Guide to the William C. Ralston Correspondence M0217
Processed by TG; machine-readable finding aid created by C. Del Anderson
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
1998 ; revised 2022
Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford 94305-6064
specialcollections@stanford.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: William C. Ralston correspondence
source:
Brettville, Charles de
Identifier/Call Number: M0217
Identifier/Call Number: 931
Physical Description:
4.5 Linear Feet
(7 boxes)
Date (inclusive): ca. 1870-1890
Conditions Governing Access
Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Charles de Brettville, 1967.
Biographical / Historical
William Chapman Ralston, born 12 June 1826 in Ohio, was a banker and steamship owner. In 1864 he helped organize the Bank
of California and served as its first president. He died 27 August 1875.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item] William C. Ralston Correspondence, M0217, Dept. of Special Collections, Stanford Libraries, Stanford,
Calif.
Scope and Contents
All letters are copies printed from microfilmed originals. Letters primarily to Ralston, dealing with William W. Cargill of
the Oriental Bank Corporation of London and Charles de Long, U.S. Envoy and Minister to Japan. Also included are letters asking
for money or a position, thank you letters, letters of introduction, letters containing information on his Belmont home and
stables, monetary matters, the Bank of California, mines, San Francisco industries, economic matters and conditions, and construction.
The letters also show Ralston's influence in relation to both national and state legislation. Collection also includes research
notes, transcriptions, and material from other archives.
Conditions Governing Use
These materials are believed to be in the public domain. There are no restrictions on use of public domain materials.
Existence and Location of Originals
Originals held by Bank of California at time of donation, now held by Bancroft Library at University of California Berkeley.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Banks and banking -- California
San Francisco (Calif.) -- History.
Brettville, Charles de
Ralston, William Chapman, 1826-1875
Bank of California
box 1, Folder 1
Microfilmed Correspondence A-B 306917
box 1, Folder 2
Microfilmed Correspondence C
box 1, Folder 3
Microfilmed Correspondence D
box 1, Folder 4
Microfilmed Correspondence E 306915
box 1, Folder 5
Microfilmed Correspondence F 306913
Box 2, folder 1
Microfilmed Correspondence G
Box 2, folder 2
Microfilmed Correspondence H
Box 2, folder 3
Microfilmed Correspondence I-J-K
Box 2, folder 4
Microfilmed Correspondence L
Box 3, Folder 1
Microfilmed Correspondence M 306911
Box 3, Folder 2
Microfilmed Correspondence N 306909
Box 3, Folder 3
Microfilmed Correspondence O 306907
Box 3, Folder 4
Microfilmed Correspondence P 306905
Box 3, Folder 5
Microfilmed Correspondence - William Ralston 306903
Box 3, Folder 6
Microfilmed Correspondence R
Box 4, folder 1-2
Microfilmed Correspondence S
Box 4, folder 3
Microfilmed Correspondence T
Box 4, folder 4
Microfilmed Correspondence U-V-W
Box 4, folder 5
Microfilmed Correspondence W-X-Y-Z
Box 5
Copies of material from other archives 306901
Box 5
Research notes, transcriptions, etc. 306897
Box 5, Box 6
Ralston Calendar of Letter Abstracts 306899
Box 7
Card File Name Index 306895
Scope and Contents
Three card boxes.
