Bulletin Is Published When We Are Able

California S t a t e Library Foundation Number 104 2012 California S t a t e Library Foundation Number 104 2012

Editor Gary F. Kurutz

editorial assistant Kathleen Correia

Copy Editor 2 �� The Sutro Library Now Open in a Sparkling New Location� M. Patricia Morris By Gary F. Kurutz Board of Directors Kenneth B. Noack, Jr. 6 �� Adolph Sutro as Book Collector� President By Russ Davidson George Basye Vice-President Thomas E. Vinson 38 �� Reflections on the Sutro Library� Treasurer By Gary E. Strong Donald J. Hagerty Secretary 40 �� The Sutro Library’s Long Journey Is Over� Stacey Aldrich State Librarian of California By Gary F. Kurutz

43 �� W. Michael Mathes (1936–2012): A Remembrance� JoAnn Levy Allan E. Forbes Sue T. Noack Herbert J. Hunn By Gary F. Kurutz Marilyn Snider Phillip L. Isenberg Thomas W. Stallard Mead B. Kibbey 52 �� Recent Contributors Sandra Swafford

Gary F. Kurutz Julia Schaw Executive Director Administrative Assistant Shelley Ford Bookkeeper

Opinions of the authors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of their institutions, the California State Library or the Foundation. Front Cover: The sparkling new entranceway of the Sutro Library and J. Paul Leonard The Bulletin is included as a membership benefit to Foundation members and those individuals Libraries on the campus of San Francisco State University. contributing $40.00 or more annually to Foundation Back Cover: Oil-on-canvas portrait of Adolph Sutro by A. A. Anderson, 1887. Programs. Membership rates are: Illustrations / Photos: Front cover and pages 2-5, courtesy of HMC Architects; pages Associate: $40-$99 6-42, the Sutro Library; page 43, Marianne Hinckle; pages 43-50, Sutro Library. Contributor: $100-249 Sponsor: $250-$499 Lauranne Lee of the Sutro Library and Vincent Beiderbecke of the California State Patron: $500-$999 Library photographed and scanned many of the images. Institutional: $500 Design: Angela Tannehill, Tannehill Design Corporate: $750 Lifetime Member: $1,000 California State Library Foundation Pioneer: $5,000 1225 8th Street, Suite 345, Sacramento, CA 95814 Subscription to Libraries: $30/year tel: 916.447.6331 web: www.cslfdn.org | email: [email protected]

bulletin 104 1 “Across the board, researchers, new patrons and returning patrons have unanimously loved the new facilities.” The Sutro Library Diana Kohnke, Librarian, Sutro Library.

The sparkling glass and steel front façade of the new Sutro Library and J. Paul Leonard Library provide an inviting entrance from the Quad of San Francisco State University. The Sutro Library is on the fifth and sixth floors. Courtesy HMC Architects.

2 California State Library Foundation Now Open in a � The Sutro Library Sparkling New Location By Gary F. Kurutz

n August 1, 2012, State Librarian of California Stacey Aldrich greeted and welcomed researchers to the opening of the Sutro Library, the San Francisco branch of the State Library, in its attractive and spacious new home in the heart of San Francisco State University. Located on the fifth and sixth floors of the renovated and expanded J. Paul Leonard Library, this opening marks the end of nearly a century of temporary facilities for this noteworthy public research library bequeathed to the State Library by the heirs of Adolph Sutro. This date also marks the happy conclusion of over a decade of planning and construction. Ms. Aldrich was accompanied by David Cismowski, Debbie Newton, Jarrid Keller, and Gerald Maginnity of the State Library’s executive committee along with a joyous Sutro Library staff led by Sutro Supervising Librarian Haleh Motiey. Diana Kohnke, the Sutro Library’s invaluable new reference librarian enthusiastically observed, “Across the board, researchers, new patrons and returning patrons have unanimously loved the new facilities.” As researchers approach the J. Paul Leonard Library and look at its gleaming north façade and its inviting entranceway, they will see in large letters “J. Paul Leonard Library / Sutro Library.” The main floor of this twenty-first century university library certainly gives a wel- coming feeling. In recognition of its comely design, the building’s architectural firm, HMC, won the 2012 Project of the Year Award by the Design-Build Institute of the Western Pacific Chapter. The space is filled with light and openness, and lounge chairs encourage study and quiet socialization. It is indeed an inspiring temple of learning. Off to one side is the hallmark of the modern academic library: a cof- fee service. In another direction, a large iconic letter “i” graces the wall, meaning this is the Information Center. Near the doorway, a sign with an enlargement of the Sutro bookplate leads the researcher to the elevators and the new Sutro facility. After a short trip to the fifth floor, the library patron enters an attractive entrance lobby. On one wall is a beautiful digitized portrait of Adolph Sutro, the amazing San Franciscan who created the nucleus of this great library. The reader will then be greeted by the friendly and helpful Sutro Library staff from behind a handsome and functional information and refer- EDITOR’S NOTE ence desk. The researcher is now poised to make use of one of the Mr. Kurutz is the Foundation’s executive director. He wishes to notable libraries of California. express his gratitude to Supervising Librarian II Haleh Motiey, On the north side of the fifth floor is a long bank of windows that Librarian Diana Kohnke, and Special Assistant Lauranne Lee overlooks the beautifully landscaped central “quad” of San Francisco of the Sutro Library for their cheerful assistance with this issue State University. Open stacks filled with one of the nation’s largest of the Bulletin. genealogy and United States local history collections beckons the

bulletin 104 3 The attractive entrance to the new facility is graced by windows looking out to the Quad. Students and visitors enjoy comfortable seating and tables for books and a variety of electronic devices. Courtesy HMC Architects. reader. Once library patrons check their excited about the ability to use the micro- records, and film copies of Sutro Library belongings into nearby lockers, a series film scanners to obtain clearer and sharper special collections such as the Mexican of handsome wooden tables and comfort- images than before.” pamphlet collection. To help researchers able chairs on the north wall are available. To the immediate west of the reference as they gaze into the screens of micro- In this age of laptops and tablets, all have desk is the glass enclosed rare materials form reading machines, the windows are ready access to power, and the facility is reading room. Here scholars studying rare blocked off. This side of the public area fully equipped for wireless connectivity. books, manuscripts, maps, and pictorial is also filled with open stacks containing Behind the tables are stacks loaded with material are segregated. To protect these more genealogical material and a sizeable regional and county histories, directories, invaluable and irreplaceable collections collection of California history. gazetteers, family histories, biographies, against ever so clever thieves that prey on As a reminder of the library’s origins ship passenger lists, and periodicals. libraries, researchers are literally locked with Adolph Sutro, the walls that are not The new facility provided the State into the room. Easily viewable from the covered with bookshelves are embellished Library’s Information Technology Bureau reference desk, they have to request per- with framed reproductions of treasures the with an opportunity to introduce new tech- mission to exit. But, what a treasure trove great man collected. The most imposing is nology and equipment into the reading of incunabula, Hebrew scrolls, botani- the aforementioned full-length, seven-foot room. Digital and analog resources live cal drawings, English diurnals, and early high digital portrait of Adolph Sutro in the comfortably side-by-side. As Kohnke noted, nineteenth century Mexican imprints entranceway. This is flanked by a full-color “Although slightly trepidatious about the await their eager eyes! reproduction of Sutro’s own cigar box new technology to begin with, patrons, Beyond the rare materials reading room label “Flor de Adolph Sutro.” The chro- in the end, embraced and lauded the new are additional tables and stations for view- molithograph for his Havana cigars fea- book scanners and microfilm scanners. ing the Sutro’s immense collection of tures a profile of Sutro along with his Cliff Members of the Daughters of the Ameri- microforms of U.S. local histories, city House, gardens, and baths. On another can Revolution (D.A.R.) were especially directories, cemetery records, U.S. census wall is a beautiful full-size reproduction

4 California State Library Foundation (79 x 82 inches) of a colored lithograph of the Sutro Baths; a photograph of Sutro’s elegant Cliff House; and the celebrated world map (78 x 50 inches) by Pieter van den Keere, c. 1610. The originals are now securely stored. Another framed picture is an enlargement of a striking photograph showing a very happy Sutro in his library at his home in Sutro Heights. Supplement- ing these are handsome wood and plexi- glass exhibit cases designed to showcase library treasures. One of these, however, permanently protects a beautiful marble bust of Sutro. The sculpture at one time was actually on display at Sutro’s museum in his famous natatorium overlooking the Pacific Ocean. internet access and will be able to handle great delight in its size and richness. For Elevators take staff and visitors to the top a variety of electronic media. With ever- decades, the Sutro Library has been known floor of the building. The vast majority of changing technology, flexibility is the key. primarily for its incomparable genealogy the square footage on this level is devoted The remainder of this lofty space is and local history collections with bus- to a high security vault housing the Sutro’s devoted to staff and volunteer offices and loads of family historians delving into its remarkable rare book and manuscript col- workrooms. Answering reference ques- resources. Now with the Sutro located in lection. At last, the books and collections tions via email, packing materials for the heart of the campus, it will open the can, figuratively speaking, breathe. They are interlibrary loans, processing gifts to the rare book and other special collections to no longer crammed onto towering compact collection, performing minor repairs on a new user group. One can only imagine shelves or double and triple shelved. Fur- books, copying documents, and digitiz- the delight of an English major as he or thermore, they will not have to move again. ing collections are just some of the mul- she opens a First Folio Shakespeare from It is indeed an impressive sight to walk into titude of functions conducted behind the 1623 (the first collected works of the bard); this high security area and see stack after scenes. Staff and volunteers, however, the incredulous faces of geography majors stack of vellum and leather-bound volumes will be working in a cheerful space with as they study maps from the seventeenth covering scores of fascinating topics from new furniture and equipment. Moreover, century showing California as an island; ancient theological tomes to a first edition offices have windows—a real bonus in any or the gasps of delight as art history stu- of Charles Darwin’s famous voyage on the work situation. The north side windows dents turn the leaves of botanical books H.M.S. Beagle. State of the art fire suppres- overlook the green lawns, trees, and path- illustrated with hand-colored plates. It is sion, fire-rated doors, humidity and tem- ways that make up the central quad of the anticipated that the various humanities perature control, and electronic security university. On those rare cloudless or fog- and liberal arts departments of San Fran- will safeguard these precious collections for free days, the Pacific Ocean and hills of cisco State and other state universities will generations to come. San Francisco offer a soothing vista. If one find a Golconda of original source mate- In the middle of the north side of this looks to the northeast, Mt. Sutro is in view. rial on the upper floors of this sparkling floor is an attractive seminar room. Here How appropriate! new facility. staff will be able to give orientation ses- Importantly, the Sutro Library’s staff It seems only appropriate to extend a sions and workshops related to collec- will be able to work more directly with the sincere round of applause to present and tion strengths and the fascinating history university’s students and faculty. Already, past Sutro Library and California State of Adolph Sutro and his library. It is also staff has conducted several tours and met Library staff who have had to move this hoped that visiting scholars and other with the library faculty of the university’s great collection many times, discover and researchers will be able to share informa- Leonard Library, and the future promises negotiate for new spaces, handle innu- tion about their own projects and how they a bright and productive relationship. The merable building emergencies, and fend are using the library’s collections and ser- university’s provost of academic affairs off the budget cutters who would threaten vices. Of course the room is equipped with toured the collections and expressed this great library. 

bulletin 104 5 t is quite possible that in the Adolph annals of American book collecting and library history, there Sutro is no collector who has received less recognition—in relation to the value and impor- as Book tance of his library than the San Francisco entrepreneur Adolph Sutro. Sutro (1830- Collector 1898), an emigre to the United States from Prussia, began his collecting in a serious, systematic way in the early 1880s; within the span of ten years—driven by A New Look the ambition to create and endow a great By Russ Davidson public research library—he had assembled what apparently was the largest private library in America. At its peak, Sutro’s library contained perhaps 250,000 volumes and as many as 300,000 titles.1 It was unrivaled, however, not only for its size, but also for the strength and richness of many of its holdings. These comprised incunabula; a wealth of sixteenth-century books printed by all of the great European publishing houses; extensive runs of early scientific and technical treatises and periodicals; exhaustive collections of tracts, pamphlets, and periodicals documenting periods of English, Continental, and Mexi- can political, literary, and religious history; unique manuscript holdings pertaining to ancient Jewish history and to the history of eighteenth-century travel and discovery—the list runs on. In a word, Sutro had wanted to form a collection with sufficient range and depth across different branches of human knowledge and periods of history that it might serve as the basis for a leading public research library on the

EDITOR’S NOTE Dr. Russ Davidson’s superb overview of the formation of Adolph Sutro’s rare book collection and its subsequent history is reprinted from the Issue Number 75 (Spring / Summer 2003) of Oil on canvas portrait of Adolph Sutro, the Bulletin. Russ Davidson is curator emeri- 1887. The artist, A. A. tus of Latin American and Iberian collections Anderson, captured the larger-than-life and professor emeritus of librarianship at the persona of Sutro in University of New Mexico. A native of San this full-length portrait. Francisco, he has had an abiding interest in The original painting measures 9 x 6 feet. the early history of the Sutro Library.

6 California State Library Foundation Pacific Coast, and he was largely success- to a sentence or two. For example, Carl Thus the question inevitably arises, ful in meeting this objective. Cannon’s survey, American Book Collectors why would a man who figured so promi- Given this success and the magnifi- and Collecting from Colonial Times to the nently in the history of book collecting in cence of his library, it would seem to be a Present, makes no mention of Sutro, nor the United States receive so little recogni- reasonable expectation to find Sutro listed is he among the 359 “significant Ameri- tion? How could accounts such as Ruth among the ranks of America’s eminent can book collectors,” included in Donald Granniss’, which sought to document book collectors. The reality, however, is Dickinson’s more recent Dictionary of “the growth of libraries” and “the own- otherwise. At the height of his book buy- American Book Collectors.3 Typical of the ership of books by individuals,” in this ing ventures, when his library neared and treatment that Sutro receives, when he is country either omit or at best make scant then exceeded the 100,000-volume mark, mentioned, is that accorded him by Ruth reference to Adolf Sutro? The answer is Sutro did receive a measure of recogni- Shepard Granniss in the landmark 1939 multi-faceted but has two broad sources: tion, particularly in the local and regional survey, The Book in America ... ,4 in which first, the unfortunate fate which befell the press.2 Yet in the main, the record is Sutro and his library are together given a library after its owner’s death, consigning strangely silent concerning Sutro and his total of three lines—this in a book whose it to neglect, disuse, and partial destruc- library. Few directories or collective biog- declared purpose was to correct the defi- tion; and second, the belief—given cre- raphies of notable collectors published in ciencies of previous studies and do justice dence in anecdotal and popular accounts this country mention Adolph Sutro, and to the full range of book collecting in the but false to a great extent that Sutro was those that do generally limit their remarks United States.5 not a collector or bookman in the more

“Flor de Adolph Sutro.” Adolph Sutro, when he first came to California in the Gold Rush, made a living selling tobacco in San Francisco. This beautiful cigar box label for Cuban cigars was commissioned by the great collector. Flanking his portrait are views of Sutro Heights (left) and the Sutro Baths.

bulletin 104 7 ual was Edward F. O’Day, a columnist for a San Francisco weekly entitled Town Talk. Curious to know more about the library and its colorful founder, O’Day sought out the veteran San Francisco bookdealer and bibliophile Robert E. Cowan. As O’Day knew, Cowan was the perfect source. A man of wide erudition, Cowan had per- sonally known Sutro, had inspected books housed in the Montgomery Block quarters several times, and had gotten second- hand descriptions of Sutro’s book-hunting exploits and methods of acquisition from two of the individuals with the great- Sutro Library bookplate. Designed for Adolph Sutro, the Sutro Library est knowledge of Sutro’s library, George still uses this handsome exlibris or bookplate. With the banner “Hard Work Conquerors All,” the illustration shows scenes important to Sutro: the Moss and Frederic Beecher Perkins.6 In Cliff House, Sutro Heights, the “Honest Miner,” and the Sutro Tunnel, Nevada. the interview with O’Day, Cowan drew upon his rich store of information to leave the reader with a series of sharp images sophisticated sense of the term, but sim- imately half was warehoused in a building of Sutro and several of the eccentric per- ply a parvenu and latecomer, who opened on Battery Street, and the other half stored sonalities around him—Moss; Perkins; up his checkbook to buy vast quantities of on shelves in a specially-renovated suite of Moss’s successor, Ella Weaver; Sutro’s books, operating without any underlying offices that he rented in what was called daughter Emma, the executrix of his estate method or rationale. In the intertwined fate the “Montgomery Block.” During the con- and the only one of his six children who of Sutro’s library on the one hand, and the flagration which swept over the city in the shared, to a small degree, his bibliophilic distorted image of him as a collector on the wake of the 1906 earthquake, all of the interests; and W. R. H. Adamson, coex- other, lies the explanation for his puzzling books in the Battery Street warehouse— ecutor of the estate and a close adviser to absence from the pages of American book some 100,000 volumes or more—were Sutro. Cowan, it is clear from his remarks, collecting history. destroyed. The fireproofed Montgomery found much to admire in Sutro—his suc- Block survived. In a further misfortune, cess as a pioneering California business- SUTRO AS COLLECTOR: FACT AND FANCY Sutro—distracted during his final years by man, his knowledge of languages and In January 1917, the Sutro Library was multiple business and political interests— refined European upbringing, his philan- opened to the public as the San Francisco had neglected to write a new will. The old thropy and record of civic leadership—but branch of the California State Library. By will had been drawn up in 1882, on the eve he did harbor certain reservations about that time, Adolph Sutro had been dead for of Sutro’s book-buying ventures, and thus Sutro as a book collector, and more specifi- nearly two decades, and the Library had made no stipulation about the disposition cally, about Sutro’s methods of acquiring suffered greatly during the interval. Sutro of the library. As a result, it was contested material. In what would later become an had on many occasions publicly described by Sutro’s heirs along with the rest of the oft-quoted passage, Cowan offered the fol- his plans to donate his library to the city estate. In 1913, after years of protracted lowing observation: of San Francisco, after first constructing litigation, Sutro’s children finally agreed He had a queer way of buying a building in which to house it and then to donate it to the California State Library. which was particularly successful in providing an endowment for its growth Even in its diminished state, the Sutro Italy. He’d go into a book shop and and maintenance. He had devoted con- Library remained an exceptional collec- see ten or fifteen thousand volumes, siderable time and energy to formulating tion with several areas of unduplicated mostly in pigskin or parchment. He’d these plans, but unfortunately—in one of strength. Although announcements about ask how much was wanted per vol- the signal failures of his life—waited too the opening of the Sutro Branch in 1917 ume for the whole collection. Perhaps long to implement them. When he died in fell, unsurprisingly, upon a largely disinter- the dealer would say, “four lire.” He’d 1898, the library was stored in two loca- ested public, they did stir the imagination offer two lire, and get the whole stock. tions in downtown San Francisco. Approx- and memories of some. One such individ- And usually it would be a bargain. Or

8 California State Library Foundation Sutro Baths, c. 1896. Measuring It is quite possible that in the annals of American a stupendous 79 x 82 inches, this full-color print is one of the most famous views of a book collecting and library history, there is no San Francisco landmark. Built by Sutro, the baths opened on March 14, 1896, and ranked collector who has received less recognition—in as the world’s largest indoor swimming facility. The baths burned down in 1966. The relation to the value and importance of his library late Herb Caplan generously donated the original lithograph to the Sutro Library. than the San Francisco entrepreneur Adolph Sutro.

bulletin 104 9 Plan of Sutro Heights. This map shows the location for a proposed library or museum. Sutro was dissuaded from placing his collections at his ocean side estate because of the high humidity. However, it was out of the fire zone during the April 1906 downtown holocaust.

he’d go to the old monasteries and Hubert Howe Bancroft, to cite two promi- d’art.8 Sutro’s purposes, as will be seen, ask the monks to sell their old trea- nent examples—engaged in similar prac- were quite different, and both the structure sures. They’d refuse, whereupon he’d tices. That many, such as Huntington, may and qualities of his library and the man- draw from his pockets handfuls of have done so in more genteel or discreet ner in which it was developed were fully American gold, and the impoverished fashion is essentially beside the point. The consistent with them. Cowan’s remarks, monks would yield. These methods differences are cosmetic; they, like Sutro, however, tended to get repeated and the of buying account for the enormous were on a mission and would let nothing impression that they left, both of Sutro as heterogeneous mass of books in the stand in their way. an over-eager and undisciplined collector Sutro collection. He didn’t live long Cowan’s remarks also leave the impres- and of his library as something of a giant enough to round the collection out.7 sion that Sutro’s library had no particular shapeless mass, became solidified in the These comments of Cowan’s require shape or design, that he simply grabbed minds of those concerned with such mat- some analysis and qualification. First, they at books and collected without any coher- ters. Consider, for example, the opinion leave the impression that this approach ent underlying strategy. This characteriza- expressed by Milton J. Ferguson, who, as was Sutro’s principal, if not exclusive, tion is equally unfair. It is true that Sutro’s assistant librarian of the California State method of acquiring books. To so char- library extended into many areas and fields Library, wrote about Sutro: “If the collector acterize him, however, would be unfair. and had no single unifying theme, but the had any early ideas about the scope of his Without question, Sutro engaged in such library’s heterogeneity was consistent with library, he soon forgot them in the excite- practice and (as described below) gladly Adolph Sutro’s original plan for it. ment of gathering his treasures.”9 Fergu- seized opportunities to buy significant Unlike many bookmen, such as Henry son could not have been more wrong. Not parts of libraries or even, in one instance, Clay Folger, Sutro was not out to collect only did Sutro have a clear sense, from the a dealers’s entire stock. But in this regard, exhaustively on a particular author and outset, of the kind of library he planned to Sutro was hardly unique; all of the great period, nor was he out to concentrate, like assemble, but—as his correspondence with collectors of his day Henry Huntington, a Pierpont Morgan, on collecting rare and his own staff and with figures in the book or Sutro’s San Francisco contemporary, precious books, manuscripts, and objets trade make clear, he maintained this focus

10 California State Library Foundation Sutro, a populist and staunch foe of the robber barons who controlled the California economy, won election as mayor of San Francisco in 1894. Unfortunately, his term as mayor distracted him from building a suitable home for his great library. until his collecting energies gave out. The end—working against powerful financial devote some portion of this wealth for one claim of Cowan’s that may be accepted and mining interest he was successful. the benefit of the people among whom at face value is that Sutro did not live long After the tunnel was completed in 1879, I have so long labored. I first resolved to enough to round out his library. Sutro sold out his interest, and by the end collect a library, a library for reference, not Thus, if Cowan’s impressions are only of 1880, had realized a profit of more than a library of various book curiosities, but a partially true, and in some respects not $700,000. He then turned his attention library which shall compare with any in true at all, how, exactly, did Adolph Sutro to real estate, and within two years had the world.”11 Thus, in the classic late nine- operate? What were his guideposts, meth- significantly increased his fortune by pur- teenth century gospel of wealth tradition, ods, and motives? Although Sutro’s pas- chasing valuable properties in downtown Sutro decided to use part of his fortune to sion for books was long-standing, indeed San Francisco as well as extensive tracts of enhance the cultural good of his adopted dated back to his boyhood years in Aix- land in outlying, undeveloped parts of the city, and in characteristic fashion, he set laChapelle, he was not in the position to city. Now measuring his worth in the mil- his sights high, taking as models some undertake large-scale buying until the lions of dollars, Sutro set out in 1882 on a of the great libraries of Europe, or of the early 1880s. During the previous decade, lengthy trip that took him to the Far East, eastern United States. While this goal may however, Sutro had made a series of trips South Asia, the Near East, and Europe. have been overly ambitious, California in to London to raise capital for his project Sutro spent almost two years in Europe, the early 1880s still lacked a single library to construct a tunnel to drain the silver and his extended stay allowed him to lay the of high stature. Even at the time of Sutro’s mines of the Comstock Lode near Vir- foundation for his library. The idea of the death—some fifteen years in the future— ginia City, Nevada.10 He took advantage of library, though, and of the purpose behind the library of the Berkeley campus of the these trips to visit bookshops and make it had been taking shape in his mind for a University of California numbered only minor purchases. Sutro’s struggle to get number of years. Now it took solid form. 80,000 volumes.12 Sutro launched into the the tunnel project capitalized and com- “The wealth of man,” Sutro stated, “can be task of building a library with the same pleted was titanic, and it consumed his enjoyed only a short portion of the immea- single-minded determination that he had life for more than a decade. But in the surable span of time... and I resolved to previously brought to the tunnel project

bulletin 104 11 and by the time he was through, would spend nearly as many years assembling his library as he had in seeing the tunnel construction to completion. Initially, in late 1882–early 1883, Sutro did all of his own buying, either directly from dealers and through occasional bidding at auctions, or by using dealers as his agents and scouts. He visited bookshops constantly and corresponded with dealers in Scotland and Germany. Among the London booksellers he worked with were J. Britnell, Wildy & Sons, William Ridler, Maggs, J. Westnell, E. W. Stibbs, and Bernard Quaritch.13 Since he began with only the rudiments of a collection, Sutro’s orientation in building his library was extremely broad. In the beginning, there was little that he could not use, as long as it met the criteria—in his eyes—of having undisputed historical or literary worth and of documenting or reflecting the growth and development of European civilization from antiquity to modern times and the spread of that civilization in other lands. He did not restrict himself in terms of language, buying in French, German, Spanish, Italian, and Latin just as freely as in English, nor was he put off by the format of an item; his growing library soon included not only books but pamphlets, broadsides, prints, periodicals, and manuscripts. Adolph Sutro happily reposes in his library at his home in Sutro Heights. Typical of Sutro’s acquisitions from these London dealers were a series of to read widely and deeply in the history collecting and the formation of a pre- purchases he made in spring 1883 from of European law, politics, religion, and eminent research library to grasp that he Bernard Quaritch. In March 1883, Quar- letters. So active was Sutro in this period could no longer operate entirely on his itch sold him a large group of English that within a year he had acquired close own. Rather, he would increasingly need Civil War tracts and newspapers, which to 35,000 volumes, and it was apparently the specialized knowledge and services of had come on the market during the sale during this first whirlwind of buying that a professional bookman. The person Sutro of the Sunderland Library.14 In the same he became known in London book circles found for this position was Carl Friedrich month, Quaritch sold him, for the sum of as the “California Book Man.”17 Mayer, one of the many booksellers with £5.10, a run (1688-1726) of the “Monthly It was also in this period that Sutro whom Sutro had dealings during his visits Mercuries.”15 Then, a few weeks later, he began to realize that, to continue at the to Germany.18 Mayer was a Munich dealer, bought from Quaritch a group of 1,005 same pace and sustain his endeavor, he well versed in the antiquarian trade, with parliamentary “occurrences,” correspond- would need to hire an associate. First, he very good language abilities. Furthermore, ing to the year 1641. 16 Thus we find Sutro could not remain abroad indefinitely. His he had compiled a catalogue of imprints buying printed material of every type, indi- family required his attention, as did his in the Buxheim Library, out of which vidual imprints as well as collections and San Francisco business interests. Second, Sutro would acquire a great many of his sets, that would enable a man of education he had come to know enough about book incunabula and early sixteenth-century

12 California State Library Foundation The gateway to Sutro Heights, San Francisco. books. Mayer’s circumstances coincided With Mayer in place, Sutro felt free to a library that would have practical value, with Sutro’s needs. He was also intrigued finish his travels and to return to Califor- he decided that its strongest segment by Sutro’s plans to establish a free public nia, which he did later in 1884. Although should be science and technology. While research library, and in late 1883, the two separated by several thousand miles, the not abandoning his earlier focus on politi- reached an agreement. Mayer would move two kept in close contact via frequent cor- cal and cultural history, he gave Mayer to to London, act as Sutro’s agent in purchas- respondence. During his first months of understand that he should concentrate ing books, and oversee their subsequent employment, Mayer wrote to Sutro more on acquiring scientific and technical lit- storage, cataloging, packing, and shipping. than once a week, gradually tapering off erature. Mayer took this instruction to Mayer began his work full-time as Sutro’s to a letter every two weeks. His letters heart, although initially he found it to be “Librarian” in May 1884 and continued in indicate that he not only kept Sutro fully a challenge, for it went against his anti- this capacity (receiving a monthly salary up to date on his buying but also that he quarian instincts. For example, reporting of £20) through November 1886. He then followed, with very little deviation, Sutro’s on purchases that he made at a Puttick & spent a further six months—from Decem- instructions about what to emphasize in Simpson auction of early June 1884 (only ber 1886 through May 1887-working part- his purchases. weeks after he began his London assign- time for Sutro, helping to wind down the Since Sutro wished above all to create ment), Mayer wrote, in his typically off-key London operation.19 a “reference” library, by which he meant English: “For one of them I cannot ask

bulletin 104 13 One of the most spectacular buildings your indemnity. This Dutch printing of book trade—devoted most of his time to ever constructed in San Francisco was the Cliff House, built by Sutro. Fire 1489 completes a very gap in our collec- buying at auctions. His buying was prin- consumed the original Cliff House in tion, because we want a ‘Delft’ printing.”20 cipally done through three houses: Puttick 1894, and Sutro replaced it with this Victorian chateau. Sadly, it too, caught He soon curbed these impulses, however, & Simpson, H. H. Hodgson, and Sotheby. fire and burned in 1907. and fell into line with Sutro’s instruc- He would scrutinize their sale catalogs, tions, which Sutro continuously repeated inspect the lots in advance, and then exe- were “to buy only useful books, no rare- cute his bids, always keeping a sharp eye ties.”21 Mayer set about in very methodical out for works in the natural and physical fashion to fulfill that dictate. Although he sciences, as well as in medicine and engi- sometimes bought directly from book- neering. In a sale at Hodgson’s in January shops and would also receive special 1885, for example, he reported to Sutro offers, Mayer—as one experienced in the that he had acquired “about 200 engi-

14 California State Library Foundation The most famous cartographic treasure acquired by Sutro was a spectacular wall map of the world by Pieter van den Keere, c. 1610. It measures 78 x 50 inches and is the only known copy.

reported that he had bought “some good & Simpson’s for only £17.25 His ability to sets of scientific periodicals, and a com- maneuver in this way and his grasp of the plete...copy of Journal and Proceedings of market was a sore point with certain book- the Royal Geographical Society. London, dealers, who saw him and Sutro as inter- altogether 76 vols.”24 lopers. The competition with Quaritch Thus observant of Sutro’s instructions, was particularly intense and at times acri- Mayer labored on—month after month— monious. A telling illustration occurred in to fill gaps in holdings already obtained July 1885, when the two were bidding for a and to acquire essential new titles. From lengthy run of the London Gazette: “I went San Francisco, Sutro remained actively in having made up my mind to give up to involved, exhorting Mayer to forge ahead 90. Quaritch was bidding against me very and often recommending specific books excited and going up to 125—. I could not and periodicals that he wanted. In certain get them. They were put down for Q. at instances, the time between the issuance 130—. Q. was very angry, but two days of a catalog and the auction was sufficient after he apologized solemnly in Sotheby’s, to allow Sutro to receive the catalog, mark before the beginning of the sale.”26 What the items he wanted, and get it back to Quaritch and other dealers resented was Mayer before bids were due. Generally, that Sutro, the “California Book Man,” neering books and papers or periodicals, however, Sutro had to rely on his agent to was competing against them on their own among them very many privately printed anticipate his wants, and that—after all— terms. He was not a dealer himself, but reports on railways, water supplies (of was why he hired him. Moreover, Mayer by using Mayer as a full-time agent, he various towns), harbours, sewage, etc. etc. brought all of his technical acumen and managed to buy at cut-rate prices. Mayer I got about 620 volumes of them for one understanding of the book trade to bear summed it up as follows: thousand and odd shillings. This is a very on his work. He was alert to bargains and Generally I must say he [Quaritch] useful increase of the technical part of the highly conscious of market values. For is not very inclined to do business library.”22 Some months later, he wrote in example, a copy of the magnificently illus- with you through me, looking at me a similar vein, informing Sutro that mate- trated botanical work, Bateman’s Orchida- as an intruder who takes the profit rial purchased from the Osterley Park Sale ceae of Mexico, had sold in the Sunderland from the trade in an never heard of had enabled “the completion of our collec- sale for £77. Mayer considered this over- and in his eyes quite illegitimate way. tion of industrial arts.”23 In July 1885, he priced, and later purchased a set at Puttick The dealers know very well, that your

bulletin 104 15 (Left) Bookbinding with a gold-stamped image of the “Honest Miner.” Sutro, in his heroic campaign to build the tunnel under Mt. Davidson, issued several publications. For these, he commissioned a special binding as shown here.

(Right) This staged photograph of the great book collector was made in London in 1869. Photograph by London Portrait Company. Sutro himself spent countless hours swinging a pick in his tunnel under Mt. Davidson, Nevada. He was an inspiration to his workforce.

and my way to collect your library is saving money, which would be to be paid to them, in a way I sometimes already explained and representing at least one-third of the usual costs.27 While the dealers may have objected to Sutro’s tactics, there was little or nothing which they could do to block them. Like a businessman returning maximum profit on a minimum investment, Sutro pursued his strategy, with Mayer finding bargains everywhere. Not that Sutro’s investment was trivial (his basic monthly allocation for purchases was £30028), but Mayer generally strove to make every dollar count. Further- more, consistent with Sutro’s overall plan, Mayer spent his funds almost exclusively on bulk purchases.29 Occasionally, however, captivated by the prospect of some bibliographic gem, he would try to tempt ing Mayer that his principal interest lay guided his efforts throughout. He had con- Sutro to test the market and acquire it. in developing the technical and scientific ceived an overarching design and purpose In late 1884, for example, Mayer learned side of his library. Acknowledging this for his library, and while its boundaries of the impending sale of a number of fact, Mayer wrote back: may have been rather loosely demarcated, rare imprints, to include—as the piece de “But I understand quite well and agree they assumed more concrete form as time resistance—a Mazarin Bible, “which will be thoroughly with you, that we can buy for went on. Furthermore, Sutro never lost his sold...I fear not under £5000.”30 Although this sum of about £3,500 very many books focus or discipline. In his essay “Evolution Mayer’s estimate proved high, Sutro could of a much greater importance in the chief of a Library,” Hubert Howe Bancroft pro- have afforded this amount. Neverthe- line of your library....”31 vided a vivid image of the rabid, obsessive less, though he greatly admired the craft The policy that Sutro followed in this collector who must possess a particular and beauty of early printed books, Sutro instance, and his refocusing attention to object.32 Sutro was the antithesis of this dismissed the idea out of hand, remind- the core emphasis on scientific materials, type, once he had determined the direction

16 California State Library Foundation The first leaf of Thomas Aquinas’sSumma Theologiae (1478) is adorned with a striking illuminated initial and border decorations. Sutro purchased this incunabula in 1883 as a duplicate from the Royal State Library in Munich.

rial received such treatment, as well as cleaning and fumigation. At the same time that Mayer settled into his London assignment, Sutro hired a London bro- ker, Robert Warner, as his business agent. Warner rented him the Brooks Wharf offices and oversaw all of the financial transactions. He employed a clerk to check in the books purchased by Mayer. After ver- ification by Mayer, Warner would approve invoices for payment. And like Mayer, he corresponded frequently with Sutro, sending him monthly statements of all expenditures and transactions. He took a very hands-on approach, and—whether in keeping with Sutro’s instructions to him or simply out of his own high-minded sense of duty—kept a close eye on both Mayer and on E. Hofstätder, another German bookseller who served as Mayer’s assistant. As Warner put it, “I generally call in the office where your books are daily.”33 Warner also authorized payment of their monthly salaries to Mayer and Hofstätder. Sutro thus incurred a series of regular business expenses, including office rental, labor, cartage, preservation and binding, packing case construction, warehousing, post- age, insurance, and shipping. Indeed, the records show that for every dollar that he spent on books, Sutro spent an additional thirty-three cents in England on these of his library. He was rational, methodical, tion houses, Mayer would spend time ancillary expenses. Funds to meet all of and farsighted, rarely driven in his pursuit analyzing catalogs, cutting and pasting, these outlays were drawn by Warner on an of books by emotion or possessiveness. in order to prepare himself for the next account that Sutro established in London Although Mayer spent the majority of round of bids and purchases. Materials and replenished on a monthly basis. After his time scouting and buying books and that he acquired were delivered to Brooks several months of service to Sutro, Warner periodicals, he had—as noted above—a Wharf, where they were reconciled against wrote that the operation was consuming so number of other responsibilities. Sutro’s the lists, catalogued, and later packed into much of his time that he would henceforth London operation became a small-scale crates (protected by oilcloth) for shipment need to charge a commission of 1% on all business in itself. It was headquartered to San Francisco. Materials in disrepair purchases made.34 Sutro does not appear to at Brooks Wharf, on the Upper Thames, were sent off for patching and backing have raised any objections. Although the where Sutro rented office and warehouse and—if Mayer judged it necessary—for London operation appeared to function space. When he was not busy at the auc- rebinding. Substantial quantities of mate- smoothly, Sutro evidently decided, near

bulletin 104 17 One of the many great flower books in the Sutro collection is the three- the end of 1886, to wind it down. The let- volume Les Roses by Pierre- Joseph Redoute. Published ters from Mayer, so predictable until then, in thirty parts between suddenly dried up, and while there is no 1817 and 1824, it contains 169 exquisite hand-colored indication that Sutro became disenchanted stipple engravings. with his work, by late spring 1887, Mayer Redoute was called the “Raphael of Flowers.” was off his payroll and presumably back in Munich. His association with Sutro had lasted nearly four years. Sutro, however, was certainly not through with book buying; he had simply transferred his base to San Francisco and returned to being his own buyer. Fur- thermore, he continued (with one great exception) to acquire along the same broad lines, seeking out scientific and technical materials whenever possible, but also converting opportunities to enrich the historical and literary components of his library. An example of the latter is a collection that Sutro acquired in December 1887, belonging to a fellow San Francis- can, one Walter M. Leman. Leman was a retired actor who, during the course of a long career on the stage, had assembled an outstanding collection of early plays and dramatic works, as well as manuscripts and other publications bearing on the theme of the theatre. Sutro persuaded Leman, who had lost his sight and hence his ability to use the material, to sell him the collection, which contained some 600 titles.35 Sutro also continued to expand his holdings in European history and letters, acquiring from various dealers in England and Scotland long runs of eighteenth and nineteenth-century British newspapers and journals as well as key titles that he lacked in the field of travel and discovery. From an American dealer, Charles Soule, he acquired in 1889 a group of 700 “Com- monwealth pamphlets,” which Soule had located during a buying trip to London. Sutro’s approach also remained consistent—buy in bulk to obtain the best unit cost, and swallow the inevitable duplicates. As Soule wrote: “I can get the whole lot at a price which will allow me to offer them at $210, or 30 cents for each pam- Sutro, in his collecting, purchased dozens of spectacular natural history books. Shown here is the title page and a hand-colored plate from M. E. Bloch’s spectacular Naturgeschichte der Fische (Berlin, 1782–95). phlet. I do not know that this is a very

18 California State Library Foundation exhorbitant price, except that many in the lot might be duplicates of what you already have...”36 During the post-Mayer period, some of Sutro’s strongest acquisitions were in the natural and physical sciences. Preeminent among these was Sutro’s purchase, in 1893, of the Woodward Library. Formed by a creative San Francisco entrepreneur, Robert Blum Woodward, this library focused on the natural sciences ornithology, botany, and zoology—with some minor holdings in geography and travel literature. Though not a large collection—it numbered only several hundred volumes—it was remarkable for the depth and quality of its holdings, many of which contained superb hand-tinted plates.37 Sutro’s acquisition of this library was followed some three years later by his purchase of the Wells Chemical Library. When the Wells Library, which had been developed by the secretary of the London Chemical Society, arrived in 1896 by ship from London and was transported to the Montgomery Block quarters, its books and other publications filled twelve cases. None of these acquisitions, however, valuable as they were, could begin to match the collection of Mexicana that Sutro had bought during a trip that he made in 1889 to Mexico and Cuba. At a single stroke, Found in the Woodward’s Gardens collection, purchased by Sutro in 1893, is Sutro succeeded in acquiring the most a large folio filled with exquisite Chinese important and complete collection of nine- watercolors of natural history subjects ranging from plants to exotic fish. teenth century Mexican political, religious and related imprints and ephemera to be found anywhere in the world. This collec- “that the library shall be a free reference of life that remained to him, first political tion, numbering in the tens of thousands, library, and that scientific and technical entanglements and then a failing mind not only greatly increased the size of Sutro’s literature shall be made the most promi- would prevent Sutro from giving any fur- Library, but it also broadened its focus as nent department.”38 “Mr. Sutro,” he went ther attention to the library. well. Yet apart from this single, but spec- on to say, “fully realizes that he has a great tacular branching out, Sutro adhered to deal of purchasing to do to fill in gaps in SPECIAL STRENGTHS OF THE SUTRO LIBRARY the design that he first mapped out for nearly every department and hopes soon AND KEY SOURCES OF MATERIAL his library many years before. The fidelity to be able to give the library his full atten- In 1883, before refining his thoughts on to its emphasis on science and technology tion and place it on an equal footing with what his library should ultimately com- was reiterated in the mid-1890s by George any reference library in America.”39 This prise, Sutro made a series of striking Moss, then Sutro’s principal librarian, in was an ambitious goal, but one that Sutro acquisitions which, collectively, not only some notes that Moss compiled about the seemed well on his way to fulfilling. Unfor- doubled its size but placed it among the current state and future needs of the library. tunately, however, his book collecting days world’s foremost collections for certain “It is intended by Mr. Sutro,” wrote Moss, were coming to an end. In the few years genres and fields. He first struck at the his-

bulletin 104 19 thusian Monastery in Buxheim, Bavaria, but after the secularization of the religious orders, had passed into the hands of a nobleman. It was now up for auction, and Sutro acquired significant portions of it—several thousand volumes—including manuscripts, incunabula, and a great many books from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries notable for their woodcut and other illustrations. A month later, Sutro was in Augsburg to bid at the auction of the library of the Duke of Dalberg. He again bought extensively, acquiring as many as 8,000 volumes. Sutro’s purchases from the Dalberg Library helped crystallize his emergent emphasis on scientific and technical literature, for many of the books he obtained were in the natural sciences and medicine, including the transactions and journals of a number of learned societies, and were rich in plates and illustrations.42 As remarkable as the Buxheim and Dalberg acquisitions were, they were nevertheless exceeded, in both quantity and quality, by Sutro’s third German book- One of the curiosities in the buying success—his purchase of duplicate Banks collection is an English broadside (c. 1790) inviting imprints from the Royal State Library in people to view a 1,200 pound Munich. The Kingdom of Bavaria, to which bison. Printed in Kingston, the broadside stated that the this library then belonged, was in dire need beast had eyes like “balls of money, and Sutro had secured permis- of fire.” Attached to the document is an actual tuft sion from a high-level government official of hair from the great North to purchase such duplicates as he wanted. American mammal. Moreover, his opportunity to do so coincided with his blossoming relationship toric Sunderland Library sale, which took derland sales.41 Out of other benchmark with Charles Mayer. Anxious to continue place in London in mid-1883. The Sun- sales, such as the Hamilton and Crossley, his travels and reach the Near East, Sutro derland Library, formed originally in the and through purchases made later by him- engaged Mayer to work through the dupli- 1690s and early 1700s by Charles Spen- self and by Mayer, Sutro amplified and cates. Mayer took to the task energetically, cer, third Earl of Sunderland, was tremen- deepened his holdings on English social, and when he had finished, had increased dously rich in material from the period of political, and religious history, with the the size of Sutro’s library by some 13,000 the English Civil Wars and also contained result that he grew to hold one the richest volumes. When finally packed for ship- significant and unique political and social such collections to be found in any library. ment to San Francisco, it took 86 cases to material from the eighteenth and nine- After this fruitful round of buying in hold all of the Munich State Library books teenth centuries. Out of this library alone England, Sutro travelled to the continent in acquired by Sutro.43 Still more impressive, Sutro obtained some 30,000 imprints.40 the summer of 1883. There soon followed however, was that 33 of these cases held In addition to buying these at auction, he a memorable series of acquisitions. The incunabula. Thirty-three cases of “cradle may also have purchased a portion of them first came in September, when he bought books”! It is a staggering statistic. It is not from Quaritch, since Quaritch had man- a major part of the Buxheim Library. This clear precisely how many incunables were aged to monopolize two-thirds of the Sun- library had originally belonged to the Car- once found in the Sutro Library, and the

20 California State Library Foundation The Sutro Library makes available a magnificent collection of color plate books. One of the outstanding examples is James Bateman’s The Orchidaceae of Mexico and Guatemala (1837–1843). Bibliographer Wilfrid Blunt called it “the largest, the heaviest, but also probably the finest orchid book ever issued.” Only 125 copies were printed. The line drawing on the top right satirizes the immense size of the elephant folio.

bulletin 104 21 exact number is now of historical interest only. Sutro himself estimated that he owned over 4,000.44 There were certainly at least 3,000, or approximately one- seventh of all such books known to be in existence at the time. The range and excel- lence of the Sutro incunabula were attested to by a Cornell University scholar, Profes- sor George Lincoln Burr, who spent several days inspecting them during a visit to San Francisco in 1892. After returning to Cornell, Burr wrote to Sutro: “It is, I think, beyond all comparison the best collection in America, both as to numbers and as to quality of the books of the 15th century; and I gravely doubt if it has any rival this side of the Atlantic for its literature of the 16th century.”45 In addition to his purchases from these three major libraries, Sutro also acquired books of a similar nature, perhaps several thousand volumes in all, from dealers and bookshops in Munich, Heidelberg, Ellwangen, and other cities. His acquisitions in Germany thus consolidated the second pillar of his library—the incunabula and early printed books, focused in particular on the sixteenth-century struggles for religious and civil liberties in the Ger- man states, the study and development of cartography and the natural sciences, and European travel and discovery in the Age of Reconnaissance. Reproduced is the first leaf of the celebrated.Mishneh Torah of Moses Maimonides. Spain or Italy, 1299. Known asthe “Great Eagle” of Jewish learning, Maimonides remains the most illustrious and revered A third principal strength of the Sutro Jewish name in the post-Talmudic period. The Mishneh Torah (The Second Torah) was the only text written Library, as noted earlier, was its Mexican in Hebrew by the famed scholar and physician. Maimonides’ work is a complete codification and summary collection. Although Sutro made two book- of rabbinical law, religion, and ethics. This beautifully preserved manuscript of 217 vellum leaves was completed just seventy-five years after his death and 175 years before the first printed version. buying trips to Mexico, it was the second of these, in 1889, that vaulted him onto the top rung of collectors of Mexicana. On that trip, he encountered for sale the entire stock of one of Mexico’s most distinguished bookshops, the Librería Aba- diano, and living up to Robert Cowan’s image, he promptly bought all of it. The range of material that he acquired from the Receipt for Sutro’s Abadiano was extraordinary. It included purchase of Hebrew manuscripts and thousands of titles published in Mexico rare books from the from the sixteenth to the mid-nineteenth estate of Jerusalem century, among them exemplars of the antiquities dealer Moses W. Shapira. earliest printing presses in America,

22 California State Library Foundation religious tracts and Church documents, colonial manuscripts, and early chroni- cles of the Spanish conquest and coloni- zation. It also included rare and scarce periodicals and government publications, and—as its centerpiece—a collection of approximately 35,000 pamphlets, broadsides, and flyers produced during the first half of the nineteenth century, documenting the Mexican War of Independence and the country’s subsequent political travail. As a documentary and bibliographic source for nineteenth-century Mexican history, the material acquired by Sutro was unrivaled.46 What exactly motivated Sutro to buy up the Abadiano stock and thus branch out into the field of Mexicana is not clear. He may simply have yielded to the impulse to Japanese leaf painting. Sutro, like many patrons of the arts in the late nineteenth century, collected acquire the collection. On the other hand, Orientalia. These delicate leaf paintings are superb examples of this exotic art form. the strengths of the collection in the history of mining and civil-ecclesiastical conflict— dominant themes in Mexican history from primarily on religious matters, provid- manuscript of Maimonides, presumed to colonial times to the Porfiriato—were areas ing commentaries on the Talmud, Torah, be the only one in existence.”51 that Sutro had consistently emphasized. Mishnah, and other sacred and legal A curious footnote to these exceptional Mexico, furthermore, was obviously inte- texts. It also includes a scroll of Jewish holdings in Sutro’s Library was its early gral to collecting on early California and the law dating from c. 1299, purportedly writ- Californiana. It held extremely little in this Southwest, which Sutro briefly considered ten by the scholar Maimonides. Sutro had area. Sutro had contemplated building up developing as a special focus. acquired the material from the estate of the this part of his library and, while in Spain Sutro’s library had many other areas of Jerusalem antiquities dealer Moses W. Sha- in early 1884, had commissioned the copy- strength, almost all of which complemented pira.49 From the moment of its arrival in ing of a number of documents bearing the three major groupings described above. San Francisco, Sutro’s Hebraica—perhaps on sixteenth-century explorations of the These included its Shakesperian materi- because of its antiquity and its importance California coast, found in the Archive of als;47 its great collections of English parlia- for Biblical studies and exegesis (and also, the Indies. His interest at this point was mentary papers and proceedings (which no doubt, because of an earlier forgery per- very keen and, to further the initiative, he Lord Macaulay had reputedly used in writ- petrated by Shapira)—attracted widespread enlisted the assistance of the chief of the ing his History of England...) and of codi- interest, on both sides of the Atlantic. “The United States legation in Madrid, John fied English laws, (from the library of Lord Directors of the British Museum,” reported Foster. He then contracted with a Spanish Cairn); its collection of the papers and man- one article, “will send out men to overhaul scholar, Jose Gonzalez Verger, to research uscripts of Sir Joseph Banks (1743–1820);48 these manuscripts and definitely ascertain the documents in Seville and produce and its collection of unique medieval their character and value.”50 translations. After some months, however, Hebrew manuscripts. While there is no record that this particu- he wrote to Gonzalez Verger, requesting Although forming one of the smaller lar inspection actually took place, the man- that he discontinue the work. The latter segments within the Library, the Sutro’s uscripts were nevertheless authenticated tried to dissuade him, but to no avail. He Yemenite Hebrew manuscripts (which by various experts. In his reminiscences was probably unaware that Sutro had been number some 167) are among its most about Sutro and his Library, Robert Cowan warned by another of his hired Spanish rare and priceless holdings. Ranging from drew special attention to the strengths of hands, Manuel Peralta, that the project scrolls of extraordinary length (80 to 90 the Hebraica: “Dr. Roubin...had charge was essentially a waste of time, because feet), to individual leaves, codices, and of the Hebrew books and manuscripts. his fellow San Franciscan, H. H. Bancroft, manuscript books, the collection focuses The best thing he did was to discover the had preceded him.52

bulletin 104 23 Sutro Library is known in botanical circles for its sixteen-volume herbarium of Robert James, eighth Baron Petre. Lord Petre sponsored the plant collecting of Quaker John Bartram (1699–1777) of Philadelphia, the first American botanist. Self-taught, Bartrum became North America’s foremost plant collector, sending seeds of trees and shrubs to the great estates in England. Thousands of pressed botanical specimens are carefully preserved in this remarkable collection dating from around 1740. Bartram is considered the “father of American botany.”

The Sutro rare book collection was stuffed into a variety of spaces in the basement of the San Francisco Public Library. The Sutro moved into this civic center location in August 1923.

24 California State Library Foundation EARLY CARE, APPRECIATION, AND was often away, attending to other busi- ate need. The latter were primarily stu- UsE OF SuTRo’s LIBRARY ness, but Moss kept him fully informed of dents and faculty from the University of As has been seen, by the time he returned to all activities within the library as well as any California at Berkeley and Stanford. The San Francisco in 1884, Sutro had amassed developments affecting it from without, librarians at both institutions, J. C. Row- a collection well in excess of 100,000 vol- such as inquiries from prospective users. ell and Edwin Woodruff, respectively, took umes. As these arrived in the city, they were Typical of such communication from Moss an active interest in the Sutro Library and brought first to the warehouse on Battery was a June 1893 letter to Sutro, concerning promoted its use. Word about the library Street and then—when this facility ran out matters both internal and external: gradually spread to a wider audience, pri- of room—were taken to the Montgomery Dear Sir: Col. Little handed me a marily through the descriptions of it given Block offices. The books of course had to copy of permit sent to Prof. Davidson. by visiting scholars who were able to view be stored, but that was only the beginning. You will remember that you have Mr. and use it. Mention has already been made Sutro was actively pondering the ques- Hopkins’ translation locked in your of the Cornell scholar, George Burr, who tion of where to site his library and was desk, so hope it won’t be asked for considered the Sutro to be the leading familiarizing himself, through specialized before your return. Costansos’ diary repository in the country for Renaissance publications that Mayer procured, with had better be bound and paged before and Reformation studies. Burr’s colleague the latest European theories and opinions going into other hands (I mean the and former Cornell University President about library design and organization. translation). There will be less chance Andrew Dickson White, provided perhaps Meanwhile, he set up a full-scale adminis- of loss & damage than in loose sheets. the most glowing testimony, when he said trative and technical operation based in the Mr. Perkins is cataloguing what we about the library—following an 1892 visit: Montgomery Block offices. George Moss, a call the Reformation pamphlets, a “With considerable acquaintance among highly cultivated man with good organiza- great many do not contain Mr. May- the libraries of the United States, I should tional skills, was placed in charge and given er’s slip, and many slips written by rank this one already among the first four the title of Librarian. He managed every- him are incorrect; as so very many in value, and it is rapidly increasing.”55 thing and soon became indispensable. of them are rare & valuable it is bet- Indeed, of all the library’s early scholarly Moss’ chief assistant was the temperamen- ter to have a compact record of them visitors, none took a keener interest in it tal Frederic Perkins, who had recently been and well marked. There are a few days than White. What most impressed him dismissed as head of the San Francisco work in the bindery...54 about Sutro’s commitment was the prom- Public Library. Perkins was the principal As Moss’ letter implies, Sutro’s library ise that it held, and the vision that Sutro cataloger and also attended to a number was attracting a growing body of interest. commanded, for enriching learning and of other duties. The library employed two Initially, it will be recalled, much of the research. “All to whom I have spoken,” he other specialists, a bookbinder and a book- interest was founded on curiosity, stimu- wrote to Sutro, “...joined me in my wonder sewer, as well as a number of clerks. The lated by newspaper articles which reported at the foresight and depth of thought which operation was not inexpensive, but saving on Sutro’s library in much the same style as has prompted you not to create [only] a money was the last thing on Sutro’s mind, they would report on the discovery of a new popular public library, which any one can since all of this activity was but the prelude comet or a heretofore unknown ancient do, but one of the great libraries of the to constructing his library and to endowing city. That is, to the privileged few who had World for scholars,...”56 Since White knew the city and its citizenry with a cultural and seen it, it was a wonder to behold. And that Sutro was still attempting to build his intellectual resource of permanent value. indeed, an almost carnival-like atmosphere library and to fill in gaps, he made a point In addition to the rental of offices, there surrounded the unloading of the hundreds of informing him about collections that were expenses for building materials, such of cases of Sutro’s books onto the San Fran- were about to come on the market. In Jan- as furniture, shelving, and bookcases, and cisco wharves. As word passed that another uary 1893, for example, on the heels of a for preservation and office supplies. There shipment was in, crowds would gather to visit to Paris, he wrote to inform Sutro that were fees for janitorial services and a night witness the spectacle. the library of the just-deceased French his- watchman, and salaries for the professional As the novelty wore off, however, the torian Ernst Renan was soon to be up for staff.53 There were also special construc- interest that was displayed increasingly sale. Then six months later came another tion projects that added to the expenses. In came from people who either wanted to letter from White, to let Sutro know of 1887, for example, a special room was built know more about the library as a potential the impending sale of “a large library in for fumigating, and in 1892 Moss had a source for future research or from those Vienna....consisting of a ‘choice collection separate bindery room constructed. Sutro who wanted to consult it out of immedi- of Jewish printed books and manuscripts,’

bulletin 104 25 (Left) From 1958 until the close of 1982, the State located the Sutro in the bottom floor of the Gleeson Library of the University of San Francisco. USF leased 14,000 square feet to the Library for the nominal fee of $1.00 per year.

(Opposite page) A Sutro Library staff member gave a tour to an official from the Mexican government while the collection was located at the San Francisco Public Library. The photograph was probably taken in the early 1950s.

resolve the various questions surround- ing the disposition of the library: where to locate it, what exact relationship—legal and otherwise—should it have to the city, what would be the nature of its internal operations, and how to structure its gov- ernance and administration. Time ran out on Sutro. In 1894, he agreed to stand for election as mayor of San Francisco, persuaded to do so by a reformist group that opposed the power exerted over local business and civic affairs by the Southern Pacific Railway. Sutro was well-known and belonging to the chief Rabbi of the city.”57 expand its holdings in selected areas. In extremely popular, owing to his numerous Although Sutro displayed some interest in addition, word was gradually filtering out philanthropic activities. He won the elec- Renan’s Library, he did not make a serious about the library and sporadic use was tion by a clear majority. Yet he had none attempt to buy it, nor did he pursue the being made of it by local students and of the political skills needed to succeed Rabbi’s collection. scholars. These activities, all knit together in this position. His two years as mayor White was concerned that, even in Cali- by Sutro’s larger aims for the library, were a complete disaster, and when he fornia, Sutro’s library was still little known. augured well for the future, yet they were left office in January 1897, Sutro’s health Yet testimonies such as his, appearing in no more than a down payment. Until Sutro had been seriously undermined. Further- the national press, were slowly changing devised a concrete plan of action and pro- more, his mind began to deteriorate rap- the situation. Between January 1886 and vided the funding needed to implement idly. Within another year, in early 1898, March 1892, the library received 705 visi- it, the dream of the library would remain his children intervened and sought the tors, including many from other regions unfulfilled. Perhaps because Sutro had protection of the court. His eldest child, of the United States.58 That the library was spoken for so long about his plans for the Emma Sutro Merritt, was appointed as achieving some measure of recognition in library, the lack of specific action created a guardian to oversee all of his business these years is also evidenced in the many growing sense of unease among some of affairs, including the Library. In August letters from librarians and curators, from its enthusiasts. As Mary Barnes, of Stan- 1898, Sutro died. Emma Merritt did her both the United States and Europe, who ford’s Department of History and a fre- best to hold the library operation together, wrote seeking employment in it, as well quent user of the library, expressed it in a but events were conspiring against her. as in the continuing offers of material that letter that she wrote to Moss in September Sutro’s illness and withdrawal from any Sutro regularly received. 1895: “I hope that we are about to see bet- involvement in the library had necessarily Far from being mothballed, then, Sutro’s ter days for the library, and that it will soon brought significant new acquisitions to a library in the decade 1885–1895 was under become as famous as it deserves to be.”59 halt. While efforts were still being made the control and supervision of two highly Unfortunately, however, the better days in early 1898 to maintain the inflow of qualified librarians. Progress was slowly that Barnes, Andrew White, and many numerous technical and scientific publi- being made to arrange, catalog, and pre- others envisioned for the Sutro Library cations received gratis from government serve its more than 200,000 volumes, and were foiled by a series of events. Sutro agencies and learned societies, offers of systematic efforts were also underway to had simply waited too long to address and material made by dealers and private col-

26 California State Library Foundation lectors were politely turned down.60 In hire another librarian,”62 it was clear that who desire to pursue special studies and addition to dealing with Sutro’s absence, Sutro’s plans were in jeopardy. investigations.”64 He invited various dig- the library suffered a second major blow nitaries to visit the property and to exam- when, after a lengthy illness, George Moss DEMISE OF THE LIBRARY: ine the preliminary design for the library. died in early 1898.61 Moss had been the 1906 AND ITS AFTERMATH A particularly keen supporter of the plan heart of the operation. Moreover, Frederic In retrospect, of course, it is clear that was President Holden of the University of Perkins had recently left the employ of the Sutro’s failure to either initiate construc- California, who toured the property with a library to return to the East Coast. Thus, by tion of the library or to leave explicit large contingent of faculty, assuring Sutro the time of Sutro’s death, the library had instructions concerning the matter in his that “the closest relations with his library lost its chief administrator and its main cat- will foretold a painful history to come. Yet would be courted, for it would be of inesti- aloger, the two individuals who formed the while Sutro still had his health, the future mable value in many departments of Uni- core of its professional staff. After Sutro’s was full of promise. His first choice of a site versity effort.”65 death, work in the library largely ground for the library was a large piece of property At this time, in the 1880s, Sutro Heights to a halt. The executors of Sutro’s estate, at the extreme western edge of the city. On lay at some distance from the populated Emma Merritt and W. R. H. Adamson, this land, which came to be known as Sutro sections of San Francisco. Such isolation, continued the policy of allowing inspec- Heights, he had laid out several acres of Sutro initially thought, would work to the tion and use of the library by local and vis- beautifully landscaped gardens, accompa- advantage of the library (“In ancient Greece, iting scholars. Other activities, however, nied by statuary, pathways, and ponds, and all places of learning and study were located such as cataloging, cleaning, and binding, a palatial building in which to house and far from the fret and worry of city life...’66). were suspended. Sutro had been involved display his collection of art and artifacts.63 Later, he may have begun to have some in myriad business ventures, and until his Sutro planned to construct the library on a doubts on this score. What fundamentally finances were fully sorted out and his estate protected point of this land, from which it caused Sutro, however, to change his mind settled, library expenditures would need would command an inspiring view of the about locating the library on Sutro Heights to be reduced considerably. When Emma Pacific Ocean. The library, in addition to was the advice that various “experts” gave Merritt warned her sister after Moss’ death, housing his collection, would have “abun- him, and which he unfortunately accepted that “our finances have not permitted us to dant room and conveniences for those as scientific, that the fog and sea air of the

bulletin 104 27 Heights would be damaging to his books. Persuaded of the veracity of this claim, Sutro began to look elsewhere in the city. Within several years, he had decided upon a new location, a twenty-six acre tract that he owned near the geographical center of San Francisco. This property, on gently ris- ing land just south of Golden Gate Park and below what was then called Mount Parnassus (known today as Mt. Sutro ), also afforded a striking view of the ocean, the headlands across the Golden Gate, and other scenic vistas. By the early 1890s, plans for the library had advanced considerably, with some of its actual design features made public: It...was to be of brick and stone and 100 feet by 200 feet in size. The building was to end in a semicircular bow to form reading and newspaper rooms. The middle of the building, to a width of 60 feet, was to be open from the ground to the glass roof which covered the structure. Seven stories of stack were designed to open upon this middle space. The ranges were to be 20 feet in length and 7 feet in height. ...it was designed to provide space for half a million volumes and was to cost $300,000.67 Sutro’s decision to locate the library on this parcel of land coincided with the efforts of the University of California to establish a new campus in San Francisco to house its schools of law, medicine, phar- (Above) Portrait of macy, and dentistry (or what were then Sir Joseph Banks termed the “Affiliated Colleges”). Reason- (1743–1820). Sutro acquired a substantial ing that both the professional schools and collection of the famed the library would benefit substantially naturalist’s papers. Banks participated in Captain from sitting next to each other and cit- James Cook’s first great ing such examples as Harvard, Princeton, voyage (1768–1771). Banks indentified many Yale, and the Universities of Oxford, Cam- botanical specimens and bridge, Paris, and Berlin, Sutro offered to sent Lt. William Bligh to the South Seas on the deed half of the acreage to the University of H.M.S. Bounty to California. Berkeley’s administrators were collect breadfruit. (Bottom) Advertisement by now quite familiar with the magnitude for “Abadiano’s Ancient Book-store.” In 1889, Sutro purchased the entire stock of of Sutro’s Library, but to ensure that such this distinguished and venerable Mexico City understanding was shared by the Regents bookstore. It included a treasure trove of early Mexican imprints, pamphlets, and manuscripts. and members of the Affiliated College’s

28 California State Library Foundation site selection committee, Sutro prepared a contained in my library.”75 It was on the formal proposal summarizing the history basis of this clause in the will that Emma and strengths of the library and including claimed that the library was hers. Her parts of the testimonies furnished by Burr five siblings challenged this interpreta- and White.68 Although Sutro apparently tion, arguing that when their father wrote encountered some opposition to his pro- this in 1882, he had a private library of no posal, the Regents were delighted with it, more than five to six thousand volumes and voted unanimously in October 1895 to and that common sense dictated that the accept the offer. In negotiating the condi- great library which he subsequently devel- tions of the deed of gift, Sutro also restated oped could not reasonably be covered by his commitment to locate his library on it.76 In 1900, W. R. H. Adamson, execu- the adjoining thirteen acres and to move tor of Sutro’s will, filed a petition to sell toward its construction in the near future. the library on behalf of the majority of According to one of his associates, W. C. the heirs. Emma S. Merritt filed a counter Little, Sutro estimated that the building petition to block the sale and to obtain a would be completed within five years.69 ruling in favor of her interpretation. Sutro had persuaded the Regents of the The issue was bound up with litigation value that his library would hold for the over other parts of Sutro’s estate and did university, and their acceptance of his not get settled for another thirteen years. offer was now bound up with his assur- The safe at the Sutro Library protected such The inability of Sutro’s children to resolve treasures as the First Folio Shakespeare, ance that the library would either be built illuminated manuscripts, and the first law their dispute may have provided good copy or, were he to die before this took place, book printed in the Americas. for the newspapers, but it had tragic con- that a trust would be set up to accom- sequences for the library. plish the same.70 In the discussion that donated to the University of California.72 As noted above, an effort was made to occurred prior to the Regents’ vote, some He had researched its design and orga- provide some level of service in the library concern was expressed about whether—in nization extensively, had described the following Sutro’s death. But after a few the event that Sutro should die first—his endowment that would fund its continued years had passed, the library was essen- executors could be compelled to carry out operations, and had jotted notes about its tially shut down. In place of a librarian, his stated wishes, in the absence of legal administration and board of trustees.73 a “custodian,” Ella Weaver, was hired, to language to this effect. The Regents, not Yet, since none of the plan had been set watch over the collection and perhaps per- wanting to “crowd” Sutro, apparently took down in a finished document, in the wake form some minimal listing, sorting, and it on good faith that Sutro would soon of his death doubts were immediately arranging. As Robert Cowan put it, “Mrs. “have everything in shape, so that his expressed about whether it would ever be Weaver did nothing at the library except wishes regarding the library would be car- executed.74 Even if Sutro’s heirs—his six keep the doors closed.”77 While Sutro’s ried out to the letter.”71 Their decision to children—had been united in wanting to children contested ownership of the omit this clause from the agreement was honor their father’s wishes (virtually all library, it remained in storage, locked up a fateful one, for in less than three years, of which were a matter of public record), in the Battery Street warehouse and in the Sutro was dead, having totally failed to get the complicated finances of Sutro’s estate Montgomery Block offices. Had they man- things “in shape” and leaving his heirs to would have tied their hands initially. The aged to settle their dispute, the original entangle themselves in a web of litigation. heirs, however, were not united. On one library might still be intact. Fate, however, While he may have died without revis- side stood his daughter and eldest child, decreed otherwise. ing his 1882 will, there could be no doubt Emma Sutro Merritt, who believed firmly The 1906 earthquake that struck San as to Sutro’s own intentions for the library. that the family ought to fulfill Sutro’s Francisco was followed by devastating He had stated repeatedly that it should be aims for the library. On the other stood a fires that swept over major portions of opened and maintained for free use by majority of her five siblings, who opposed the city. The Battery Street warehouse was scholars and the public and that its loca- doing so and wanted to sell the library. In consumed by flames. The fire destroyed tion should be within the city of San Fran- his 1882 will, Sutro had bequeathed to his approximately half of the Sutro Library, cisco. He had finally narrowed its location daughter Emma “all of my books, papers, including more than ninety percent of the to the site adjoining the land that he had scrapbooks, manuscripts, and pictures incunabula, thousands of bound volumes

bulletin 104 29 ily and its lawyers were back in court.79 The litigation dragged on for several more years, but was finally settled in 1913. Whether the other Sutro children had a change of heart, or whether they had simply lost the case, it was their sister who prevailed. Once Emma Merritt’s position was vindicated, the question for the family became: to whom should the library be given? There were several possibilities. The University of California expressed interest in having the library, as did the State Library in Sacramento, and a group of Adolph Sutro’s friends revived his oft-expressed wishes that the library be presented to the city of San Francisco. The question was soon answered. In May 1913, it was announced that the heirs of the Sutro Estate had donated the collection to the Cal- ifornia State Library. Very few conditions were attached to the gift. It was stipulated that the collection must be called the Sutro Library, that the books must bear the Sutro bookplate, that exceptionally rare volumes must not circulate outside the library, and— in keeping with its founder’s wishes—that the library must remain permanently in Adolph Sutro strolling in his gardens San Francisco. It was also provided that the at Sutro Heights, San Francisco. books should be made available for public Sutro Heights looks over Seal Rocks, the Cliff House, and the Pacific Ocean. use not later than January 1, 1917. It is not entirely clear why the family, and Emma Merritt in particular, for she played of manuscripts, and tens of thousands of he told Sutro, “on which I am nervous the key role, chose to donate the collection other rare and unique imprints. It was an regarding it. I am more and more anxious to the California State Library. The lobby- immense loss. The other half of the library, to hear that you are making haste to get it ing of the State Librarian, James Gillis, between 100,000 and 125,000 volumes into a fireproof building. It has become far may well have been decisive.80 Like Sutro, housed in the Montgomery Block, was too precious to be risked much longer.”78 Gillis believed in the free public library as saved. The flames licked about the build- Although the obliteration of 100,000 an instrument of progress and enlighten- ing but did not destroy it. The bitter irony volumes was a grievous loss to scholarship ment and as a great social leveler. In any is that Sutro had long been preoccupied and a terrible reminder of the fragility of event, the Board of Trustees of the State with the threat of fire destroying his library. the library, it did not induce Sutro’s chil- Library accepted the donation and the sev- Indeed, in presenting his 1895 proposal to dren to settle their differences. Both Emma eral conditions attached to it. Although the the Regents, he had described the protec- Sutro Merritt and a majority of her siblings California Legislature did not validate the tion that the land beneath Mt. Parnassus continued to defend their positions, the trustees’ action until 1915, when a bill was afforded against this possibility as one of former determined to dispose of the library passed authorizing the Sutro Branch in its chief virtues. Others, too, had urged (or what now remained of it) in a manner San Francisco, all of the books and other Sutro to take all precaution to protect the consonant with her father’s wishes, the lat- materials stored in the Montgomery Block library against the threat of fire. Andrew ter equally determined to sell it. “...unable,” were moved in September 1913 to rented White, for example, had been very explicit as the San Francisco Call reported in July, quarters in Stanford University’s Lane on the matter: “There is only one point,” 1909, “to harmonize their views,” the fam- Medical Library, where the new branch

30 California State Library Foundation would be temporarily located. had no building, no real infrastructure, and Thus ended fifteen years of uncertainty no recognition. In Nash’s words, “Instead about the disposition of Adolph Sutro’s of striving to save $4,000 a year, San Fran- library, fifteen years of stubborn dispute ciscans should be urging the erection of a punctuated by the calamitous disaster of suitable building to house the Sutro Library, 1906. While the library had finally found where it might be used for research, or a home, it had not surmounted its difficul- pleasure, by thousands who are still in ties. On the contrary, these were about to ignorance of its existence. It has never been enter a new and in some respects more given the proper publicity.”82 Although the upsetting phase. In 1913, when the State move to eliminate the Sutro Library went Library trustees accepted the gift, the leg- nowhere, the Sutro’s defenders could not islature also passed a bill appropriating turn the publicity that it generated to any monies to provide a building and opera- good effect. The library continued to lan- tional funds for the Sutro Library. Obvi- guish in the San Francisco Public Library, ously, the new branch library could not where, in the early 1940s, under increas- function properly without a budget. Gov- ingly crowded conditions, much of it had ernor Hiram Johnson, however, allowed to be relegated to the basement. From the bill to die by pocket veto. Unforseen at time to time, voices were raised in protest the time, this defeat inaugurated a forty- against the orphaned state of the Sutro six year chain of subsequent defeats, dur- The ownership of this Psalter, or book of Psalms, Library and the damaging physical condi- is attributed to King Charles II. Printed in 1672, it ing which the Sutro Library was made to is bound in carved wood with a brass armorial tions under which it was forced to exist. In live a hand-to-mouth existence, deprived clasp. A lyre, the date of 1056 B.C., and symbols 1940, for example, Paul Radin (who would of King David are carved on the front cover. of resources and of legislative support, its soon head up a WPA project to inventory great holdings cast into a cramped base- to remain where it was and since the leg- and compile a bibliography of the Sutro’s ment, neglected and forgotten by all but its islature was not prepared to fund a new Mexican pamphlets) complained that most dedicated supporters. building, the offer made by the Trustees “Time has sadly ravaged the Sutro collec- A brief chronology will serve to illus- of the San Francisco Public Library of free tion. Dust...neglect, and the great catas- trate this penultimate chapter in its history. space in the main library was accepted, and trophe of 1906, have reduced it to a torso As noted above, the Sutro Branch Library there the Sutro moved in August 1923. Con- of what it once was.”83 Operating on a had rented space in San Francisco’s Lane ditions in the San Francisco Public Library, shoestring and largely hidden from public Medical Library—part of Stanford Univer- however, would soon prove no more favor- view, how could the Sutro Library hope to sity’s Medical School. Here it opened to the able to the Sutro Branch than they had been gain recognition and publicize its needs? public in January 1917 fulfilling one of the in the Lane Library. In 1946, more than thirty years after the conditions of the donation. These quarters, As a branch of the State Library, the state accepted the donation of Adolph however, were meant to be temporary, and Sutro received a small appropriation annu- Sutro’s library, it was still being written efforts continued on the part of some legis- ally from the legislature. The amount was (as it could perhaps still be written even lators to get funding for the Sutro Library. negligible, some $4,000 to pay the salaries today) that “not many Californians know The need for funding was compounded of two librarians. Yet a faction in the state that they...own a unique library—the Sutro by the crowded conditions facing the Lane senate begrudged even this sum of money Branch of the California State Library.”84 Library. In 1923, a bill was introduced in the and in 1933 proposed, as a cost-saving mea- The Sutro Library, however, could not legislature calling for the state to appropri- sure, to eliminate the Sutro Branch and stay in the basement forever. By the late ate money for the construction of the Sutro return the library to the Sutro heirs. Their 1950s, a series of solutions, some conser- Library as a branch of the State Library in proposal was crass in the extreme and a vative, some radical, were being proposed San Francisco’s Civic Center on a site to be group of prominent San Francisco citizens to address its problems. The library had donated by the city.81 This effort, like those quickly mobilized against it. Included in never enjoyed more than minimal support preceding it, went down to defeat. The bill’s this latter group was the noted printer John in the halls of state government, and some failure, however, obviously did nothing to Henry Nash. In a piece that he wrote for the legislators again saw an opportunity to alleviate the extreme crowding in the Lane San Francisco News, Nash put his finger on pare down the costs of the State Library by Library. Since the Sutro could not continue the Sutro Library’s underlying problem—it giving the Sutro away. The question resur-

bulletin 104 31 faced of how to break the 1913 agreement support for the embattled library against with the Sutro heirs, so as to incorporate efforts to dismantle it or to move it out of the library into the holdings of the Univer- San Francisco came from within the Sutro sity of California, or into the San Francisco itself. Beginning in the mid-1950s, its staff Public Library, or to remove it to the state began to publicize the library to a much capital, Sacramento. Although several vari- wider audience by organizing traveling ants of these ideas were floated in 1957–59, exhibitions to sites in Northern California and support for the U.C. Berkeley option and by writing articles about its holdings initially extended into the governor’s for publication in national journals.89 office, more sensible thinking managed to The heightened desire to rescue the prevail. Proposals were also made to move Sutro Library, improve its conditions, and the Sutro Branch to other locations in San place it in adequate quarters culminated in Francisco, such as the quarters of the Uni- an offer made in late 1958 by the Univer- versity of California Extension Service, or sity of San Francisco to house the Sutro on back to the Lane Medical Library, since the ground floor of its new Gleeson Library. Stanford University was moving its medi- Under the terms of a twenty-year lease, cal school to the Palo Alto campus. None the Gleeson Library would make 14,000 of these proposals, however, was practical square feet of space available to the Sutro— or enjoyed more than limited support. Still far more than the amount of a renovated another proposal, which very nearly came Printed in 1743, this pamphlet prohibiting area offered by the San Francisco Public speech is one of hundreds of English pamphlets to pass, was not to give the Sutro Library purchased by Sutro during one of his many Library—for the nominal fee of $1.00 per to the San Francisco Public Library, but trips to the United Kingdom. year. In all other respects, the Sutro Library rather, to keep it there as the Sutro Branch would stay unchanged, continuing to func- in a larger, remodeled space. Funds for demonstrating to a wider audience how tion as a branch of the California State this purpose were appropriated in early exceptionally rich its holdings were. It was Library, observant of all of the conditions 1958 by the Ways and Means Committee now documented, for example, that a sig- of the 1913 agreement. This option was of the California State Assembly, raising nificant portion of the Sutro’s enormous clearly superior to any other that the Sutro hopes that a solution to the Sutro’s prob- collection of British pamphlets from the had before it. Short of having its own build- lems might be at hand. As an article in seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth ing (which would not occur until 1983), the the San Francisco News put it: “The Sutro centuries were not to be found in either Sutro Library could not realistically hope Library in San Francisco, probably the the Huntington or the William Andrew for a more generous offer. Yet, generous as world’s most neglected collection of rare Clark Libraries. To those in search of it may have been, the offer was not with- manuscripts and early books, got some such fugitive material, a visit to the Sutro out its critics. Opposition to the prospective hope for the future today.”85 These hopes, Library was unavoidable.86 A coalition of move came from two quarters: first, from however, were soon dashed, as the appro- interests—San Francisco legislators and an assemblage of civic leaders, elected offi- priation was quickly deleted by the Senate other elected officials, the California library cials, and members of boards and commis- Finance Committee. community, newspaper editors and col- sions, and second, from among members To the dismay and astonishment of umnists, and citizens at large—began to of the Sutro family. many, the debate over what to do with the campaign for the library and to protest vig- When the proposal to transfer the Sutro dragged on, the library falling victim orously against its history of neglect by the Sutro to the Gleeson Library was first to political posturing and infighting. In state. The distress that was felt over the irre- announced, it was perceived by some to the 1959 legislative session, new proposals sponsible mistreatment of a major cultural violate the principle of church-state sepa- were made to close the doors of the Sutro, asset was summed up in these words from ration. The University of San Francisco strike its funding from the state budget, an editorial in the San Francisco News: “The was a Jesuit institution, and to these crit- and give it to the University of California. state has made shameful use of this trea- ics, the placement of a public library in Nevertheless, the wearying struggle over sure house of knowledge.”87 The gathering a private religious institution—whatever the library had brought renewed attention criticism and concern eventually reverber- the guarantees of free, public access—was to it, and in the end, this attention saved ated in the national press, thus expanding fundamentally wrong. The issue stirred it by solidifying its base of support and by the focus of attention.88 A final source of considerable controversy, and a significant

32 California State Library Foundation protest against the transfer was expressed on these grounds.90 Furthermore, a portion of the community, led by the San Fran- cisco Public Library Commission, opposed the move on more general grounds as well, asserting that given the history and purposes of the Sutro Library, it was more appropriate that it remain in a public location. In light of the sharp divisions over the issue, California Governor Edmund G. Brown appointed a committee to analyze the University of San Francisco’s offer. After conducting a brief study, the committee unanimously recommended that the offer be accepted. Governor Brown agreed with the recommendation, and the announcement was soon made (in May 1959) that the state would lease space in the Gleeson Library for the Sutro Branch. Although opposition continued to be expressed, it gradually died down, and in early January 1960, the San Francisco Public Library Commission withdrew its objection and agreed to the transfer. At this juncture, an opéra bouffe aspect was (Above) The new rare book vault on the sixth floor has finally given Adolph Sutro’s magnificent collection proper shelving. The vault is equipped with humidity and temperature control and stout security. injected into the affair when two of Adolf Sutro’s granddaughters, Alberta Morbio (Below) A high-tech reference desk on the fifth floor welcomes Sutro patrons. Pruett and Marguerite Morbio de Mailly, Shown behind the desk is the high security rare materials reading room. sought a legal injunction to block the move, alleging that the original donors expected the Sutro Library to be housed in a nonsectarian environment, and further threatening that, if the library move to the University of San Francisco went through, they would sue to repossess the library in its entirety.91 The granddaughters’ case did not materialize. In early 1960, the Sutro Library was transferred to new quarters in the Gleeson Library. At long last, it could move forward.

FINAL THOUGHTS Having considered the history of the Sutro Library from its beginnings down to 1960, one returns to the original question—how is it that the man who conceived and assembled a library of such remarkable propor- tions has earned so little recognition for his efforts as a collector? The answer is tied

bulletin 104 33 to a number of factors. Certainly, the fire a book collector. Largely lost in the wreck- San Francisco Chronicle (September 15, that in 1906 reduced half of Sutro’s library age of the post-1913 years were the record 1895). For testimonies appearing outside to ashes played a role. Gone in a few cruel and the memory of the library that he had of San Francisco, see “A Real Benefac- tor,” The Augusta Chronicle (September hours were the books and manuscripts that planned and assembled. Equally lost (to the 16, 1885), and “San Francisco...Adolph had placed it at the pinnacle of collections extent that it had ever existed) was the rec- Sutro’s Great Library—Its Riches and His in this country, of both incunabula and ognition of Sutro’s importance within the Methods,” The Daily Tribune [Salt Lake sixteenth-century European imprints. Yet ranks of American book collectors and of City] (November 29, 1885). this loss, colossal as it was, hardly accounts his stature, in Richard Dillon’s phrase, as 3 Carl Cannon, American Book Collectors and 92 for Adolf Sutro’s lack of recognition. First, it “San Francisco’s pioneer bookman.”  Collecting from Colonial Times to the Present. happened after he had assembled the library (New York: The H. W. Wilson Company, and thus could not negate his collecting ENDNOTES 1941 ), and Donald C. Dickinson, Diction- achievements. Second, even after the fire, * Field research for this essay was supported by ary of American Book Collectors. (New York the Sutro remained—both in size and qual- a grant from the University of New Mexico & Westport: Greenwood Press, 1986). ity—one of the finest private libraries in the Research Allocations Committee, which the A third principal source that omits any author gratefully acknowledges. Thanks are also country, containing areas of strength, such mention of Sutro is Nicholas A. Basbanes’ due to W. Michael Mathes, Honorary Curator book, A Gentle Madness: Bibliophiles, Bib- as its Mexicana and its pamphlets relating of Mexicana in the Sutro Library, for initially liomanes, and the Eternal Passion for Books to the political, economic, and religious his- encouraging research on this topic; to Gary F. (New York: Henry Holt and Company, tory of Great Britain, that set it apart from Kurutz, Curator of Special Collections, Califor- 1995), which contains considerable mate- other collections. Ultimately, the major nia State Library, Howard Karno, of Howard rial about the history and folklore of book explanation for Sutro’s obscurity as a book Karno Books, Valley Center, California, and collecting and private libraries in America collector lay in his own indecisiveness and Donald C. Farren, Scholar in Residence in the during their so-called “golden age.” Folger Shakespeare Library, for their insights lack of action. What separated Adolf Sutro 4 Hellmut Lehmann-Haupt, The Book in and advice; to Clyde Janes, retired Head Librar- from Huntington, Morgan, Newberry, America: A History of the Making, the ian of the Sutro Branch Library, for facilitating and others, was his failure to either carry Selling, and the Collecting of Books in the my use of documents pertaining to Adolf Sutro United States. In Collaboration with Ruth through with his plans to construct a build- and his library; and to the staff of the Bancroft Shepard Granniss and Lawrence Wroth. ing for his library and leave an endowment Library and of the California Historical Society (New York: R.R. Bowker and Company, for its future operations, or to provide the for similar assistance. 1939), p. 346. means and instructions by which to accom- 1 On the question of the size of Sutro’s 5 Granniss wrote and compiled Part III, plish these purposes after his death. That library, see Richard H. Dillon, “The Sutro entitled “American Book Collecting and failure led directly to the sad train of events Library,” News Notes of California Libraries, the Growth of Libraries.” Although, as that subsequently befell the library. To 51, No. 2 (April 1956): 338-352. While there mentioned above, the book was designed is no full-scale history of the Sutro Library take such action was imperative for Sutro, to fill out the historical record, it actually (which has functioned since 1917 as a because unlike a number of other collec- had less to say about Sutro and his library branch of the California State Library), tors, he could not count on his children than did a 1915 study by George Watson the story of its formation and subsequent (other than his eldest daughter) to remain Cole, Book-Collectors as Benefactors of Pub- travails has been recounted in various lic Libraries. [reprinted for private distri- faithful to his vision. The tragedy is that articles and pamphlets. In addition to bution from papers of the Bibliographical Sutro had been motivated by high ideals the aforementioned piece by Dillon (who Society of America, Volume IX, Nos 3–4] and a deep sense of civic purpose. For him, served as Sutro Librarian from 1953 until (Chicago: [University of Chicago Press], libraries were a sublime creation, touch- 1980), see his booklet, The Anatomy of 1915). stones of progress and of cultural and intel- a Library [San Francisco: Sutro Library, 6 Both Moss and Perkins were exception- lectual enlightenment. The donation of the 1957], and Peter Thomas Conmy, “The ally capable. Moss, who served as Sutro’s Sutro Library in 1913 to the California State Sutro Library: Origin, Nature and Status,” California Librarian 20, No. 2 (April 1959): chief librarian for some ten years, was an Library was made out of respect for Sutro’s 91-95 & 129. English bookbinder, reputedly trained by wishes and to fulfill his earlier vision for the Francis Bedford, as well as a scholar with 2 See, for example, “Notes on the Sutro library. For nearly half a century, the state’s a broad knowledge of languages. Per- Library,” Overland Monthly (June 1885), failure to support the Sutro Library sub- kins, a former head librarian of the San n.p.; “Rare Old Works; An Appreciative verted this intention. What is more, the dis- Francisco Free Public Library, worked for Sketch of the Sutro Library,” San Fran- Sutro (under the supervision of Moss) for use and neglect into which the library fell cisco Daily Report (Dec. 31, 1886), n.p.; several years in the early 1890s, catalog- left its mark on Adolf Sutro’s reputation as and ‘The Colleges and the Big Library,”

34 California State Library Foundation ing pamphlets located in the Montgom- 18 Other German booksellers from whom only to books of exceptional value or ery Block building. Prior to coming to he bought included Ludwig Rosenthal, interest. Instead, almost all of the books San Francisco, he had held important Carl Forster, J. Hess, and E. Hofstätder. disposed of at auctions were sold by lot, positions within the fledgling American Although Sutro travelled in 1883 (and after) tied in bundles of 25 each, without sepa- library profession. On Moss, see Richard to various European book centers—Basel, rate bibliographic description. These Dillon, “Adolph Sutro Finds a Librarian,” Antwerp, Paris, Madrid—Germany, after were the conditions that Mayer (or any The Journal of Library History 2 (1967): London, was his second major theatre of purchaser or agent) faced. To circumvent 225–234, and for further details on Per- operations. Correspondence and receipts the problem of buying what he did not kins, see Martin J. Manning, “Perkins, pertaining to Sutro’s purchases from Ger- want, Mayer made every effort to inspect Frederic Beecher,” in American National man booksellers (including Mayer) is con- lots in advance. For a description of the Biography, Vol. 17: 341–343. tained in the Sutro Papers, SBL, Drawer 5, sale-by-lot system, see Henry R. Wagner, 7 For this passage and the information Folders 2, 3, and 4; Drawer 6, Folder 1 ; Sixty Years of Book Collecting. Los Angeles, preceding it, see O’Day’s article, “Varied and Drawer 9, Folder I. The Zamorano Club, 1952. Types: 347—Robert E. Cowan,” in Town 19 A complete tabulation of Mayer’s pur- 30 Carl F. Mayer to Adolf Sutro, Oct. 28, 1884. Talk: The Pacific and Bay Cities Weekly 30, chases, his month-by-month expenditures Sutro Papers, SBL, Drawer 5, Folder 5. No. 1307 (Sept. 8, 1917): 5 & 17. for books between May 1884 and October 31 Carl F. Mayer to Adolf Sutro, Dec. 2, 1884. 1886, is found in the Sutro Library. See 8 Even if he had been so motivated, Sutro Ibid. As it turned out, the Mazarin Bible “Journal, Library, A. Sutro,” Sutro Papers, would have found it difficult, if not fetched £3,900, “the highest price at any SBL, Drawer 32, Folder I. (This is the impossible, to compete with Folger, Mor- time paid for a book,” Mayer reported two account book for the London operation gan, Huntington, et al., because his per- weeks later to Sutro. sonal wealth was much less than theirs. and includes all of its outlays.) Whether still in London or back in Munich, Mayer 32 The essay forms chapter 17 of Bancroft’s 9 M. J. Ferguson, The Sutro Branch of the apparently did a limited amount of work autobiographical work, Retrospection, California State Library. [Sacramento: Cal- during the winding-down period, since Political and Personal. (New York: The ifornia State Library (?), n.d.] This slim his salary for the entire six months was Bancroft Company, 1913). See pp. 314–315. pamphlet by Ferguson carries no pub- only £90. 33 Robert Warner to Adolf Sutro, n.d., Sutro lication date, but was probably written Papers, SBL, Drawer 7, Folder 4. around 1920. 20 Carl F. Mayer to Adolf Sutro, June 9, 1884. Sutro Papers, SBL, Drawer 5, Folder 5. 34 Robert Warner to Adolf Sutro, Nov. 4, 10 For these and related details about Sutro’s 1884. Sutro Papers, SBL, Ibid. life and travels in the 1870s–1880s, see 21 Carl F. Mayer to Adolf Sutro, Dec. 2, 1884, Robert E. Stewart, Jr. and Mary Frances Ibid. 35 For these and other details about the col- Stewart, Adolph Sutro: A Biography. (Berke- 22 Carl F. Mayer to Adolf Sutro, Jan. 23, lection, see “Leman’s Old Plays ... ,” San ley: Howell-North, 1962): pp. 41–179. This 1885, Ibid. Francisco Chronicle, December 29, 1887. is the only full-length biography of Sutro. 23 Carl F. Mayer to Adolf Sutro, May 19, 36 Charles C. Soule to Adolf Sutro, July 11, 11 As quoted in Conmy, pp. 93–94. 1885, Ibid. 1889. Sutro Papers, SBL, Drawer 5, Folder I. 12 This figure is given by Dillon in “The 24 Carl F. Mayer to Adolf Sutro, July 7, 1885, Sutro Library,” p. 338. Ibid. 37 For an excellent account of the formation and contents of the Woodward Library, 13 Among the materials in the Sutro Branch 25 Carl F. Mayer to Adolf Sutro, May 19, see Gary F. Kurutz, “A Library of Librar- Library are receipts and correspondence 1885. Ibid. ies: The Formation of the Adolph Sutro pertaining to Adolph Sutro’s book pur- 26 Carl F. Mayer to Adolf Sutro, July 7, 1885, Collection and the Library of Woodward’s chases during this and later periods. Ibid. Gardens,” California State Library Founda- For records documenting his 1883 Lon- tion Bulletin, No. 57 (October 1996): 9-14. don purchases, see Sutro Papers, Sutro 27 Carl F. Mayer to Adolf Sutro, Oct. 5, 1885, Branch Library, Drawers 5 (Folder 2), 6 Ibid. 38 These notes by Moss are unsigned, but are (Folder 1), 7 (Folders 1&2), and 9 (Folder 28 See the account book cited in note 20 clearly written in his hand. They are also 1). For simplicity’s sake, the Sutro Branch above. Each monthly entry records this undated, but because of details that they Library will be cited as “SBL.” sum as the allotment for books. Although contain regarding Sutro’s choice of a site for his library, must have been composed 14 Sutro Papers, SBL, Drawer 5, Folder 2. For the figure of $2,000 has often been cited, around the mid-1890s. Further evidence more on the Sunderland sale, see p. 12. this seems incorrect, since at this time a pound sterling was equal to $5.00. for this date is found in the fact that Moss 15 Ibid. gives the number of volumes in the library 29 As it happened, bulk purchases were 16 The price for this batch was £3.1 0. Ibid. as 200,000, a figure which likely could unavoidable, as very few books were sold not have been reached before this time. 17 Stewart, Adolph Sutro, p. 178 individually. Such treatment was given

bulletin 104 35 Sutro Papers, SBL, Drawer 22, Folder 1. Fragments,” in the Encyclopedia Judaica, University of California. See Adolph Sutro 39 Ibid. Ed. Cecil Roth & Geoffrey Wigoder, Vol. ‘s Letter to the Regents of the University of 14: 1301-1302. California and to the Committee of Affili- 40 Richard Dillon, “Adolph Sutro Finds a 50 “The Sutro Library,” in the Pacific Church- ated Colleges on the Selection of a Site for the Librarian,” The Journal of Library History Affiliated Colleges. (San Francisco: 1895): 2 (1967): 227. man, April 1, 1885, from the Sutro papers, SBL, Drawer 32, Folder 2. pp. 4–5. 41 From “Americana: Early Collectors, Bib- 51 O’Day, Town Talk, p. 5. 56 Andrew White to Adolph Sutro, June liographers and Bookdealers; Libraries 21, 1892. Bancroft Library, Sutro, A.H. and Research Centers,” a chapter in Vol. 52 It is sometimes thought that Sutro’s Span- J., Papers & Correspondence, Box 19, I of Justin Winsor’s Aboriginal America, ish “agents” led him to believe that they Andrew D. White Folder. as reproduced in Review of National Lit- were uncovering heretofore unknown doc- eratures [ed. Anne Paolucci and Henry uments relating to the early Spanish colo- 57 Andrew D. White to Adolph Sutro, July Paolucci], Vo119 (1995): 54. nization and evangelization of present-day 29, 1893. Ibid. 42 Dillon, “Sutro Finds a Librarian,” p. 227. California. On this point, see, e.g., Don- 58 See “Visitor’s Register: Sutro Library ald C. Cutter’s preface to his reedition of 1886–1994,” Sutro Papers, SBL, Drawer 43 This number is included in an undated George B. Griffin’s 1891 compilation,Doc - 35. Moreover, according to Perkins, a tabulation (probably done by Robert War- uments from the Sutro Collection. Donald number of these visitors had specialized ner), found among Mayer’s letters to C. Cutter, The California Coast: A Bilingual knowledge of libraries and were thus able Sutro. See Sutro Papers, SBL, Drawer 9, Edition of Documents from the Sutro Collec- to appreciate the remarkable strengths of Folder I. tion....(Norman: University of Oklahoma the Sutro. “This library, imperfect as it 44 From Richard H. Dillon, “The Sutro Press, 1969): vii–xix. Peralta, however, is, has excited the astonishment of every Library,” News Notes of California Libraries, was very direct with Sutro, informing him: book expert who has examined it.” See 51, No.2 (Apri11956): 342. “Only I must tell candidly, I believe that Bancroft Library, Sutro, A.H.J ., Papers & you came too late to find anything new. Correspondence, Box 9: Perkins, Frederic 45 Ibid. In Mexico as well as in San Francisco no Beecher Folder. 46 For more on this part of the Sutro Library document has been spared examination, 59 Mary S. Barnes to George Moss, Sept. and on Sutro’s book-buying ventures in copy and even printing. The infatigable 10, 1895. Sutro Papers, SBL, Drawer 10, Mexico, see W. Michael Mathes, “A Biblio- Hubert Howe Bancroft has left you and Folder 7. phile’s Dream: Adolph Sutro in Mexico,” everybody else quite behind in Californian Quarterly News Letter: The Book Club of documents and historical knowledge. He 60 See, e.g., letter from P. W. Treat (private California, Vol. XLV, No. 3 (Summer 1980): has copies of all documents of interest in secretary to Sutro) to George Warner, 73-75, and Richard H. Dillon, “Sutro the very Archives of the Missions on Cali- a Minneapolis collector, in which Treat Library’s Resources in Latin Americana,” fornia, New Mexico, Arizona, Oregon, etc. wrote: “Replying to yours of 6th we are Hispanic American Historical Review, Vol. etc.” Manuel Peralta to Adolf Sutro, March not purchasing anything for the Sutro 45, No.2 (May 1965): 267–274. 2, 1884. Sutro Papers, SBL, Drawer 5, Library at present, but in the near future we would be pleased to hear from you 47 The four folios and the Halliwell-Phillips Folder 5. again.” P. W. Treat to Warner, January Collection of Shakespeare Stratford docu- 53 Moss’ monthly salary was $125 and Per- 10, 1898. Sutro Papers, SBL, Drawer 33, ments. kins’ $100. The principal bookbinder, Folder 2. 48 Banks was president of the Royal Society Henry Marsden, was paid $18 per week; 61 To scholars later researching this period and had sailed with Captain Cook. The the book-sewers earned less, around $1.45 in the library’s history, Moss’ fate was 100,000 pages of material (chiefly manu- per day. See “Sutro Library Receipts,” apparently something of a mystery. (See scripts) in his collection document and Sutro Papers, SBL, Drawer 22, Folder 3. Richard Dillon, “Adolph Sutro Finds a mirror the scientific spirit and achieve- 54 George Moss to Adolph Sutro, June 20, Librarian,” The Journal of Library History, ments of his time. 1893. Bancroft Library, Sutro, A.H.J., Vol. 2 [1967]: 225-234.) Yet it is clear from Papers & Correspondence, Box 8, George 49 An invoice in the Sutro Library indicates a letter that Emma Merritt wrote to her Moss Folder. that he paid £200 for them. Sutro Papers, sister Katie that Moss had indeed passed SBL, Drawer 8, Folder I. Shapira had 55 White wrote a quite complete description away: “In regard to the library there is no taken his own life in March 1884, follow- of the library to the editor of the Christian complete catalog. Poor Mr. Moss...who ing the revelation that he had tried to sell Advocate, J. M. Buckley, who printed it in was for so many years the Librarian, died a forged “manuscript of Deuteronomy” the paper in 1892. Sutro included parts on the 25th of March, after a lingering ill- to the British Museum. This was not the of White’s account in a pamphlet that he ness of nearly two years. Practically, there first fraudulent sale for which Shapira published in 1895, when he proposed a has been nobody in the library for about had been the agent. For a brief note on site for the library to the Regents of the ten months....” Emma Merritt to Mrs. his role in these affairs, see “Shapira

36 California State Library Foundation Moritz Nussbaum, n.d. [but probably writ- by Moss, as it bears notes and corrections 87 See “Buried Treasure,” The San Francisco ten in early April 1898]. Bancroft Library, in his handwriting. See Sutro Papers, News, September 20, 1957. Sutro, A.H.J. Papers & Correspondence, SBL, Drawer 31, Folder 2. Furthermore, 88 See, e.g., “Sutro Library Issue Arouses Box 41: Sutro Estate; Correspondence, Sutro expected that the endowment, “to California,” in The Christian Science Moni- Legal Documents, 1898–1915. be used in the maintenance of the library tor, May 20, 1959. and for the acquisition of additional 62 Ibid. books,” would yield a minimum income 89 The principal person driving this public- 63 Among Sutro’s artifacts were Egyptian of $2,000 per month. See Dillon, “The ity campaign was Richard Dillon, who mummies and a great many stuffed ani- Sutro Library,” p. 340. had become the Head of the Sutro Branch mals and birds. in 1953. 74 The question was posed, for example, in 64 See “At Sutro Heights,” Pacific Rural Press an article published in the San Francisco 90 See, e.g., “Sutro Book Shift to USF (San Francisco), May 8, 1886. Chronicle just a day after Sutro’s death, as Opposed,” San Francisco Examiner, May 65 Ibid. quoted in Conmy, “The Sutro Library,” p. 20, 1959, Sec. I, p. 9. 92. 66 Sutro went on to say, “...and here, among 91 “San Francisco: Literary Orphan,” San these groves and gardens, by the side of 75 See “Heirs Seek to Sell the Sutro Library,” Francisco Chronicle [This World section], the great Pacific, I shall place my books.” The San Francisco Call, August 23, 1900, January 24, 1960. From remarks he addressed to a group of p. 11. 92 Richard Dillon, “Adolph Sutro’s Bib- editorial writers in 1885, as quoted in “A 76 Ibid. liographic Legacy,” in Seven Pioneer San Real Benefactor,” The Augusta Chronicle, Francisco Libraries (San Francisco: Rox- 77 O’Day, Town Talk, p. 5. September 16, 1885, p. 8. burghe Club of San Francisco, 1958): 78 Andrew White to Adolf Sutro, June 21, 67 From an article on the proposed library p. 29. 1892. Bancroft Library, Sutro, A.H.J. published in the San Francisco Call on Papers & Correspondence, Box 19: June 15, 1893, as paraphrased in Fergu- Andrew D. White Folder. son, Sutro Branch, p. 3. 79 See “Sutro’s Heirs Are in Dispute over 68 See note 56 above. Library,” The San Francisco Call, July 29, 69 W. C. Little quoting Adolf Sutro, as 1909, p. 5. reported in “The Colleges and the Big 80 See Conmy, “The Sutro Library,” p. 94. Library,” San Francisco Chronicle, Septem- ber 15, 1895. 81 The bill was introduced by Assemblyman Albert Rosenshine. See San Francisco 70 Mention of such a trust and of Sutro’s Chronicle, February 2, 1923. assurances to the Regents was reported in “Sutro’s College Site is Settled. Approval 82 John Henry Nash, “Save the Sutro of the Deed of Gift...,” San Francisco Library!,” The San Francisco News, March Chronicle, October 9, 1895. 14, 1933. 71 Ibid. 83 Paul Radin, “The Sutro Library,” Women’s City Club Magazine of San Francisco 14, 72 There is also some indication that Sutro No.6 (July 1940): p. 15. may actually have decided to deed the library itself to the University. See Stewart 84 William Parker, “Interesting Volume in & Stewart, Adolf Sutro, 207–208. Sutro Branch, Calif. State Library,” The Western Journal of Education (September 73 As evidence that Sutro was serious about 1946): 15. leaving an endowment for the library, Moss cites Sutro’s success in getting an 85 See “Sutro Library Gets Hope for Proper amendment passed to the state constitu- Home: Assembly Unit OK’s $101,198,” tion that exempted public libraries from The San Francisco News, February 17, 1958. taxation. According to Moss, Sutro had 86 This and other unique strengths of feared that the endowment might other- the Sutro Library were publicized in a wise be eaten up in taxes. Mention of this report (the so-called “Henderson Report”) initiative of Sutro’s is made in the surviv- issued in 1957 by a special state commit- ing fragments of a biographical sketch tee formed to evaluate the Sutro Library about him,which, while lacking a specific and its needs. date and author, was apparently written

bulletin 104 37 State Librarian Gary E. Strong hosted a gala celebration of the new Sutro Library building in 1983. The front of the invitation depicts the 480 Winston Drive, San Francisco facility that housed the Sutro from 1982 to 2012.

Reflections hen Curator of Special Sutro Library Collections Emeritus Gary on the By Gary E. Strong Kurutz told me recently that moving the Sutro Library to its new location on the San Francisco State campus was about to happen, I began to reflect on my experience with this wonderful library and its holdings. Shortly after arriving in 1980 to take the post of state librarian of California, I learned that the good fathers at the University of San Francisco (USF) were evicting the Sutro. The library had EDITOR’S NOTE been in the basement of the Gleeson Gary E. Strong is University Librarian, UCLA Library. Mr. Strong is the founder of the Cali- Library at a dollar a year for some time. fornia State Library Foundation and served as State Librarian of California (1980–1994) Gary, Chief of State Library Services during the relocation of the Sutro Library from the University of San Francisco to 480 Winston Sheila Thornton, and I made our way to Drive on the North Campus of San Francisco State University. USF on several occasions to discuss the

38 California State Library Foundation possible extension of their good graces It only took thirty-six truckloads to fin- until we could find a suitable home, real- ish the job, and the buildings were recon- izing that we had to remain in the City structed with the need to only buy a new and County of San Francisco. On one of front entrance and a couple of toilet fix- those first trips, we were exposed to hep- tures. Principal Librarian Cy Silver from atitis and all had to get shots as a result. the library consulting staff oversaw the I was actually in Wisconsin at a meeting construction with folks from General Ser- of state librarians where they chased me vices. Sheila, Gary and their crew planned down, and colleagues there got me to a the move which went smoothly. Some new clinic for the inoculation. Another time, I treasures were uncovered and logged. And would stay on for other meetings and was we were ready to open for business with mugged outside of my hotel. But that is compact shelving for the bulk of the origi- another story all together. nal Sutro collections and open shelving These negotiations were to continue and user space for the high use collections until we had agreement for the library of local history and genealogy—even a rare to remain in place, but at a much higher book room. Shortly after arriving in 1980 rent, until such time we could find a suit- The dedication was a stellar event. Var- able location. Gary and I set about look- tan Gregorian, then president of the New to take the post of state librarian ing at a variety of options, including the York Public Library and formerly at San Masonic Temple on Van Ness Street, Francisco State was keynote speaker, for- of California, I learned that the which would have been great. But, alas, it mer State Librarian of California Ethel was way out of our reach to renovate let Crockett, and a host of legislative mem- good fathers at the University alone purchase. Remember Proposition 13 bers and staff were on hand to celebrate was newly passed. the opening. During the private brunch of San Francisco (USF) were One day at lunch, I overheard the gath- at the Cliff House, I recall looking out the ering at the table next to me speculating window toward the site of the Sutro Baths evicting the Sutro. on the options for the temporary buildings wondering what Adolph himself would behind the State Capitol, which had been have thought. temporary housing for the legislature dur- We would draw from the Sutro collec- ing the renovation of that historic building. tions many times over for exhibitions and It took me no time at all to begin making content for the Bulletin, always with Gary calls on return from lunch. To make the Kurutz’s fine writing. Bringing the trea- story much shorter, an agreement was sures of the Sutro Library to the attention struck with the legislative leadership to of the public and those of the California acquire the buildings for the Sutro Library. State Library has always been one of my So I began to try to find a place to put personal pleasures. Californians can be them. San Francisco State University very proud of the fact that these two col- President Paul Romberg, came to the res- lections today compose a tremendous cue, and together we pushed a proposal resource for public scholars and histori- through the California State University ans. During the remainder of my time Board of Trustees and settled on an agree- as state librarian, I would yearly invest ment that would allow the temporary in building the extensive collection of buildings to move to the north part of the local history and genealogy, making this a San Francisco State University campus Mecca for local historians and those inter- for one dollar a year. We were in business. ested in their family roots. Now to figure out how to marry the two It is such a pleasure to see the Sutro separate temporary buildings together Library ready to take on new clothes and into one structure and how to actually discontinue to welcome Californians to sam- mantle and move them to San Francisco. ple its riches. 

bulletin 104 39 the October 17, 1989, Loma Prieta Earth- quake beautifully. When the earth shook The Sutro Library’s at 5:04 in the late afternoon, a few ceiling tiles fell down, a small number of books Long Journey Is Over from some of the top shelves hit the floor, By Gary F. Kurutz and drawers of microfilm cabinets opened. Staff remaining in the building just after it closed, of course, rightly quailed in fear Artist's 1982 rendering of the Sutro and crouched under tables. The seismic Library's location at 480 Winston Drive in southwestern San Francisco. event devastated the neighboring J. Paul Leonard Library of San Francisco State University twisting metal stacks and hurl- ing tens of thousands of books to the floor. As the years passed, it also became clear that the Sutro Library would have to expand its facility to accommodate collection growth in addition to replacing its heating and air-conditioning system, installing a new roof, and handling routine repairs. When Adolph Sutro contemplated building a library on his property overlooking the Pacific Ocean, experts warned him that the humid ocean air would harm his collection. Ironically, the Winston Drive facility overlooked the ocean, and fog and drizzle frequently engulfed the area. The HVAC system strained and groaned and could not keep up. Early on, a mold out- break attacked the collection, and staff n 1984, I gave a talk to the Sutro Library from 1982 to July 2012 was scrambled to rectify the problem and deal Zamorano Club in Los Ange- located in a 20,000 square-foot modular with several volumes that required eradi- les detailing the many moves building originally designed to house the cation of the dreaded fungi. In response, and homes of the Sutro Library over the Legislative Chambers during the restora- contractors installed portable dehumidi- twentieth century. The title of my talk was tion of the State Capitol Building. From fiers and fans that battled twenty-four “From Pillar to Post: The Peregrinations of the beginning, State Library administra- hours a day to keep the air dry. Despite the Sutro Library, 1913–1983.” Much of the tive staff knew that it was not a perfect these problems, vigilant staff cheerfully same information concerning the differ- solution but it did provide a home in a monitored conditions and kept Sutro’s ent locations is contained in Russ David- state-owned building on state-owned real legacy mold and pest free. Later a new roof son’s and Gary E. Strong’s fine articles. It estate. No longer did the Sutro depend on was added and the building restuccoed to seemed appropriate, however, to describe the decision making of a landlord. How- further protect the collections. Workers the last and what we hope is the final jour- ever, the state architects who reconfigured also installed screens and other devices ney of the Sutro Library. the structure to meet the Sutro’s needs to shield the library against rodents and Overlooking beautiful Lake Merced warned that the building’s air-condition- other critters that lurked about in the and the Pacific Ocean on 480 Winston ing system and roof would eventually need Stonestown neighborhood. Drive in southwest San Francisco, the to be replaced. Miraculously, it survived There remained one other unsatisfac- tory element: the lack of proper storage for EDITOR’S NOTE the majority of the rare books. The former Mr. Kurutz is executive director of the Foundation and curator emeritus of special collections. He Senate Chambers were not large enough was involved in the previous move of the Sutro Library in 1982 and 1983. to house the non-circulating collection

40 California State Library Foundation on conventional metal library shelves. Sutro’s need for adequate storage, shelv- Library staff met with library staff from When the moving company delivered the ing, and public programs. Clearly the Win- the university led by University Librar- books to the new location, tens of thou- ston Drive facility needed to be expanded ian Debbie Masters and members of the sands of volumes remained packed away or a new site developed. university’s Capitol Planning Department. in cartons. Funding in post Proposition-13 Timing is always crucial. The Sutro’s It represented an exciting time to plan a days remained tight, but the State Library Library’s property owner, San Francisco joint-use facility and to interact with uni- secured an appropriation to install com- State University, needed to seismically versity librarians. Earlier, San Jose State pact shelving units in what came to be secure its J. Paul Leonard Library follow- University and the San Jose Public Library called the “back stacks.” Huge concrete ing the 1989 earthquake. Furthermore, the had entered into a joint-use agreement, piers were poured, tracks for the shelv- university library was in desperate need of and since 2003 that relationship has been ing bases installed, and eleven-foot high expansion room not only for bound vol- a success. Bringing the remarkable Sutro rolling shelving units installed. Compact umes but also to accommodate new media collection into the center of campus rep- shelving has the advantage of eliminat- and computer stations. Plus, its student resented a happy prospect. Originally, ing the need for aisles and thus saving body was growing. Working with Deputy the plan called for the Sutro Library to much space. The perimeter walls of the State Librarian Cameron Robertson, Gen- be located on the first floor and then the back stacks supported oversize shelves. eral Counsel Paul Smith, and Cy Silver, fourth floor of the new facility. The latter Finally, the books which included hun- Dr. Starr approached San Francisco State option would have placed it on the same dreds of folio and elephant folio-sized University and met with University Presi- floor as the university’s own special col- volumes were carefully put in place. The dent Dr. Robert Corrigan. Starr and Cor- lections, the Frank V. de Bellis Rare Book weight supported by the units was tremen- rigan agreed to join forces in seeking state Collection, and also the San Francisco dous. It was an awesome sight for visitors funding for a joint-use facility. A deal was Labor Archives and Research center. The to be shown the back stacks. Despite the struck, and in 2002 a lease revenue bond plan provided space for an exhibit gallery size of the room and its rows of leviathan approved by the governor and state legisla- where both the university and Sutro could stacks, this proved to be a less than satis- ture funded the renovation and expansion create displays. factory solution. Why? It was still not large of the Leonard Library. However, as has been the history of the enough to adequately shelve all the books. Given the Sutro Library’s history of hav- Sutro Library, nothing is simple. As time Many of the fragile volumes had to be ing to move every twenty or so years, the lapsed in the planning phase, costs esca- double and even triple-shelved. Scaling a State Library, with the blessings of the lated exceeding the State’s allocation. The ladder to try and find a small octavo-sized California State Department of Finance, demand for concrete and steel in China, volume squeezed behind two-rows of required a permanent solution. To enter India, and elsewhere impacted the bud- books proved to be dangerous not only for into a landlord-lessee relationship with the get. The State augmented funding but not the books but also for the librarians. university was unacceptable. The Sutro enough to cover everything that both staffs When historian and librarian Dr. Kevin Library Branch would, therefore, become wanted. Consequently, such standard Starr of San Francisco became the State a part owner of the building. The State of appointments as finished ceilings had to Librarian of California in 1993, he natu- California allocated a percentage of the be scaled back and the project architect ter- rally visited the State Library’s San Fran- funding for the renovation and expansion minated. A new firm HMC Architects was cisco branch. Immediately, Dr. Starr of the facility to include 30,000 square brought in to undertake what in the build- expressed dissatisfaction with the Winston feet for the Sutro Library operation. It ing trade is known as a “design build facil- Drive facility. This reconfigured modular would be a permanent allocation of space. ity.” In this process, the same firm handles building, he believed, was not suitable for By so doing, the university could not, in the design and construction. the world-famous rare book and manu- say twenty-five years, terminate the agree- Planning meeting after planning meet- script collection of Adolph Sutro. Some- ment. The Department of Finance has ing was held, and staff of both institu- thing had to be done. On June 28, 1995, he been steadfast in assuring the State Library tions poured over floor plans, furniture wrote: “Adolph Sutro’s vision of a proper that this represented a permanent home and equipment configurations, and stack home for the Sutro Library has for nearly for this once wandering library. Moreover, layouts. Sutro Library staff diligently mea- a century been a goal of his heirs and without the inclusion of the Sutro Library, sured the collections inch by inch and every State Librarian.” Library consultant the university would not have received the microfilm cabinets drawer by drawer. Part Cy Silver was commissioned to develop a funding for the project. of the facility called for the addition on the general building program addressing the Beginning in the new millennium, State west side of the Leonard Library of a new

bulletin 104 41 “Adolph Sutro’s vision structure to house an automated library vault did not require compact shelving retrieval system (LRS). Several university units and the volumes do not have to be of a proper home for the libraries have used this futuristic system double or triple shelved. To protect the col- to densely store non-rare materials into lections against the heavy coastal humidity, Sutro Library has for bins. Each volume would be bar-coded, the vault has state-of-the-art environmental and a robot-like device would then glide controls. And, the building is well engi- nearly a century been down tracks from the command post and neered to withstand the next earthquake. In retrieve the correct bin. The bin would addition to all these positive features, there a goal of his heirs and then return to the command post, and a is one other bonus. The two floors overlook technician would open the bin and retrieve the beautiful central campus quad with its every State Librarian.” the requested volume. As a part owner of attractive landscaping, groves of tall trees, the facility, the Sutro has received several and striking student union building. – Dr. Kevin Starr of these bins, which will be used to store As described in the previous Bulletin bound newspapers and microforms made (#103, p. 31), Library staff both at the Sutro obsolete by online information services. led by Supervising Librarian II Haleh Engineers reviewed the load-bearing Motiey and in Sacramento led by Deb- capacity of the Leonard Library and sur- bie Newton, head of the Administrative prisingly determined that the section of the Services Bureau, and David Cismowski, fourth floor set aside for the Sutro would chief of the State Library Services Bureau, not work. The plan called for its heavy book worked tirelessly to prepare for the move. stacks to be placed over the roof of the old This included all aspects from planning facility. Simply put, loaded book stacks the stacks and furniture layouts to disposal would be too heavy, and a new location in of obsolete furniture and equipment. San the renovated facility had to be found. Dar- Francisco State University staff helped lene Tong, Head of Information, Research enormously in making this a relatively and Instructional Services of the University smooth transition. No library move is prob- Library, suggested that the Sutro move into lem free. Along the way, State Librarian Sta- the fifth and sixth floors on the north side cey Aldrich, General Counsel Paul Smith, of the building. These floors had previously and Library administrative staff reviewed housed the university library’s special col- the master service agreement with the lections and administrative offices. With university detailing the practical workings that timely and brilliant suggestion, the of the Sutro in the Leonard Library. Begin- engineers determined that its load-bearing ning in the spring of 2012, two moving walls and floors could handle the weight of companies working with an excited staff the Sutro’s collections. At last, a permanent began packing books and installing shelves home had been found. in the new location. On July 5, State Library This new location, while not on the Services Bureau Chief David Cismowski same floor as the university’s special col- turned over to the university the keys to lections, does offer several advantages. 480 Winston Drive. A building that housed The fifth and sixth floors are not shared hundreds of thousands of precious books with the university. Thus, the Sutro and manuscripts for nearly three decades Library physically maintains its indepen- stood empty. On August 1, 2012, the Sutro dence as the San Francisco branch of the Library reopened its doors to the beauti- State Library. The sixth floor, in particular, ful new facility amid the broad smiles of represents an ideal secure space to house researchers and staff alike. the rare book and manuscript collections. The State of California received the Sutro All the materials are now shelved on Library in 1913. Now, ninety-nine years conventional shelves on standard library later, it has finally found a suitable perma- stacks in a high-security vault room. The nent home. Its peregrinations are over. 

42 California State Library Foundation W. Michael Mathes A Remembrance (1936–2012) By Gary F. Kurutz

n the morning of August 13, 2012, in Lubbock, Texas, the Sutro Library’s honorary curator of Mexicana, Dr. W. Michael Mathes passed away after a valiant fight against cancer. For decades, Dr. Mathes has been a generous supporter of the Sutro Library and a close personal friend. He will be greatly missed especially as the Sutro Library enters a new era in its new facility. I first met Mike while serving as library director of the California Historical Soci- ety in 1975. We instantly hit it off with a mutual love for books, bibliography, and the history of our Golden State. At the time, Mike was a professor of history at the University of San Francisco. Earlier, he had worked for the Society assisting

EDITOR’S NOTE Dr. W. Michael Mathes was Honorary Cura- tor of Mexicana at the Sutro Library, Professor of History at the University of San Francisco, and Member of the Orden Mexicana del Águila Azteca, Academia Mexicana de la Historia, and Doctor Honoris Causa in the Autonomous University of Baja California. The author of dozens of books and articles on Mexican, California, and Pacific Ocean history, Dr. Mathes has received such recognition as the Henry R. Wagner Award, California Historical Society; Sir Thomas More Medal for Book Collecting, Gleeson Library Associ- ates, University of San Francisco; Hubert Howe Bancroft Award, Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley; and the Oscar Lewis Award, Book Club of California. Dr. Mathes was a generous donor to the Sutro Historian, bibliographer, and Honorary Curator of Mexicana at the Sutro Library, Library, California History Section of the Dr. W. Michael Mathes stands in front of a fountain in Zapopan, Mexico, during a meeting of the Society of History of Discoveries in 2002. Photograph by Marianne Hinckle. State Library, and the Foundation.

bulletin 104 43 with the editing of its quarterly journal, As we got to know each other, Mike and in 1968, the Society had published his invited me up to his gorgeous home in superb biography of Sebastián Vizcaíno, the hills above Sonoma. I thought I was the noted Spanish explorer. Mike’s com- entering a Spanish hacienda seeing the mand of the Spanish language and the tiled roof, enclosed courtyard, and cactus maritime history of the Pacific Coast were garden. Friendly German shorthair point- without equal. In fact, he wrote the major- ers greeted me. Not surprisingly, he loved ity of his books and articles in Spanish, all things Mexican and served cerveza, chili and most of his speeches were given south peppers, tortillas, and steak, all seasoned of the border in Spanish. with liberal doses of Tabasco sauce. After a

Beautifully designed and

published by the Book Club of

California, Mexico on Stone,

was a path breaking study of

book illustration in Mexico.

Many of the illustrations for

this large format fine press book

came from the Sutro Library.

44 California State Library Foundation quick tour of his casa, he took me into his home. When I asked him about the reader, understanding about our state’s Hispanic library. My eyes must have seemed as large Mike told me how he had instituted several heritage and how few historians bothered as doorknobs as the room had book stacks, projects to microfilm historic documents to investigate primary source documents and the shelves were filled with thousands from Mexican and Spanish libraries and found in places like the Archivo General de of volumes, ninety percent of which were archives pertaining to California and Baja Indias in Sevilla and the Archivo General in Spanish. There was also a shelf full of California in support of his research and for de la Nación, México City. Few, however, his publications. In an era before comput- placement in California institutions. This had his command of the archaic Spanish ers, he had placed on a stout table an elec- was impressive indeed. During this and written by the explorers and missionaries. tric typewriter and microfilm reader. I had subsequent visits, Mike would sometimes Mike had made countless trips to Baja never seen a microfilm reader in a private reveal his disappointment with the lack of California. As a youth he enjoyed camping in the rugged wilderness of our southern neighbor. There he enhanced his knowledge of Spanish and soaked in the local culture and history. Because of his exper- tise, he often led camping tours to this Mexican border state for American tour- ists. The Spanish explorers and missionaries who opened up the region particularly attracted his interest. Furthermore, he told me the Mexican government had just finished a trans-peninsular highway. Know- ing this, I asked him if he would lead a California Historical Society bus tour of Baja California and he readily agreed. I could not resist signing up, and a busload of Society members traveled down High- way One of Baja California all the way to Cabo San Lucas. Through much of the trip Mike stood in front of the bus regaling travelers with the peninsula’s little-known history and lore. The tour included a New Year’s Eve celebration at La Paz on the Sea of Cortes and Mike left us to join friends he knew in La Paz. He later told me how he and his amigos fired guns into the air to celebrate. I should mention here that Mike did a great deal to develop and enhance the Archivo Histórico Pablo L. Martínez in La Paz, Baja California Sur. Our tour naturally took us to this wonderful research center. When I accepted a position with the State Library as Sutro librarian in 1979, I immediately contacted Mike. At the time, the Sutro Library was located on the lower floor of the University of San Francisco’s Gleeson Library. Since Mike was a professor there, it made perfect sense to involve him with the Sutro. Mike had told me of its fabulous collection of Mexicana. Seeing

bulletin 104 45 One of the great treasures purchased by Sutro in Mexico City in 1889 was Antonio de Mendoza’s Ordenanças y Copilacion de Leyes. It is the first legal code and sixteenth book printed in the Americas. Juan Pablos, the printer, established the first printing press in the Western Hemisphere in the City of Mexico in 1539. (Opposite page) The title page bears the coat of arms of Emperor Charles V. Sutro commissioned a special binding for this early imprint. an opportunity, I asked if he would help develop the collection, and he enthusiastically agreed. Giving him access to the closed stacks, he dove in finding one treasure after another. Again, his command of Spanish and Mexican bibliography proved worth its weight in gold. Because of his invaluable work, I asked then State Librar- ian Ethel Crockett to designate Mike as the honorary curator of Mexicana at the Sutro Library. She agreed and Mike graciously accepted this honor at a special ceremony and continued in this capacity until his death. The two of us had spent many a happy hour in the Sutro stacks studying its wondrous volumes. As a scholar and collector, Mike was naturally curious how Adolph Sutro acquired his great and formidable collection of Mexican history. Seemingly, Sutro devoted most of his attention to European history and the sciences. However, Sutro knew a bargain when he saw one. As Mike discovered, Sutro just happened to be in Mexico City in 1889 at the time of the death of Francisco Abadiano, the proprietor of that ancient city’s longest established bookstore and publishing concern. Sutro purchased the entire stock of Librería Abadiano that included thousands of individual titles published from the sixteenth to the nineteenth century plus a mass of manuscripts, pamphlets, periodicals, and ephemera. Letter of the Book Club of California (Sum- through the Abadiano purchase, Mike It was a treasure trove. In addition, the mer 1980). He observed, “Sutro probably started pulling together dozens of vel- San Francisco bookman had acquired the instructed his agents to buy everything, and lum and leather-bound volumes with business records of the Abadiano family they interpreted this to mean the contents a distinctive fire-mark or brand on the whose business history stretched back to of the desk and wastepaper baskets; he thus head of the text block. It was a Spanish 1753. This exciting analysis by Mike served unknowingly obtained an excellent collec- custom to brand books with the owner’s as the subject for his illuminating article, tion of documents pertaining to the history mark rather than using an easily removed “A Bibliophile’s Dream: Adolph Sutro in of printing and book selling in Mexico.” bookplate. These brands or fire-marks all Mexico,” published in the Quarterly News- While working in the Sutro and going had the insignia of the convent library of

46 California State Library Foundation in 1985 by the Foundation as America’s First Academic Library: Santa Cruz De Tlatelolco,1535–1600. Mike’s last sentence of his narrative summarized the importance of his discovery: “Thanks to [Adolph] Sutro’s mass purchase and the distinctive brands on the books, this first academic library in the America’s remains substantially intact.” In addition, Mike frequently contributed articles to the Bulletin including “Early Books from Mexican Monastic Libraries in the Sutro Library” and “The European Book in Sixteenth Century Colo- nial Mexico.” Realizing the tremendous importance of the Mexican collection, Mike made a point of promoting the Sutro Library during his many visits to Mexico and academic institutions throughout the United States. A renowned lecturer, he participated in many conferences in Latin America. In addition, he knew antiquarian booksellers in Mexico and Spain and worked with them in adding to the collection. Through the efforts of dealer and library supporter Howard Karno, the Sutro acquired the original publisher’s proof sheets of Lord Kingsborough’s Antiqui- ties of Mexico (1831–1848). A stupendous large folio nine-volume work, the Antiq- uities reproduced ancient Aztec codices found in European libraries. The proof sheets consisted of the artist’s instructions for hand coloring each plate. It represented a remarkable find. A few years later, Mike made possible the acquisition of a folio volume of original drawings and manuscript text from the Antiquities dated 1830. More than likely, Lord Kings- borough himself used this volume to help Santa Cruz de Tlatelolco from Mexico City. Colegio de Santa Cruz de Tlatelolco library. promote subscriptions to his grand and Archbishop Juan de Zumárraga, the first In addition, he found that three of the vol- costly publication project. He wrote up the Catholic archbishop in the Western Hemi- umes actually belonged to the archbishop. story of this remarkable publication ven- sphere, had founded a library in 1535 to Excited by this discovery, Mike thought ture for the Bulletin as “Edward King, Lord serve the clerics and missionaries in the an account of this early New World library Kingsborough: The State Library’s Unique newly conquered land. Mike had located a subject worthy of publication. State Collection of His Works Documenting inventories of the collection, and through Librarian Gary E. Strong worked with Ancient Mexican Civilizations.” a careful analysis, concluded that the Sutro Mike in bringing this bibliographic nar- Another spin-off of Mike’s contacts in Library possessed a sizeable portion of the rative into book form. It was published the Hispanic world was attracting a donor

bulletin 104 47 48 from Mexico to pay a then handsome sum traumas for book collections, gave Mike of $50,000 to have the Mexican pam- the opportunity to further organize mate- phlet collection microfilmed. According rial. The new location on Winston Drive to Mike, this pamphlet collection was one in southwest San Francisco included a of the largest in the world documenting rare materials reading room. I had asked Mexico’s struggle for independence in the Mike to select the best part of the Mexican 1820s. This project helped preserve the collection to go into the room as a means collection and make the pamphlets acces- of promoting this scholarly resource. Visi- sible for research to anyone via purchase tors to the new facility could see shelf after or interlibrary loan. shelf of vellum-bound volumes document- One major event, however, interrupted ing the history and literature of Mexico. our scholar’s work on the Mexican col- Images of Mexico decorated the walls and lection. The University of San Francisco end panels of the stacks. Mike also gener- had notified State Librarian Crockett that ously volunteered to write a bilingual bro- it was terminating its lease with the state chure describing the collection. As part of of California and that the Sutro Library his duties as honorary curator, he happily would have to move. This forthcoming answered queries about Mexicana not only event, while not pleasant as all moves are for in person visitors but also for those

A recent addition to the Sutro Library is this folio volume designed to promote Lord Kingsborough’s stupendous Antiquities of Mexico (1831–1848). Bound in pigskin, the sumptuous work contains sixty striking full-page watercolor reproductions of Aztec manuscripts found in European libraries. The Sutro Library also possesses the artist’s proof sheets and a completed set of the most lavish work on Mexican antiquities.

bulletin 104 49 who wrote or emailed the Sutro Library. to California to attend book fairs and give Mike was such an asset with his ability to talks and he always made a point of spend- respond to complex questions of Mexican ing several days at the Sutro Library. He history and bibliography. happily continued answering reference Working with such a collection gave questions about the Mexican collection this phenomenal historian an opportunity and often sent boxes of gift books to us. to expand his own horizons. The Sutro Mike rarely if ever said “no.” The noted Library possesses an uncommonly fine antiquarian bookseller and auctioneer collection of illustrated books printed and Dorothy Sloan had contacted me in the published in Mexico. Mike had always felt summer of 2002 about writing entries that Mexico’s printing and publishing his- for a forthcoming auction of the Daniel G. tory was not fully appreciated especially in Volkmann, Jr. collection of the Zamorano this country. He would frequently point 80. The Zamorano 80 is a legendary list of out that printing and library formation the most important books on California came long before any such developments history up to 1930. Only one institution in the Thirteen Colonies. Hearing this, I has all eighty in first edition, and Volk- The front cover illustration of Dr. Mathes’s study suggested that he write a book on Mexican mann was only the third private collector of the America’s first academic library shows the lithography and he tackled the subject with to form a complete collection. It would firebrand or ownership mark used by this ancient Mexico City library that is now preserved in the alacrity. In 1984, the Book Club of Califor- be one of the most noteworthy auctions Sutro Library. nia published his Mexico on Stone: Lithogra- of Californiana in years. Sloan wanted to phy in Mexico, 1826–1900. It received much produce a monumental catalog that would acclaim and was illustrated with many not be a rehash of previous descriptions of examples from the Sutro collection. Zamorano 80 titles. I agreed to do the job Mike’s investigation of the Mexican col- despite being given a challenging deadline lection library continues to live on as dem- of early fall and I also realized that I would onstrated by the following moving words not be able to handle the early Spanish lan- from Lindsay Sidders, a doctoral candidate guage material at least in a way that would in history at the University of Toronto: “I not be a repeat of Henry R. Wagner’s Bibli- am saddened to hear of Dr. Mathes’ pass- ography of the Spanish Southwest 1542–1794: ing; his work on Tlatelolco has been (and An Annotated Bibliography or the bibliog- continues to be) instrumental in my work. raphy entitled The Hill Collection of Pacific Without his extensive study it would have Voyages. So, I suggested that she engage been nearly impossible for me to organize our mutual friend W. Michael Mathes to a research trip to the Sutro. The collection write the entries for not only the Spanish on Tlatelolco is so rich and extensive and language materials but also the early pre- he put so much effort and time into under- American period of voyages. Fortunately, standing and cataloging its various pieces Mike agreed, and the two of us bolstered and history—I am so grateful. Hopefully I by Dorothy’s encouragement and inspi- can build on his important contributions.” ration, helped produce a memorable and Much to our regret, Mike had decided successful three-hundred-page auction Published in 1968, Dr. Mathes’s book on Sebastián to move back to north Texas after spend- catalog at warp speed. The memorable Vizcaíno stands as a major contribution to the ing much of his life in California. He had auction was held at the Society of Califor- early maritime history of Pacific Coast. purchased a ranch in Plainview and set up nia Pioneers Building in San Francisco in his library in the new location. I quickly February 2003. learned from Mike that Plainview was the The subject of the Mexican War intrigued home of the Mathes family, and he wanted both of us. Mike had found in the collec- to return to his roots. However, via email tion a number of broadsides printed in and telephone we kept in close touch. Mexico denouncing the perfidious invader Moreover, Mike made many return trips (the United States) as well as newspapers,

50 California State Library Foundation books, pamphlets, and prints document- horse, Five Finger Rapids, Dawson City, September 2010. The Mexican Consul to ing the Mexican viewpoint. In Sacramento, Anchorage, Skagway, and Juneau. The Sacramento attended the event, and Mike the State Library had built a substantial scenery was breathtaking and the vastness gave an engaging account of the discovery collection of U.S. government documents of the region overwhelming. We made a of the manuscript and its contents. and published eyewitness accounts, news- pilgrimage to Bonanza Creek, a tributary That was the last time I saw Mike. We papers, prints, and sheet music. We both of the Klondike River, where Californian had exchanged many emails and tele- agreed this warranted a publication, and George W. Carmack and his Native Ameri- phone calls concerning various historical through the generosity of the Foundation, can friends first discovered gold in August projects and we both talked about making we published The Forgotten War: The Con- 1896. This discovery started the great a return trip to Alaska and Yukon Territory. flict between Mexico and the United States, stampede north. During this month-long In one of his emails, he revealed that he 1846–1849: A Bibliography of the Holdings of trip, Mike generously drove me to places was fighting cancer but remained deter- the California State Library. Mike composed like the Yukon Archives in Whitehorse, the mined to beat the dreaded disease. Despite a very useful annotated bibliography of Anchorage Public Library, and the Alaska that, Mike had planned to drive from his Spanish language material while this writer State Library. Bookstores and museums ranch in Texas first to San Marino, Califor- handled American publications. Related to with their bookstores along the way had nia, and then to San Francisco to receive this, I had found in the State Library’s col- their own magnetism, and we did our best the Oscar Lewis Award from the Book lection an outstanding reminiscent account to support the local economy. At night, we Club of California in February 2012. He of the war by an American officer John exchanged bibliographic tales and planned also included in his itinerary a visit to the Corey Henshaw. Mike urged me to edit the the next day’s adventure. We now both State Library. I, along with others, had sug- manuscript for publication, and I sent him felt like real sourdoughs. On the return, gested his name as a worthy recipient of many drafts. His knowledge of Mexican we spent time at the University of Wash- this prestigious award. Shortly before the geography and military history was invalu- ington’s special collections department. ceremony, I received an email from his able. Bolstered by his encouragement Zooming down Interstate 5, Mike dropped nephew Stephen Brandt in San Marino through dozens of emails, the University me off in Sacramento, and headed to San that Mike was very ill and could not make of Missouri Press published the Henshaw Diego and thence across the border to give the trip to San Francisco. Entering the recollection in 2008. a presentation. Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, the My final personal story about Mike well Following that lecture, Mike then hopped doctors discovered that the cancer had illustrates his friendship and commitment on a plane from San Diego back to Sacra- spread. Stephen took excellent care of him to scholarship. He visited me in Sacra- mento to give a talk at the Library. The year making sure he received the best possible mento, and while having lunch, I told him 2010 was the sesquicentennial anniversary care. Ever determined, Mike recovered suf- I had wanted to write a descriptive bibli- of Mexico’s fight for independence. A local ficiently to give a well-received paper to the ography of the Klondike Gold Rush simi- bookseller notified us that he had run across California Mission Studies Association in lar in format to my California Gold Rush an unusual collection of Mexican manu- Santa Barbara. He returned home to Texas, bibliography. Mike immediately reminded scripts. I immediately contacted Mike, and but the cancer had returned and Mike me of his trips to Alaska and the Yukon he went through the documents. Found entered a hospital once again. Following and enthusiastically suggested that the in this mass of material was an incredible several weeks of treatment, he entered a two of us go on an Alaskan road trip visit- manuscript, the testimony and recollection hospice for his final days. One of the great ing historically important places related to of Melchor Guasp, the jailer of the initiator scholars and bookmen in California and the last great American gold rush. I was of Mexican independence, Miguel Hidalgo Pacific Coast history had died. His scholar- incredulous and said, “How about if we y Costilla. With his usual promptness, Mike ship will live on through his many books fly to Alaska and rent a car?” Mike replied, translated the four-page manuscript. Based and articles as will his many contribu- “No, no—you have to see the terrain first- on his recommendation, we purchased it tions to building libraries and archives. I hand to gain a true understanding of its for the Sutro Library. The story did not end will be forever grateful for his long friend- history.” How right he was. In late August there. This was too good to pass up, and ship and big-hearted encouragement and 2010, he drove from his home in north Mike produced a wonderful and moving I so wanted to give him a big abrazo. On Texas and met me in Sacramento in his introduction to Guasp’s amazing account of August 16, Mike’s nephew arranged for brand new Chevy pickup truck. Together the final days of Hidalgo. This resulted in a his burial at the Mathes Family Plot in we drove 9,000 total miles hitting places beautifully designed Foundation publication Plainview, Texas. W. Michael Mathes now like Carcross, Tok, Watson Lake, White- and a public program at the State Library in rests in Clio’s realm. 

bulletin 104 51 Recent Contributors

ASSOCIATE Mr. & Mrs. Eugene M. Scott, Fair Oaks Nat Des Marais, Portland, OR Mr. & Mrs. Warren J. Abbott, West Covina William H. Van Horn, Burlingame Glenn J. Farris, Davis Bayford Butler, Penryn Raymond & Wanda Wilmoth, Elk Grove Jim W. Faulkinbury, Sacramento Cathleen & Magnus Berglund, Amador City In Memory of Marie M. Bergin Stephen H. Gee, Los Angeles Lawrence A. Cenotto, Jackson The Marie M. Bergin Trust, San Francisco Robert K. Greenwood, Las Vegas, NV Cindy L. Mediavilla, Culver City In Memory of Ora King Mrs. Jessie V. Heinzman, Elk Grove Mary A. McCollum, Sacramento Laura S. Murra, Berkeley Suzanne Jacobs, Sacramento In Memory of Adriana Z. Precissi Laura B. Parker, Davis Gary & Julie Abate, Stockton Barbara Jane Land, San Francisco Lydia M. Peake, West Sacramento Suzanne L. Leineke, Fair Oaks Vernon & JoAnne Bava, Stockton Suzanne Sheumaker, Jackson M. Patricia Morris, Sacramento Norm & Gloria Beckham, Stockton Jonathan Starr, Los Angeles Pearson Education, Livonia, MI Elmo & Gloria Biglieri, Stockton Paul J. Tanner, Carmichael Mr. E. R. Penrose, Sacramento Earl & Jane Burdick, Stockton United Way California Capital Region, Sacramento Whitney & Clasina Shane, Prunedale Ed & Sally Burke, Stockton Colleen & Michael Ward, Rocklin Mr. & Mrs. Robert L. Shumaker, Fair Oaks Dan & Kathy Caminata, Stockton Robert K. White, Novato Claudia J. Skelton, Seattle, WA Doris & Alvin Cortopassi, Linden Earl Withycombe, Sacramento James B. Snyder, Davis Michael & Barbara Demeter, Atherton In Memory of Mary Rose Evans Kit Tyler, Sacramento Mrs. Josie S. Franzia, Ripon Katherine Evans, Sacramento In Support of the American Haiku Archive Nancy & Don Franzia & Family, Manteca Mrs. Margaret Spiers Frank, Vashon, WA Sandra & William Goodman, Stockton CONTRIBUTOR In Memory of Susan MacDonald Bergtholdt Mary & Roger Haack, Stockton Judith M. Auth, Riverside Craig MacDonald, Huntington Beach Angie Mangili, Stockton Collin Clark, Sacramento In Support of the Bernick Collection Marlene & Gary Morris, Stockton Mr. & Mrs. Michael Bernick, San Francisco Bill Dean, Sacramento The Lory C. Mussi Family, Stockton In Support of the Robert Kolbrener Portfolio Mr. & Mrs. Albert B. Faris, Campbell Lena Pinasco, Stockton Robert Kolbrener, Carmel Jody Feldman, Sacramento Jeanette & Jack Plotz, Stockton In Honor of Gary F. Kurutz Neal D. Gordon, Folsom John E. Allen, Sacramento Ernie & Dorothy Podesta, Stockton Bart Nadeau, San Francisco In Memory of W. Michael Mathes, Ph.D. Anne Precissi, Stockton John Rowell, Sacramento Barbara Jane Lane, San Francisco Donald & Ellen Precissi, Stockton In Memory of Val Zemitis Precissi Flying Service, Inc., Lodi SPONSOR Sibylle Zemitis, Davis John & Annette Sanguinetti, Stockton Les & Mary De Wall, Davis Diane C. Tozi, Stockton SUTRO LIBRARY Patricia & Michael Trone, Stockton Nancy Ehlers, Sacramento BRAILLE & TALKING BOOK LIBRARY In Honor of John A. Petersen Nevah A. Locker, San Francisco Maxine Bussi-Warns, Watsonville Maggie Petersen, Walnut Creek Haleh Motiey-Payandehjoo, San Francisco John Carlin, Orangevale In Memory of Dorothy Price Priscilla J. Royal, Crockett Mr. & Mrs. James Jackson, Banning Mr. & Mrs. Werner C. Cohn, San Jose Cherie & Kenneth Swenson, Newark Judge Bill L. Dozier, Stockton In Honor of Diane Sloan, Reader Advisor In Memory of W. Michael Mathes, Ph.D. Diane Long, Ph.D., Berkeley Brian N. Fidler, Oakland KD & Gary Kurutz, Sacramento Lucy Owens, Carmel CALIFORNIA HISTORY CALIFORNIA CULTURAL & Jeanne Pello, Nevada City Russell & Elizabeth Austin, Sacramento HISTORICAL ENDOWMENT Scott & Denise Richmond, Sacramento Cengage Learning, Mason, OH California Council for the Humanities, Mr. & Mrs. Eugene M. Scott, Fair Oaks Victoria Dailey & Steve Turner, Beverly Hills San Francisco Megan L. Slover-Murphy, Woodland Don De Nevi, Menlo Park James B. Snyder, Davis

52 California State Library Foundation