Manuscripts
The collection contains the papers of Margaret (Collier) Graham from the earliest piece written in 1821 by a great-uncle while seeking land to settle in western New York State, a few Civil War soldiers' letters, her own correspondence and that of her husband, some business papers and correspondence with publishers, and finally estate settlements dating to 1934. There is also addenda containing the manuscript and drafts of the book We Three Came West, written by Mary Hill Raitt and Mary Helen (Collier) Wayne, great-nieces of Margaret (Collier) Graham, from selections made from this collection. This addenda section also contains the authors' research notes on Elsinore and topics related to Margaret (Collier) Graham. Subject matter includes life in California, chiefly early Pasadena and Anaheim; the establishment of Elsinore and neighboring Wildomar; and correspondence with literary figures and publishers. Literary and journalistic persons represented in the collection consist of: Addie Lucia Ballou (1 piece); Ina Donna Coolbrith (8 pieces); Mary (Hallock) Foote (7 pieces); Beatrice Harraden (3 pieces); Katharine (Putnam) Hooker (2 pieces); Charles Fletcher Lummis (9 pieces); Susan Harry (Clagett) Pettengill (3 pieces); Gertrude Smith (7 pieces); William Andrew Spalding (5 pieces); Annie Eliot Trumbull (1 piece); and Charles Dwight Willard (3 pieces). Publishers and editors represented in the collection consist of: Richard Watson Gilder (1 piece); Houghton, Mifflin Co. (11 pieces plus royalty agreements pieces); Samuel Sidney McClure (1 piece); Bliss Perry (4 pieces); Morgan Shepard (10 pieces plus royalty agreement pieces); and Frederick Maxwell Somers (8 pieces). Family and friends represented by 35 pieces or more consist of: David Collier (Margaret's father) (68 pieces); Ella J. (Doolittle) Collier (sister-in-law) (57 pieces); Jane E. Collier (sister) (110 pieces); Lydia Ann (Lindsay) Collier (mother) (150 pieces); William C. Collier (brother) (135 pieces); Donald McIntyre Graham (husband) (112 pieces); Margaret (Collier) Graham (217 pieces); Franklin H. Heald (business associate) (52 pieces); Martha (Collier) Mohr (sister) (68 pieces); Edna (Snell) Poulson (friend) (36 pieces); and Ella Lee (Hall) Enderlein Shepherd (friend) (49 pieces). Some notable items include:
Collier, Jane E. To David Collier & Lydia Ann (Lindsay) Collier. 1876, July 23. Box 7 (4). Letter describing arrival in Los Angeles.
Collier, Jane E. To David Collier & Lydia Ann (Lindsay) Collier. 1876, Nov. 9 and 1877, Feb. 24. Box 7 (7 & 9). Letters describing early Pasadena.
Foote, Mary (Hallock). To Margaret (Collier) Graham. 7 letters, 1902-1907. Box 12 (72-78). Personal, informative letters of this literary figure.
Graham, Margaret (Collier). To David Collier and Lydia Ann (Lindsay) Collier. 1876, July 23 and 27. Box 15 (5-6). Letters describing arrival in Los Angeles.
Graham, Margaret (Collier). To David Collier and Lydia Ann (Lindsay) Collier. 1876, July 27. Box 15 (6). Letter describing early Pasadena.
Graham, Margaret (Collier). To Jane E. Collier. 1894. Box 15 (41-42). Letters describing settlement work in New York.
Hooker, Katharine (Putnam). To Margaret (Collier) Graham. 1896, Jan. 16 and 1903, July 15. Box 17 (78-79). Letters from Italy by this travel writer, the wife of John D. Hooker, donor of the telescope on Mt. Wilson.
Lummis, Charles Fletcher, To Margaret (Collier) Graham. 1896, July 24. Box 20 (32). Letter written from Mexico City describing life there.
Shepherd, William Edgar. To Donald McIntyre Graham. 1877, Mar. 12. Box 25 (73). Letter giving advice on investing in the petroleum discoveries near Ventura.
