Richard Barnes Mason Papers, 1847-1848

Summary

Creators:

Mason, Richard Barnes, 1797-1850

Abstract:

Contents: Circulars and documents as Military Governor of California; letters from Mason describing discovery of gold; methods of mining, effect of mines on California, and problems of government arising after end of war with Mexico; and a few letters to Mason. See also National Archives Microfilm Collection, Records of the Adjutant General's Office, RG 94.

Extent:

Number of containers: 1 portfolio Number of microfilm reels: 1 partial reel (29 exposures)

Language:

English

Background

Physical location:

For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.

Related resources

Other descriptive data:

Richard Barnes Mason, born in Virginia in 1797, was a Colonel in the United States Army when he arrived in 1847 in California to succeed Kearny as military governor. He was made a Brigadier General in 1848, and retained his position as governor until February 1849. He died of cholera in St. Louis in 1850.

The papers in this collection pertain mainly to Mason's governorship, and consist of circulars, regulations, orders and letters from Mason, with a few letters and documents to Mason.

The original documents come, for the most part, from the T. W. Norris Collection. The Proclamation of Dec. 27, 1847, came from the Honeyman Collection. Photocopy of Mason's letters to Roger Jones is from original items in the U. S. National Archives.

The papers have been arranged chronologically. A partial list of items contained in this collection follows.

Location of this collection:

UC Berkeley, Bancroft Library

University of California, Berkeley, The Bancroft Library

Berkeley, CA 94720-6000, US

Contact:

510-642-6481

bancref-library@berkeley.edu

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