{"id":874,"date":"2020-02-24T17:31:48","date_gmt":"2020-02-25T01:31:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/arthursattic\/?p=874"},"modified":"2026-04-15T11:55:32","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T18:55:32","slug":"james-alexander-forbes-an-innocent-offer-from-a-dubious-man","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/arthursattic\/2020\/02\/24\/james-alexander-forbes-an-innocent-offer-from-a-dubious-man\/","title":{"rendered":"James Alexander Forbes: An Innocent Offer from a Dubious Man"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I wrote the following essay as a final research project for Dr. Andrew Keener<\/em>‘s CTW 2 class in Winter 2019. I also created an online project about James Alexander Forbes<\/a>, which you can access if you wish to learn more about James Alexander Forbes and traces of him in Santa Clara University Archives & Special Collections. Much of the assignment revolved around analyzing a specific item from the Papers of John Nobili<\/a>, Santa Clara’s founder and first president, which is included below in digital surrogate. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

James Alexander Forbes was a man of great influence. Consequently, he had, and still carries, a prominent reputation. His true character is still a mystery despite a significant amount of research on him and his family. Recent scholars have thoroughly examined both his personal life and his business transactions only to remain conflicted over two prevailing, yet opposing, interpretations of his character: he is either a conniving businessman, or an intelligent one who has fallen upon a series of unfortunate events. Although there is no final consensus, scholarly opinions are inclined towards a more favorable view of him, while popular opinion portrays him negatively. This controversy over his character surrounds a particular transaction he made with Santa Clara University back when it was in the process of being founded. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"A<\/a>
From the Papers of John Nobili, 3DB01, Box 1, Folder 45
Forbes to Nobili, March 27, 1854, verso<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"A<\/a>
From the Papers of John Nobili, 3DB01, Box 1, Folder 45
Forbes to Nobili, March 27, 1854, recto<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

            The letter itself does not seem to\nbe of great significance when considering the land transfer in its entirety. Indeed,\nthis letter is only a picture of the deal in its early stages, and does not\ninclude all of the facets later known to be part of the transaction. Despite\nthis, there are also some physical markings that hint at this document\u2019s lesser\nimportance. The letter has several crease marks on it, which might indicate\nthat it was folded and put in various locations. Additionally, it was clearly\nused as scratch paper. On the back there is both math and doodles. Perhaps this\nletter started the deal that united the mission under Nobili\u2019s ownership, but it\ndoes not seem to be the one that finished it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            It is only natural that such a public figure would have rumors and suspicions surrounding their name, but in the case of this transaction it appears that he really does not benefit much from such a deal. Highly involved in both politics and land ownership in the Santa Clara area, James Alexander Forbes was well known for being the British vice-consul for California, and is documented as being consulted for several affairs. In his thesis on the life of Forbes, Frank L. Beach relates a time when Forbes was asked to intervene on behalf of the British-Consul in order to purchase land. \u201cNeeding this confirmation by the others, the British Consul and merchant asked James Alexander Forbes to act as his intermediary with the abio [those in control of the mine they wanted to purchase]\u201d (Beach 117). Additionally, Forbes is documented as having contributed to Father Nobili\u2019s school as a teacher early on. Forbes was not a minor person, and this transaction was one of his smaller involvements. The letter itself proposes he sell the land for twelve thousand dollars. According to Bernard Glienke, author of James Alexander Forbes: His Descendants for Four Generations<\/a>, <\/em>Forbes was making many business deals around that time that were giving him much greater sums of money. He was clearly not in need. Additionally, evidence points to a good relationship between Nobili and the Forbes family. In The Annals of Santa Clara: College and University, 1851-1951; Part 1<\/a>, <\/em>the Forbes family is mentioned and referred to as a \u201cwonderful family\u201d (Walsh 5). While many people speculate about his motives, the facts do not lend themselves to suggest bad intentions on Forbes\u2019 part. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The deal itself is not one of strict demands, but a friendlier proposition. Within the letter, Forbes says, \u201cHence the conditions of payments, which may nevertheless be modified by any arrangements that you may suggest.\u201d This shows that Forbes is willing to make arrangements that will accommodate Nobili\u2019s plans. He knows that he owns the land that Nobili wants, and he could ask for whatever he wishes in return. However, he decides to be flexible with Nobili. It is also well known that free education for Forbes\u2019 sons at the school was part of the deal. In two collections, both Early SCU Histories: Souvenir\u2014Golden Jubilee\u2014Santa Clara College<\/a><\/em> and The Annals of Santa Clara: College and University, 1851-1951; Part 1<\/a><\/em>, it is clear that Forbes took full advantage of this part of the deal. His sons\u2019 names come up repeatedly in the student records. Although this is a clear benefit for Forbes, it also helped the school\u2019s reputation. Forbes was known for being highly educated, and for receiving this education in Europe, so sending his sons to Nobili\u2019s school lent credibility to the new institution. After further investigation, it appears that the assumed questionable intentions were merely a product of previous doubts that others had about his character. Nothing in the deal itself proves that it was necessarily exploitation of Nobili. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The one issue that is often brought up in discussion of this deal is the fact that Forbes turned around and used the money to build a mansion right behind the mission. However, this was part of the deal. Although the conditions are not in this specific letter, Forbes does make Nobili aware of his intentions to build a house: \u201cYou will readily perceive, that I have made the condition of payments as long in terms as shall be at once convenient to you, and also, so as to meet the outlay of money that I shall necessarily be obliged to incur in the purchase of land, and in erecting a dwelling house, as soon as possible.\u201d Additionally, as documented both by Bernard Glienke (pg 54) and in Shannon E. Clark\u2019s essay \u201cMischief Making Man,\u201d the final conditions of the deal, which include a great deal of building material, made Forbes\u2019 intentions clear to Nobili. Thus, Forbes\u2019 actions were not ones of exploitation, but were well discussed and wholesome. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Although Forbes\u2019 dealings with Santa\nClara University were a small part of his overall influence on the Santa Clara\narea, his actions contributed to a worthy cause. As Father Nobili was\nstruggling to maintain the Mission land that had been granted him, Forbes was\nhelpful to him in many ways. He not only gave up his portion of the land, but he\nalso contributed to the school through teaching and by giving some legal\ndefense to Nobili in a time of need. Despite what the rumors say, James\nAlexander Forbes was a prominent and generous benefactor in the early life of\nSanta Clara University. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Works Cited<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beach,\nFrank L. James Alexander Forbes,\n1804-1881: British Vice Consul In California, 1842-1850. <\/em>MA Thesis.\nUniversity of San Francisco, 1957. Web. 21 Feb. 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clark,\nShannon E. \u201cJames Alexander Forbes The Mischief-Making Renaissance Man.\u201d Ed.\nWilliam Wulf. Los Angeles: University of California, Los Angeles. Web. 21 Feb.\n2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Glienke, Bernard A. James Alexander Forbes 1804 to1881 His Descendants for Four Generations. <\/em>2014.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Souvenir\u2014Golden Jubilee\u2014Santa Clara\nCollege. <\/em>Santa Clara University: Early SCU Histories, 1901.\nPrint. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Walsh, Henry L. The Annals of Santa Clara: College and University, 1851-1951; Part 1. <\/em>Santa Clara. Print. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Header image from USC Digital Library, Illustrated portrait of James Alexander Forbes, [s.d.]<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I wrote the following essay as a final research project for Dr. Andrew Keener‘s CTW 2 class in Winter 2019. I also created an online project about James Alexander Forbes, which you can access if you wish to learn more about James Alexander Forbes and traces of him in Santa Clara University Archives & Special […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2576,"featured_media":877,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"qubely_global_settings":"","qubely_interactions":"","kk_blocks_editor_width":"","_kiokenblocks_attr":"","_kiokenblocks_dimensions":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[27,132,72],"class_list":["post-874","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-notable-people","tag-father-nobili","tag-james-alexander-forbes","tag-santa-clara-college","with-image","with-title"],"gutentor_comment":0,"qubely_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/arthursattic\/files\/2020\/02\/james-alexander-forbes.jpg",920,920,false],"landscape":["https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/arthursattic\/files\/2020\/02\/james-alexander-forbes.jpg",750,750,false],"portraits":["https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/arthursattic\/files\/2020\/02\/james-alexander-forbes.jpg",320,320,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/arthursattic\/files\/2020\/02\/james-alexander-forbes-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/arthursattic\/files\/2020\/02\/james-alexander-forbes-300x300.jpg",300,300,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/arthursattic\/files\/2020\/02\/james-alexander-forbes-768x768.jpg",768,768,true],"large":["https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/arthursattic\/files\/2020\/02\/james-alexander-forbes.jpg",920,920,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/arthursattic\/files\/2020\/02\/james-alexander-forbes.jpg",920,920,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/arthursattic\/files\/2020\/02\/james-alexander-forbes.jpg",920,920,false],"qubely_landscape":["https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/arthursattic\/files\/2020\/02\/james-alexander-forbes.jpg",750,750,false],"qubely_portrait":["https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/arthursattic\/files\/2020\/02\/james-alexander-forbes.jpg",320,320,false],"qubely_thumbnail":["https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/arthursattic\/files\/2020\/02\/james-alexander-forbes.jpg",100,100,false],"single":["https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/arthursattic\/files\/2020\/02\/james-alexander-forbes.jpg",920,920,false],"post-thumbnail":["https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/arthursattic\/files\/2020\/02\/james-alexander-forbes.jpg",920,920,false]},"qubely_author":{"display_name":"hbooth","author_link":"https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/arthursattic\/author\/hbooth\/"},"qubely_comment":0,"qubely_category":"Notable People<\/a>","qubely_excerpt":"I wrote the following essay as a final research project for Dr. Andrew Keener‘s CTW 2 class in Winter 2019. I also created an online project about James Alexander Forbes, which you can access if you wish to learn more about James Alexander Forbes and traces of him in Santa Clara University Archives & Special…","post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/arthursattic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/874","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/arthursattic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/arthursattic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/arthursattic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2576"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/arthursattic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=874"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/arthursattic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/874\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3273,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/arthursattic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/874\/revisions\/3273"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/arthursattic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/877"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/arthursattic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=874"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/arthursattic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=874"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/arthursattic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=874"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}