Photographs of Adobes of Northern and Southern California | Collections | The Huntington

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Photographs of Adobes of Northern and Southern California

Description

This collection consists of a disbound album compiled by Lucius "Paul" Soberanes (1882-1959) of primarily amateur snapshots of 19th century California adobes taken during the 1930s and 1940s, with typewritten captions added by Soberanes in the 1950s. Soberanes, a descendant of early Spanish landholders in California, put much of his energy into personally photographing adobes in Northern California for his album; not only did he travel through Monterey County, but also Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Cruz, San Luis Obispo, Sonoma, Solano, and Ventura Counties. He also added a small number of professional photographs by L.A. Sanchez and E.R. Jackson and a photograph of a drawing by E.A. Burbank into the album.

Some of the adobes are shown to be in disrepair while others had been restored by the then adobes' owners, state agencies, historical societies, or service organizations. Of the Monterey adobes featured, the best known include Casa Soberanes (House of the Blue Gate), the Cooper-Molera Adobe, Alvarado Adobe, Casa Gutierrez, Casa de la Torre, and Casa Amesti. Various adobes in Monterey County were held by the Soberanes family, including the Alta Vista Adobe, and the Rancho El Alisal and Rancho Ex-Mission Soledad properties. Other prominent adobes in Northern California are the Vicente Martinez Adobe, Petaluma Adobe, Castro Adobe, and Dana Adobe. There are some photographs of Southern California adobes, especially in Santa Barbara and San Diego; adobes from these areas include the Gonzalez House, Casa de Bandini, Casa de Estudillo, and Rancho Camulos. Soberanes, his wife, and his children appear posing on the adobe grounds in some of the photographs.

Photograph captions in the list of photographs are transcribed exactly as they appear in the album. The dates mentioned most often refer to an adobe's construction date; photographs are printed later. Photographs from pages 119, 121, and 144 are missing from the album. In addition to the prints, there are 2 postcards (Items 155-156), a photomechanical print (page 151), and one cyanotype (page 137).

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Box 1: Album pages 1-75
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Soberanes put much of his energy into personally photographing adobes in Northern California for his album; not only did he travel through Monterey County, but also Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Cruz, San Luis Obispo, Sonoma, Solano, and Ventura Counties. He also added a small number of professional photographs by L.A. Sanchez and E.R. Jackson and a photograph of a drawing by E.A. Burbank into the album. Some of the adobes are shown to be in disrepair while others had been restored by the then adobes' owners, state agencies, historical societies, or service organizations. Of the Monterey adobes featured, the best known include Casa Soberanes (House of the Blue Gate), the Cooper-Molera Adobe, Alvarado Adobe, Casa Gutierrez, Casa de la Torre, and Casa Amesti. Various adobes in Monterey County were held by the Soberanes family, including the Alta Vista Adobe, and the Rancho El Alisal and Rancho Ex-Mission Soledad properties. Other prominent adobes in Northern California are the Vicente Martinez Adobe, Petaluma Adobe, Castro Adobe, and Dana Adobe. There are some photographs of Southern California adobes, especially in Santa Barbara and San Diego; adobes from these areas include the Gonzalez House, Casa de Bandini, Casa de Estudillo, and Rancho Camulos. Photograph captions in the list of photographs are transcribed exactly as they appear in the album. The dates mentioned most often refer to an adobe's construction date; photographs are printed later. Photographs from pages 119, 121, and 144 are missing from the album. In addition to the prints, there are 2 postcards, a photomechanical print, and one cyanotype.
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Box 2: Album pages 76-154 and items 155-156
Visual Materials
Soberanes put much of his energy into personally photographing adobes in Northern California for his album; not only did he travel through Monterey County, but also Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Cruz, San Luis Obispo, Sonoma, Solano, and Ventura Counties. He also added a small number of professional photographs by L.A. Sanchez and E.R. Jackson and a photograph of a drawing by E.A. Burbank into the album. Some of the adobes are shown to be in disrepair while others had been restored by the then adobes' owners, state agencies, historical societies, or service organizations. Of the Monterey adobes featured, the best known include Casa Soberanes (House of the Blue Gate), the Cooper-Molera Adobe, Alvarado Adobe, Casa Gutierrez, Casa de la Torre, and Casa Amesti. Various adobes in Monterey County were held by the Soberanes family, including the Alta Vista Adobe, and the Rancho El Alisal and Rancho Ex-Mission Soledad properties. Other prominent adobes in Northern California are the Vicente Martinez Adobe, Petaluma Adobe, Castro Adobe, and Dana Adobe. There are some photographs of Southern California adobes, especially in Santa Barbara and San Diego; adobes from these areas include the Gonzalez House, Casa de Bandini, Casa de Estudillo, and Rancho Camulos. Photograph captions in the list of photographs are transcribed exactly as they appear in the album. The dates mentioned most often refer to an adobe's construction date; photographs are printed later. Photographs from pages 119, 121, and 144 are missing from the album. In addition to the prints, there are 2 postcards, a photomechanical print, and one cyanotype.
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Page 51
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# of photos: 4 photos Description: a, b) [Exterior of front of Casa Soberanes] c, d) [Landmark sign for Casa Soberanes, saying: "Casa Soberanes. Built for Prefect Don José Estrada in the early Mexican period. Later passed to the Soberanes family."]
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Page 130
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# of photos: 3 photos Description: a, b) Casa Amesti. Built in the 30's by Don José Amesti for his bride, Encarnación Vallejo c) Adobe house erected by Francisco Soberanes in 1840, on Pierce St. By 1851 the house belonged to Jesus Soto. It is now called the Soto House.
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Page 41
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# of photos: 2 photos Description: a) Adobe home of Feliciano Soberanes on Rancho El Elisal, Monterey Co. Built in 1833. Later sold to Governor J.B. Alvarado. b) Adobe house erected by Francisco Soberanes, on his portion of the Ex Mission Soledad, in Monterey Co.
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Page 82
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# of photos: 2 photos Description: a) Adobe house built by Ezekiel Soberanes on Soberanes Point, San Simeon highway, Monterey County. This house has been covered with clapboards, and is still standing and occupied. b) José Eusebio Boronda Adobe. Built in 1840 on Rancho Rinconada del Sanjon in Monterey County.
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