Guide to the M. Theo Kearney Papers, 1865-1906
Processed by The Bancroft Library staff
The Bancroft Library.
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California, 94720-6000
Phone: (510) 642-6481
Fax: (510) 642-7589
Email: bancref@library.berkeley.edu
URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu
© 1997
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
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)
Castle, Curtis Harvey, 1848-1928
Marion De Vries, 1865-1939
Goodfellow, William Scott, 1850-1913
Hallnor, Andrew (as editor,
Cooperative Journal)
Harris, Milus King, 1853-
Hilborn, Samuel Greeley, 1834-1899
Huntington, Collis Potter, 1821-1900
Huntington, Henry Edwards, 1850-1927
Kern County Land Company (a few signed by William S. Tevis)
Loud, Eugene Francis, 1847-1908
Naftzger, Arzo Huffman, 1852-
Pardee, George Cooper, 1857-1941
Perkins, George Clement, 1839-1923
Rowley, Howard C. (as editor,
California Fruit Farmer)
Sharp, E. D. (as President, Healdsburg College)
West, Frank A. (a few for George West & Son)
Wickson, Edward James, 1848-1923
Wiggins, Frank A., 1849-1924
There are also letters throughout the correspondence from:
American Raisin Packing Company
German Savings and Loan Society
Page, McCutchen & Knight (attorneys, San Francisco)
The Social Correspondence includes letters from:
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