Pacific Improvement Company

Pacific Improvement Company was a large holding company in California, formed by C. P. Huntington, Leland Stanford, Mark Hopkins, and Charles Crocker. The Company played a role in the development of land and railroads in various parts of the United States, but particularly in California and Texas. The Company was incorporated November 4, 1878 and completed liquidation of its assets in 1967.

From the description of Pacific Improvement Company records, 1901-1966. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 462018798

From the description of Records, 1869-1931 (bulk 1883-1927). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122540868

Historical Note

The Pacific Improvement Company was a large holding company in California, formed during the days of C.P. Huntington, Leland Stanford, Mark Hopkins, and Charles Crocker. These men were the early controlling stockholders and directors of the company, although in this collection there is no precise indication as to the exact date of its incorporation. Two cash books, contained in the first box of the collection, are dated as early as 1869, but this is the single instance of a date this early. The greatest bulk of the collection is dated between 1883 and 1927, with scattered exceptions in the 1870's and as late as 1931.

The main activity of the company was centered in San Francisco, but between 1916 and 1919 an office in New York was active in eastern property and concerns. Names that appear throughout an extended period of years or were important in the functioning of the company are: Collis Potter Huntington, Henry Edwards Huntington, Charles Crocker (who lived only during the early years of the Pacific Improvement Company and died in 1888, but was very instrumental in the business development of California), Thomas H. Hubbard, Spencer A. Van Derveer, A.D. Shepard, S.F.B. Morse, Vanderlynn Stow, and Leon Sloss, to name just a few of the many who were connected with the vast holdings of the Pacific Improvement Company.

The company played a significant role in the development of land and railroads in various parts of the United States, but particularly in California and to a lesser extent, Texas and the southern states. C.P. Huntington was at one time president of the Southern Pacific Railroad (1890-1900) and the Pacific Improvement Company owned controlling stock in various southern railroad lines, mainly between 1880 and 1900. Land in Louisiana was also an important area of business which flourished between 1893 and 1919.

Other subsidiaries of this company included coal and iron companies, resort hotels, various California land companies and several steamships. A street railway in San Francisco was also controlled by the Pacific Improvement Company.

From the guide to the Pacific Improvement Company Records, Bulk, 1883-1927, 1869-1931, (Department of Special Collections and University Archives)

Historical Note

Pacific Improvement Company was a large holding company in California, formed by C. P. Huntington, Leland Stanford, Mark Hopkins, and Charles Crocker. The Company played a role in the development of land and railroads in various parts of the United States, but particularly in California and Texas. The Company was incorporated November 4, 1878 and completed liquidation of its assets in 1967.

From the guide to the Pacific Improvement Company Records, 1901-1966, (Department of Special Collections and University Archives)