The morning call., 1893-05-19
LOST ARCHIVES.
Bancroft s Library Sold to
Chicago.
IF IT CAN BE DELIVERED.
The Valieios, EstudilIos, Larkins and
others rIay Protest and Claim
Their Ancestors Documents.

hubert Howe Bancroft. the voluminous
historian, has, it is said, disposed of his
library to the Chicagoans. After asking the
State Legislature to buy his library for
$3.50, coo and Congress to bny it for S5O0,00O
he has sold it to the University of Chicago
for $50. 600. but it is questionable II he can
deIyer the goods. fer the heirs of Vallejo.
the Estudillos and Larkin, it Is said. con-
template !nsttuting Teplevin suit to re-
cover valuable old documents which they
claim TO have loaned to the great historian
with his agreement TO return them.
There is no doubt that the iron building
out on Valencia street where the history
is published under tho name of Fl. Ill. Ban
croft contains many valuable hooks and
documents relating to the history OF the
Pacific Coast and Mexico. There are /
least 10, 900 valuable books and pamphlets.
In addition there are at least 10000 OF not
much particular value.
Many years ago Bancroft. through his
publishing house, began to issue volume
after volume of tie history of the State and
coast and of Mexico. all written by corps
of employees at his library. But all the
books bore his name.
Then, when he had made fortune out
out Of that, lie offered to sell the library to
the State. There was no doubt that it was
n library the State should possess, but the
owner made mistakes. One was in asking
too much.
Then he tried Congress Will, the modest
dem and of S500.000.
On the estimate of n. J. Stone. who was
with the History COMPANY such long
time, the library is worth about $50, 600
Bancroft gives in It's valuation to the
Assessor at 5000, and when Assessor
| Siebe tried 10 raise thai to $4,000, one
IL, :, ~ ,,ff,r "A 1, Tn
| for, Ban croft made a protest and had it
| put down to the old figure.
| Much has been said of the methods by
! which the old SraniSh archives were Oh
| tanned. 1t has been claimed that many of
them owned by the Esndillos, by General
! Vallejo. by Thomas 0. Larkin and others
were loaned and never returned.
1t is claimed by the Vallejo people that
copies Were first taken. ana that the orig
| iuaiS were afterward borrowed, on the
| ground that it was necessary to compare
them with the copiPs, and never returned.
! Chief Justice Grey of British Columbia,
une of the oldest inhabitants OF that prov
| ince. turned ovov documents to be re-
turned. But. though he has often writ
| ten for them, l.. has never been able to get
them back.
SO it is now said that the Vallejo and
Larkin and Estudillo beirs and others are
perfecting arrangements to replevin the
documents they have loaned.
II will be a question if Mr.. Bancroft
can deliver his goods to the University OF
Chicago.
No enc in the present century has
ever turned ont rs many books over
bis own name a mas the great California
historian, and Yet while they were being
written he found time 10 care for his large
| business interests and many lawsuits.
OF course the real value In the books and
documents of the Bancroft library is in
their connection with the early history of
the Pacific Coast. An assistant in the
history department of the State Uuiysr-
sity last evening, when spoken to about
the matter, said:
1T seems curious That new place like
Chicago Should bother about the history
OF still newer place. Universities and
colleges generally use their surplus money
in the purchase of libraries and books on
history in regard to older civilizations.
I'll would be natural enough on our part
to purchase This library, for 1t deals with
our own history and in time will become
very valuable 10 us. but it will be long
time batore the University OF Chicago will
make ahy practical use of it. 1t will be
many day before the history students OF
Chicago will be making auy deep re-
Searches into The history of Monterey,
| Sonoma or Aiilpitas"