Manuscripts
The Stoneman family papers consist of diaries, family and official correspondence, photographs, ephemera, memorabilia, and genealogical and historical research files from the family of George Stoneman, 1822-1894 and his wife, Mary Oliver Hardisty Stoneman, 1836-1915. The earliest letters are written by Mary O.H. Stoneman's father, Henry Hardisty, Jr. There are two letters from 1832 and the remainder are from his European travels from 1851 through 1852. The correspondence concerns family news and descriptions of his travels in Scotland, Ireland, England, France, Germany, Italy, Greece, and Egypt. There are four letters written by the still life painter and portraitist, Andrew John Henry Way, who appears to be related to Mary O.H. Stoneman. Although there are very few surviving personal and military material related to George Stoneman, 1822-1894, there are a few letters to his wife, Mary O.H. Stoneman from 1883 through 1888. Other correspondence related to George Stoneman, 1822-1894 includes his appointment as United States railroad commissioner and reinstatement to the Army retired list in 1888. Other Stoneman family material includes: Adele Stoneman Schmidgall, Cornelius McLean Stoneman, George J. Stoneman, Julia H. Stoneman, George B. Stoneman, Robert M. Stoneman, Mary Lejeal Stoneman McGinnis, and Virginia Hardisty Stoneman. Most of the correspondence was compiled and organized by George J. Stoneman's daughter, Virginia Hardisty Stoneman. These files also include, but not limited to, printed ephemera, notes, and letters to and from Virginia Hardisty Stoneman. There are fourteen diaries belonging to Mary O.H. Stoneman. Stoneman's first diary begins in 1882, a year before her husband becomes Governor of California, and concludes in 1887. The later diaries detail her trip through Europe from 1902 through 1905. There is also a diary written by Katherine "Kitty" Cheney Stoneman, concerning her European travels from 1894 through 1895. A journal of interest may be Mary O.H. Stoneman father's journey around the word on ships Rolla and Birmingham. Henry Hardisty, Jr., 1808-1855, begins his trip from Baltimore, Maryland and proceeds to Cape Horn. He stops in Cobija, Bolivia, Lima, Peru, Coquimbo, Chile, and Huasco, Chile. On April 16, 1831, Hardisty finds himself in the middle of a "revolution" in Peru. He writes, "…of all public commotions I ever heard of this certainly capped the climax." Hardisty also travels to Honolulu where he witnesses the construction of a wall; meets the father of 37 children by different wives; and describes his encounter with the king "Called upon the King - Kow Kioli - at his palace and find him lolling upon a bed of mats with a motley group of men, women and children," (Aug. 13, 1831). Hardisty's journal abruptly ends, shortly after arriving in Canton, China at the end of September 1831. The donor compiled a portfolio of correspondence, documents, legal documents, photographs, and printed ephemera related to George Stoneman, 1822-1894. These items have been re-housed in a binder. The oversize items are housed separately. The collection also includes a typescript of Civil War Letters of Margaret Sumner McLean; a visitor book with over approximately 600 visitors to the Stoneman's estate "Los Robles"; photographs; clippings; memorabilia; textbooks; and buttons with shoulder marks belonging to George Stoneman, 1822-1894. The 2021 addenda includes a letter by John Bell Hood, two letters by Robert E. Lee, a photograph of George Stoneman and Mary O. H. Stoneman, and a file of correspondence related to the dedication ceremony of Camp Stoneman, Pittsburg, California, in 1942.
