Bolton, Herbert Eugene, 1870-1953

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Herbert Eugene Bolton was born on July 20, 1870 in Wilton, Wisconsin. He became Director of the Bancroft Library in 1916, and head of the History Department at Berkeley in 1919. His career in the classroom and in the field lasted until his death in January 1953.

From the description of Pictorial material from the Herbert Eugene Bolton papers [graphic]. ca. 1910-ca. 1950. (University of California, Berkeley). WorldCat record id: 656612971

From the description of Herbert Eugene Bolton papers, 1890-1953 (bulk 1909-1951). (University of California, Berkeley). WorldCat record id: 227455730

Biographical Information

Herbert Eugene Bolton was born on July 20, 1870 in Wilton, Wisconsin. At the University of Wisconsin (class of 1895) he studied under Frederick Jackson Turner; after two years of graduate work there he left to pursue a PhD at the University of Pennsylvania, which he earned in 1899. In 1901 he joined the history department at the University of Texas, Austin, where he developed his lasting interest in the history of Spanish-American exploration. His next stop was California, first at Stanford from 1909-1911, and then Berkeley for the remainder of his career. In 1916 he became the Curator of the Bancroft Library (a title that was soon switched to Director), and he took over the helm of the History Department after the death of Henry Morse Stephens in 1919.

During the 1920s and 1930s Bolton was especially active as a professor, guest lecturer, and scholar. The bulk of his writings were published during these two decades, including The Spanish Borderlands . In 1931-1932 he was the president of the American Historical Association, which is only one example of his public service. Though the University required that he retire in 1940 (or at the age of 70), a war-time shortage of faculty caused him to return to teaching from 1942-1944.

Bolton's zest for history is perhaps best represented in the journeys he made by mule or horseback in an effort to retrace the footsteps of famous explorers. This activity continued into his 80th year, by which time he had traced the complete routes of Coronado, Kino, De Mézières, Portolá, Anza, Garcés, and Escalante.

In June 1952 Bolton suffered a stroke that ultimately led to his death in January 1953.

From the guide to the Herbert Eugene Bolton papers, 1890-1953, bulk 1909-1951, (The Bancroft Library)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Crespí, Juan, 1721-1782. Mapa de lo substancial del famoso Puerto y Rio de San Francisco [Calif.] : explorado por tierra en el Mes y Marzo del presente año de 1772 / facado por el Diario, y observations del R.P. Fr. Juan Crespí ... UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Bolton, Herbert Eugene, 1870-1953. Pictorial material from the Herbert Eugene Bolton papers [graphic]. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Bolton, Herbert Eugene, 1870-1953. Collection, 1730-1786. Library of Congress
creatorOf García, Nicolás Antonio. Scrupulus Theologicus, sive Compendiosus de Dominica Incarnatione ... : Mexico City : ms. S, 1744 Oct. 18. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Claude Halstead Van Tyne papers Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Bolton, Herbert Eugene, 1870-1953. Ro. D. Sn. Andres de Galve : [Mapa de la provincia donde la Nacion Casdudacho - Texas. Santa Maria de Galve]. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Spalding, Hughes, 1886-1969. Georgia Coastal History Project, 1932.
creatorOf Bolton, Herbert Eugene, 1870-1953. Kino's travels and explorations in America : 1681-1711 / compiled by Herbert Eugene Bolton ; drawn by De Beeson. University of California, Bancroft Library, ARL
referencedIn Lockwood, Frank C. (Frank Cummins), 1864-1948. Correspondence concerning Herbert E. Bolton, 1931-1933. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Von Schmidt, A. W. (Allexey Waldemar), b. 1823?. Map of "Las Mariposas." / Drawn by W. Lueder. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Jacobsen, Jerome V. (Jerome Vincent), b. 1894. Jerome V. Jacobsen, S.J., papers, 1916-1980. Cudahy Library
creatorOf Bolton, Herbert Eugene, 1870-1953. California in the 1820's. California Digital Library
creatorOf Bolton, Herbert Eugene, 1870-1953. Parish records from Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Reinosa : Nuevo León, Mexico, 1781-1831. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Hezeta, Bruno de, 1751-1807. Carta reducida que comprende de las costas septentrionales de la California : entre los grados 36 y 61 de Latitud N. descuvieros primeramente / por el Capitan de Fragta. D. Bruno Ezeta, el año de 1775 hasta los 50 gs. y ultimante por los Thenientes de Navio Dn. Ignacio Arteaga, y D. Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra ... UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Font, Pedro, d. 1781. Plan, o mapa del viage hecho desde Monterey al gran Puerto de San Francisco : [Calif.] / P.F. Petrus Font, fecit., Tubutama, anno 1777. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Bolton-Wilder-Brower Family photographs, circa 1850-circa 1990 Bancroft Library
creatorOf University of California (1868-1952). Bureau of Public Administration. Marin - Sonoma counties / Bureau of Public Administration, University of California. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Crespí, Juan, 1721-1782. The voyage of the Santiago, 1774, from the diaries of Crespi, Peña & Perez. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf University of California (1868-1952). Bureau of Public Administration. [Outline map of the San Francisco Bay Area, California] / prepared by the Bureau of [Public] Administration, University of California. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Tikhmenev, P. A. (Petr Aleksandrovich), d. 1888. Historical review of the origin of the Russian American Company and its activity up to the present time : ms., 1940. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Charles W. Hackett Papers 2010-22., 1911-1985 (bulk 1911-1950) Benson Latin American Collection, General Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin
creatorOf Herbert Eugene Bolton papers, 1890-1953, bulk 1909-1951 Bancroft Library
creatorOf University of California (1868-1952). Bureau of Public Administration. Alameda-Contra Costa counties / Bureau of Public Administration, University of California. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Bolton, Herbert Eugene, 1870-1953. In the south San Joaquin ahead of Garcés : an address delivered before the Kern County Historical Society in May 1931, by Herbert Eugene Bolton, and a short reading list on the history of Kern County by John D. Henderson : transcript, 1935 May. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Chapman, C. W. C.W. Chapman letter, 1933. University of the Pacific, William Knox Holt Memorial Library
referencedIn Wagner, Henry Raup, 1862-1957. Recollections of Dr. Herbert E. Bolton : San Marino : typescript, 1953 Mar. 11. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Dunn, William E. Papers 94-195; 89-277; 73-56; 72-33; 70-8., 1895-1969 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
creatorOf Grant, Heber J. (Heber Jeddy), 1856-1945. Semi-centennial celebration of the Brigham Young University. Harold B. Lee Library
creatorOf Junker von Langegg, Ferd. Adalb. (Ferdinand Adalbert), b. 1828. El Dorado, history of the exploratory expeditions to the land of gold ... in the 16th and 17th centuries : Leipzig : typescript, 1888. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Hays, Virgil. Virgil Hays letter to Vernon D. Tate : Stead A.F.B., Nev. : TLS, 1959 Aug. 1. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Parrish, Narcissa Louise. Map of Mexican land grants in the County of Santa Cruz : [Calif.] / compiled by Narcissa L. Parrish. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Dominguez-Escalante expedition collection, 1776-1976. Utah Division of State History, Utah Historical Society
creatorOf University of California (1868-1952). Bureau of Public Administration. Napa - Solano counties / Bureau of Public Administration, University of California. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Memorials to Herbert E. Bolton : ms. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Bolton, Herbert Eugene, 1870-1953. Pima land : 1687-1711 / compiled by Herbert Eugene Bolton ; Drawn by De Beeson. University of California, Bancroft Library, ARL
creatorOf Hierro, Simón del, 1700-1775. Documents relating to the missions of Texas, 1730-1762. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Bull, James Hunter, fl. 1843-1845. James Hunter Bull papers : typescript, 1843-1845. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Webb, Walter Prescott, 1888-1963. Letter to Herbert Eugene Bolton. Austin, TX. 1929 Oct. 21. University of Iowa Libraries
creatorOf Bolton family. Bolton family papers, 1828-2000 (bulk 1885-1980). UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Haskell, Marion Lowrie. Map of the frontier presidios of New Spain, 1766-1778 / Marion Haskell. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Towle, George Washington, 1843-1920?. Some personal recollections of George Washington Towle : typescript, [19--]. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Johnson, Arlin Rex, 1898-1970. Report of semi-centennial celebration of the founding of Brigham Young University, 1925. Harold B. Lee Library
creatorOf Leonard, Irving Albert, 1896-. Irving Albert Leonard correspondence, 1931-1944. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Hodge, Frederick Webb, 1864-1956. Herbert Eugene Bolton, an appreciation : Los Angeles : typescript, 1953. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Fremont, Belle Andrews Crandall, Mrs. Francis P. Fremont. Belle Andrews Crandall Fremont letter to Harr Wagner, and covering letter from Harr Wagner to Herbert E. Bolton : LS, 1931-1932. California Digital Library
creatorOf Bolton, Herbert Eugene, 1870-1953. Herbert Eugene Bolton papers, 1890-1953 (bulk 1909-1951). UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Bolton Family papers, 1828-2000, bulk 1885-1980 Bancroft Library
creatorOf Turner, Frederick Jackson, 1861-1932. Papers of Frederick Jackson Turner, 1862-1976 (bulk 1889-1932). Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
creatorOf Bolton, Juan. Letter to Padre Procurador Juan de Iturderoaga : San Ignacio, Mexico : ALS, 1710 Apr. 25. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Arthur Scott Aiton papers, 1922-1959 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Records of the American Historical Association Library of Congress
referencedIn Barnhart mss., 1813-1962 Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
creatorOf Hezeta, Bruno de, 1751-1807. Plano del puerto de la Trinidad : situado bajo la latitud norte de 41 grs. 7 mins. y en la longitud occidental de Sn. Blas 19 grs. 4 mins. / descubierto y levantado por el Comandante de esta expedición y Teniente de Navio Dn. Bruno de Ezeta y Dudagoitia, el Teniente de Fragata Dn. Juan Franco. de la Bodega y Quadra y el Piloto Dn. Franco Maurelle ... California Digital Library
referencedIn Bowman, J. N. (Jacob Neibert), 1875-1968. Reminiscences of the University of California, 1906-1912 : ms.S, 1963. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Bolton, Herbert Eugene, 1870-1953. Herbert Eugene Bolton correspondence with the U. S. Bureau of American Ethnology: photocopies, 1906-1935. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf International water commission (United States and Mexico). Lands irrigable and irrigated from Colorado River in Lower California Mexico : to accompany report of Frank Adams / United States Department of State, International Water Commission, United States and Mexico. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf University of California (1868-1952). Bureau of Public Administration. Santa Clara - San Mateo counties / Bureau of Public Administration, University of California. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Aiton, Arthur S. (Arthur Scott), 1894-1955. Arthur S. Aiton papers, 1922-1959. Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Cox, F. Nutter (Frank Nutter). San Telmo de Abajo, Municipality of Ensenada, Lower California / F. Nutter Cox. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Verdenal, John M. Journal ... from St. Louis Mo. to Placerville, Cal. by land : typed transcript, 1852. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Bolton, Herbert Eugene, 1870-1953. Election 1849 : vote by districts ; [map of California]. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Murdoch, Juan. Juan Murdoch testamento : Havana, Cuba : DS, 1820 May 22. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Randol, J. B. (James Butterworth). Papers relating to quicksilver mining, [ca. 1849-1894]. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Read, Georgia Willis. Papers of Georgia Willis Read, 1849-1951 (bulk 1932-1951) Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
creatorOf Chiapas, Mexico Municipal Council. Libro de acuerdos ordinarios ... : Chiapas : DS, 1640-1649. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Arthur Stanley Riggs Papers, 1929-1952, (bulk 1949-1951) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Paden, Irene Dakin, 1888-1974. Dr. Bolton as I knew him typescript (1959). UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Crane, Verner Winslow, 1889-. Verner Winslow Crane papers, 1911-1974. Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Cox, F. Nutter. Croquis de las cuencas de los arroyos de San Telmo, de Santo Domingo y de los que desaguan en el Valle de San Quintin / F. Nutter Cox. California Digital Library
referencedIn California. Division of Engineering and Irrigation. Letter to Owen C. Coy concerning the water resources of California : Sacramento, 1922 June 26. California Digital Library
creatorOf United States. Office of Experiment Stations. Irrigation development in portion of Santa Clara Valley, Santa Clara County, California / U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Office of Experiment Stations ; prepared in cooperation with the Conservation Commission of California. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Bolton, Herbert Eugene, 1913-. My most unforgettable character : El Monte, California : photocopy of typescript, 1970. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Verner Winslow Crane Papers, 1911-1974 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Whittington, George Purnell, 1881-1932. G. P. Whittington papers, 1804-1932. Tulane University, Howard-Tilton Memorial Library
referencedIn Hunt, Rockwell Dennis, 1868-. Herbert Eugene Bolton: an appreciation : Stockton, Calif. : typescript, 1953 Mar. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Quinan, Francis G. In memoriam: Doctor Herbert Eugene Bolton : Eulogy, Newman Hall, Berkeley, Calif. : typescript, 1953 Feb. 12. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Winn, William Watkin, 1874-1959. Axe found near old Presidio at Santa Cruz in Sonora, Mexico : and related papers, [1909-1951]. UC Berkeley Libraries
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Aiton, Arthur S. (Arthur Scott), 1894-1955. person
associatedWith American Historical Association. corporateBody
associatedWith Archivo General de Indias. corporateBody
associatedWith Archivo General de la Nación corporateBody
associatedWith Archivo General de la Nación (Mexico) corporateBody
associatedWith Barnhart, John D. (John Donald), 1895-1967 person
associatedWith Beeson, De. person
associatedWith Bolton family family
associatedWith Bolton family. family
associatedWith Bolton, Herbert Eugene, 1913- person
associatedWith Bolton, Juan. person
associatedWith Bowman, J. N. (Jacob Neibert), 1875-1968. person
associatedWith Brower, Robert Weldon person
associatedWith Bull, James Hunter, fl. 1843-1845. person
associatedWith California. Division of Engineering and Irrigation. corporateBody
associatedWith Chapman, C. W. person
associatedWith Chiapas, Mexico Municipal Council. person
associatedWith Cox, F. Nutter corporateBody
associatedWith Cox, F. Nutter (Frank Nutter) person
associatedWith Crane, Verner Winslow, 1889- person
associatedWith Crespí, Juan, 1721-1782. person
associatedWith Dunn, William E. person
associatedWith Fages, Pedro. person
associatedWith Font, Pedro, d. 1781. person
associatedWith Fremont, Belle Andrews Crandall, Mrs. Francis P. Fremont. person
associatedWith García, Nicolás Antonio. person
associatedWith Hackett, Charles Wilson, 1888-1951 person
associatedWith Haskell, Marion Lowrie. person
associatedWith Hays, Virgil. person
associatedWith Henderson, John D. person
associatedWith Hezeta, Bruno de, 1751-1807. person
associatedWith Hodge, Frederick Webb, 1864-1956. person
associatedWith Hunt, Rockwell Dennis, 1868- person
associatedWith International water commission (United States and Mexico) corporateBody
associatedWith Jacobsen, Jerome V. (Jerome Vincent), b. 1894. person
associatedWith Johnson, Arlin Rex, 1898-1970. person
associatedWith Junker von Langegg, Ferd. Adalb. (Ferdinand Adalbert), b. 1828. person
associatedWith Kino, Eusebio Francisco, 1644-1711. person
associatedWith Lamar, Mirabeau Buonaparte, 1798-1859. person
associatedWith Leonard, Irving Albert, 1896- person
associatedWith Lockwood, Frank C. (Frank Cummins), 1864-1948. person
associatedWith Murdoch, Juan. person
associatedWith Online Archive of California. corporateBody
associatedWith Paden, Irene Dakin, 1888-1974. person
associatedWith Parrish, Narcissa Louise. person
associatedWith Quinan, Francis G. person
associatedWith Randol, J. B. (James Butterworth) person
associatedWith Read, Georgia Willis. person
correspondedWith Riggs, Arthur Stanley, 1879-1952. person
associatedWith Smithsonian Institution. Bureau of American Ethnology. corporateBody
correspondedWith Spalding, Hughes, 1886-1969. person
associatedWith Stanford University. corporateBody
associatedWith Tikhmenev, P. A. (Petr Aleksandrovich), d. 1888. person
associatedWith Towle, George Washington, 1843-1920? person
associatedWith Turner, Frederick Jackson, 1861-1932. person
associatedWith United States. Office of Experiment Stations. corporateBody
associatedWith University of California (1868-1952). Bureau of Public Administration. corporateBody
associatedWith University of California, Berkeley corporateBody
associatedWith University of California, Berkeley. Dept. of History corporateBody
associatedWith University of California, Berkeley. Dept. of History. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Texas corporateBody
associatedWith University of Texas. corporateBody
associatedWith Van Tyne, Claude Halstead, 1869-1930 person
associatedWith Verdenal, John M. person
associatedWith Von Schmidt, A. W. (Allexey Waldemar), b. 1823? person
associatedWith Wagner, Henry Raup, 1862-1957. person
associatedWith Webb, Walter Prescott, 1888-1963. person
associatedWith Whittington, George Purnell, 1881-1932. person
associatedWith Winn, William Watkin, 1874-1959. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Nacogdoches County (Tex.)
California
Texas
Spain
Pimería Alta
America
Southwest, New
Kern County (Calif.)
Southwest, New
Mexico
Mexican-American Border Region
Pacific Coast (North America)
Texas
Mexican-American Border Region
South America
Mexico
Mexico
San Joaquin Valley (Calif.)
Southwest, New
Central America
Bexar County (Tex.)
Subject
History
Indians of North America
Spanish mission buildings
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1870-07-20

Death 1953-01-30

Americans

Spanish; Castilian,

English

Information

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