officials and employees; assessment of property and taxation, collection of revenues, etc. (over 350 pieces consist of orders to pay, bills, receipts, etc.).
- Education
- Elections
- Administration of justice
- Repair of streets, bridges, & public buildings
Persons represented in the collection include George Allen, W.E.P. Hartnell, José María de
Híjar, Philip A. Roach, José Mariano Romero, and David Spence.
Some notable items include:
- Hartnell, William E. P. To Ayuntamiento of Monterey: petition for Mexican citizenship. 1829, Jan. 22 (MR 188)
- Spence, David. To Ayuntamiento of Monterey: petition for Mexican citizenship. 1829, Jan.22 (MR 364)
- Monterey (Calif.). Ayuntamiento. Minute books of meetings for the years 1833, 1834, and 1836, which, according to Bancroft, were not believed to be extant. The 1836 minute book contains a copy of the inaugural address of Gov. Mariano Chico, of which there seems to be only one printed copy in the Mercantile Library in San Francisco. (MR 251-253)
- Hijar, José María de. Letter to David Spence, then Alcalde, requesting a certificate of good character as demonstrated during the four months he resided at Monterey, and asking to state if Spence ever considered that he entertained revolutionary ideas. 1835, Apr. 12 (MR 191)
- Romero, José Mariano. Letter from the teacher of the normal school at Monterey to the Ayuntamiento, protesting the unjust criticism of his teaching levelled at him by parents and civic authorities. 1835, Nov. 14 (MR 347)
- Allen, George. Accounts of receipts and disbursements of the municipal funds. 1835 - 1837 (MR 41-45)
- Tally list of votes, signed ballots cast, and list of delegates elected at Monterey to the Consejo General, scheduled to meet at Santa Barbara on June 15, 1846. 1846, May 26 - 30. (61 pieces) (MR 13)
- Several documents and bills concerning the building and repair of Colton Hall, California's Constitution Hall. 1847 - 1850 (MR 29, 102, 226, 336, 400)
- Roach, Philip A. To Common Council of Monterey. Letters from the Mayor containing his recommendations to the council regarding the need for defining the boundaries of the newly constituted city of Monterey, the sale of vacant lands, efforts to be made to have Monterey designated as the capital of California, need for building a wharf, etc. 1850, April 10 and 27. (MR 330)
- Monterey (Calif.). Residents. Petition addressed to the Common Council requesting that an appropiation be made to defray the expenses of suitably celebrating the 4th of July. Document containing 23 signatures, dated June 6, 1850. (MR 282)
Individual call numbers included in the collection: mssMR 1-407.
Existence and Location of Copies
Selected items from this collection have been digitized. Digital reproductions are
available in the
Huntington Digital Library.
The collection is arranged in chronological order.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Monterey (Calif.) -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
Monterey (Calif.) -- Politics and government -- 19th
century
Financial records -- California Monterey -- 19th century
Government records -- California Monterey -- 19th century
Letters (correspondence) -- California Monterey -- 19th
century
Minute books -- California Monterey -- 19th century
Allen, George,
1796-1847
Hartnell, William E. P. (William
Edward Petty), 1798-1854
Hijar, José María de.
Roach, Philip A. (Philip
Augustine), 1820-1889
Romero, José Mariano.
Spence, David,
1798-1875
Allen, George, 1796-1847
Hartnell, William E. P. (William Edward Petty),
1798-1854
Hijar, José María de.
Roach, Philip A. (Philip Augustine),
1820-1889
Romero, José Mariano.
Spence, David, 1798-1875
Box 1
1785-1833
Box 2
1834-1836
Box 3
1837-1844
Box 4
1845-1849 (and undated between 1849 and 1850)
Box 5
1850 January 2-October 11
Box 6
1850 October 17-1850 December (and undated between 1850 and 1852)
Box 7
1851 January 3-1852 April 5
Box 8
1852 June 16-1877 August 20