Los Angeles Land Papers
Finding aid prepared by Gerardo Licón.
Manuscripts Department
The Huntington Library
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2203
Fax: (626) 449-5720
Email: manuscripts@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
© 2009
The Huntington Library. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Los Angeles Land Papers
Dates: 1850-1889
Collection Number: Consult repository.
Collector:
Kenneth S. Greenburg
Extent:
237 items
Repository:
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
Manuscripts Department
The Huntington Library
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2203
Fax: (626) 449-5720
Email: manuscripts@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract: These papers document the transfer of land during the first few decades of American ownership of Los Angeles, California.
This collection consists of the original documents certifying the sale, purchase, pre-emption, or surveying of land by sheriffs,
clerks, notary publics, and surveyors of Los Angeles County between 1850 and 1889.
Language of Material: The records are in English and Spanish.
Administration Information
Access
Collection is open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information,
please go to following
web site .
Publication Rights
In order to quote from, publish, or reproduce any of the manuscripts or visual materials, researchers must obtain formal permission
from the office of the Library Director. In most instances, permission is given by the Huntington as owner of the physical
property rights only, and researchers must also obtain permission from the holder of the literary rights. In some instances,
the Huntington owns the literary rights, as well as the physical property rights. Researchers may contact the appropriate
curator for further information.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Los Angeles Land Papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Acquisition Information
The collection was given to the Huntington Library by Kenneth S. Greenburg from May 1968 to July 1970.
Scope and Content
These papers document the transfer of land during the first few decades of American ownership of Los Angeles, California.
This collection consists of the original documents certifying the sale, purchase, pre-emption, or surveying of land by sheriffs,
clerks, notary publics, and surveyors of Los Angeles County between 1850 and 1889. Some of these legal proceedings partially
document the transfer of land ownership from Californio to American hands. Many of these documents are “pre-emption” claims
to land made mostly by new American immigrants to California under the Possessory Act of April 20, 1852 which gave individuals
the right to claim 160 acres of public lands for the purposes of mining or agriculture. The “inventories of women’s separate
property” were a result of the California State law enacted on April 17, 1850 entitled “Act defining the rights of Husband
and Wife.”
Arrangement
This collection includes 237 items organized into nine folders which include: mortgage agreements and releases; inheritances
and wills; certificates of sale due to taxes owed, law suits, and foreclosure; claims of preemption; land documents of individuals
significant to Los Angeles history including: Abel Stearns, Pío Pico, Ignacio del Valle, and Francis P.F. Temple; lease agreements;
and additional miscellaneous legal documents relating to land transfer.
Indexing Terms
Del Valle, Ignacio.
Pico, Pío, 1801-1894.
Stearns, Abel, 1798-1871.
Temple, Francis Pliny F., 1821-1880.
Subjects
Mexicans -- California -- Los Angeles.
Real property -- California -- Los Angeles.
Women -- California.
Geographic Areas
California -- History -- 19th century -- Sources.
Los Angeles (Calif.) -- History -- 19th century -- Sources.
Genre
Agreements California 19th century.
Bills of sale California 19th century.
Claims California 19th century.
Deeds California 19th century.
Land deeds California 19th century.
Leases California 19th century.
Maps California 19th century.
Mortgages California 19th century.
Wills California 19th century.
CONTAINER LIST
Women’s Separate Property
1853-1889
Physical Description: 34 items
Scope and Content Note
The bulk of these items are documents entitled “Inventories of Women’s Separate Property.” In addition to inventories, this
folder also includes other legal documents relating to female ownership of land and property including deeds of sale, wills
and leases.
Certificates of Sale because of Taxes
1852-1854
Physical Description: 12 items
Scope and Content Note
These items document the loss of land by individuals who owed property taxes. Their land was sold at public auction by the
Sheriff for a fraction of the value of the property.
Certificates of Sale because of Law Suits
1852-1874
Physical Description: 37 items
Certificates of Sale, Deeds to Properties
1855-1883
Physical Description: 20 items
Scope and Content Note
This folder also includes mortgage agreements, mortgage releases, inheritance and foreclosure.
Preemption Claims
1851-1854
Physical Description: 34 items
Scope and Content Note
The first half of the most numerous type of legal land document in this collection.
Preemption Claims
1855-1868
Physical Description: 39 items
Scope and Content Note
The second half of the most numerous type of legal land document in this collection.
Documents Relating to Del Valle, Pico, Stearns, and Temple
1852-1875
Physical Description: 28 items
Scope and Content Note
This folder includes legal land documents relating to some of the most famous individuals relating to Los Angeles history.
While the documents of many significant individuals are included in this collection, this folder focuses on 24 items relating
to Francis P.F. Temple, Abel Stearns, Pío Pico, and Ignacio Del Valle.
Miscellaneous Legal Documents
1850-1884
Physical Description: 33 items
Scope and Content Note
This folder various types of legal documents not included in other folders such as: affidavits, leases, and by-laws.
Oversized Documents
1861-1889
Physical Description: 7 items
Scope and Content Note
Includes: maps and United States land grants.
