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Guide to the Harvey Family Papers, 1848-1965
MSS #009
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Table of contents
Title: Harvey Family Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1848-1965
Collection number: MSS #009
Origination:
Harvey, William, 1841-1922
Extent: 4 linear feet
Repository:
Fresno City and County Historical Society
Fresno, California
Language:
English.
Gift of Harvey Estate.
Collection is open for research by appointment only.
Copyright has not been assigned to the Fresno City and County Historical Society. All requests for
permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing
to the Society archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf
of the Fresno City and County Historical Society 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.
[Identification of item], Harvey Family Papers, MSS #009, Fresno City and County Historical Society.
William Camden Harvey was born on January 22, 1841 in Weymouth, England. Harvey was an accountant by trade and came to the
United States in 1885 with his wife, Catherine. The family first settled in Minnesota before coming to California. Mr. Harvey
entered the real estate business and became a land promoter/developer in Fresno County. The Harvey's purchased 40 acres of
land in an area known as the Belmont district, later part of the City of Fresno, and planted a vineyard. Mr. Harvey later
developed Washington Colony, just south of the city. Real estate profits allowed Mr. Harvey to retire just three years after
his arrival in Fresno and, in 1888, he turned his attention to philanthropic work.
Harvey was an executive officer of the Producers Raisin Association, a precursor to the California State Raisin Grower's Association,
founded by M. Theo Kearney, of which Harvey would be Secretary. He was also a member of various community organizations and
gave a large donation to the Fresno County Humane Society, of which he was first President. The Harvey's were active in the
First Baptist Church of Fresno.
Mr. Harvey died on July 7, 1922 and Mrs. Harvey passed on January 14, 1935. The couple had 11 children, Frederick, William
Jr., Dalton, Sydney, Constance, Louise, Ada, Frances, Annie, Alice, and Robert. Frederick and Robert were killed in separate
drowning accidents in 1895 and 1896. William Jr. and Ada followed their father in the real estate business and Ada was also
an attorney. Sydney worked as the manager for the Freight Division of the Chicago and Northwestern Railway in Seattle, Washington.
After a fire destroyed their ranch home the family moved to 905 "S" Street. The home was built in 1890 and located in downtown
Fresno. Ada, Constance, Louise, and Frances lived in the home as late as 1965.
The Harvey Family Collection dates from 1848-1965, and measures 4 linear feet. The papers are arranged in the following series:
William and Catherine Harvey Papers, Annie Harvey, Ada Harvey Papers, Frances Harvey, Family Genealogy, and California State
Raisin Grower's Association Records. Material includes correspondence, printed material, legal and financial records, and
photographs relating to the Harvey Family and the business and personal lives of the various family members