Résumé

Goddard did a variety of things to earn a living in Gold Rush-era California. James Gregory Moore wrote on Goddard in his book, Exploring the Highest Sierra: "Goddard went to the goldfields and became a partner in a drugstore in Columbia, but by 1853 he had begun a career as a surveyor. He also maintained a professional interest in architecture, and began a serious interest in landscape painting. His first expedition was a survey of a possible route over the Sierra at Sonora Pass, a route already traversed by wagon road. This work led Goddard to other mapping excursions around the state. All the while he took copious noted and measurements that would help him later in compiling the California map [published by the Surveyor General of California in 1857]. In 1855, working for the California Surveyor General, he made a reconnaissance survey of the route over Carson Pass, and also surveyed the boundary between California and Utah Territory (in what is now western Nevada). For this work Goddard carried altitude and azimuth transits and chronometers, so that he could accurately determine by astronomical observations the latitude and longitude of important survey stations. When location and circumstance permitted, he checked the chronometers against time signals received on newly erected telegraph lines." (See James Gregory Moore, Exploring the Highest Sierra, [Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2000], p. 36.)

Partner, Goddard and Eisen, Architects, Sacramento, CA, c. 1857. In 03/1857, G.H. Goddard worked with Augustus F. Eisen (1824-1873) on the tower, gateway and lodge of the Sacramento City Cemetery. Goddard worked as a surveyor on the Agricultural Hall in San Francisco, CA, for which he was paid $87.50 in 1860. (See "Proceedings of the Supervisors," Sacramento Daily Union, vol. 20, no. 3012, 11/21/1860, p. 2.)

Principal, George H. Goddard, Architect, San Francisco, CA, fl. 1869-1883. Goddard had his office at 121 Montgomery in 1869 and 529 Golden Gate Avenue in 1883. (SeeSan Francisco, California, City Directory, 1869, p. 676, andSan Francisco, California, City Directory, 1877, p. 465.)

Professional Activities

Goddard was a fundamental figure in this history of surveying in California. He arrived in the state during the Gold Rush and gained employment with railroads, mineral companies and other early businesses requiring large-scale land measurement. The San Francisco Call stated in his obituary: ""Goddard surveyed the State boundary line between Nevada and California. Almost all of the passes traversed by railroads entering the State were first surveyed by him. His connection with railroad and mining enterprises enabled him to possess invaluable records, which were part of his collection destroyed by the fire last April. His library upon mineral and geological subjects was regarded as perfect. The second highest peak of the Sierra Nevada was named for Goddard. Professor Whitney conferred the honor upon him." (See "George H. Goddard Passes Away," San Francisco Call, vol. 101, no. 29, 12/29/1906, p. 4.)

College

Graduate, Oxford University, Oxford, UK.

Relocation

Born in Bristol, England, Goodard attended Oxford University and immigrated to CA by 1849. A letter written by Goddard to his brother, Augustus, have been preserved, and detail his struggles earning a living mining gold near Mariposa, CA. Goddard found little gold, but made money producing landscape drawings for various clients. One four-page letter detailed contemporary methods of sluicing for gold, and contained his sociological observations about the differences between American and British society in 04/1851.

He relocated to San Francisco, CA, in 1862, and resided there until there until the Earthquake and Fire drove him to move to a new house at 1315 Spruce Street in Berkeley. He passed away in this house at age 89.

His long-time San Francisco residence at Golden Gate and Van Ness Avenues became a repository for his library, mineral specimens, artwork, and other memorabilia of his early surveying expeditions. The destruction of his house was mourned at this death as a great education loss. The San Francisco Call stated: "He was employed on many important missions by the State and by great industrial concerns. It was on these occasions that he accumulated so great a collection of historical records, more than 1000 magnificent paintings, minerals and other matter of such worth that Mrs. Stanford hoped to have the whole of the collection placed in a separate building at Stanford University after Goddard's death and to call the structure the Goddard Museum. The fire destroyed nearly all of Goddard's treasures." (See "George H. Goddard Passes Away," San Francisco Call, vol. 101, no. 29, 12/29/1906, p. 4.)

Spouse

Goddard was married and left a widow at his death in 1906.

Children

At this death, he had three children alive: a daughter, Mrs. Emily Leete, and two sons, George H. Goddard, Jr., and Alexander Goddard.

• Berkeley, CA (Architect's Death)
  1315 Spruce Street
  Berkeley, CA

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• Bristol, UK (Architect's Birth)
  Bristol, UK

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