Guide to the Adolph Sutro Papers JL004

Processed by S. McClure; machine-readable finding aid created by Patricia White

Department of Special Collections and University Archives

1997 ; revised 2022

Green Library

557 Escondido Mall

Stanford 94305-6064

specialcollections@stanford.edu

URL: http://library.stanford.edu/spc

Language of Material: English

Contributing Institution: Department of Special Collections and University Archives

Title: Adolph Sutro Papers

Identifier/Call Number: JL004

Physical Description: 1 Linear Feet (2 boxes)

Date (inclusive): 1861-1899

Conditions Governing Access

Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use.

Biographical / Historical

Adolph Heinrich Sutro was born in Prussia in 1830. He came to the United States in 1850, to California in 1851, and to Nevada in 1860. Sutro was the mining engineer who planned the Sutro Tunnel, which was constructed through Mount Davidson to reach the Comstock lode. The tunnel was built between 1869 and 1878 and cost $6,500,00 to build. In 1878 Sutro sold his interest in the tunnel and invested in San Francisco real estate, most notably the Cliff House and the Sutro Baths. He was elected mayor of San Francisco in 1894 for one term, and died in 1898.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of the Sutro family, date unknown. Bank book gift of George D. Lyman of Graduate School of Business.

General note

NOTE: The correspondence on the Sutro Tunnel contains letters written by Pelham Ames and R.S. Raw; many of these are directed to one another rather than to Sutro himself. Both men were secretaries to Adolph Sutro. With very few exceptions, all other correspondence is addressed to Sutro himself.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item] Adolph Sutro Papers, JL004, Dept. of Special Collections, Stanford Libraries, Stanford, Calif.

Scope and Contents

This collection of Adolph Sutro's business papers includes correspondence dealing with the construction of the Sutro Tunnel (1869-1896); applications for employment on the tunnel project (1873-1877) and in the Baths (1892-1895); personal bills (1869-1890); miscellaneous correspondence (1870-1895); miscellaneous papers and printed matter (1865-1889); and a safe book (1861-1899).

The correspondence dealing with the Sutro Tunnel is arranged in alphabetical order by author; with few exceptions all correspondence is addressed to Sutro. The number in parenthesis following each name indicates the number of letters written by that correspondent; when only one piece of correspondence is included, there is no such indication. The miscellaneous correspondence is also listed alphabetically, with each letter listed with date and a brief subject identification. A letter of particular interest in this group is one written by Cyrus Adler of the Smithsonian Institution; Adler was a Jewish scholar, educator and author, and wrote to Sutro in 1890 regarding a manuscript that Sutro possessed in his library. Certain personal letters, such as correspondence to Sutro from the schools that his children attended, are also included.

The large percentage of material pertaining to the Sutro Tunnel makes this collection of his papers particularly valuable to anyone interested in that important achievement; in addition, certain aspects of his character and personality are given some light through the varied miscellaneous correspondence.

Conditions Governing Use

These materials are believed to be in the public domain. There are no restrictions on use of public domain materials.

box 1, folder 1

Miscellaneous correspondence (arranged alphabetically)

Cyrus Adler- of the Smithsonian Institution, re: MS is Sutro's library 1890

P.W. Amez- telegram copy, advice 1877

D.R. Ashley- suit against McCall 1870

Astronomical Society of the Pacific- from Chas. Burckhalter, Sec'y, notice of Sutro's election to the Society 1890

Mary P. Banks- re: her son 1872

G. Behrend- in German, 1887 Oct 19 and Oct 23

J.D. Bethel- personal requests, Sep 30, 1877 and Dec 2 1879

F. Brandis & Co.- price of instruments, 1877

Murray Brothers- machine estimates, 1887

Daniel S. Brown- death of Dr. Reninger, 1877

California Electric Light Co.- answer 1887

W.C. Chapin- pipe measurements and prices 1890

E.B. Church- explanation of bill 1876

J.A. Church- reply to invitation 1877

Ellwood Cooper- letter of introduction 1889

Easton, Eldridge & Co.- San Francisco real estate 1889

Eisen & Stewart- (Gustav Eisen)- personal 1887

Geographical Society of the Pacific- from C.M. Grant, notice of Sutro's election to the Society- 1890

A. Goldsmith- information - - telegram, inquiry Sept 9, 1877; Sept 16, 1877

J. Habets- in German 1887

Catherine H. Hittell- Central Pacific RR. government ownership 1895

Holladay & Holladay- Calif. School of Mechanical Arts, 1890 Jan 21 and Jan 25

George Houston- stable bill 1887

J.W. Howland- electricity experiments 1877

H. Hunt- Bordeaux wines 1877

A. J. Hutchinson- wood order 1877

F.C. Innes & Co.- Vancouver real estate 1886

David Johnson- re: Edgar Sutro at school (son), (St. Matthew's Hall, San Mateo) , and 1877 Oct 11 and Nov 9 1877 Nov 10

G.W. Johnson- real estate, (2) Oct 19, 1887

R.F. Kelker- death of Dr. Renninger 1877

A. Kemble- rare books collection offer 1886

C.R. Kerger- in German 1890

F. Von Leicht- transit instrument, sale 1887

Max Levy- subscription list to San Francisco Cremation Co. 1890 Jan 22 and Jan 26

A. Lincoln- magnesium lamps 1872

J. Livingston- request for deed 1877

Lyle- pedigree of Matt Gunn, Sutro's horse 1877

W.H. Martin- Olympic Club baseball park 1887

H.P. Merritt- mules 1877

Mrs. E.F. Mills- re: Rosa 1877

L.L. Mills- re: Rosa, daughter, (2 letters) 1887 Nov

Mrs. J.H. Mills- character of certain officials, 1877 Mar 3-4

William Mooney- telegram for money 1877

J.G. Negley- invention to Patent Office 1877

J. Palamountain- stereoscope 1877

Henry Pennington- letters re: his disappearance

1. notes

2. I.O. Acton 1895

3. Taylor Rogers Nov 22, 1895

4. Taylor Rogers Nov 23, 1895

5. I.O. Acton 1896

6. Taylor Rogers 1896

F.P. Perkins- re: literary work 1886

J.B. Pitchford- estimates on machinery, 1877 and 1887

Lewis R. Price- personal note 1876

J.H. Raymond- (Vassar College), in re: to Sutro's daughter 1877

J.W. Reid- regret at not seeing Sutro 1890

G.A. Rerch, M.D.- in German 1877

Miss M. Reinhardt- pamphlet on the English & German Boarding and Day School 1873

R. Rickord- inquiry re: air compressing and drilling machinery 1877

William H. Rideing- elections 1877

G. Specht- in German - 1877 Jul and 1877 Oct

C.D. Turk- telegram re: team of horses 1877

Robert Warner- notice of receipt of letter 1887

Henry A. Wasmuth- in German 1887

George H. Watson- request that Kate, Sutro's daughter be allowed to remain at Laurel Hall 1877

Mrs. G.H. Watson- instructions re- Kate's departure from Laurel Hall 1877

H. Werderman- instructions 1877

E.J. Wickson- info. on olives 1889

Wimmer & Co.- portrait of Sutro 1890

John B. Winters- -Water Commission 1877

George Woods & Co.- condensing process for dryrooms 1877

W.L. Woods- regret 1877

O.F. von Rhein & Co.- Golden Gate and Webster St. lots 1890

box 1, folder 2

Correspondence: George W. Merritt, reports to Sutro on real estate, taxes, conditions of his property. 1889 Feb 22-July 11,

box 1, folder 3

Personal bills - insurance, children's school bills, accommodations, clothing, etc. (chronological arrangement), 1869-August 1877

box 1, folder 4

Personal bills Sept 1877-1890

box 1, folder 5

Applications for employment: Sutro baths (chronological arrangement) 1892-1895

box 1, folder 6

Applications for employment: Sutro Tunnel (chronological arrangement) 1873-1877

box 1, folder 7

Correspondence re: Sutro Tunnel: Adamson - Billmeyer

W.R. Adamson, agent 1887

Joseph Aird price list 1873

Alta Boiler Works 1872

Pelham W. Ames (19) Jan-March 1877

John Anderson 1872

W.G. Armstrong & Co. (2) diagrams (2) Sept-Oct 1873

Artesian Well Boring Tools- price list

Atkins Brothers 1875

William Augerman April-May 1877

W.W. Bailey 1877

L.N. Baker 1877

Bandmann, Nielsen & Co. (2) form letter June, Dec 1875

Chas. Beer (12) Oct-Dec 1873

J.L. Bell (4) April-May 1876

Porter Bell & Co. 1872

William B. Bement 1872

F.A. Benjamin (8) Nov 1873-Feb 1874

William Berry 1877

E. Biddle (2) May, Dec 1877

Bigelow & Johnston 1872

Billmeyer & Smalls 1876

box 1, folder 8

Correspondence re: Sutro Tunnel: Bishop - Brown

Victor Bishop & Co. 1877

H.C. Blanchard 1872

William Bohn 1877

M.J. Bolan 1877

D.J. Bousfield 1877

B.L. Brandt 1873

Henry L. Brevoort (3) June-August 1872

Lyman Bridges & Co. (8) March-Dec 1877

B.F. Brown 1878

Thomas Brown (proprietor of The Burleigh Rock Drill) (62) Oct 1873-March 1879

box 2, folder 9

Correspondence re: Sutro Tunnel: Bounton - Burleigh

J.D. [Bounton?) 1874

C.H. Bryan 1877

Burleigh Rock Drill Co. (39) July 1870-Dec 1876

box 2, folder 10

Correspondence re: Sutro Tunnel: California Powder Works - Kruse & Euler

California Powder Works 1875

A.S. Cameron & Co. 1872

W.H. Cameron (Edinburgh & District Water Trust) (2) June, July 1873

Campbell 1869

Carroll & Snyder 1872

Lewis Chalmers 1877

Chaudoir 1873

Michael Chevalier 1877

A.R. Chisholm 1877

Arthur Chomaly 1877

G.M. Clements (2) Jan 1877

Cochrane, Grove & Co. 1873

L.W. Conn 1877

Co-operative Iron & Steel Works 1876

Cope & Maxwell Manufacturing Co. 1876

Craven Bros. 1874

Capt. C.B. Dahlgren 1877

Dana & Co., (2) May, July 1872

Charles S. Davis 1876

E.S. Davis 1877

Davis & Riker 1872

James Delavan 1877

Diamond Rock Boring Co. 1873

H.L. Dinker 1877

W. & B. Douglas 1877

George Driver 1877

Dubois & Francois (3) 1873

D.W. Earl 1872

A. Eilers 1877

Robert Fairlie (2) Nov 1873

Federated Trades and Labor Organization 1887

J.N. Flint 1877

William B. Frue (2) 1877

Edward Greene 1877

H.B. Hanmore (6) Feb-April 1877

Dennis Harrington 1877

C.N. Harris Dec (2) 1877

A.0. Harrison 1890

Harrison Boiler Works - Price list 1872

George L. Harvey 1877

Harvey & Co. 1873

Haskins Machine Co. 1872

J.E. Hilgard 1877

Charles L. Hoffmann 1876

Henry Howard & Co. Iron gas tube and fitting list 1873; 1872

Dr. J.W. Howland 1877

Joseph Hyman 1877

The Ingersoll Rock Drill Co. (3) 1874-1877

W.H. Jewell 1875

Owen Kelly 1877

Kelton & Thomas 1877

M.A. Kelton 1877

Kimball Manufacturing Co. 1872

Carl Kley Oct-Nov (3) 1873

John Knowles Fitting list 1873; 1871

Knowles Patent Steam Pump Works 1872

Kruse & Euler 1875

box 2, folder 11

Correspondence re: Sutro Tunnel: Lance - Office of Public Printer

George F. Lance 1876

Land Department 1877

[W.C.?] Lewis [1867?]

Lloyd & Lloyd (6); Iron gas tube and fitting list 1873

J.P. Loya 1877

George G. Lyon (4) 1872

J.W. Macdermott 1873

Robert Maclaren 1873

Charles G. Mann 1877

P. Marcelin 1876

Maschinenbau-Actien-Gesellschaft HUMBOLDT - vormals Sievers & Comp. (4) 1873

[P. Mauris?] 1875

J.W. Maxwell 18 77

F.B. Mercer (10) 1876-1877

J.H.P. Merigold 1877

H.P. Merritt 1877

Milburn & Co. Ltd. Circular 1873;

J.G. Mitchell 1872

E.J. Moore 1887

J.C. Mormsey 1873

Henry G. Morris 1872

Morris, Tasker & Co. (6) 1872-1873

George M. Mowbray 1877

Francis Murphy 1877

Thomas McCloskey 1877

J. McCone 1872

Thomas McGill & Co. 1877

Thomas H. McGrath 1877

McKean & Co. 1876

William McLeod 1877

Narrow Gauge RR Construction & Supply Co. 1872

John [Newton?] 1872

Thad [Norris?) 1872

J.H. Nottage 1874

Parke & Lacy (3) 1876-1877

Pennsylvania Diamond Drill Co. 1872

Philadelphia & Reading RR Co. (2) 1873, 1876

T.E. Picotte (2) Oct, Nov 1876

W.S. Pinney 1872

Henry Pleasants (13) 1872-1873

Porter, Bell & Co. 1873

Lewis R. Price 1877

Public Printer, Office of 1877

box 2, folder 12

Correspondence re: Sutro Tunnel: Raggi - John Russell & Co.

Bernardo Raggi 1889

A.C. Rand 1872

R.S. Raw (22) 1876-1877

Henry Reid 1874

Garrett Reilly 1877

George Reuling, M.D. 1877

J.B. Reynolds (see also Ingersoll Rock Drill) (4) 1876-1877

W.H. Rideing 1877

R.S. Ripley 1873

E.A.L. Roberts 1876

I.B. Robertson 1877

Wilhelm Rose (2) 1877

Ross & Co. 1877

Root Steam Engine Co. 1872

P.R. and F.M. Roots Circular on rotary blowers 1872; 1869

Royal Mail Steam Packet Co. [1874?]

Charles Rulison 1877

John Russell & Co. 1873

box 2, folder 13

Correspondence re: Sutro Tunnel: Safford - Young

H.S. Safford 1873

Schmeisser, Wench & Co. 1874

Seligman 1877

F. Shanly (3) 1872-1873

Shellabarger & Wilson (8) 1875-1877

Shotts Iron Works 1873

James R. Smedberg 1879

Emma G. Smith 1877

H. Smith Jr. 1875

H.G. Smith & Co. 1872

George W. Snyder 1872-1873

C.H. Stegman l877

J.H. Struckdinger 1877

[W?] Stursberg 1877

Sutro & Co. l879

G.C. Thaxter 1877

B.B. Thayer 1877

William Thorpe 1877

Tipton & Pollock 1877

S.S. Townsend (3) 1872

Virginia and Truckee RR Co. (2) 1877

Union and Central Pacific RR Line (2) 1872

H. Hussey Vivian 1877

O.F. von Rhein & Co. 1890

Waring & Parke, Engineers 1872

R.W. Warren (Vulcan Powder Works) 1877

Franz Welter 1873

J.W. Willard 1875

Hon. J.A. Williamson (4) 1877

[Wilson, McLay & Co.?] 1873

James Woods 1877

W.L. Woods (2 letters, one re bill in the House of Representatives) 1877

Wright & Sanders, Architects 1886

Frank S. Young (4) 1877

box 2, folder 14

Miscellaneous papers re: Sutro Tunnel

Notes [1877?]

Memoranda

Summaries

Statements

Unidentified material

box 2, folder 15

Adolph Sutro: Safe book 1861-1899

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of George D. Lyman of Stanford Graduate School of Business.