Guide to the M. Theo Kearney Papers, 1865-1906

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Note

Biological and Medical Sciences --Agriculture --Plant Culture History --History, California --History, Central Valley/Sierra Geographical (by Place) --California --Central Valley/Sierra

Guide to the M. Theo Kearney Papers, 1865-1906

Collection number: BANC MSS C-G 77

The Bancroft Library



University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, California

Contact Information:

Processed by:
The Bancroft Library staff
Encoded by:
Charlotte Gerstein
© 1997 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.. All rights reserved.

Collection Summary

Collection Title: M. Theo Kearney Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1865-1906
Collection Number: BANC MSS C-G 77
Origination: Kearney, M. Theo (Martin Theodore), d. 1906
Extent: Number of containers: 7 boxes
Repository: The Bancroft Library
Berkeley, California 94720-6000
Physical Location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Abstract: Correspondence and papers mainly pertaining to his property in Fresno Co., Calif., and to cooperative raisin production; pocket diary-account books, 1865-1903; social correspondence from his travels; newspaper clippings, pamphlets and pictures.
Languages Represented: English

Information for Researchers

Access

Collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

Copyright has not been assigned to The Bancroft Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Public Services. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Bancroft 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], M. Theo Kearney Papers, BANC MSS C-G 77, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.

Related Collection

  • Kearney Ranch records, [ca. 1888-1948], BANC MSS C-G 63

Scope and Content

This collection of Kearney's papers came to The Bancroft Library some time after his estate was received by the University. In 1949 the records of the Kearney Ranch, which had been administered by the University from 1906 to about 1948, were also placed here. A group of account books for the Fruit Vale Improvement Company, found with the personal papers, has now been placed with the Ranch papers which already contained two volumes of records, 1879-1892, for the Esterby "Rancho." The Kearney Ranch records have been cataloged separately (BANC MSS C-G 63) with a brief description and key to arrangement.
The correspondence has been separated from the miscellaneous papers and divided into two groups: the business and general correspondence, arranged chronologically, and the purely social, arranged alphabetically. The general correspondence reflects Kearney's interest and activities in fruit growing and marketing, including cooperative organizations. He was also engaged in promoting land colonies and in developing his Chateau Fresno Park. His purchase of a Mercedes car with a custom body by Hooker & Company, England (a vehicle admired by King Edward VII) is recorded in the correspondence.

Biography

M. Theodore Kearney died May 26, 1906, in his stateroom aboard the Cunard liner Caronia, alone, as he had lived in the Victorian mansion adjacent to his vast Kearney Vineyard property. The news did not reach California for nearly a week after his death, and then it was soon learned that he had left his estate to the University of California.
Nothing is known of Kearney's family and early life, nor when or where he was born. Often spoken of as a "man of mystery," Kearney has been described as a rather irascible recluse who built up his great land holdings by shrewd purchases and heartless mortgage foreclosures. From his pocket diary-account books we know that he was in Boston 1865-1867, and was in San Francisco on Jan. 1, 1870. Listed for several years in the San Francisco directories as a real estate broker, Kearney became associated with W. C. Chapman, speculator in Fresno County lands. In 1877 he was agent for the Bank of California in the sale of the Easterby "Rancho" there, and in 1880 purchased N. K. Masten's share therein. This is believed to be the foundation of his ranching and vineyard enterprises. He acquired the noted Fruit Vale estate also, and, later, a controlling interest in the Fresno Vineyard Company. He played an important part in the affairs of the California Raisin Growers' Association. His correspondence and papers reflect the turbulence of his relations with his agricultural and business associates.
Although Kearney has been described as a misanthrope -with a particular aversion to women -his papers do not bear this out. His pocket notebooks reveal that from his arrival in San Francisco he had entré to the highest social circles; his calling lists contain the most important names. Also, there is a considerable file of personal correspondence with friends and acquaintances from his travels, and particularly from his sojourns at various German "spas." This includes letters from a minor German princess, British nobility and members of American, British and Continental "Society."

Box I

General correspondence, 1887-Feb. 1905

Box II

General correspondence, Mar. 1905-May 1906

 

Social correspondence, ca. 1899-1905

Box III

Miscellaneous papers - including folders for: California Fruit Growing Company, California Raisin Growers' Association, California Raisin Growers' Company, Central California Raisin Packing Company, Fresno Vineyard Company, Fruit Vale Estate, Kearney Vineyard Company (formerly Kearney Vineyard Syndicate), Packing House Company and miscellaneous accounts, maps, and plans, planting lists and pictures.

Box IV

Diary-account books, 1865-1903 (30 v. ); personal "record" book of land and financial transactions; address books (4 v.); visiting cards and printed or engraved invitations from friends and acquaintances; S.F. automobile driving license, 1905; copy of epitaph.

Boxes V-VI

Newspaper clippings and pamphlets. Contain clippings re Raising Growers' Assoc., 1893-1906, 1905-1906.

Box VII

Clippings and pamphlets - various.


The General Correspondence includes letters from:
 

Balfour, Robert (of Balfour, Williamson & Company, London, and Balfour, Guthrie & Company, San Francisco)

 

1901-1906

 

Carter, Stanton Leslie

 

Aug. 1903-1906

 

Castle, Curtis Harvey, 1848-1928

 

Dec. 10, 1898

 

Marion De Vries, 1865-1939

 

Dec. 7, 1898

 

Drew, Alexander M.

 

Jan. 2, 1906

 

Fairweather, John, 1845-

 

Mar. 25, 1905

 

Forsyth, William, 1851-

 

1893 & Oct. 1905

 

Goodfellow, William Scott, 1850-1913

 

1905-1906

 

Hallnor, Andrew (as editor, Cooperative Journal)

 

Jan. & Feb. 1906

 

Harris, Milus King, 1853-

 

Mar. 1903 & Apr. 1906

 

Hilborn, Samuel Greeley, 1834-1899

 

Dec. 13, 1898

 

Huntington, Collis Potter, 1821-1900

 

May 31, 1894

 

Huntington, Henry Edwards, 1850-1927

 

Mar. 22, 1902

 

Kern County Land Company (a few signed by William S. Tevis)

 

1902-1905

 

Loud, Eugene Francis, 1847-1908

 

Dec. 8, 1898

 

Morgan, Percy T.

 

Nov. 25, 1905

 

Naftzger, Arzo Huffman, 1852-

 

Dec. 10, 1898

 

Pardee, George Cooper, 1857-1941

 

1905-1906

 

Perkins, George Clement, 1839-1923

 

1898

 

Rowley, Howard C. (as editor, California Fruit Farmer)

 

Mar. & Apr., 1904

 

Sharp, E. D. (as President, Healdsburg College)

 

Nov. 6, 1903

 

West, Frank A. (a few for George West & Son)

 

1902-1906

 

Wickson, Edward James, 1848-1923

 

1905

 

Wiggins, Frank A., 1849-1924

 

Dec. 7, 1898


There are also letters throughout the correspondence from:
 

American Raisin Packing Company

 

Bank of California

 

German Savings and Loan Society

 

Page, McCutchen & Knight (attorneys, San Francisco)


The Social Correspondence includes letters from:
 

Beach, Warren C.

 

Dartmouth, William Henage Legge, Earl of, 1851-1936

 

Hanau, Hermione, Princess Carl von

 

Kidd, Anna Estelle (Mrs. George Kidd)

 

Kimberly, Isabel Geraldine (Stracy) Wodehouse, Countess of, d. 1927

 

Oelrichs, Theresa (Fair)

 

O'Hagan, Bessie

 

Tevis, Mabel (Pacheco)

 

Woods, William