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Guide to the Timothy Hopkins transportation collection,
1816-1942
Special Collections M0097
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Title: Timothy Hopkins transportation collection,
Date (inclusive): 1816-1942
Collection number: Special Collections M0097
Creator:
Hopkins, Timothy, 1859-1937, collector.
Extent:
12 linear ft.
Repository:
Stanford University. Libraries. Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives.
Language:
English.
None.
Property rights reside with the repository. Literary rights reside with the creators of the documents or their heirs. To obtain
permission to publish or reproduce, please contact the Public Services Librarian of the Dept. of Special Collections.
Gift of Timothy Hopkins, M. A. Ives, Mrs. Hazel Elizabeth Sullivan, Mrs. Carleton E. Miller, and others.
[Identification of item] Timothy Hopkins transportation collection, M0097, Dept. of Special Collections, Stanford University
Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
The most significant collection of letters extant on the subject of the Central Pacific is contained in the Hopkins-Huntington
correspondence. Some 2,500 letters and documents in 14 volumes cover the years 1860-1885 and are concentrated on the years
1872-1876. The letters are from Collis P. Huntington to Mark Hopkins, Leland Stanford, Alfred A. Cohen, and others. Several
volumes contain correspondence between E. B. Crocker, Alfred A. Cohen, W. C. Ralston, E. E. Hewitt and Mark Hopkins.
In addition there is a volume of letters by Leland Stanford to a variety of correspondents, 1850-1893. (Transferred to University
Archives).
Also in the collection are papers of Butler Ives, 1862-70, Central Pacific clipping books, 1872-92, and the papers of E. H.
Miller, Jr., 1859-92.
As a part of the Hopkins manuscripts, there are numerous miscellaneous items from English and Indian railroads, 1830-1868,
non-railroad transportation items, timetables, tickets, legal documents and the like.
From files Nevada Historical Society
BUTLER IVES
Born January 31st, 1830 Sheffield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, the youngest of ten children; died December, 1872 near
Vallejo, California; buried Elmwood Cemetery, Detroit, Michigan.
Educated University of Michigan. Parents; Butler Ives and Olive Hall Morse. His ancestors, John Moss (afterwards changed to
Morse) and William Ives were among Governor Eaton's party who first settled New Haven April, 1638.
His greatest work consisted of pioneer engineering, surveying and locating the line of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific
between San Francisco and Salt Lake City, working under Leland Stanford and Samuel S. Montague, chief engineer. The papers
-- seventy in number -- relating to this work have been sent to the Leland Stanford University. His contract for the locating
and surveying of the boundary line between the Territory of Nevada and the State of California -- running south and southeasterly
from Oregon -- will be sent to the Historical Society of the State of Nevada. The Ives papers in general, running back to
1754, together with the old family bible are deposited for safekeeping with the Clarence Burton Historical Society, Detroit.
His brother, Caleb Ives, went west on the death of Butler, December, 1872, and returned with his effects and papers. The latter
were given to Marvin A. Ives by his father, Caleb, in his last days saying,
I want you to have Butler's papers. He was a noble man.
The writer met about twelve years ago near Ann Arbor, Michigan an old companion, Michel J. Noyes, who had not seen Butler
Ives for fifty years. His first words when I met him were,
He was the finest man I have ever known.
Among his effects was a letter of introduction dated December, 1862 to ___________ Miller, Banker of Sacramento, California
from George A. Thayer, one of the first mayors of Grand Rapids, Michigan, who likewise spoke of him in the very highest terms,
both as a gentleman and as an engineer.
Respectfully submitted,
signed (Marvin A. Ives)
Ojai, California.
May 9, 1931.