Diseños Collection
Item set
Title
Diseños Collection
Description
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Within the Diseños Collection there are 493 hand-drawn sketch maps, or diseños, that were created from approximately 1866-1871. These sketch maps were hand-copied from originals created from approximately 1827-1846. These are part of a larger collection that makes up the Spanish and Mexican Land Grant Records that also include expedientes, or written documents regarding the grant petition.
At the end of the Mexican-American War in 1848, California became a territory of the United States after Mexico and the United States signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Among other things, the treaty directed the U.S. government to honor legitimate land claims of Mexican citizens in the territory. Official copies of the provincial records kept in Monterey by the Spanish and Mexican governments were used by the new government to confirm land claims. Included in the title papers are sketch maps (diseños) and expedientes. The Mexican land grant process had a major influence on the development of California land by shaping settlement patterns and land ownership. As some of the earliest maps in California, diseños are essential to understanding the complex system of land ownership in the state today.About the Spanish and Mexican Land Grants Records
As U.S. government officials collected the provincial records, Congress passed the Land Act of 1851 creating the Board of Land Commissioners. The Board would review the records and resolve land claims in the newly acquired region. In addition, this act entrusted the U.S. Surveyor General with surveying confirmed land grants. Landowners had two years to present their claim to the board by providing their copy of the grant with the governor’s seal. Failure to present their claims within those two years would result in forfeiture of the land, which would become public land.
The Board of Land Commissioners operated for a total of five years. During this time, they operated mostly out of San Francisco but also operated out of Los Angeles for a brief time in 1852. Former Mexican citizens had to rely on translators and lawyers to help them through the submission process and later the appeal process in the federal courts, a process that on average took thirty years to complete. In general, petitioners had to wait seventeen years for the final patent for their land. The travel expenses coupled with legal fees led many to bankruptcy. Falling cattle prices and a few years of drought crippled many of the most prominent ranchos. As a result, most of the rancho lands were sold off at reduced prices to those who could afford the legal fees. During this period much of the land transferred to incoming American settlers. Others dealt with squatters taking their land from them. In the end, the Land Commissioners reviewed 813 grant claims, but only approved 553.
Diseños were used throughout the land grant process under the Spanish, Mexican and U.S. governments to show boundaries. These hand drawn maps mainly use naturally occurring boundaries such as rivers, mountains, rock outcropping, and trees as markers. Many of the diseños have labeled neighboring properties and as part of the initial land grant process all borders were agreed upon by surrounding landowners. The diseños also show existing travel routes, locations of houses and local place names. Using natural landmarks as markers would become problematic under the U.S. government, as changing landscapes made proving the borders difficult. For this reason, the U.S. Surveyor General conducted their own survey of the confirmed grant properties in an effort to settle boundaries.
Chapter 281, Statutes of 1865-1866, required the Secretary of State to engross all original grants and documents relating to the titles of land in the state derived from the Spanish or Mexican governments, along with accurate translations. The documents were housed at the Office of the United States Surveyor General in San Francisco, and Rufus C. Hopkins, Keeper of the Archives in that office, executed the work from 1866 to 1871. The diseños in the State Archives collection are copies of the original hand-drawn maps found in the individual expedientes. At the request of the legislature, the records from Monterey were transcribed and deposited at the State Archives in 1871. California's Evidence Code §1605, provides that the Spanish-Mexican land grant records in the State Archives are receivable as prima facie evidence with like force and effect as the originals.
Within the Diseños Collection there are 493 hand-drawn sketch maps, or diseños, that were created from approximately 1866-1871. These sketch maps were hand-copied from originals created from approximately 1827-1846. These are part of a larger collection that makes up the Spanish and Mexican Land Grant Records that also include expedientes, or written documents regarding the grant petition.
At the end of the Mexican-American War in 1848, California became a territory of the United States after Mexico and the United States signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Among other things, the treaty directed the U.S. government to honor legitimate land claims of Mexican citizens in the territory. Official copies of the provincial records kept in Monterey by the Spanish and Mexican governments were used by the new government to confirm land claims. Included in the title papers are sketch maps (diseños) and expedientes. The Mexican land grant process had a major influence on the development of California land by shaping settlement patterns and land ownership. As some of the earliest maps in California, diseños are essential to understanding the complex system of land ownership in the state today.About the Spanish and Mexican Land Grants Records
As U.S. government officials collected the provincial records, Congress passed the Land Act of 1851 creating the Board of Land Commissioners. The Board would review the records and resolve land claims in the newly acquired region. In addition, this act entrusted the U.S. Surveyor General with surveying confirmed land grants. Landowners had two years to present their claim to the board by providing their copy of the grant with the governor’s seal. Failure to present their claims within those two years would result in forfeiture of the land, which would become public land.
The Board of Land Commissioners operated for a total of five years. During this time, they operated mostly out of San Francisco but also operated out of Los Angeles for a brief time in 1852. Former Mexican citizens had to rely on translators and lawyers to help them through the submission process and later the appeal process in the federal courts, a process that on average took thirty years to complete. In general, petitioners had to wait seventeen years for the final patent for their land. The travel expenses coupled with legal fees led many to bankruptcy. Falling cattle prices and a few years of drought crippled many of the most prominent ranchos. As a result, most of the rancho lands were sold off at reduced prices to those who could afford the legal fees. During this period much of the land transferred to incoming American settlers. Others dealt with squatters taking their land from them. In the end, the Land Commissioners reviewed 813 grant claims, but only approved 553.
Diseños were used throughout the land grant process under the Spanish, Mexican and U.S. governments to show boundaries. These hand drawn maps mainly use naturally occurring boundaries such as rivers, mountains, rock outcropping, and trees as markers. Many of the diseños have labeled neighboring properties and as part of the initial land grant process all borders were agreed upon by surrounding landowners. The diseños also show existing travel routes, locations of houses and local place names. Using natural landmarks as markers would become problematic under the U.S. government, as changing landscapes made proving the borders difficult. For this reason, the U.S. Surveyor General conducted their own survey of the confirmed grant properties in an effort to settle boundaries.
Chapter 281, Statutes of 1865-1866, required the Secretary of State to engross all original grants and documents relating to the titles of land in the state derived from the Spanish or Mexican governments, along with accurate translations. The documents were housed at the Office of the United States Surveyor General in San Francisco, and Rufus C. Hopkins, Keeper of the Archives in that office, executed the work from 1866 to 1871. The diseños in the State Archives collection are copies of the original hand-drawn maps found in the individual expedientes. At the request of the legislature, the records from Monterey were transcribed and deposited at the State Archives in 1871. California's Evidence Code §1605, provides that the Spanish-Mexican land grant records in the State Archives are receivable as prima facie evidence with like force and effect as the originals.
Date
c. 1866-1871
Subject
Land grants - California
Creator
Secretary of State Records.
Publisher
California State Archives, a division of the California Secretary of State's Office
Rights
There are no known coyright restrictions associated with these digital images. We encourage the use of these images for personal, study, and educational purposes. Please credit "Courtesy of California State Archives." The California State Archives and the Friends of California Archives cannot be responsible for any use of these images, or any liability resulting from their use. The Archives is interested in learning about any possible copyright restrictions and will gladly remove any image that is in violation.
Source
Spanish and Mexican Land Grant Records, Secretary of State Records. California State Archives.
Format
JPEG, scanned at 400 DPI, 24-bit color
Language
Spanish
Type
Still Image
Items
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Potrero or San Jacinto Nuevo y Potrero or San Jacinto Sobrante Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of Potrero or San Jacinto Nuevo y Potrero or San Jacinto Sobrante boundaries. Volume 2, page 157. -
Potrero or San Jacinto Nuevo y Potrero or San Jacinto Sobrante Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of Potrero or San Jacinto Nuevo y Potrero or San Jacinto Sobrante boundaries. Volume 2, page 156. -
San Miguel Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of San Miguel boundaries. Volume 2, page 155. -
Valle de San Rafael Rancho
Han-drawn sketch map of Valle de San Rafael boundaries. Volume 2, page 154. -
Nacion or Rancho Nacional Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of Nacion or Rancho Nacional boundaries. Volume 2, page 153. -
Fort Ross Rancho or Muniz Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of Fort Ross Rancho or Muniz boundaries. Volume 2, page 152. -
Roblar de las Miseria Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of Roblar de las Miseria boundaries. Volume 2, page 151. -
Arroyo de San Antonio Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of Arroyo de San Antonio boundaries. Volume 2, page 150. -
Mission Vieja de la Purisima or Valle de los Palmas Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of Mission Vieja de la Purisima or Valle de los Palmas boundaries. Volume 2, page 149. -
Corral del Cuate Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of Corral del Cuate boundaries. Volume 2, page 148. -
La Huga or La Jolla Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of La Huga or La Jolla boundaries. Volume 2, page 147. -
Colus Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of Colus boundaries. Volume 2, page 146. -
Llano Seco Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of Llano Seco boundaries. Volume 2, page 145. -
Valle de las Palmas Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of Valle de las Palmas boundaries. Volume 2, page 144. -
Cañada de los Osos y Pecho y Islae Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of Cañada de los Osos y Pecho y Islae boundaries. Volume 2, page 143. -
Cañada de los Osos y Pecho y Islae Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of Cañada de los Osos y Pecho y Islae boundaries. Volume 2, page 142. -
Prietos y Najalaygua Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of Prietos y Najalaygua boundaries. Volume 2, page 141. -
Cañada de Palomea or Guejeto y Cañada de Palomea Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of Cañada de Palomea or Guejeto y Cañada de Palomea boundaries. Volume 2, page 140. -
Cajon, or Cajon de San Diego Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of Cajon, or Cajon de San Diego boundaries. Volume 2, page 139. -
Land- Mission San Buenaventura Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of Land- Mission San Buenaventura boundaries. Volume 2, page 138. -
Sierra de Cuyamaca Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of Sierra de Cuyamaca boundaries. Volume 2, page 137. -
San Diego or San Deiguito Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of San Diego or San Deiguito boundaries. Volume 2, page 136. -
Guenoc Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of Guenoc boundaries. Volume 2, page 135. -
Land at Buenaventura Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of Land at Buenaventura boundaries. Volume 2, page 134. -
Pleyto, or San Bartolome Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of Pleyto, or San Bartolome boundaries. Volume 2, page 133. -
Asuncion Diseño
Hand-drawn sketch map of Asuncion boundaries. Volume 2, page 132. -
Asersa Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of Asersa boundaries. Volume 2, page 131. -
Llokaya or Yokaya Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of Llokaya or Yokaya boundaries. Volume 2, page 130. -
Tequepis Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of Tequepis boundaries. Volume 2, page 129. -
Ulistac Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of Ulistac boundaries. Volume 2, page 128. -
Boca de San Juan Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of Boca de San Juan boundaries. Volume 2, page 126. -
Portrero de Felipe Lugo Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of Portrero de Felipe Lugo boundaries. Volume 2, page 126. -
Sisquoc Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of Sisquoc boundaries. Volume 2, page 125. -
San Clemente or Tamalpais Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of San Clemente or Tamalpais boundaries. Volume 2, page 124. -
San Clemente or Tamalpais Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of San Clemente or Tamalpais boundaries. Volume 2, page 123. -
San Clemente or Tamalpais Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of San Clemente or Tamalpais boundaries. Volume 2, page 122. -
Mission vieja de San Gabriel Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of Mission vieja de San Gabriel boundaries. Volume 2, page 121. -
Potreros de la Sierra del Agua Caliente, or Poteros de San Juan Capistrano Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of Potreros de la Sierra del Agua Caliente, or Poteros de San Juan Capistrano boundaries. Volume 2, page 120. -
Mission Vieja or La Paz Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of Mission Vieja or La Paz boundaries. Volume 2, page 119. -
Santa Anita Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of Santa Anita boundaries. Volume 2, page 118. -
Putas Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of Putas boundaries. Volume 2, page 117. -
Cotate Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of Cotate boundaries. Volume 2, page 116. -
Cañada de los Vaqueros, or Rancho Vasco Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of Cañada de los Vaqueros, or Rancho Vasco boundaries. Volume 2, page 115. -
Huichica Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of Huichica boundaries. Volume 2, page 114. -
Huichica Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of Huichica boundaries. Volume 2, page 113. -
Providencia Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of Providencia boundaries. Volume 2, page 112. -
Laguna de Temacula Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of Laguna de Temacula boundaries. Volume 2, page 111. -
Lihuaytos or Putos or Ulattis Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of Lihuaytos or Putos or Ulattis boundaries. Volume 2, page 110. -
Rio de las Consumnes al Norte or Omachumnes Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of Rio de las Consumnes al Norte or Omachumnes boundaries. Volume 2, page 109. -
Ojo de Caballo, or Posolmi Rancho and Posita de las Animas Rancho
Hand-drawn sketch map of Ojo de Caballo, or Posolmi Rancho and Posita de las Animas boundaries. Volume 2, page 108.