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MSS.698
MSS.698
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Title: James Howard Collection
Identifier/Call Number: MSS.698
Contributing Institution:
Mandeville Special Collections Library
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
1.4 lin. ft.
(1 archives box and 5 oversize folders)
Date: circa 1882-1939
Abstract: The James Howard Collection documents the life of a mining foreman who lived in Guadalajara, Mexico. Most of the papers relate
to Howard’s experience as a foreman at the Amparo Mining Company. The materials, written in both English and Spanish, include
blueprints and plans for mining equipment, a large amount of photography from throughout the region, and a personal diary
from Howard. The collection also includes a small amount of biographical material about Howard, including personal correspondence
and a genealogical chart for the Howard clan.
creator:
Howard, James, 1868-
James H. Howard was born in England on January 20, 1868. In 1883 he emigrated from England and came to New York; he then moved
to Texas in 1885, where he worked for the International Mining Company as a timberman. In 1889 Howard moved to Guadalajara,
Mexico, where he settled in the American Colony of Colonia Seattle. Howard took a job working at the Amparo Mining Company
in Bolaños, a mining district north of Guadalajara.
In Guadalajara, Howard met and married Maria Ignacia Martínez. In order to marry Martínez, he had to prove to the Mexican
government that we was indeed single, and that he had never married before in England or America. As proof, Howard obtained
three letters from his former employers as documentation to contest to his unmarried status. Howard and Martínez had their
first child, Katherine Eleanor Howard on March 6, 1911.
The materials from the James Howard Collection are written in English and Spanish and date from the late-19th and the early-20th
centuries. They relate largely to mining, as well as James Howard's family life in Guadalajara.
The papers are arranged in four series: 1) CORRESPONDENCE, 2) GUADALAJARA HOUSING AND MINING DOCUMENTS, 3) PHOTOGRAPHS, and
4) BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS.
SERIES 1: CORRESPONDENCE
The CORRESPONDENCE series is comprised of letters pertaining to Howard's personal life, including a personal letter from his
sister and a postcard from his mother. The majority of the correspondence is written in Spanish, with the exception of one
letter from H. Winninghoff that is written in both English and Spanish. These letters are organized in alphabetical order.
SERIES 2: GUADALAJARA HOUSING AND MINING DOCUMENTS
The GUADALAJARA HOUSING AND MINING DOCUMENTS series includes blueprints and plans for mining equipment and operations in central
Mexico. These plans include a blueprint for the installation of three boilers for the Amparo Mining Company, as well as a
pen and ink drawing from the San Nicolas del Monte mines in Guanajuato. Most of these documents are in Spanish. This series
also contains two pamphlets, published in 1913, from
Colonia Seattle, the American Colony in Guadalajara where Howard and his family resided.
These documents are arranged in alphabetical order.
SERIES 3: PHOTOGRAPHS
The PHOTOGRAPHS series is made up of black-and-white photographs of the Bolaños mines. This is the largest portion of the
collection, and includes three photo albums and loose prints. The photographs portray daily life in Bolaños, including images
of the mill and mines, as well as photographs of Howard working at the mill or riding his horse around the settlement.
One important thing to note regarding these photographs is the photo album Howard created in 1921. This photo album, which
contains thirty black-and-white prints of the Bolaños township, were labeled by Howard and are a good reference to the layout
of the town and its settlements. Another photo album, which contains twelve black-and-white prints from Hacienda de Nueva,
was given to Howard as a gift from F.K. Boyd, and has photographs that capture the working mill. Loose prints include a cyanotype
of Howard and a companion taken in Bolaños in front of steps which appear to lead into one of the silver mines.
SERIES 4: BIOGRAPHICALS MATERIALS
The BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS series contains documents pertaining to James Howard and his family, which include a baptism announcement
for Howard's first born daughter, Katherine Eleanor, dated March 16, 1911, as well as an official listing of her birth in
the publication
Diario Oficial, dated April 22, 1911. This series also includes James Howard's diary from 1919, which gives a daily account of Howard's
personal life and business dealings.
These items have been arranged in alphabetical order.
Collection is open for research.
James Howard Collection. MSS 698. Mandeville Special Collections Library, UCSD.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Amparo Mining Company.
British--Mexico--Jalisco--Guadalajara
Mines and mineral resources--Mexico--Jalisco
Mining corporations -- Mexico -- Jalisco
Portrait photographs -- 19th century.
Portrait photoprints -- 20th century.