Contains personal and business papers of George Hearst and his wife, Phoebe Apperson Hearst. A small portion of the collection relates to Mr. Hearst, a rancher, mining tycoon, and politican. His papers include correspondence, illustrated mining notes and reports, bills of sale, and other material related to mines and ranches primarily in the West and Mexico. The bulk of the collection concerns the philanthropic, charitable and social activities of Phoebe Apperson Hearst, regent of the University of California (1897-1919) and a major benefactress of the University and other institutions. Her papers include family and personal correspondence, mining and property files, material related to her work as regent, and files on philanthropy, charity, collecting, and household management.

George Hearst, born 1820 in Franklin County, Missouri, had little formal education but educated himself in geology and prospecting. His talent for scoping out the "lay of the land" paid off in some of the most important mining claims in the United States. The Comstock Lode in Nevada, the Homestake gold mine in South Dakota and the Anaconda copper mine in Montana would become three of the largest mining discoveries in American history. As a rancher and prospector Hearst continually acquired large portions of land throughout the United States, especially in California and the West. In 1863 Hearst married Phoebe Apperson, a teacher from his home state. Moving to San Francisco, Phoebe gave birth to their only child, William Randolph Hearst, in 1863. George purchased the 48,000 acre Piedras Blancas Ranch at San Simeon in 1865, adding the adjoining Santa Rosa and San Simeon ranches later. During his lifetime the ranches were used as a family retreat. In 1873 Phoebe took her young son William on a grand tour of Europe where the two spent more than a year visiting castles, museums, and various cultural centers. This trip would prove to be a pivotal inspiration for William's later endeavor constructing Hearst Castle at San Simeon.

Number of containers: 85 boxes, 2 oversize boxes, 3 oversize folders, 6 volumes, 4 card file boxes Linear feet: 37 173 digital objects

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Access Collection is open for research. Microfilm of the collection is to be used by researchers to protect the originals. A few items not microfilmed are noted in the container list.