Guide to the Peter H. Burnett Papers, 1849-1885
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University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California, 94720-6000
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© 1996
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Note
History --History, California --General Social Sciences --Political Science --State Government
Guide to the Peter H. Burnett Papers, 1849-1885
Collection number: BANC MSS C-B 345
The Bancroft Library
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California
Contact Information:
- Processed by:
- The Bancroft Library staff
- Date Completed:
- April 3, 1962; revised March 2000
- Encoded by:
- Padma Rubiales
© 1996 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Collection Summary
Collection Title: Peter H. Burnett papers,
Date (inclusive): 1849-1885
Collection Number: BANC MSS C-B 345
Creator:
Burnett, Peter H. (Peter Hardeman), 1807-1895
Extent:
Number of containers: 1 box and 1 oversize folder
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.
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
[Identifcation of item], Peter H. Burnett papers, BANC MSS C-B 345, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
These papers, mainly reflecting Burnett's governorship, were assembled from various sources. In Part I there are items from
the T. W. Norris Collection, purchased from John Howell, and from other sources noted on the folders. Items in Part II were
from the Boutwell Dunlap Collection, purchased from W. Wreden in 1954.
Biography
Trader and lawyer in Missouri and Tennessee, Peter Hardeman Burnett came to Oregon in 1843. In 1848 he joined the miners in
California where he acted as agent for Sutter. He was active in urging California to form a state government and was elected
first constitutional governor of California in 1849. He resigned his governorship in 1851 to return to law practice, becoming
supreme judge in 1857. From 1863 until 1880 he was president of the Pacific Bank of San Francisco.
Scope and Content
Mainly documents and letters to and from Burnett as Governor of California, regarding sale of municipal lands in San Francisco
and appointments. Contains many petitions, some relating to Collectors of licences to foreign miners, with signatures of members
of the Constitutional Convention 1849, and of the first California Legislature. Also includes legal papers, concerning property
in Santa Clara County, chiefly in the city of Alviso, 1849-1857.
box-folder Box 1:44
May 4, 1850
Additional Note
Relating to illegal occupation of four rooms formerly belonging to the Padres.
box-folder Box 1:40
Apr. 13, 1850
Additional Note
Recommending Elam Covington as Collector of Taxes from Foreign Miners in Yuba Co.
Broderick, David Colbreth, 1820-1859
box-folder Box 1:41
Apr. 13, 1850
Additional Note
Requesting appointment of a Mr. Olds as Tax Collector for Sutter County.
Burnett, Peter Hardeman, 1807-1895
item 1., box-folder Box 1:1
Feb. 8, 1850
Additional Note
Draft of order prohibiting further grant or sale of municipal lands of San Francisco. To Horace Hawes, Prefect of the District
of San Francisco, 1813-1871.
item 2., box-folder Box 1:2
Mar. 4, 1850
Additional Note
To the Commandant of military forces of the United States at Sonoma. Re Indian disturbances.
item 3., box-folder Box 1:3
Mar. 4, 1850
Additional Note
To Edward John Cage Kewen, 1825-1879, concerning sale of municipal lands in San Francisco.
item 4., box-folder Box 1:4
Mar. 6, 1850
Additional Note
To Prefect of district of Monterey. Photocopy only. Concerning provision for the general election and acts for the organization
of the state.
item 5., box-folder Box 1:5
Apr. 24, 1850
Additional Note
No addressee. Concerning appointment of Captain W. Richardson to post of County Collector.
item 6., box-folder Box 1:6
July 8, 1850
Additional Note
To William Van Voorhies, 1815-1884, requesting commission to be sent to Charles Findley of Baltimore, Maryland.
item 7., box-folder Box 1:8
Aug. 7, 1850
Additional Note
To Samuel Royal Thurston, 1816-1851, re formation of the constitutional convention. Typed transcript only.
item 8., box-folder Box 1:9
Aug, 13, 1850
Additional Note
To Robert Anderson Wilson re property in Alviso.
item 9., box-folder Box 1:10
Nov. 4, 1850
Additional Note
To Charles Lewis Denman, concerning Denman's offer of services in case of Indian difficulties.
item 10., box-folder Box 1:11
Nov. 9, 1850
Additional Note
To Charles Gilman.
item 11., box-folder Box 1:12
Sept. 6, 1852
Additional Note
To Lewis Jacob Cist. Prophecy of California's greatness.
item 12., box-folder Box 1:13
Mar. 2-10, 1885
Additional Note
To Edward Worthington Burnett, 1842-?, giving genealogical information for his branch of the Burnett family. Also notes on
E. W Burnett.
item 13., box-folder Box 1:18
Dec. 20, 1849
Additional Note
Oath of office as Governor of California. Facsimile.
item 14., box-folder Box 1:59
Nov. 9, 1849
Additional Note
Deed to Dwight Jay Burnett for property in Alviso.
item 15., box-folder Box 1:60
Feb. 18, 1850
Additional Note
Power of attorney to Thomas L. Burnett to sell property in Alviso.
item 16., box-folder Box 1:61
Sept. 25, 1850
Additional Note
Quitclaim deed to D. J. Burnett
item 16a., oversize Oversize folder 1A
Nov. 17, 1850
Additional Note
Certificate of appointment for Frederick P. Tracy.
item 17., box-folder Box 1:62
Dec. 21, 1857
Additional Note
Power of attorney to D. J. Burnett to lease property in Santa Clara Co.
box-folder Box 1:16, 19, 23-24, 51
Petitions for various appointments, 1849-1850
Additional Note
Include signatures of some members of the constitutional convention and first Legislature.
box-folder Box 1:30-39
Petitions for appointments of "Collectors of licenses to foreign miners", 1850.
Additional Note
Include petitions on behalf of Horace W. Carpentier, William A. Richardson and others. Signed by many citizens.
Colton, Gardner Quincey, 1814-1898
Geary, John White, 1819-1873
box-folder Box 1:42
Apr. 14, 1850
Additional Note
Recommending Dr. Horace W. Carpentier as tax collector for the mining districts.
box-folder Box 1:55
Nov. 25, 1850
Additional Note
Asking for exemption from state taxes.
Gwin, William McKendree, 1805-1885
item 1., box-folder Box 1:21
Dec. 30, 1849
Additional Note
Recommending Richard N. Berry as Aid.
item 2., box-folder Box 1:56
Nov. 28, 1850
Additional Note
Requesting appointment as Commissioner of Deeds for California in Louisiana, for Benjamin Tappan.
Halleck, Henry Wager, 1816-1872
box-folder Box 1:20
Dec. 22, 1849
Additional Note
Introducing Captains Simpton and Wright who are to urge passage of a bill for Pilots in San Francisco.
Hayes, Benjamin Ignatius, 1815-1877
item 1., box-folder Box 1:43
Apr. 20, 1850
Additional Note
Re organizing of Los Angeles government. With typed transcript.
item 2., box-folder Box 1:54
Nov. 12, 1850
Additional Note
Recommending George T. Burrill as Justice of the Peace.
Jones, Thomas Ap Catesby, 1790-1856
box-folder Box 1:46
June 26, 1850
Additional Note
Written from Flagship
Savannah, concerning mutineers from English schooner
Helen.
Letcher, Robert Perkins, 1788-1861
box-folder Box 1:47
July 1, 1850
Additional Note
Written as U.S. minister to Mexico, introducing the Abbé Brasseur de Bourbourg, Apostolic Missionary coming to California
to look after church property.
McAllister, Hall, 1828-1888
box-folder Box 1:17
Dec. 17, 1849
Additional Note
Tendering resignation fron District Attorneyship of San Francisco and suggesting Alexander Campbell as replacement.
New England Society of San Francisco
box-folder Box 1:53
Oct. 21, 1850
Additional Note
Resolution to request the Governor for a day of public thanksgiving in California. In writing and signed by Henry Lee Dodge,
1825-1902.
Norton, Myron, d. ca. 1867
box-folder Box 1:15
Nov. 20, 1849
Additional Note
Requesting appointment as secretary of state.
box-folder Box 1:14
Nov. 17, 1849
Additional Note
Petition to Antonio María Pico, Prefect of the district of San Jose, to renew Mexican citizenship. Referred to Burnett by
H. W. Halleck on behalf of Bennett Riley. Petition acknowledged on verso, initialed by Burnett.
Rough and Ready, Calif. Standing Committee.
box-folder Box 1:52
Sept. 2, 1850
Additional Note
Requesting reward be given for arrest of William Ewing, murderer. With note of Governor Burnett's reply by C. T. Ryland on
verso.
Ryland, Caius Tacitus, 1826-1897
box-folder Box 1:7
July 19, 1850
Additional Note
To Thomas Oliver Larkin, 1802-1858. Written as secretary to Burnett. With typed transcript.
Semple, Robert Baylor, 1806-1854
Smith, William Lyncoya, 1830-1902
box-folder Box 1:45
May 25, 1850
Additional Note
Reporting of finding a block of gold-bearing quartz from the Mariposa Mines for the Washington Monument.
Stevenson, Jonathan Drake, 1800-1894
box-folder Box 1:48
July 14, 1850
Additional Note
Recommending James H. Brady for position of Port Warden of San Francisco.
box-folder Box 1:29
Apr. 9, 1850
Additional Note
Defending his actions in court case.
