LIBR 256 Moore Family Papers

Heather Fucinari

LIBR 256

LIBR 256 – Moore Family Papers

This collection of manuscripts, photos, articles and ephemera is called “The Moore Family Papers”. The papers contained no discernable original order. The papers are arranged in six series; the first five are by the provenance of the individual family member with the sixth containing photographs. Provenance could not be determined with the photos so they have their own series under the Moore Family Papers. The series of George A. Moore is divided into two subgroups containing their own series. Since George A. Moore’s papers are divided between his personal and business life this is necessary. Each sub series is divided into applicable file types. Each series is broken down by folder, not mixing bibliographical information together with correspondence, etc. Within each folder the items are filed chronologically with items with no date filed last.

Some difficult issues of provenance arise with George A. Moore’s papers as, according to practice, all papers deriving from a business should be kept together and not arranged by subject within other groups. While one son’s emancipation letter is filed under the Legal & Financial series under George A. Moore’s personal papers, the other is filed in the business papers sub series under The Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Company of California series.

Moore Family Papers

1849 - 1998

FINDING AID

Grubstake Historical Society

111 Miner Dr.

Bone Dry Gulch, CA95263

Administrative Information

Extent: 5 document boxes

Date Span: 1849-1998, bulk dates from 1849-1906

Provenance: This collection was donated in November of 2006 by Thelma Moore Doogood, distant cousin of Dr. George Alden Moore.

Citation information: Researchers wanting to cite materials found in this collection use: Box [#], Folder [#], Moore Family Papers, Grubstake Historical Society, Bone Dry Gulch, CA.

Restrictions: This collection contains correspondence of Thelma Moore Doogood [Box 5] which is restricted until 2046.

Processed by: Heather Fucinari, July 2007

Historical Note

The Moore Family Papers consists predominantly of Dr. George Alden Moore (1834-1916). His wife, Mary Ellen “Lizzie” Moore (formally James), sister Hannah Moore and brother Julius Henry Moore are also represented to a lesser degree.

Dr. George Alden Moore was born in Philadelphia, PA on February 9, 1834. He began his professional career practicing dentistry in Maine, where he met his wife. Together, they moved to New York. The two were separated for a time when Moore left to fight during the Civil War with the State Militia of Leavenworth, Kansas. His rank as Captain of the State Militia and honors as Ensign for the Volunteer Company of Infantry led him to an election to the State Legislature’s lower house in 1863. Moore, soon after, became the first president of the Leavenworth Board of Education.

Dr. Moore found his footing in Kansas in what would become a most successful career in insurance. After working in several Kansas insurance companies, Moore moved to San Francisco at the age of 42 with his wife and children. It was here that he would catapult the Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Company of California to great success.

Aside from Dr. Moore’s endeavors in the insurance business, he was also very active in the prohibition movement until his death. He was also an active church member and had served as Sunday School Superintendent in San Francisco for several years and was later involved in Alameda. The last years of life led to international travels. Dr. Moore passed away in Alameda, CA on January 8, 1916 at the age of 81. He was survived by his wife and children William Shelly Moore, Herbert B. Moore, Jane Walton Langley, Mary F. Fitch, George James Moore and Henry Thomas Moore.

Scope and Content Note

The collection consists of letters, articles, notes, photographs and ephemera of both the Moore family, as well as several of Dr. George A. Moore’s business ventures. The collection is broken up by series, then by folder, then chronologically within the folder. George A. Moore’s papers are broken into sub series, series, by folder, then chronologically. All undated materials are the last documents in each folder.

The Hannah Moore series holds a concerned letter to her father, Herbert J. Moore, just before his death. In addition, a letter to “Lizzy” James (Mary Ellen Moore) upon hearing the news of George A. Moore’s budding relationship with her is included.

A touch of sibling rivalry can be felt in the series of Julius H. Moore. A playful tease with brother, George A. Moore, bets who can make more money lecturing. An oath to sobriety, following brother’s footsteps, is also enclosed.

Mary Ellen Moore’s documents include a letter from her mother expressing worry over the war. A note fragment to her husband who is away is included.

The majority of the collection is that of the George A. Moore series, which is broken down into sub series: personal and business. This series contains biographical documents that describe George A. Moore to some detail. Another good research source is George A. Moore’s Last Will and Testament. There are several unique letters in both series of correspondence including a letter between a 15-year-old George A. Moore and his father. Two letters of the Moore children’ emancipation are also of interest. There are also several letters of recommendation from both the Mayor’s office and House of Representatives, which show Moore’s respect. Business materials are broken down by the institutions of creation. For example, all documents created from the Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Company of California are kept in chronological order in their own folder.

Photographs included in this collection are of four of George A. and Mary Ellen Moore’s children. Two remaining photos are of unidentified persons. The collection also contains some materials of unidentified provenance and date.

Organization and Arrangement Note

The collection is arranged in the following series:

I. Hannah Moore Correspondence Box 1

II. Julius H. Moore Papers Box 1

III.Mary Ellen Moore CorrespondenceBox 1

IV.Dr. George A. Moore Papers Box 2-3

These papers are divided into two subgroups.

Subgroup I, Personal Papers, has 3 seriesBox 2

Bibliographical Information
Correspondence
Legal & Financial

Subgroup II, Business Papers, has 7 seriesBox 3

State of Kansas, Governors Office
Mayor’s Office, Leavenworth, KS
Missouri Valley Life Insurance Company, Leavenworth, KS
House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.
Mayor’s Office, San Francisco, CA
The Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Company of California
Ephemera

V. Photographs Box 4

VI. Thelma Moore Doogood Correspondence [Restricted until 2046] Box 5

Container List

BoxFolderDescriptionDate

11Letter from Hannah Moore to her father1852

Letter from Hannah Moore to Lizzy James 1855

Note fragment from Hannah Moore to George A. Mooren.d.

2Letter from Julius H. Moore to George A. Moore1852

Oath of Julius H. Moore to refrain from intoxicants1864

3Letter to Lizzie James from her mother1862

Letter fragment from Mary Ellen (Lizzy) Moore to G. A. Mooren.d.

21The Insurance Times article of G. A. Moore1889

Newspaper obituary of G. A. Moore1916

Bibliographic essay on G. A. Mooren.d.

2Letters between G. A. Moore and Herbert T. Moore (father)1849

Letter to George A. Moore from cousin C.F (?)1851

Letter from J. W. King to G. A. Mooren.d.

Letter to G. A. Moore from Charles Brownn.d.

Letter from J.S. Kallack to G. A. Mooren.d.

3Family Financial Account1886

Last Will and Testament of G. A Moore1890

Emancipation letter of G. J. Moore from G. A. Moore1891

31Certification of G. A. Moore to Office of Ensign 1863

2Letter of G. A. Moore’s resignation from Missouri Life

Insurance Company1873

3Letter of recommendation from Mayor Abernathy to G. A. Moore1875

4Letter of rec. from House of Representatives of G.A Moore 1875

Letter of rec. from House of Representatives to G.A Moore187?

Letter of rec. from House of Representatives of G.A Moore18??

5Letter from K.S. Kallach at Mayors office to G. A. Moore1880

6Emancipation of Harry T. Moore from G. A. Moore1894

Resignation of G. A. Moore letter from Pacific Mutual Life Insurance

Company of California, authored by Robert M. Beckley1903

Resignation of G. A. Moore letter from Pacific Mutual Life Insurance

Company of California, authored by Wilbur Warner1905

Letter regarding money transfer from William O. GouldApril 23, n.d.

7Lifetime Bus pass for San Francisco lines1906

Bus ticket from S.P. Co. 1906

Kansas Insurance Co advertisementn.d.

The Alliance Mutual Life Assurance Society of the United

States advertisementn.d.

41Photograph: Herbert B. Moore, Mary Moore (Mary F. Fitch),

Harry Moore and unknownn.d

Photograph: G.A. Moore (?) and Mary Ellen Moore (?)n.d.

Photograph: Unknown portrait n.d.

5Restricted until 2046

Subjects

Moore Family--Archives

Moore, George A. (1834-1916)--Archives

Moore, Hannah--Archives

Moore, Julius H.--Archives

Moore, Mary E.--Archives

Insurance, Business

Legislative bodies--Lower chambers

Missouri Valley Life Insurance Company (Leavenworth, KS)--Archives

Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Company of California (San Francisco, CA)--Archives

Prohibitionists

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Medals

MARC record

Author: Moore Family

Title: Moore Family Papers (1849 – 1998)

Description: 2 cubic ft.

Biography/History: Papers of George A. Moore and family. Prominence in the late 19th century to early 20th century.

Summary: George A. Moore fought in the Civil War, was a member of lower

house of the Kansas State Legislature and later became a successful figure in the insurance industry as well as an active prohibitionist. The wife, sister and brother of George A. Moore are also represented to a lesser extent.

Source: Thelma Moore Doogood, donation, 2006

Indexes: Finding aid at the repository.

Cite As: Box [#], Folder [#], Moore Family Papers, Grubstake Historical Society, Bone Dry Gulch, CA.

Location: Grubstake Historical Society, Bone Dry Gulch, CA