PUBLISHED OCCASIONALLY BY THE FRIENDS OF THE BANCROFT LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY 4, CALIFORNIA Number 8 • MAY, 1953 HERBERT EUGENE BOLTON AN APPRECIATION HERBERT E. BOLTON was 82 on Sunday, July 20, 1952. He died January 30, 1953. But let no one make the mistake of saying my friend was ever old! While enjoying a chat with the vivacious professor not so long ago, I remarked: "Bol­ ton, what's become of all our friends and as­ sociates? As I look around it seems as if our contemporaries are all dead and gone." Quick as a flash he came back at me with a sharp "No! My real contemporaries are aged 28! When I hear anybody talking about being old, or acting that way, I don't like it—my contemporaries are 28." Happy transposition! Reverse the position of the digits, and lo, instead of 82 you have 28! Simple as that. Cast aside the deceitful calendar, adopt the mystic figure! HERBERT EUGENE BOLTON Though not a native Californian, Dr. Bol­ 1870-1953 ton was a resident of the state for more than forty years, all but two of them at the Uni­ versity of California at Berkeley, itself a re­ ment, both as to the sheer volume and the markable record. As Sather Professor of high scholarship maintained throughout. His History and Director of the Bancroft Library, Outpost of Empire: The Story of the Found­ he won distinction after distinction, never ing of San Francisco and the Rim of Chris­ satisfied to rest on the laurels of accumulated tendom were awarded the gold medal of the attainments. Commonwealth Club of California. The five- Even before coming to California he had volume work on Anza's California Expedi­ gained eminence as investigator and scholar tions (1774—76) is truly monumental. If his in Mexican and Southwestern history. His re­ books are many, his articles and reviews are searches in the Mexican Archives date back overwhelmingly legion. almost to the beginning of the century. But Two of the finest compliments paid Pro­ we claim him for the Golden State —in its fessor Bolton by those who had been his Hall of Fame the entire future will hold an graduate students are in the form of essays honored place for Herbert Eugene Bolton. contributed in his honor. In 1932, New Spain A list of the published writings and trans­ and the Anglo-American West appeared in lations of Dr. Bolton inspires a sense of amaze- two handsome volumes, privately printed, edited by George P. Hammond, present Di­ derlying unity in the early development of rector of the Bancroft Library, and others. the Western Hemisphere. William B. Lake Diaries Bancroft Portraits These volumes, containing papers by scholars We honor Dr. Bolton for the wonderful THE LIBRARY has recently received the diaries LAST YEAR, Philip Bancroft, youngest son of recognized authority, were presented to product of his pen during the past half-cen­ of William B. Lake (c. 1828-c. 1914), who of Hubert Howe Bancroft, and a steadfast honor their master teacher "and to express tury, but I crave the privilege of paying him came to California from Maine in 1853 via Friend and member of the Council, presented deep appreciation of his counsel and guid­ humble but sincere tribute for his prodigious Panama, and who for many years was active the Library with portraits of his grandfather, ance." In 1945, the University of California labors in influencing the hundreds of enthu­ in the business life of Oakland, Sacramento, Azanah Ashley Bancroft, and Azariah's wife, Press brought out a stout volume entitled, siastic, inspired students who have gone forth and San Francisco. The diaries were presented Lucy Howe Bancroft. Later, he gave us an­ Greater America —Essays in Honor of Her­ to teach and to write, imbued with undying by his descendants, Baker F. and E. D. Lake, other memento, the monogrammed gold bert Eugene Bolton, edited by Adele Ogden zeal and inspirational spirit. of Oakland. Comprising one small notebook watch that Hubert Howe Bancroft had car­ and Engel Sluiter. This volume contains Who can set limits to the fruitage of such and four large journals and covering the years ried for nearly fifty years. twenty-seven articles and fourteen original a life? As a scholar among scholars, a leader 1853 to 1899, they reveal the personal im­ maps, followed by a bibliography of the writ­ among leaders in the fascinating field of pressions of a careful, if sometimes naive, ob­ Calif ijorniana ings of Bolton, meticulously compiled. Few, American history, I venture to compare him server. indeed, have been the teachers to be thus with Herbert Baxter Adams of Johns Hop­ The flavor of the writing is indicated by FROM Friend Harry N. M. Winton, Libra­ honored. kins University, distinguished pioneer in aca­ this entry, made at Salisbury Mills, Pennsyl­ rian of the United Nations Collection, comes Professor Bolton was never confined within demic research, and Frederick Jackson Turner vania, on the trip to California: the gift of two'very interesting additions to the narrow limits of any single department of Wisconsin, foremost interpreter of the "Attended Church in the afternoon in a the literature of Gold Rush California. One is of learning. He exemplified the doctrine of Westward Movement. Adams and Turner school house, had miserable preaching. So Aventure della mia vita, by Leonetto Cipri­ Woodrow Wilson that to know one thing you have passed over the great divide; and now poor at any rate that I was unable to tell ani, who was Sardinian consul in San Fran­ must know more than one thing. In the teach­ Bolton has gone to join them. A hearty salute whether he was Freewill Babtist or Univer- cisco during the early 'fifties. The other is the ing of American history, he vehemently dis­ in remembrance to my honored friend, who salist. This is quite a pleasant little village, little-known Vie et aventures d'un enfant de carded any "narrowly national method of at 82 was but 28! but suits me not. All together to still & se­ I'Ardenne, autobiography of J. N. Perlot, a historical presentation," recognizing an un­ —Rockwell D. Hunt cluded. And I have seen as yet not one pretty- Belgian who joined the French gold seekers woman or any that looked as though they in 1850 and spent some years in the Southern possessed one half the ambition or common Mines. We hope to have further newsr con­ of gratitude to him for his unselfish, gener­ cerning these items in an early issue. tft> Annual Meeting sence of our good old Main girls. This is ous, and resourceful service and extend best rather discouraging to a young man that is IT'S that time of year again! On Friday eve­ wishes for many years of future activity. perfectly unengaged!' ning, June 5, 1953, t^ie Annual Meeting of Yerington Papers the Friends will be held on the campus of the HENRY M. YERINGTON (1828-1910), who Books on Oregon University of California in Room 11 Wheeler German Documents drove the first and last spikes of the famous Hall. All members and their friends are wel­ OUR THANKS are due to David Magee for the As we go to press, we learn that Roland E. Virginia & Truckee Railroad and was its vice- come. president and general manager from its be­ privilege of making a selection of fine books Duncan, Bancroft's representative in Eng­ There will be a short business meeting, on Oregon from the private library of the late ginnings in 1869 until his death, was one of land, has had some extremely good luck the West's great promoters. From his desk in with election of four new members of the Lewis A. McArthur, a former resident of lately. When he learned that the captured Council, and progress reports by the officers. Carson City he directed many enterprises, Portland. archives of the German Foreign Ministry Our speaker, Dr. W. L. Davis, S.J., of Gon- Of "Tarn" McArthur we quote from his including the Inyo Development Company, zaga University, will tell of his recent investi­ were in England and could be filmed, pro­ which operated a soda works at Keeler, Cali­ close friend, Mr. Magee: "He came natu­ vided the costs could be met and the work gations in European archives regarding the rally by the love of the early lore of his native fornia; the Southern Development Company, life and work of the great Father De Smet. done speedily, he wired University Librarian which ran the Walker Lake & Bodie Toll state, for his forebears were distinguished citi­ Donald Coney, who was able to provide the After the program, the Bancroft will hold Road; and the Carson & Colorado Railroad, zens of Oregon. One grandfather was James required means. open house, with a chance for fellowship, talk W. Nesmith, U. S. Senator in the '6o's, the a narrow gauge line running from Mound about books, and some moments for refresh­ With the cooperation of British, French, House, Nevada, to Keeler. It was of this lat­ other was William P. McArthur, U.S.N., and American officials in London, Duncan ments. who made the first chart of the mouth of the ter venture that one of the owners, D. O. has now filmed about nine hundred volumes Mills, is supposed to have said, "Gentlemen, Columbia River in 1849 and chose the site of of these documents, hitherto secret. The Uni­ Mare Island, California, as a Navy yard." we have either built it 300 miles too long or Brezee Retires versity of California, through the good for­ 300 years too soon." AFTER many years of devoted service to the Mr.